Just before the pandemic, burnout was brewing. I desperately wanted to hit the red STOP button on the treadmill of full-time office life. I was exhausted, bored at work, tired of the prep, commute, the grind, and Groundhog Day. When ordered home, I got to experience a life with flexibility. And I loved it.

As threats of going back to ‘normal’ emerged, the need intensified for answers to the questions I’d already been asking. Where and how do I want to spend my energy? What kind of impact do I want to have? How do I want to feel? Who are my people?

Consulting started coming up for me. When I previously worked with my career coach, it was a hard no. I was curious, why now? Was it my only way out of the corporate grind? The only way I could do meaningful work? The flexibility?

When summoned back to the office, I felt panic. On that first day back, I left my house at 6:30 a.m. to catch the bus to get to the office at 7:30 to be home at 5:30 p.m. It was the first morning in more than two years I didn’t see my son. I got to the end of the driveway and I heard knocking. I turned to see my four-year old banging both palms on the bonus room window. He was crying. I could read his lips ‘Mama, come back!’ Immediately, my heart, body and mind shrieked ‘NOOOOOOO!’

As contempt for my work and lifestyle continued, I finally got the courage to create and launch Groat Communications. At first, I positioned it as a side gig. I was too scared and vulnerable to believe anyone would hire me. And I wasn’t yet ready to leave a high-paying salary.

But my body kept shoving me - no more warning nudges. I was always looking for ways to escape, I wasn’t sleeping, my hair was falling out, I was eating poorly, and I was VERY irritable.

One morning, in a perfect storm of events, I couldn’t control my emotions. I seethed at every question from my child. I sat outside Starbucks and called my husband for support.

The next day, I handed in my resignation.

Making the change wasn’t linear or as simple in the story above. If you’re considering any kind of change, I hope these six things help you.  

Invest in a career/life coach
If it’s in your budget, a great coach can help you get unstuck. Finding the right one is key so line up some intros and find the one that fits.

Make a plan
Leaving money on the table is scary. Having a financial plan helped to ease the uncertainty. We changed out lifestyle and saved money ahead of time.

Take care of your mental and physical health
Get a therapist, exercise, take a short-term leave, a personal interest course, or upskill. Do the things to help keep you healthy while you figure it out.

Remember your talents
When you’re feeling low, your professional (and personal) confidence can plummet. Write down all the things you’ve accomplished. Ask for performance feedback from peers. Work on your resume or hire a resume professional. You have so much to offer, don’t forget that!

Listen to the cues
If you’re always thinking about something, pay attention and be curious. If a person or thing makes you feel gross, listen. If you despise going to that thing, don’t go. There are cues all around us and being open to what they mean is a valuable process.

It’s a leap of trust + faith
I stayed out of fear. Once I left, my fear was gone. And since leaving a month ago, I’ve turned down a full-time job and landed two clients. And I haven’t even really started yet. I don’t feel trapped. The money will always come back. Your mental health – that can take longer.

Maybe I’m part of the Great Resignation. Perhaps a mid-career/life crisis. Or I just got sick and tired (figuratively and literally) of a workplace that no longer served me well. I believe it’s a combination. But the catalyst to leaving my job was the lifestyle shift and big life questions (and answers) brought on by the pandemic.

I’m excited and curious about what’s next. I never liked treadmills anyway; more of a bootcamp-style kind of gal. Obstacles, ups and downs, rights and lefts. And the freedom to move around.