Stop waiting for someone to tell you what to do next in your work life – it’s up to you

We are living through a time of collective change.

Many like many people I speak with you might feel tired, low on energy, anxious, or just… stuck. After months (or years) of uncertainty, unexpected changes, and rapid shifts, it’s only natural to hesitate before making big decisions about your work life.

But here’s the truth: you don’t have to wait for certainty to start moving forward.

This article will help you notice the signs of overwhelm in your work life, and most importantly, show you how to shift from waiting to testing, feeling, and courageously taking your next steps.

If you want more hands-on tools, I’ve also created a free career transition guide called From Overthinking to Spreading Your Wings — a lighthearted, practical workbook for women navigating career change with heart and courage.

You can download it anytime and start applying simple mindset shifts, journaling prompts, and self-coaching tools today.

Why you might feel overwhelmed and helpless in your work life

I believe much of our struggle right now comes from the sheer speed of change. The global pandemic, climate crises, wars, political divides, technological leaps they’ve amplified uncertainty in ways we can hardly keep up with.

And with that uncertainty often comes one painful feeling:

Helplessness.

When life feels unpredictable, we often stop making conscious decisions.

We tell ourselves:

“I’ll wait until things settle.”

“I just need someone to tell me the right move.”

“I don’t want to make the wrong choice right now.”

We sit back and wait. And wait. And wait.

I like to compare this to calling a customer service line and getting stuck in a long holding queue. You hear calming music, but you have no idea when someone will finally pick up. You stay there, waiting, unsure whether to hang up or keep holding on.

What happens when you wait too long? You lose connection to your own agency, your own intuition. Y

Remember you are not a passive bystander in your own life. You have the capacity to shape a work life that nourishes you.

You can take aligned action, even when you don’t have all the answers.

What if you let go of waiting?

Imagine hanging up the waiting call.

Imagine asking yourself:

• What if I stop overthinking and listen to my heart, body, and deeper knowing?

• What would I be doing?

• Who would I be becoming?

You are not just a thinking brain. You have a body and a soul that offer guidance but you need quiet and courage to hear them.

It’s okay to test, not just know

A new decision does not mean locking yourself into something forever.

I recently caught up with a friend who left her corporate job, sold her house, and set off to travel and work independently with her partner. Ten months later, she accepted a part-time role with a company, moving back to a new city in their home country.

Was that a failure? Not at all. She learned that self-employment wasn’t the right fit for her long term, and now she’s stepping into a fresh chapter with clarity.

Every phase of your work life teaches you something valuable, even when you change course.

How to start shaping your own work life journey

Here are some steps to help you get unstuck and begin moving forward:

1. Recognize the waiting queue

Notice how often you feel frustrated with your work life but continue the same routines. How often do you distract yourself with quick fixes like social media, TV, or news scrolling instead of tuning in?

2. Unplug and listen in

Remove outside noise when you can. Turn off your phone, go for a walk, spend time in nature. Let your mind wander. Even if it feels restless at first, stay with it.

3. Reflect on past resilience

Write down the tough situations you’ve navigated in your work life. What strengths, skills, or insights did you gain? You are already more capable than you give yourself credit for.

4. Connect with your bold self

Remember a time you felt confident, authentic, or bold. Or envision how it would feel like if you embodied the boldest version of yourself: How would you think, speak, carry yourself?

Ask yourself: “If I weren’t afraid of change or uncertainty, what small next step would I take?”

5. Surround yourself with uplifting people aka expanders

Seek out people in your network who take responsibility for shaping their work lives. Ask them what they’ve learned. Build or join a circle where you feel seen and inspired.

Calibrate how much time you spend with people who are in the passive waiting queue and talk about things outside of their control most of the time.

6. Reclaim your energy

We all have a limited amount of time and energy. Notice how much goes into outside noise or people’s expectations and how much you can reclaim for projects, relationships, and dreams that truly matter to you.

Your next step

If you want practical support to help you stop overthinking and move forward with confidence, download my free career transition guide: From Overthinking to Spreading Your Wings.

It includes

✔ The four growth zones you’ll move through in any transition

✔ Mindset shifts to help you let go of fear and perfectionism

✔ Journaling prompts and self-coaching exercises you can start using today

✔ Gentle encouragement to help you trust yourself and take aligned action

You can download it here and start today:

👉 Download the Free Career Transition Guide

And if you’re ready to go deeper, I invite you to join the Heart@Work Summer Camp Edition: a supportive, inspiring space where women come together to explore what’s next in their work lives, connect meaningfully, and move forward with courage.

👉 Learn more and join us here: Heart@Work Summer Camp Edition 🌞 🌊𓇼

Final reflection

As you step away from this article, pause and take a quiet breath.

Look back at the six simple practices we explored:

• Noticing where you’re stuck in waiting

• Unplugging from distractions

• Remembering your past resilience

• Connecting with your bolds self

• Seeking out uplifting people

• Reclaiming your energy for what truly matters

Which one feels most alive for you right now?

You don’t need to do all of them at once. You don’t need a perfect plan.

Just pick one.

One small next step.

One gentle shift that helps you reconnect with your own wisdom and move forward in a way that feels true to you.

You are more capable and resilient than you may realize. And you don’t have to navigate this alone.

With love,

Eva

About Eva

Eva Eulenstein is an international coach and facilitator helping women navigate change, connect to their authentic selves, and create meaningful, fulfilling work lives. She combines heart-centered coaching with practical tools to help you move forward with clarity and courage.

Connect with Eva on Instagram, LinkedIn, or book a free Chemistry Call to explore working together.