What’s more important in life than having a successful career? A lot of people would say happiness, but if you think about it, the two go hand-in-hand. To have a successful career, you need to be highly educated and keep up with current events in your industry so that you know what to expect as far as future jobs go. Being an educated person will also help you lead a happier life because you’ll learn how to deal with all the emotions and hardships that come with life, which can be applied to your career as well.
1) Don’t Regret College Majors
Sure, there are some careers where you absolutely need a college degree. However, there are many others that don’t require one. If you’re considering going back to school but still aren’t sure if it’s for you, ask yourself why you want a degree. Perhaps learning more about career opportunities will help you make a better-informed decision about what direction to take your life and your career. While many people start university without knowing exactly what they want to do, try not to let inertia carry you through four years of education without asking yourself questions like: What could I study? Why do I want to go back to school? Will a degree really improve my chances of finding a great job? Is now the right time for me? Don’t get so caught up in planning for other things (your major, etc.) that you forget about having fun along the way!
2) Build Relationships
Relationships matter more than you might think—to your business and to your personal happiness. Networking isn’t just about advancing your career; it’s also about making sure that you stay happy in your day-to-day life. Find time to build relationships at work, but don’t forget to schedule some time for yourself to build new friendships outside of work. This is a key way to lead a balanced, healthy life while still excelling professionally. The truth is, we all have 24 hours in a day; it’s how we spend those hours that matters most. You might feel like you aren’t doing enough at any given moment, but if you take care of yourself along with your professional pursuits, great things will come. Just remember: what gets measured gets managed.
3) Set Goals
It can be easy to get caught up in the day-to-day minutiae of life, but that’s not going to lead you anywhere—especially if it doesn’t line up with your long-term goals. Before you even think about your job or education, make sure you know what you want out of life. Goal setting is a powerful process that helps direct your professional (and personal) endeavors and gives you a framework for evaluation at any given moment. Do something every month to assess how close you are to achieving your goals. If something isn’t working, change it!​ ​
why career leading a happy life? Because we only live once and we should enjoy each moment since no one knows when he/she will die. Don’t take things too seriously because they might not happen as planned.
4) Take Risks
In a survey conducted by American Express, 1/3 of Americans said that if they could redo their education, they would. The most popular way to change up your career is through night school and distance learning. We’re talking business management, writing, graphic design—even piloting planes! Depending on your schedule and current obligations (kids, job), you may be able to take evening classes or attend during free time outside of work. Taking risks can get your career off track—but it can also re-energize and reignite you. Plus, it’s never too late to go back to school! Are you itching for more info? Check out 5 great resources below. Are we missing one? Leave us a comment below! Education Portal EdFund OnlineU Best College Reviews Education Directory AAHE Internet Campus Western Governors University StudyBLUE Online Learning Classroom Cloud Top Ten Cool Schools No matter how you choose to grow, educate yourself with these top 10 amazing online schools to continue pursuing your dreams and passions while making it big in your chosen field!
5) Focus on the Big Picture
You may have a specific dream job in mind, but consider broader career goals before you settle on your ideal position. Think about where you want to be 5 or 10 years from now, and start taking steps today to get there. It’s not always easy to prioritize long-term goals over immediate rewards, but sacrificing some enjoyment today will help ensure success down the road. Take time at least once a year to plan out what you hope to accomplish professionally over several years. If you don’t know exactly what direction you want to go, that’s okay too; just writing down some possibilities can spark ideas later. (See also: How to Start Thinking Like an Entrepreneur)
6) Embrace New Opportunities
If you want to lead a successful career and still be happy, don’t let yourself get stuck in a rut. In order to keep challenging yourself, look for new opportunities with your company or find ways to take on more responsibility on your own—you may find that you enjoy these challenges even more than being a part of a team. Why do you want to become a teacher? Take some time and think about what impact teaching has had on your life. What sort of people have influenced you most as an educator? Who were they? What did they teach you that most sticks with you today? Think about how those examples apply to becoming an educator.
7) Talk About Your Goals
It’s easy to feel frustrated when you reach a career goal and realize that it doesn’t make you any happier. In these cases, a little talk therapy with yourself can be helpful. Spend some time thinking about what makes you happy and how reaching your career goals fits into that. If your goals don’t make you as happy as you thought they would, maybe it’s time to consider changing them so they do. The only way to find out if you will ever be satisfied is to figure out exactly what it is that will make you happy first. This isn’t meant to discourage you—in fact, it may turn out just fine if taking new steps forward leads toward meaningful happiness (versus empty excitement).