Guest Post – by Lydia Newell
Usually winter time is about snuggling up under blankets, admiring the fairy lights twinkling on the tree, and drinking hot chocolate (spiked with Baileys for me!), watching Christmas films, then forgetting what day it is in that weird time between Christmas and New Year.
But in 2020 the world as we knew it was turned upside down. So we ended the year spending lots of time outside – walking with friends no matter the weather, and jumping in lots of muddy puddles. Then frantically washing and drying the muddy clothes ready for another outdoor adventure the next day.
There’s something you should know about me. I’m a planner. I have a 10 year plan (it is totally flexible and allows for curve balls, thankfully!!), and I know where I’m headed. Without a plan, who knows where I’d end up. With a plan, at least I know if I’m heading in the right direction.
In 10 years time my little boy will be nearly 12. My life will look very different, and not just because I’ll be trying to get my head around parenting a teenager, rather than a toddler who loves getting muddy!
So when 2020 turned out to be a massive plot twist, which I certainly wasn’t planning for, there were times when I panicked. So much felt out of my control, and life didn’t look anything like the things I’d hoped for when we drank prosecco and sang ‘Auld Lang Syne’ on January 1st! And although it’s very tempting not to bother making any plans for 2021 (and beyond), as so much still remains up in the air, I’ve decided it’s still worth it.
I run a business helping Mums to find a job that feels like a good fit for them, around their family. A really important part of the work I do with Mums is helping them make a career plan that they can stick to. As Mums, we wear lots of different hats – you’re a Mum, a friend, the one who buys the food and cooks the meals, the one who makes sure everyone knows what’s happening each week, [insert at least 5 other roles you have here!]. Then if you throw ‘employee’ into that mix too – it doesn’t take long to start feeling a bit overwhelmed, especially if you don’t like your job, and you’re not sure what to do instead.
The way I see it, you spend a substantial amount of your life working – I figure it’s worth putting a bit of effort into planning out a career path that makes you excited. I believe that there’s more to a career than the numbers on a pay slip at the end of the month, especially when a large chunk of that is paying for childcare!
So while you’re getting your head around what 2021 might hold, here’s some thoughts on how to create a career plan:
1. Know where you’re headed.
If anything were possible, what would you like your life to look like in 10 years time? What kind of job would you love to have in 10 years, when your children are a bit less dependant on you?
2. Know what you need.
Do some research into the kind of role you’d love to have in 10 years. Make a list of all the skills, knowledge and experience someone would need to succeed at the type of job you’re interested in.
3. Bridge the gap.
From the list you made, what skills, knowledge and experience do you already have? Could your plan for this year be to apply for this role now? If you’re feeling like there’s a lot of gaps, don’t panic – make a plan to gain the skills, knowledge and experience you need
4. Set yourself some milestone goals
If you have an idea of where you’d like to be in 10 years, what will life need to look like in 5 years / 2 years, to make your 10 year dream a reality?
5. Make an action plan.
For each milestone goal – put together an action plan, with a step-by-step guide of what you need to do. Start by looking at your 2 year goal – what actions can you take in the next 2 years to make sure you have all the skills, knowledge and experience you need to do the things you want to do in 2 years time?
Planning can feel really difficult, and you might be feeling like there’s no point with the world as it is at the moment. But as I said at the start, with a plan – you know where you’re headed, and if you’re heading in the right direction.
Remember, you can’t plan for everything. Unexpected pregnancy? Heard about a job you didn’t know existed before now? Decided to take a career break? Global pandemic? Life happens. Don’t be scared to change your plan, it isn’t fixed – it’s normal to make changes as you go.
Even though 2020 threw a complete curveball, I’m excited to see what this new decade holds for me, based on the goals I have set, and the plans I’m putting into action… in between jumping through muddy puddles.
Lydia Newell runs www.worksformecoaching.com and helps Mums to enjoy being the best they can be in their role as a Mum, while finding work that feels like a good fit for them.
