With the average person spending over 1/3 of their life at work, it makes sense that you should be doing something that you absolutely love. But if you’re stuck in a ho-hum job within a snooze-worthy career, it’s time to take action and pursue your passion professionally. Here are five tips on how to accomplish it. 

Discover your passion. By day, you’re a math teacher. But what you really yearn to do is create Project Runway-worthy garments that will have Heidi Klum swooning. Figure out what you love doing—and would do even if no one ever paid you for your services. That’s your passion. Now, let’s find out how to pursue it.

Connect with a mentor. You love decorating cakes, but without knowing how to advertise your tasty treats, you’re concerned that your bottom line is increasing—literally. Finding a career mentor who can show you the ways in which you can turn your passion into a proven profit. Learning from someone who has already achieved success within your desired field will motivate you to keep working until you do, too.

Get schooled. Sure, passion is a huge factor in getting you towards the job of your dreams, but it alone won’t land you a job. So find a local school where you can take some courses after work or even online classes that you can log into after the kids are in bed. Learning the ins and outs of the potential industry you want to work in has a few benefits. Not only will you learn the tips and tricks you’ll need to be successful in your new career, but you’ll also discover if you want to truly pursue your passion in a professional way, or simply stick with it as a hobby.

Start small. You’d love to dive right into the world of editing, but with your background in marketing, it’s unlikely you’ll land a plum position right away. It’s a good idea to start small (but dream big) when entering any new field, especially one that you’re passionate about. While it may seem like a step down—especially if you’ve held managerial positions in your past work experience—it’s just the first steps you’ll need to take in order to launch your new career. 

Take your time. Once you’ve decided on what you’d like to do as a new career, you’re going to feel impatient as you reinvent your career—and yourself. But instead of thinking how long it will take before you’re gainfully employed (and pursuing your passion), take time to enjoy the journey instead. After all, it will take time to create a footing in your new career, but in the end, it will be so much more worth it than accepting any old position.

There’s absolutely no reason to dread going into work every day. Pursuing your passion professionally will not only make you happier, but it will allow you to find your true purpose—and a career that you’ll love.

Jennifer Parris writes about career topics for FlexJobs.com. Working Mother Media and FlexJobs have partnered to help workingmother.com readers find flexible work solutions – such as telecommuting, freelance, part-time and flexible schedule jobs –  for themselves. Learn more here.