How to Know When it's Time to Make a Change

Because we simply aren't settling anymore

We’re fed many-a-lie about life timelines and the things we’re supposed to be aiming for. By the time you’re a 35+ year old woman, you’re supposed to have your dream career figured out, be married, have a some kids, and own some property. The reality is, I think it all ends up feeling like a prison, of sorts, for many.

I look around at a lot of 40+ year old women and it seems like those who ticked all those boxes, are entering seasons of tearing it all down. And that’s not a bad thing at all. We are ever-evolving as humans. Our wants, needs and goals shift as we enter new phases of life. What was once the ideal, sometimes doesn’t look quite so rosy once you have it.

It’s easy to feel trapped by those big life markers. It’s easy to lose your sense of self amid the quest to do what we’re told. The shame of wanting something outside of that, of wanting more or just something different can weigh really, really heavy.

Aside from the career (and even that is ever-changing), I have none of those life markers and I must say, it doesn’t bother me one bit. I feel very lucky that they’ve never been things I’ve particularly chased, nor felt familial or societal pressure to go after. I’ve very much spent my life marching to the beat of my own drum. I’ve changed tack so many times in my life. I picked up and moved countries at 39, pretty much on a wing and a prayer. Sometimes life swirls up the perfect storm that leaves you no choice but to leap.

What I can tell you about big life changes is that they’re rarely easy, but even through the stress of them, there’s some calm centre in your gut that knows you’re on the right path.

But how do you know when it’s time to make a big change? From personal experience, here are some of the neon signs that always let me know change is a-brewing: