Written by Federica Salvi

When caught up in the day-to-day at work, it's easy to lose sight of what's happening around you and within you.

Taking the time to check in with yourself can reveal a lot. Despite some good days, when you take a closer look, you may notice that the overall trend is negative. Is it just a phase? Is it a matter of time? Maybe it’s normal?

Even though you keep asking yourself these questions, deep down you know it’s not just a phase. You’ve tried waiting (months, years?) and it doesn’t seem to do the trick.

What’s happening?

Here are 10 signs that might show you are parked on a career plateau:

• You know exactly what the day ahead will bring; it’s been the same for quite a while with minimal variation.

• You complete your tasks on autopilot with your eyes closed. You’ve been in the role so long that you are over-competent.

• You feel disengaged and bored, rolling your eyes way too frequently (yes, I see you 👀). You might procrastinate because work feels tedious.

• You’ve stopped learning; you are not growing or advancing.

• You lack a sense of accomplishment and achievement.

• You feel like you are part of the furniture.

• You’re making cynical comments about colleagues, leadership, the organization, etc.

• Your crankiness has also been noted outside of work.

• You can’t wait for Friday evening, the next bank holiday, summer, and Christmas.

• You keep thinking: Is this really it? This is not what you imagined when you were 20 years old. And it definitely isn’t what you want for the next 30 years.

Do you recognize some of these signs? All of them? Are you experiencing something different that’s not on the list?

Being parked on a career plateau for a long time can be tricky. You could keep going a while longer. My question is: at what cost?