Changing careers is something that could be of great benefit to any worker, especially if one finds that he or she is stuck in a rut or if a person is not getting challenged in one’s current line of work. However, making a change can be a terrifying experience for anyone who’s concerned if it’s the right decision to make the switch.

The fear of switching careers can be attributed to the fact that in the past, it was common for people to commit to one career for the rest of their lives. Everyone knows someone like this—consider the teacher who did her job for four decades before retiring, or the accountant who worked in one office for his entire career.

However, according to Refinery 29, committing to one career is hardly the norm nowadays. The average American is said to stay in a role for about four and a half years before moving on to a different career path.

Here are the reasons why you should consider a career change in 2017.

Job satisfaction contributes to a person’s overall happiness

Being paid well at a job shouldn’t be a person’s only motivation to get up in the morning. When a person is happy and satisfied at his job, his overall quality of life improves. Think about it: you spend a big portion of your life working, so to feel happier in your life, your job must make you feel happy and content. Studies also show that productivity increases dramatically when one is happy at his job.

You can grow as a professional when you make the switch

A person’s career becomes stagnant when there is no growth in the workplace. Workers need to be challenged in order to grow, and there must be opportunities in the workplace to enable him to flourish in his chosen career.

You can put your skills to good use when you make the change

Startups often value workers with a variety of skill sets. Rather than getting pigeonholed in just one role for your entire career, the skills that you’ve picked up over the years can be of good use somewhere else.

You can pursue your passion

If you’ve always been passionate about something outside your normal job, changing careers will allow you to pursue your passion and get paid for something that you love to do. For instance, if you’re stuck in an office desk but you absolutely love and have a knack for organizing events, then this could be the perfect time for you to switch gears.

For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on how stay-at-home parents can earn extra money.