The Ultimate Work Wobble
- Carrie Barber
- Jan 7, 2025
- 3 min read
The Ultimate Work Wobble: When Your Career Leaves You Questioning Everything
We don’t talk about it enough, but it happens to so many of us. You work hard, climb the ladder, tick all the boxes of success, and then one day… you wobble and you wobble hard.
Maybe its been a quiet nag for sometime, and when it started you didn't even think it was an issue, yet suddenly you are asking: Is this really it?
Or maybe it hits you all at once, after a big life change or a moment of reflection. Suddenly, the job you once poured your heart into feels heavy. The goals you were so focused on don’t light you up anymore. You start to question the very foundation of what you’ve built.
This is what we call the ultimate work wobble.
Why Work Wobbles Happen
Work wobbles can come out of nowhere or creep up slowly over time. However they emerge there is something common in how they present - they show up in your emotions consistently - even when you don't want them to. They tend to show up when the things that once defined you—your career, achievements, or routine—no longer feel like they fit. Maybe you’ve been running on autopilot for years, only to realise you’ve lost touch with what really matters.
Here are a few common reasons people find themselves in a wobble:
Burnout: The pace you’ve been keeping just isn’t sustainable anymore.
Life Shifts: Big changes like redundancy, health scares, divorce, or even kids leaving home can leave you feeling unmoored.
Misalignment: The job you once loved doesn’t match who you’ve become.
Unfulfilled Dreams: The quiet tug of something you’ve always wanted to do—but never felt brave enough to pursue.
No matter how it happens, the ultimate wobble can feel unsettling. It shakes your confidence, challenges your sense of identity, and leaves you wondering, What next and how the hell can I work it out?
What the Ultimate Work Wobble Really Means
Here’s the thing: wobbles aren’t failures. They’re not signs that you’re doing something wrong. They’re signals. They’re your mind and heart’s way of saying, Something needs to change, please listen to me!
A wobble is an invitation. It’s a chance to pause and ask yourself the big questions:
Who am I, beyond my job title or my responsibilities?
What truly matters to me?
What do I want the next chapter of my life to look like?
It’s not easy, and it’s not always comfortable, but these moments can be the most transformative of your life. Like a caterpillar to a butterfly.
How to Navigate the Ultimate Work Wobble
If you’re wobbling right now, take a deep breath. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure it all out at once, in fact you can't. Here are a few steps to start finding your way:
Pause and Reflect: Give yourself permission to slow down and really listen to what your mind and body are telling you. Journaling, walking, or simply sitting quietly can help you reconnect with yourself.
Define What Matters: Take stock of your values, priorities, and dreams. What feels out of alignment? What’s missing? Try out free training to help you with this - (if you haven't already)
Get Support: Talk to people you trust or seek guidance from a specialist, coach or mentor. Sometimes, an outside perspective can help you see the path forward more clearly and help you work through some of the difficult emotions.
Take Small Steps: You don’t have to make drastic changes overnight. Start with small, intentional actions that bring you closer to what you want.
Be Kind to Yourself: Wobbles are part of being human. It’s okay to feel uncertain—it’s all part of the process of growth and change.
Your Wobble is the Start of Something New
The ultimate work wobble can feel overwhelming, but it’s also a powerful opportunity. It’s a moment to realign your life with who you are now and what you want for the future.
If this resonates with you, know that you don’t have to face it alone. At Work Wobble, we’re here to guide you through the uncertainty and help you find clarity, confidence, and balance.
Our team consists of people just like you—those who’ve faced the wobble, embraced the uncertainty, and reimagined their lives into something meaningful and fulfilling. Trust us, no matter how overwhelming or financially challenging it feels right now, there is always a way forward. You’re not alone in this, and together, we’ll help you find your next chapter.
Because even when you’re wobbling, there’s always a way forward.
Let’s take that step together.
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