You spent months agonizing over the decision. Should you stay or should you go? Well, after sleepless nights, countless conversations with friends, and some soul searching, you’ve finally nailed it down. Whether you’re going back to university for a graduate degree or seeking an entirely different career path, the decision to move on is a tough one. Perhaps tougher still is the realization that things aren’t going to change immediately. Don’t do anything rash! Check out these tips for staying motivated in the interim.

Prospective Grad Students and Career Changers: Fear Not, Change Is on the Way!

1. Make a List. Chances are you’ve got a few loose ends to tie up, applications to get in the mail, and financial obligations to consider. Take some time, and make a list. Be realistic; be honest. Going back to school, even for a short time, can be quite a financial bear. If you need to start saving now–or, more importantly, stop spending so much–figure out a reasonable amount that you can squirrel away. If you need to take the GRE, start studying. If you need letters of recommendation, start shooting off emails. The decision may have been difficult, but going through with it can be excruciating if you aren’t prepared.
2. Make Peace. Wherever you’re moving from, it’s fair to assume that you aren’t happy there–or you wouldn’t be dreaming of a better, different tomorrow. Sorry to bring this up, but you’re going to be there for a while longer yet. If you keep hating it, you’re only going to drive yourself insane, sop make peace with your current situation. Accept that you’re going to have to live with it for a while longer, but keep in mind, too, that it’s temporary. You’re on your way; don’t mess that up by melting down.
3. Begin the Countdown. If you know when the change is coming, start a countdown! First, putting the date on the calendar will be nothing short of encouraging (while you’re there, write down some of those deadlines, too). Once you start crossing days off that calendar, it’ll be easier to keep truckin’. Every single day that goes by, you’re closer to your goal. Tacking up little reminders is a good idea, too. You’d be surprised how much better your day is when you start it off by thinking about how close you’re getting to the big change.
4. Get to Work. You’ve got your list; you’ve got your deadlines. Start crossing off your to-dos. Rewrite that resume; prep that CV–whatever needs to get done, start doing it. Nothing makes the time go by like working towards a dream.

Career Change: Getting the Education You Need

Perhaps you’re still struggling with the decision to hightail it out your current situation. By taking an online course or two in the subject, you can gauge your interest in whatever subject or career you’re thinking about going into. These classes cater to the working individual. Flexible schedules and a work-at-you-own-pace attitude come along with many of these programs. A little time taking a class now could save you a future stuck in a different rut–or you might decide you love it and be that much closer to finishing up your career training.