Some days you wake up, leap out of bed, get in the shower and enthusiastically jump in your car excited about the day ahead of you.

Some days you dread the sound of your alarm going off and wish that you could just crawl back under the duvet and dream of another life.

It’s hard when you feel like this because the job and career you worked so hard for has become another burden and a place of stress and confusion. Some days you’re on fire and you and your colleagues are like a well-oiled mean machine fighting for the same cause; you gain a new client and close a deal, you over exceed on your targets and your boss is singing your praises.  Other days, however, you’re sat at your desk staring at your screen wishing you had got out and done something different years ago while you were ‘still young’.

So, what causes this constant shift of feelings and emotions and does it mean you need to change your job?

Let’s go back to the beginning and look at why you went into the career that you are in now.  Did you study something relevant at university, which then led you into this career or did you follow in the footsteps of someone close to you at the time, or was it some career advice that you received that supported you in finding your ideal job or was it something that you had been passionate about from a young age? Whatever the reason was, it may reveal why you were once happy at work and why you are now stuck on this pendulum swing between love and hate.

Hate may be a strong word, but think about the conversations that you have with your friends and work colleagues about your job. Do you ever use the word ‘hate’? What seems to be the main issues that are currently annoying you about your job? Are they trivial things that may pass, such as not being able to find a car parking space in the morning or unproductive work colleagues or are they deeper issues about your passion or purpose?

Take notice of the conversations that you are having with those close to you, as they may help you to pinpoint what the issues are. Pay attention to the words that you are using and how you are using them.

If you are feeling unmotivated, uninspired or low in mood on a consistent basis, there may be some things that cannot be ignored and it may help to talk it over with someone experienced in this area.  It may help you to just sound a few things out and help you to get closer to working out what you really want from your career and what your next steps could be.

About the author: Hey there! I’m Lola Brocklesby, founder of Viva Career Coaching and I love helping people who are striving for more in their career finally find a career that they love.  If that’s you, please get in touch.