Far too many people drag themselves out of bed every day and go to jobs they despise. They figure there’s no other option, because they’ve got to pay the bills, so they continue to endure, day after day, month after month, and year after year. If you can relate, adopt the mindset that life is too short to suffer through a job you hate, so you may as well start working your way towards a job you love.

Evaluate Potential Obstacles

Identify the main things that are holding you back from having your dream job. Are you afraid you might not find a job that’s better? Do you believe your current lack of skills makes it so you can’t work in your preferred field? Maybe you think if you were to change careers, loved ones and peers would ridicule that decision.

Regardless of the specifics, target those worries and work to conquer them. The sooner you figure out what’s preventing you from getting where you truly want to be, the easier it’ll be to start defying those obstacles.

Get Advice From a Person Who Has the Job You Want

No matter what your ideal job is, it’s a good idea to talk to someone who’s currently working in that career and can let you know what it’s really like. You can undoubtedly learn a lot on your own by reading websites, magazines, and books, but those things can’t compare to the first-hand knowledge of a person in the industry.

Once you have that resource, ask the individual all the questions you can think of, and encourage them to give you the nitty-gritty details in a no-holds-barred kind of way. If the person is hesitant to give you such a realistic view, assure him or her you’d much rather hear how it really is early on rather than after you get deep into the new career and discover it’s not for you.

Determine Whether Further Education Is Necessary

If you’re really serious about getting on track to pursue a new career, research whether you’ll need to go back to school to learn the necessary skills. The good news is, even if you do, you may not have to attend in-person classes.

Many reputable organizations offer online coursework that allows students to learn from anywhere at any time. The University of Cincinnati is one such educational institution, and it features courses that allow people to become qualified as certified nurse midwives, or health care specialists who are experts on women’s health, among many other degree types.

Consider Your Ideal Work Environment

Another thing that’ll help you move closer to the job you really want is thinking about your ideal workplace. Keep in mind that some people carry out jobs in unexpected places. For example, Maryville University, another provider of online nursing degrees, published an interesting article about where nurse practitioners work. They’re commonly found in hospitals, but also college clinics, health departments, and home health agencies.

Hopefully these tips prove that casting aside a job you hate in favor of working in a career you genuinely love is a goal within your grasp. You have the power to enjoy a brighter, more satisfying workplace future.