The start of a new year tends to be a time of reflection – which includes looking at where you are in your career. You might feel motivated to do something new, or more challenging, in 2025. Alternatively, you might want to slow down a bit.
If you’re not 100% happy with your job, you’re not alone. SEEK’s Workplace Happiness Index found 65% of New Zealand workers are happy at work, with roughly a third feeling neutral or unhappy.
Though it’s normal for your work life to have ups and downs, you could be in career limbo if you regularly feel dissatisfied.
“Career limbo is when people feel like they’re in a rut and unsure of what to do next,” says Leah Lambart, Career Coach at Relaunch Me. “It’s when you start doubting if your current role is the right one for you. Usually, people say they feel stuck or have lost motivation.”
While you might think career limbo only affects those later in their work lives, it can happen at any point. “It varies a lot,” says Lambart. “I work with people in their early 20s who’ve only been in a role for two or three years and feel this way, and people who have been in a job for 10 or 20 years then start thinking ‘I'm not sure if this is for me anymore.’”
How do you know if you’re in ‘career limbo’? According to Lambart, the signs include:
While it’s normal to have these feelings on occasion, if they pop up more regularly and impact your day-to-day wellbeing it might be a sign of career limbo.
Although there are some similarities to burnout, there are a few important distinctions, Lambart explains. “Someone who’s experiencing burnout probably works ridiculously long hours, feels overwhelmed all the time, and doesn’t have time to do other things like eating well or exercising. With career limbo they’re not necessarily working those long hours or under a lot of stress but still feel a lack of motivation.”
What can you do to overcome career limbo? Here are Lambart’s tips for when you’re feeling stuck.
Ask yourself why you feel this way. It could be that the work itself doesn't interest you, you don’t feel recognised, or maybe your values aren't aligned with the organisation anymore. In some cases, it could be external factors in your personal life or simply a lack of time off to rest and recharge. Sometimes you might just need a good holiday.
People often feel stuck when they don’t get to do what you’re good at. Positive psychology research says if you work with your strengths, you’re more likely to be motivated, engaged, and energised at work. Consider if there are any strengths you aren’t using – for example, if you’re a strong writer but aren’t currently writing in your job.
Before you think about changing jobs, consider job ‘crafting’ – changing your current role to motivate and energise you more. Can you speak to your manager about new opportunities related to your strengths, like joining a new project?
Sometimes people feel isolated when they have these thoughts and don’t know where to go for advice. Perhaps you have friends, peers, a mentor or trusted manager who you can speak to and identify what you do and don’t enjoy about your current role, and what might change that.
A big factor in feeling bored and stuck is being mentally unstimulated through lack of learning. You could do an online course, attend uni or a polytechnic, or even learn something unrelated to work. If you’re not doing any extracurriculars in your spare time, consider taking an art class once a week or getting involved in a community group. Learning something new increases confidence, gives you the chance to try different things, upskill and stay motivated.
If you go through all of this and still feel it’s not making a difference then it could be time to take action, whether that’s finding a new job or making a bigger career switch. Sometimes a fresh start or new direction is exactly what you need to get back on track.
Source: SEEK’s Workplace Happiness Index 2024. Published February 2025.