Man, November 2019. Feels like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it? But for me, that month was a real kick in the pants, a pivotal moment, especially when it came to my work life. I remember feeling really… restless. You know that nagging feeling when things just aren’t quite clicking, even if you can’t put your finger on exactly why? That was me, big time.
I was in this job, right? It wasn’t bad, not at all. Decent pay, good people, nothing to complain about on paper. But deep down, it felt like I was just going through the motions. Every morning felt the same, every task felt like something I could do with my eyes closed. And being a Virgo, you know how we are – we crave purpose, we need to feel like we’re genuinely contributing, building something, making things better. If things are stagnant, it just eats at you. That’s where I was. Stagnant.
So, I started doing what I always do when I’m feeling stuck: I began to overthink everything. I’d sit there, after everyone else left the office, just staring at my screen, scrolling through job boards, reading random career advice columns. Anything to spark some kind of idea. And funny enough, because it was November, all these ‘year-end review’ and ‘what’s next for your career’ articles kept popping up. And yeah, some of them were even those cheesy ‘Virgo career forecast’ type things. Normally, I’d just roll my eyes, but this time, a few themes, a few “tips” if you will, actually started to stick in my head. They weren’t exactly prophetic, more like reminders of things I already knew but had forgotten to apply.
The Nuggets of Insight
One of the biggest things that kept surfacing was this idea of trusting your gut. Now, for a Virgo like me, that’s tough. We’re all about logic, facts, lists, and meticulously laid out plans. My gut was screaming for a change, but my logical brain couldn’t articulate what that change should be, or how to even begin. It felt like a betrayal of my practical nature. But the more I ignored that feeling of unease, the louder it got.
Another “tip” that really resonated was about decluttering your commitments. Not just physical space, but your time, your energy. I realized I was saying ‘yes’ to almost everything, taking on extra projects, volunteering for committees, all in an effort to prove my worth or keep busy. But it was just adding to the mental clutter and draining my energy for what truly mattered. I was spread too thin, doing a lot of things okay, but nothing really well, and nothing that truly excited me.
And finally, a recurring theme was about reconnecting with your core values. What truly drives you? What makes you feel alive and fulfilled? I had drifted so far from that, just chasing the next promotion or the stable paycheck. This one really hit me. It forced me to stop and actually think about what made me happy, not what made me comfortable.
Putting It Into Practice
So, armed with these vague but potent ideas, I decided to actually do something. Not just think about it, but act. I started small, you know? Like, really small.
- First, I tackled the decluttering bit. I went through my work commitments and really scrutinized them. Were they essential? Did they align with my main goals? Was I genuinely excited about them? The answer to a surprising number of them was ‘no.’ So, for the first time in ages, I started saying ‘no’ to new requests that didn’t fit. It felt incredibly awkward at first, almost selfish, but man, the relief after declining those extra tasks was immense. It freed up mental space I didn’t even know I was missing.
- Then, I started listening to that gut feeling. It was telling me to explore, to look beyond the obvious. Instead of just searching for the same job title at a different company, I started researching entirely different fields. Stuff I’d always found interesting but never thought of as a ‘career path.’ I even signed up for a beginner’s online course in something totally unrelated to my current industry – just to see if it sparked anything. It was a low-stakes way to test the waters.
- I also began actively reconnecting with my values. I made a list, really thought about what truly motivated me. It wasn’t just money or status; it was about creativity, problem-solving, and making a tangible impact. I started seeking out colleagues who shared these values and had deeper conversations with them, not just about work, but about purpose and passion.
The Outcome and Reflection
By the end of November, I hadn’t made a dramatic career switch, nope. That wouldn’t be very Virgo of me – too impulsive! But I had done something arguably more important: I had shifted my mindset and started building momentum for change. I felt like I was in the driver’s seat again, not just a passenger. I had a clearer picture of what I didn’t want, and a burgeoning sense of what I did want. I had even quietly reached out to a few people in my new-found area of interest, just for informational chats. Nothing solid, but connections were being made.
That month, November 2019, was like a quiet internal revolution. It taught me that sometimes, those little nudges, even from something as general as ‘career tips,’ can be the catalyst for a much-needed personal audit. It showed me the power of really taking stock, trusting that often-ignored inner voice, and having the courage to make small, consistent adjustments. Those seemingly minor actions eventually led to some pretty big shifts in my career path in the months and years that followed. It’s funny how a bit of reflection and a few simple ideas can completely change your trajectory, isn’t it?
