By: Daniel Velarde

This is a great time of year to take a look back on our greatest successes and our not-so-great moments.  As we reflect, we often consider family, friends and of course our professional careers.  Yes, we can blame family for taking the wind out of our sails but consider physical and emotional exhaustion, the fact that you may be being overly critical and the added stress of the holidays adding to your already irritable state of mind stemming from career burnout.

Maybe the very thing that once excited you about this job doesn’t really do it for you anymore?  Perhaps your boss unfairly creates unclear expectations or the company’s values are no longer a match for you.  These extremes can make you evaluate your work-life balance or imbalance, and force you to change something about it fast.

One thing you can do is adjust your attitude to improve the outlook you hold with your current position.  Making sure you are eating correctly, getting plenty of rest and exercise.  Otherwise, the consequences of holding yourself in a bad position can have serious health effects leading to substance abuse, anxiety, depression, insomnia and anxiety.

You don’t want to be the person that doesn’t care, but you also don’t want to be the person who stays in a job, just because it’s a job.  Make sure you have good social support while being transparent with your feelings so you can gauge the direction you need to go with a bit more accuracy.  If your job is a poor fit for you, change it, but make sure you have thought this one through, considering any added stress with money, food or bills.

Whatever direction you choose to go in, make sure you are making these decisions with a clear head and a positive attitude.  Remember, you are a person who takes things seriously and making a good decision here can really impact your career path.