4 tips for balancing your life and career

The ongoing pandemic has become the perfect example of how we often need to navigate the murky waters of life while all individually battling unique challenges. Whether you’re still a student eager to start a meaningful career, or you’re preparing to make a career change, the old saying by Allen Saunders stating that “life is what happens to us while we’re making other plans” perfectly describes our current struggles.

As if it’s not tough enough to find the ideal career path or carve one out on your own, the idea that we also need to make room and find time for other life battles can be befuddling. In case you’re still doing your best to manage these pandemic-related changes, here are a few actionable tips to help you handle a career change amidst of it all, while you also retain some level of normalcy in your life.

Create a daily schedule

Balancing your everyday responsibilities and enjoying life while you’re searching for a new job means that you need structure. Take an hour or two during the weekend to envision the week ahead. Perhaps you can create a workout routine and a diet plan to build up your immune system and preserve your wellbeing during these challenging times.

Investing in your wellness will help you find something you love, and not create a sense of urgency that you need to find something no matter the end result. Build a few hours a day of research into that same schedule. This will help you dedicate enough time to learning about potential careers and leave you with time for brainstorming, interviews, on-site visits, and simply thinking about different options before you make up your mind.

Look for new education opportunities

Even if you’ve already graduated from university, changing careers often means stepping back on the learning curve, especially if it’s something as specialised as a different medical field. If you’ve already earned a degree in medicine, specific skills require unique qualifications. Then again, some people who don’t have a medical degree might be good with helping in emergencies, which is where specialised emergency training helps to give your career a fresh direction.

If you wish to become a first responder and handle emergencies, for example, you cannot rely on the same procedures and methods that you’d use in regular hospital situations. That is why different EMT training certificates are created to ensure that you can qualify for a position in emergency care, especially in the middle of the ongoing pandemic. Such courses help prepare you for real world situations in which you might find yourself as an emergency medical technician, so they help you both with the stress of it all, and provide the medical knowledge you’d need to provide assistance.

Talk to people in different careers

Interviewing people in different fields of work will grant you a unique glimpse into their realities. You can only learn so much from literature. Try to have a few one-on-one conversations with people in fields that interest you, so that you can get to know their unique struggles and potential setbacks that you might face. The Professional Mentoring Platform is a great place to start!

Unique experiences such as those shared by freelancer and entrepreneur Gemma Clarke are brimming with tips and practical advice for graduates and those who are eager to make a change in their professional lives. Then again, understanding the ups and downs of being a nurse can help inspire or deter you from that career choice. Personal insights matter, so take time to do your homework!

Master the art of financial stability

Sometimes it’s about the long game. Perhaps you won’t be able to switch careers or positions just yet. There’s a good chance you’ll first need to obtain proper qualifications, find internships, and talk to experts. However, in the meantime, you cannot jeopardise your life and finances on account of a dream. Let your dream of a future career fuel your hard work today to advance your current career before you make the switch.

After all, no matter how vastly different your future ideal career might be, there will always be certain skills that will come in handy. From communication skills such as listening or writing reports, all the way to negotiating, keep honing those skills as you preserve and build up your financial security for the long haul.

Life will always get in the way, but if you start perceiving these obstacles as opportunities to grow, you’ll find your career change much easier to manage, despite any ongoing troubles. Having a plan and managing your expectations can ensure that you have enough time to enjoy your life without waiting for your new life and a new career to begin. Find and create your own meaning outside your career, and you’ll quickly be able to see what kind of a calling fits your personality and education the most.

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