Our brain tries its best to protect us at all costs. As it handles so much at once, a lot of the tasks the brain completes are repetitive; it becomes programmed to operate on autopilot to stop us from thinking too hard about everyday activities. But when something new comes along – something our brain isn’t used to or knows little about – it can trigger a level of anxiety. 

This can be exactly what happens when we’re starting a new job or changing careers. Humans are hardwired to be risk averse – it’s something that has been instilled in us since the Stone Age. And with career change comes a sense of risk. The fear of the unknown sets off our fight-or-flight response, and that’s why, when big life changes come our way, we often experience excitement underpinned with a sense of anxiety or worry. 

But, as we know, our minds can play tricks on us. It’s only trying to protect us but life is all about change and we should embrace it.

Remember your worth 

A lot of our anxiety is around the fear of the unknown, and it can lead us to question ourselves and our abilities. We might question if we’ve made the right decision in starting a new job or changing career, or whether we have the right knowledge, skills, and abilities to be successful. But a lot of the time, we are much more capable than we give ourselves credit for.  

At times such as these, it is important to remind yourself of your worth; one way you can do this is by writing down a list of your skills and achievements. Recognising what you’ve achieved in the past will remind you that you are qualified for a new challenge. Remember – if you’ve managed to get through the things that have caused you stress before, you can certainly do it again. 

Change your mindset 

As we are constantly using previously-stored knowledge to help us deal with new information, our expectations will generally drive our future experiences – or at least our hopes for them. When changing careers, if you’ve not enjoyed your previous jobs, you may fear this new path may be no different.

But our internal monologue is not entirely true, and our capabilities are not set in stone. By adopting a growth mindset, you can change the way you see the peaks and troughs of life. A growth mindset will mean you can begin to see your mistakes as opportunities for learning. Facing change becomes so much easier when you think of it in terms of growth and learning, as opposed to seeing your identity as a fixed, unchangeable set of traits and skills. 

Develop an action plan  

To ease any worries, coming up with a thorough plan can help to keep you on track and organised. List the things you want to achieve and how you think you will go about it. Writing down the reasons why you want to change career also serves as a good reminder as to why you’re considering a new role. This will not only get you ready to think practically about the change, but it will also help you to see how it will happen in a realistic manner. List out how your current skillset will help you, alongside the new skills you wish to learn and how you will go about this.

Get the information you need  

A successful career change is about tapping into the assets surrounding you, and a lot of the time, it’s about connecting and networking to learn how best to set off in your new career. When you buy a house, you can benefit from the expertise of a mortgage adviser; when you are ready to have a child, you may seek the advice of a doctor. The same thinking applies when changing career – seeking out help and advice will get you on the right track, as well as answer any questions that may be causing worry. 

Remind yourself of your end goal  

Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in what others may think of you or of what will happen if you fail. We may think this way because of a lack of confidence or because we are jumping in too deep, too quickly. 

Setting smaller goals can help our brain adapt to the changes we are embracing, while giving us the confidence we need to reach our end goal. Small steps could include volunteering for a few days to give you a taste of the career you may want to go into. It may also include completing short courses to learn more about the industry, or even watching videos to pick up some skills and give you an idea of what you may have to learn.  

When embarking on a career change, it’s worth remembering there are these simple steps to overcome the obstacles our protective brains may be throwing our way.

Dr. Sophie Ward is the Deputy Head of Psychology at Arden University