During childhood and adolescence, most people experience a few transitions that offer them a fresh start. There are opportunities to make new friends when you start middle school and high school, and you also have to adapt to new environments.
Once you reach adulthood, however, it’s more likely you’ll feel pressured to settle down. Many adults strive to establish their career, start a family, and buy a home. Others opt to return to school, change jobs, or relocate. These signs could indicate you’re ready for a fresh start. Use the tips that follow to make meaningful changes and feel fulfilled.
Discontentment
It could be time for a change if you aren’t satisfied with your routine. If you’re struggling to get up in the morning and feeling frustrated, you could be stuck in a rut. There are several reasons you may feel this way. You could be working in a dead-end job with no opportunities for advancement. Lack of recognition and advancement could also fuel resentment towards your current employer.
You could feel trapped due to personal issues. If your relationship has settled into a predictable pattern, you may feel your partner takes you for granted. Issues at work and home can cause depression, affecting your sex drive, and cause more issues between you and your partner.
If you’ve lived in the same location for a long time, negative memories may surface at many places you visit. A neighborhood cafe or bowling alley may remind you of a prior partner. Local schools may make memories of being bullied resurface. Although familiarity can be comforting at times, it could also make you feel trapped. If you live in the town you grew up in, you may also be frustrated because it’s hard to establish your own identity. People may associate you with your family. If you had a successful and popular relative, you might feel like you’re frequently compared to them, which can be discouraging. If you want to avoid people when you go out or find you’re staying home more often to avoid running into neighbors who want to talk about your relatives, you might be ready for a fresh start.
Unhealthy Behaviors
Feeling trapped or unsatisfied can lead to harmful behaviors. Comparisons to peers or siblings can cause some people to develop an unhealthy body image, leading to anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. People who are anorexic have an irrational fear of being overweight and exercise excessively. People with bulimia are also afraid of gaining weight. Bulimics typically follow binge eating with strategies to prevent weight gain, such as purging the food from their system by vomiting. Bulimics may also follow binge eating with prolonged fasting. If you’re struggling with your self-image or affected by an eating disorder, Google “eating disorder therapy” finds a qualified therapist and starts treatment. Experienced eating disorder therapists use cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and interpersonal process therapy to help you identify what caused your eating disorder, change your self-image, and develop healthy behaviors.
Your discontentment could lead to other unhealthy, addictive behaviors, such as consuming alcohol, taking drugs, or gambling. If boredom compels you to engage in potentially harmful activities frequently, it could indicate you need to make some changes in your life.
Safety
You could benefit from a fresh start if you’re feeling unsafe in your current environment. Several factors could cause you to feel this way.
Environmental issues could cause stress. If destructive storms affect the area you live in, you may want to relocate to a safer area. Mental health experts have determined that people who live through hurricanes and other extreme weather events may have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or other mental health issues. If the advent of storm season causes stress, it might be time to make some changes.
You may also feel unsafe due to changes in your neighborhood. If criminal activity increases in your area and prompts you to take extra security measures, it could be a sign that it’s time to move.
Your safety could also be affected by peers. If you live in a small community with limited recreational options, you might feel pressured to engage in harmful activities to socialize with people your age. If you feel compelled to change your behavior to fit in, you might need a fresh start.
Feeling Unfulfilled
Feeling restless can also indicate you need to make some changes in your life. If you’re tired of engaging in the same activities every day or seeing the same people, it could be a sign you’re dissatisfied. You don’t have to be in a dead-end job or a relationship that’s on life support to feel this way, either. People who have great careers and received promotions may no longer feel satisfied with their accomplishments. If you find yourself craving new challenges, you might be ready to make some changes in your life.
Your priorities could also shift. Sometimes, people start out pursuing financial security and later feel unfulfilled by material possessions. You might develop an interest in serious issues, such as climate change or civil rights, and want to spend your time addressing societal issues instead of accruing wealth.
Starting Fresh
Moving to a new location is one way to secure your fresh start. Google “moving companies in Maryland” to locate professional movers in your area who can transport your belongings to your new home. Whether you move across town or the United States, moving will change your daily routine and physical environment. Professional movers can also remove junk from your property and store your goods if you need to vacate your current residence before your new home is available.
You can also work on changing your mindset by exploring new opportunities in your current community. Whether you’ve always wanted to learn to play the guitar or do yoga, you can take classes to develop new skills. Pursuing personal goals can be an effective way to change your free time and develop friendships with people with common interests.
Find ways to focus on the positive aspects of your life. Google “Lisa Whelchel books” and spend time reading uplifting content. You might not be able to physically move to a new location for several reasons, including family obligations or financial concerns, but promoting positive thinking can help you start fresh in your current location.
Explore new work opportunities. You could take an evening or online classes to expand your skills and qualify for advancement in your current workplace, or you could apply for opportunities with other companies. You don’t have to change jobs if you apply, but looking for new jobs and going through the application process ensures you have options and won’t feel trapped in your current job.
Discontentment, unhealthy behaviors, safety issues, and lack of fulfillment could indicate you need a fresh start. Changing your career, relationships, or physical environment can help you break out of a rut and start a new chapter in your life. You can also benefit from identifying opportunities you could pursue when you’re ready, expanding your skills, exploring your interests, and focusing on positive aspects of your life.