You’re here because you’re feeling stuck in your full-time job.

Your current job is draining your energy, leaving you stressed, and giving you barely enough time to think about—let alone act on—changing your career to one you truly want.

Maybe you’ve been saying to yourself, “There has to be more to life than this,” or “I just want to get my life back from work.” But you feel caught in an impossible catch-22, where time and energy are scarce resources. If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place.

Balancing a full-time job with planning a career change is tough. It’s like trying to fix a plane while flying it—it takes strategy, intentionality, and a whole lot of patience. But here’s the good news: it’s absolutely possible. And the fact that you’re reading this means you’ve already taken the first step.

In this article, I’ll cover actionable steps to help you manage your time and energy, set realistic goals, and stay focused as you make your career transition. Let’s dive in.

Set Limits on the Amount of Time You’ll Spend on Your Career Change

It’s easy to fall into the trap of feeling like you’re never doing enough to move your career change forward—because technically, you could always be doing more. But this mindset can lead to overwhelm, avoidance, and constant stress. Instead, decide upfront how much time you’re willing and able to commit each week.

Decide What “Enough” Looks Like for You

There’s no universal answer to how much time you should spend. The truth is, the more consistent time you commit, the faster your progress. But it’s also important to take your time and make thoughtful decisions. An extra three months spent in your current job won’t matter in the long run if it helps you find the right next step.

So, ask yourself: what’s realistic for me? Assume this process might take a year. What’s a sustainable amount of time to commit each week? 

As a general rule of thumb, I suggest committing anywhere from 1-3 hours per week. That being said, even 30 minutes is a great starting point if that’s what feels sustainable right now.

Why Aiming Lower Works Better

Set a time goal that’s on the lower side of what feels doable, rather than the higher side. I don’t want you to try and stretch yourself here, I simply want you to have a time goal taht supports you (rather than hinders you) to actually sit down and do the work to transition your career successfully.

By setting a lower, achievable goal, you’ll get the satisfaction of consistently hitting your target, which builds momentum and confidence. And if you have extra time one week, you can always do more. The key is to avoid burnout.

Make It Official

Once you’ve set your weekly time commitment, block it off in your calendar. Maybe it’s 30-minute sessions four times a week or two hours every Saturday morning. Communicate this plan to someone who can help keep you accountable, like a partner or a close friend. Let them know, “I’ll be working on my career change every Saturday from 10 am to 12 pm, so I’ll be unavailable.”

If you’re feeling stuck beyond the time pressures of working full-time, take my FREE Quiz: What’s Blocking Your Dream Career?, where you’ll uncover what’s holding you back and how to move forward.

Be Intentional with How You’re Spending Your Time

When you do carve out time, make sure you’re using it wisely. Without a clear plan, it’s easy to waste time scrolling through job boards or feeling stuck on where to start. It’s also harder to actually sit down and do the work required when you don’t even know what that work is, or how you want to make the best use of your set aside time. 

Here’s how to stay focused:

Outline Your Weekly Goals

Each week, decide what you want to accomplish. For example:

• Research and create a list of five ideal companies you’d love to work at.
• Reach out to two people on LinkedIn for informational interviews.
• Draft a new version of your resume tailored to your target role.
• Send personalized messages to 3 new people on LinkedIn who’ve recently posted that they’re hiring for a role you’re interested in.
• Spend 1 hour going through the coursework for your new certification.

Plan Your Time Slots in Advance

For every block of time you set aside, decide ahead of time what you’ll work on. For instance, if you have an hour, maybe 30 minutes is spent researching companies, and the other 30 minutes is spent reaching out to connections. Having a plan makes it easier to dive in and stay productive.

What to Avoid

Avoid spending endless hours browsing online job postings unless you’re researching specific roles or companies. Random scrolling often leads to frustration and doesn’t move you closer to your goals.

What to Focus On Instead

• Researching potential industries or companies that excite you.
• Networking with people in roles or industries you’re interested in.
• Tailoring your resume or LinkedIn profile to reflect your target direction.

(Pssssst… If You’re Still Not Sure How to Best Spend Your Time…)

A lot of people struggle with clarity on what they want during a career transition, as well as how to effectively and efficiently land the job once they do know. That’s where I can help. If you’re looking for more tailored support to help you gain career clarity and/or land your ideal job, check out how I can help you here.

Set Stronger Boundaries and Leave Work at Work

Let’s face it—finding time and energy for a career change is challenging when your current job is all-consuming. It might feel tempting to “quiet quit” and pull back entirely, but this isn’t always a viable option if you want to leave on good terms and secure a strong reference.

Protect Your Energy

If possible, set boundaries around your work. For example, stop checking emails after hours or say no to extra tasks that don’t align with your core responsibilities. Use this reclaimed time and mental energy to focus on your career transition.

If You Can’t Find the Time or Energy, Consider This…

Sometimes, no amount of time management or boundary-setting will fix the fundamental problem: your current job is draining you too much to make any progress. If that’s the case, it might be time to consider a temporary shift.

Enter the “In-the-Meantime” Job

An “in-the-meantime” job is a temporary role that allows you to leave your current job without the financial pressure of being unemployed. This type of job isn’t about advancing your career or aligning with your long-term goals—it’s about creating the space and energy you need to focus on your transition.

How to Find One

Start by calculating the bare minimum income you need to get by. Then, make a list of your transferable skills and consider roles that fit the bill. Examples could include freelance work, part-time consulting, temp positions, or even something outside your field like working at a coffee shop or delivering groceries. AI tools like ChatGPT can help brainstorm ideas, or you can ask friends and family for suggestions.

Real-Life Examples

• One of my clients was burned out after a decade in government work. He transitioned to driving for Uber and working as a local tour guide, which gave him the breathing room to explore new career options. 
• Another client left a full-time management consulting role and took on part-time consulting projects instead, freeing up time to focus on what she truly wanted next.

Worried About How This Will Look on Your Resume? Don’t Be!

An “in the meantime” job isn’t something that needs to go on your resume, especially if it isn’t relevant to what you’ll be doing next. And don’t worry about having a gap on your resume either—gaps aren’t the red flag they once were, and because we only list years of employment on our resume now (not months!), most gaps under a year long will go unrecognized.

Don’t be afraid to make bold moves like these in order to make your career change a success! Sometimes, long-term gains require a step back in the short-term.

Conclusion

Navigating a career change while balancing a full-time job isn’t easy, but it’s absolutely doable with the right strategies. Start by setting realistic limits on your time, being intentional about how you spend it, and creating stronger boundaries at work. And if all else fails, consider whether an “in-the-meantime” job could give you the breathing space you need.

Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Give yourself grace, stay consistent, and know that every step you take is bringing you closer to a career that truly fits.

{P.S. – If you’re feeling stuck beyond the time pressures of working full-time, take my FREE Quiz: What’s Blocking Your Dream Career?, where you’ll uncover what’s holding you back and how to move forward.}