Are you ready to Downshift?

Are you wondering where your life and career are heading?
Do you have the post holiday blues?
Are you thinking about doing something different?
Why don't you switch off from your current job and do something more fulfulling instead?

Simply complete the following scorecard to see whether you're ready to take the plunge and downshift:

	Rate out of 10	Weighted score
How satisfied are you with your quality of life? Score out of 10 where 1 is 'very satisfied' and 10 is 'not satisfied at all'
Have you ever discussed the prospect of doing a more fulfilling job with your partner/close friends? Score out of 10 where 1 is 'never' and 10 is 'all the time'
Are you happy living with your current worklife stress? Score out of 10 where 1 is 'happy' and 10 is 'not happy at all'
Do you have a skill that would make self-employment an easy option? Score out of 10 where 1 is 'not at all' and 10 is 'definitely'
Do you enjoy office life? Score out of 10 where 1 is 'definitely' and 10 is 'not at all'
Do you enjoy the social element of work? Score out of 10 where 1 is 'definitely' and 10 is 'not at all'
Do you dream of moving somewhere more rural? Score out of 10 where 1 is 'never' and 10 is 'all the time'
Do you have ties that mean moving location would be difficult? Score out of 10 where 1 is 'many ties' and 10 is 'none at all'
Do you have any financial commitments that mean you could not live on a lower income? Score out of 10 where 1 is 'lots of commitments' and 10 is 'none at all'
Do you have a shortlist of ideas that you might be able to turn into a money making proposition? Score out of 10 where 1 is 'no ideas' and 10 is 'lots of ideas'
Do you day dream about owning a large house with a flashy car in the drive? Score out of 10 where 1 is 'all the time' and 10 is 'never'
Do you see yourself doing the same or a similar job in five years time? Score out of 10 where 1 is 'yes, definitely' and 10 is 'not a chance'
Do you dream about emigrating in the near future? Score out of 10 where 1 is 'never' and 10 is 'all the time'
Do you dream about having more spare time even if it means less money? Score out of 10 where 1 is 'never' and 10 is 'all the time'
Do you dream about spending more time with your family? Score out of 10 where 1 is 'never' and 10 is 'all the time'
Are you fed up with a long commute to work? Score out of 10 where 1 is 'no' and 10 is 'absolutely fed-up'
	Total
0 - 70: Downshifting is not an option. You enjoy a fast paced lifestyle and are fulfilling your current ambitions. You may have minimal personal commitments or high financial responsibilities. Now would not be a good time financially or personally to downshift. Instead the time is ripe for you to realise your career goals, build upon your skills, increase your financial status and enjoy your current lifestyle! 71 - 140: Downshifting is unadvisable for now. You enjoy work life, and are focussed on career success. Your financial commitments may be considerable and you could not afford to reduce your income at this stage. You may also be aware of the need to continue full-time work in order to develop more financial stability, transferable skills and progress in your career path. One day you dream of living in the country with a flash car in the drive, or following other possible lifetime ambitions, but downshifting is not a realistic option for you to follow through at present. 141 - 210: Downshifting is something you should look into. One day you would like to seriously consider a change of lifestyle to one with more recreation time, and less work life stress. Running your own business or working part-time is something you would certainly like to consider as a possibility in a few years down the line. However, you are content with work life at present and are still thinking about the options that may be open to you in the future. Don�t leave it too late though, downshifting is definitely an option to find out more about and start planning for. 211 - 280: Downshifting is something to seriously consider. You may be becoming dissatisfied with work life stresses and strains and feel there must be more to life than commuting, working, eating and sleeping. Increasingly you crave more time to spend with your family, or to enjoy a more relaxed and less pressurised lifestyle. You have the financial stability to downshift, and are excited by the prospect of being able to do so. There is no reason why you shouldn�t consider downshifting as a real alternative and a step in the right direction to a new life. 281 - 350: What are you waiting for? You are the perfect candidate for downshifting. The thrill of the rat-race has dulled and you probably feel you�ve fulfilled your career aspirations. Now is the time to realise other dreams such as moving abroad or to the countryside, spending more time with family and friends, or even becoming your own boss and choosing when you wish to work. You are financially able and prepared for a downshift and should waste no time in starting to live the dream!