Relaunching Your Career After the Unexpected

What do you do when your career comes to a standstill? Many of us experience times in our careers where things come to a standstill. This could be times when we have reached the end of our five-year plan, our careers took an unexpected turn into something we did not plan (layoff or opportunity we didn’t plan for), or we simply had to leave our careers for personal reasons. Typically, situations like this leave us thinking where do I go next or where did I fall off the tracks.

I have been in this situation before. I have experienced this by accepting jobs that were not in my career path and reaching the end of my five-year plan where I did not plan where to go next. When you are in these situations, it is important to realize that these experiences are a chance to learn to not encounter the same situation again. In addition to this, it is also a chance to look around and determine what you can do next to learn new tools from your career experience to see where you can go next.

When you enter a career change situation the follow the below topics to help get you back on track:

Think about how you ended up in your current situation – The first thing you want to do is not to place blame on yourself. We all make decisions in our careers and sometimes we will not make the right one. But that is okay. It is a chance for you to get back on track and relaunch your career.

When in this situation think about why perhaps you accepted that job you should not have, or why you did not start planning when you realized that you were accomplishing your goals and needed a plan, beyond your five-year plan. Think about what you learned and how you can apply it to your future and what you can take away from this learning experience. Reflecting on your experiences can help you see the positive and how you can use those skills to move forward, it can also help you realize what you do not want in your career.

Create an inventory – Not sure where you want to go next? That is okay, now is the time to start the process of elimination of what you do not want in your career. Think about what you will not accept in your career, then follow this by creating a list of what you do want. Be realistic and realize that not every job will meet your expectations, however, this is a good time to find jobs that will meet most of what is on your list. Try not to make the list too extensive, or too short. This way you can gear your job search around what you are looking for in your career.

Create a plan – Creating a plan is important, once you have determined what you want, it is time to begin putting a plan and goals in place. Goals that align with your career desires would be good, set a timeline when you want a job, and think about training in between that you want to do to upgrade your skills, should you need to. Skills upgrading does not always mean going back to school for a few years, it could just be a simple part-time course you can take online.

When setting goals, think about what I call the big the big five – Who, What, When, Where, Why, and how you are going to put your goals into place. Think about timelines, what you will need to accomplish your goals, and a vision of what your life will look like after you achieve your goals. Remember to be easy on yourself when you do achieve your goals the first time, along with celebrating when you do achieve a goal!

Execute your plan – With your goals in place, go ahead and execute your plan, do not be afraid of learning, learn when you fall, and consistently revise where you need to. With each plan you have there may be times when things do not go according to plan, so be prepared to revise where needed.  

Working with Your Self-Image

So, what exactly is self-image? Self-image is how you view yourself from an internal and external viewpoint. It has to do with your conceptions and personal image of yourself. One way to think of it is to think of your self-impression. It goes much deeper than simply looking in the mirror and viewing how you see yourself. It is deep-rooted and underlies our entire person.

Many of us struggle with self-image, and it can often be rooted in our previous life experiences whether they are good or bad experiences. Depending on our circumstances we can work to build a better self-image. Having a stronger self-image can help you to build a more productive life in general and can help you to take steps forward to become more prosperous. In addition to this, a stronger self-image and helps to build stronger relationships, avoid self-sabotage, among others.

Identifying and Improving your Self-Image – Some Tips

Accept yourself as you are: Let’s face it, as humans, we are not perfect, no human on the earth gets it perfect all the time. Accept mistakes you make, your body that you feel is not perfect, and give yourself some compassion. Having self-compassion will allow you to forgive yourself when mistakes happen and will allow you to move forward in your endeavors. Just remember we cannot get it 100% all the time. Learn and move on.

Being honest: Try to be honest in what you do with yourself. Accept what you are good at and are not good at and learn to work with those traits. For example, one way to boost your confidence is to think about where you can put your strengths to good use. Also, you can learn how to work on improving your weaknesses. Look to alternatives to help you become better at your weaknesses. If you can identify what your weaknesses are and can review them regularly, this will allow you to determine how much progress you have made. This will also allow you to boost your confidence by seeing obstacles you have overcome.

Thinking it through: Be kind in how you speak to yourself. It is often said that if we spoke to others how we speak to ourselves, then no one would like us. And this is true, each time you catch yourself negatively speaking to yourself, stop and think, this is not true, and replace it with an encouraging thought.

Comparison: Never envy others because behind each person’s story there are struggles and issues that they are dealing with. You may look at someone and think their lives are perfect, but they have no problems. Or you might think to yourself, I wish I had the job that my friend has. While it is hard not to compare ourselves to others, we can do it. When you catch yourself doing this action, stop and think about what is good in your life. Practicing personal gratitude and being proud of your accomplishments will help to overtime stop you from comparing yourself to others.

Self-image is a lifelong journey. It is something that we continuously must work on and always stay on top of. Taking care of yourself and recognizing when you are starting to slip into negative conceptions about our selves. Practice self-care are some of the above actions, while always practicing self-compassion.

Making a Personal Manifesto

Personal Manifestos are a tool that can help you to envision what you want to do in life, they can help you put into words what you want to achieve in life. Manifestation is a big topic these days as the world is changing and we seem to be ushering in a new era. Let’s face it, with the recent pandemic the world is changing and a lot of people all over the world feel the same – that they are stuck and are waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel to be able to move on with their lives. The truth is that we can start to move on now, even with restrictions in place you can begin to plan for your future and laying the groundwork for what you want to do in the future. This can not only help you plan for your future, but a manifesto can instill hope and motivation in your endeavors.

How to create a Manifesto

When creating a personal manifesto start with a clear mind. Write down everything that you want to do, no matter how big or insignificant it may seem, or whether you are sure that you want to pursue the task. Chances are if you are thinking about an activity, there is some sort of interest in it. When you are doing this brainstorming also write down your values, and behaviors that you feel might be helpful in your plan.

Next, arrange your ideas into categories. For example, make a category for values, one for personal qualities, and one for your goals or endeavors you want to pursue. Eliminate or create a pause list for ideas that you feel you could do at a later date. Once you have completed this task make a timeline for your goals, this does not have to be precise, just a rough outline of when you would ideally like to accomplish these tasks.

Once you have completed your brainstorm and made your outline, begin to put it all together. Start by writing out a paragraph as your introduction about your values and attributes, followed by a mission statement of what you want to do in life. Talk to yourself realistically when you are writing. Be vulnerable and honest. This is what you are saying to yourself about your personal views and wants. Follow this up by writing out your ultimate goals followed by a few bullet points of how you will accomplish your goals and why you want to accomplish them. If you can understand why you want to achieve these goals, then you will be able to connect with your ideas more and will be able to act upon them easier. If you simply write out a goal without knowing why you will not be as connected to the outcome.

Tip: When writing your sentences, write them in action sentences, for example, “I will start a blog”, rather than “Start a blog”.

Follow up with your manifesto every few days or when you feel like you need motivation. This helps to keep it fresh in your mind.  Also, you can determine your goals and mission faster if you keep your manifesto close by!

Procrastination and How to Beat It

Procrastination –is one enemy that we have all dealt with at one time or another. Whether it is with completing school assignments, cleaning the house, or working to get ahead in your career endeavors, we have all experienced it at one time or another and these are ways to overcome this situation if you know how to tackle procrastination before it takes hold of your habits and gets in the way of your goals.

Understanding Why We Procrastinate  

Procrastination comes in many forms, from experiencing anxiety when going to work on a specific task, to simply not having enough motivation to conquer daily tasks such as laundry and cleaning the house. Procrastination is something that is tied to our emotions and how we feel about a given task. For me for example, when it came to schoolwork, I would get overwhelming anxiety, and this would in some cases it would cause me to avoid my schoolwork for weeks on end. To overcome this fear and procrastination I would take the initiative to simply just start working on the assignments, and within a few minutes once I got started on the task at hand the anxiety would dissipate. Then I would be able to complete what I set out to do.

So, in understanding procrastination, we typically use this method to avoid something uncomfortable, as in the example above. Putting off these tasks helps to regulate our moods because as humans we would rather feel something pleasant, rather than something uncomfortable. However, with procrastination, the bad feelings will come back later when we know that we must attempt to retackle the work that is set out before us that we must complete.

Overcoming Procrastination

So how do we overcome procrastination? What can we do to avoid the negative feelings now and later? When you feel like procrastinating think of this – first, you are tackling a task that you will not worry about later, because it will be done. Also, if it is a task that requires concentration or staying in one spot for an extended period, look for ways to set up your environment. Create a comfortable environment where you feel content and relaxed, which will allow you to concentrate. If more of your anxiety comes at the beginning of your situation then you typically delay the work you need to do, try a practice of telling yourself how you will feel accomplished and relieved once you have completed your task.

Another method to avoid procrastination is to plan. If you know that you have a task that will take a significant amount of time or strength to complete, try breaking it down into smaller bite-size pieces. For a project rather than spending hours on end to work on this task, break it down into smaller one- or two-hour sessions over a few weeks if time permits.

Ask for help! Do you have tasks that could be more efficient if you had a team of people to help you? Do not be afraid to ask for help. For example, if it is a project at work, delegate tasks that you are not the strongest at to your team so that you can focus on the most important topics. This can help to clear up your schedule and will allow you to work on things that matter the most to you. In addition to this if you have a bunch of small tasks that need to be completed, complete these first to get them out of the way.

Look at your calendar. Do you have a lot of items that must be completed within a short period? Think about rearranging items in your calendar over a few weeks, rather than having to complete everything at once. Sometimes when we have too much to do, we can become overwhelmed. To avoid this, break down tasks into smaller goals and spread the due dates over a two- or three-week period.

Finally, when it comes to procrastination, we all have times when we will procrastinate, and it could be due to a good reason! Sometimes your body and mind just need rest. If this happens, forgive yourself, and start again later. The important thing is that you get back up on your feet and keep going, revising, and working towards your goals.

Career Transition During a Pandemic

Throughout the current pandemic, things may seem uncertain. Some people are losing their jobs due to restructuring, and some people are losing their jobs due to the current pandemic. Due to lack of uncertainty, this has many people considering a career in a different field or in the scope of the field they are currently working in. Given the uncertainty, some people may choose to work in a different field that provides more stability such as healthcare and essential services. Before making the transition into another field there are a few things you should consider and cultivate regarding your skillset and experience. Like many things, a career transition should be planned out and assessed before making any big changes.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can navigate your career transition during a pandemic, or during any other critical time in your life.

  1. Research the industry you are thinking about moving to.

Before switching industries, it is important to think about what you want to do, along with what you have done, and what skills you have. Start by listing the career areas you are interested in. Do some research on those fields you are interested in what see what the overall field comprises of, such as the day to day tasks, what other people are saying about the industry, and what the outlook for the industry is like. Get an idea of the scope of the industry will help you determine if it is something that you can see yourself doing in the long term. Also, research companies that you are interested in to see what kind of opportunities they have available to get an idea of the actual job responsibilities of the position you are researching.

 If given the opportunity conduct informational interviews with professionals in the industry to see how they transitioned and trained for the industry. Other people’s journeys into where they are now can be surprising. Next look like the skills needed for the field. Do a skills inventory and see what skills you have that match up with the industry, followed by seeing where you have skills that you can improve on, need, and where you have skills that you already have. Once you know where you stand skills-wise, whether it comes from actual work, volunteer, or academic experience. From this, you will be able to gauge where you need to work on and where you can begin to add the skills to your resume.

  • Make a plan for your job path

Once you have a better idea of the jobs that you are interested in you can now begin the narrow down your list of what you want to do but determining if you need more training and where you have the set skills needed to move into the new area you want to move into or the possibility that you might want to move ahead to the next stage in your career.

When planning for your career move it is important to set your steps into small stages that can help you determine when you need what and when. For example, make categories of what you need to complete then make subcategories of what you need to do to achieve each step. These subcategories will serve as your steppingstones to achieve each category in your plan. Be sure to choose dates where you want to achieve each task. The key thing to remember when conducting your schedule is that you need to be flexible and allow yourself extra time to complete the steps. Be sure to allow ample time to achieve each goal when making your plan. Being flexible and able to adapt to change is very important, especially in a world where things are changing rapidly and can change from day-to-day.

  • Discovery and Experimenting

When moving to another career it is important to think long term. Thinking long term and discovering what your next move will look and feel like will require some actual in-person experience. You will want to determine what your interests are then work to determine where you can experience these interests. These interests could be explored through volunteering, job shadowing, or informational interviews. Getting to know what the experience is actually like in your choices for your future career will help you put your ideas into perspective and will help to determine if you can see yourself working long term in a new field.

Overall, getting to know your next move and determining what it will feel and look like is paramount when determining your next steps. Taking time out to set goals after you have chosen your new field will help you make the right choice. Having a set-out plan and planning out goals for your next move is important so that you have a set idea of what you need to move forward.

Using Social Media to Advance Your Career

Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and more. These sites are everywhere, and they come with a million different ways to get your message out there. Believe it or not, you can use social media to advance your career in more than one way. When connecting on social media you can directly connect with others, send messages, share, use hashtags, and say what is on your mind. With the use of social media our world is becoming more and more connected, but not without a cost. Some feel that with the rise of social media we are making fewer human connections. This problem can be avoided if we use social media in a manner that is connected, mannered, and engaging.

Making Clear Connections with Intention

When connecting with others on social media it is good to start on the right path. Each social media platform is different. For example, on Instagram and Twitter, you can simply follow other people because you like their content. On LinkedIn the connection that you are engaging with typically will want to know more about you and why you are connecting with them. Facebook typically follows the same pattern.

So, what can you do when connecting with to show intention? Send a message. Make the message short and clear. Mention something about what drew you to their profile, and then ask you questions or state your reason for connecting. The key is to be engaging, warm, and allow a purposeful conversation to begin. One thing to note is that not everyone you connect with will respond and there are many reasons for this. However, do not get discouraged if you do not get a response to every message you send. The same goes for Twitter and Instagram, if you connect with someone and you are interested in their work send them a private message on the platform. You never know what opportunities will come from this interaction! The key is to connect with intention by telling the other person what interested you in them.

Content Distribution

Creating content to share online and sharing content will get you noticed. The use of hash (#) tags is also important when sharing content. When sharing other people’s content always give credit where credit is due, or if it is a simple share on a social media feed write a line about why you are sharing the contact. Using hash (#) tags in the sentence to highlight keywords is also another way to get content you are sharing noticed.

When creating your content ensure that it is always original, and if you are using other points from other writings to prove your point, proper citation and recognition are necessary. For platforms like Instagram and Twitter, you can share a link to your work and for sites like LinkedIn, you can post an article and have it noticed by others. Also, be sure to share your written articles with relevant groups on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Blogging and writing articles on websites like WordPress and Blogger is a great way to advance your knowledge as well.

Human Connections

Overall, connecting on social media should be made with intention and engagement, and should not be a race to get the most followers. There is no point in having 10,000 followers if no one is engaged with your content. Be sure to respond to comments and direct messages or at least acknowledge them in your content. This as mentioned earlier can increase interactions with others. And these increased interactions can lead to increased opportunities. Being genuine and following proper manners while online is important. So, always think before you post and ensure that your content is useful to your audience and will not be offensive. While it is social media, the way you type your messages is also important, always use proper punctuation and grammar! While this does sound basic, improper use of sentence structure is often something that can be missed and can make a world of difference in how people perceive you. Social Media is only growing and is not going anywhere in the future, so make meaningful connections, follow people who inspire you to be better.

Finding and keeping a career that you are passionate about

Finding a career that you are passionate about might not be as difficult as you think. It is common to hear about finding a job that does not feel like you will be working and that it will be stress from. While working in a field that you are passionate about might make life a lot more fun, there will always be stress in a job, and some stress can be good. Good stress can be a way to help you grow and develop as a person. When it comes to finding a career that you are passionate about there are a lot of options you can explore to sample different careers while working to build your professional portfolio. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can explore different careers to determine which one is best for you.

Market Research

So, you have an idea of what you would like to do or maybe you are still looking for. Getting a grasp on the market is often a good way to understand what is happening in the field you are looking to explore. Start by reading the news from reputable sources about what is happening in the field, or search for professional associations and see what kind of supports, programs, and information they offer. This can give you a good insight into what is happening. Also, research companies that are in the field you want to explore and see their opportunities and what kind of positions they are hiring for. Analyze these job postings and career pages to see if this is something that you see yourself doing. If something interests you, or if it is a position that you feel you could see yourself in starting the process to get experience or to gather more information about the opportunity you are exploring. Getting to know the market that you want to work in and having practical information about what is going on will help you to get a better idea as to if that industry or field is ideal for you and your aspirations. Market research can help you discover things that interest you or could help you to determine what might not work so well for you.

Volunteering

Hands-on practical experience is also important, and volunteering can give you an insight into a position or career choice that you are looking to advance into. Ways to get involved with volunteering could start with a simple internet search for websites that post volunteer opportunities, or you could contact the company or organization directly to see what opportunities are offered. In addition to this seeking out internships (that can at times be paid) can also help you gain a strong perspective into what goes on and what happens in a company or industry.

One common misconception about volunteering is that they are simple positions that are available. This is not always the case though. Many non-profits and organizations look for qualified professionals to fill vacancies in business, finance, human resources, and more. So if you are in one field or are exploring the potential to determine what your next step is connecting with companies looking for volunteers might be a good place to start to gain insight into what it is like to work in a potential field.

Running a Side Business

We hear it all the time, side hustle. Starting a small business on the side in addition to your day job, does not mean working 100-hour weeks. For example, if you are interested in becoming a full-time artist but are not sure whether or not too sure about the competition or how well your art will sell, you can start small. In this instance, you could create some artwork, sell it on an online platform like Etsy, and see how the demand for it is. If the demand is bigger than expected, then you could research ways to grow the business if it is something that you feel is suitable for you to pursue.  This is where networking, creating business cards, and conducting informational interviews with other artists could be beneficial.   

Putting it all together

Before leaping to venture into an unknown area it is always best to research, connect, and explore other opportunities to ensure that it is something you want to do full time or in some cases part-time. Career transitions are things that should be taken seriously because it is an area that you are investing a lot of time into. Being informed and having some experience in your new area of life will help put you ahead of the game, and the decision you make to change careers will be a well planned out one, leading to lasting fulfilling results.

Make Your Resume Standout

Resumes, are one of the most important documents that you will use during your job search. Making your resume stand out during a job search, especially during a period when the job market is more challenging can help you get the attention of a hiring manager. Resumes come in different shapes and sizes, and there is no one size fits all approach. So how do you determine what resume is the best one for your job search?

Choosing between Chronological, Functional, and a Combinational Resume

Chronological Resume: This type of resume is the most used format. For this resume you typically start by listing your qualifications first, followed by listing your work experience starting with the most recent. The resume will typically have your job responsibilities listed below for each job. This resume is good when you are trying to show progression in a particular field and want to show your tenure in a field. Regardless it is the easiest for recruiters to follow.

Functional Resume: Not as commonly used, this resume is formatted differently. In this style of resume, you will list your skills in different sections based on the job you are applying for. Following this, you will list your jobs, normally without any job description. This resume is suitable for people looking to switch industries or who have significant gaps in your work history. This format is a simple format that highlights experience in a particular area. 

Combinational Resume: This type of resume is the least used and it is a combination of the functional and chronological resume. It will typically have a highlights section at the top, a middle section with a skill listed then statements about how you have used this skill, then a job section with your job history listed with the most recent first. Once again, this type of resume is suitable for those who are trying to switch industries or who are wanting to highlight certain skills.

When choosing a resume format ensure that you think about your current situation. Typically, a chronological resume will cover all bases of your career achievements, however, if you are looking to highlight other areas of your skillset then choosing a functional or combination resume would be a good choice.

Tips on how to get your resume noticed

Now, that we have reviewed the types of resumes, let’s talk about some of the ways that you can make your resume stand out and grab the attention of a recruiter.

  • Have your skills listed first – Listing your skills at the bottom of a resume is an easy way to get the recruiter to not notice your skills. At the top of the resume, you should list a “Highlights of Qualifications” section. This section should have 6 to 8 points of how you can help the employer based on your skills and what the employer is looking for in their job posting. One major thing to avoid is generic statements like “Excellent communication skills”. Everyone puts these generic skills on their resume, tell of an actual example as to why you are good at communication. Always complete this section with actual statements about why you are suitable for the position. The recruiter should be able to notice why you are suitable for the job on the first half of the top page of your resume.
  • Problem, Action, Result – Write out accomplishment statements in a problem, action, result format. They should be accomplishment statements stating what you did and what you achieved. When writing these statements avoid using the first person, and always write in the third person.
  • Colours and Pictures – While there might be beautiful templates out there on the internet for resumes with graphics, colours, and pictures, these items should not be included in your resume. The reason for this is that the applicant tracking system cannot find your resume in the system. At times, your resume may be found, but it is always best to have a standard resume with black font only. No pictures and boxes for formatting. A basic resume in Microsoft word is the best option for you when it comes to producing a resume that will get noticed quickly.
  • Make Connections – When doing your resume, it is important to make a connection between your skills, whether they are transferable or things you have done related directly to the position. The resume is your chance to highlight skills that are relevant to the employer. If an employer is looking for someone good in excel, and you have used it and are good at it, but have not used it in a professional setting, this could be a transferable skill. Talk about how you have used it in previous situations and explain to the employer what you can do with excel. As mentioned previously, showing the employer what they are looking for, and how you can meet those needs, is important. You can always elaborate on your further skills during an interview or phone conversation. Remember, this point of the resume is to get you noticed by the employer and to gain an interview!

Overall, the resume is what will get you noticed when looking for a job, being direct about what you can offer the employer from the start will help you get noticed. Having a resume for each industry you want to get into is necessary. Always approach your job search that each employer is as unique as you are, and your resume should reflect this!

Blogging for your career

So how can blogging help my career you might ask? How can help me advance in my professional pursuits?

These are all questions that might be running through your mind when it comes to furthering your career plans. When it comes to blogging for your career you can get ahead of the competition by demonstrating your expertise in your field, niche, or it can be used as a tool to explore something new. With the internet being so vast, you might think how I will bring people to read my blog in the first place. These are strategies and tools that you can use on social media to bring your content to the forefront to get your work discovered.

First, let’s go over the benefits of blogging for your career:

  1. Knowledge and Learning – When blogging you are putting the expertise that you already have on the web so that others can know what you are all about. Sure, there is LinkedIn and other social media platforms that can help you get noticed, but these should not be the only place you post your content. When starting, writing allows you to explore beyond what you already know and allows you to research and learn more about the topic you are creating. So, when writing your content be sure to take some time to get to know more about what you are writing and be ready to engage in critical thinking.
  2. Connecting with others in your field or who are curious about your field – When you write content and share it on social media, you never know who is going to come across your content. Sharing knowledge about current events, patterns you are seeing in the work world, among other things can spark a conversation among other professionals, who in return may respond to your work. This could lead to new relationships and connections that could move your career forward.
  3. Building new skills – Skill building, especially in aspects of technology is becoming more important than ever in today’s internet world. Building a blog and posting content to help you to see what works and does not work. You can experiment and see what type of content your viewers are engaged in and what they are not so engaged in. You can learn how to build a website on whichever platform you use, along with the use of hash (#) tags. These are all skills that you can market and move forward in the future to add to your resume.

Now that we have covered some of the basis of why blogging can help you in your professional pursuits, let’s look at some of the ways you can utilize the internet to get your content out to viewers. 

  1. Social Media – Platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook all offer excellent resources to promote your material. When it comes to posting your content do not just simply post the content on your blog and hope that you will get readers. Utilize things like hash (#) tags, industry keywords, and titles that grab people’s attention.
  2. Connect with others in professional groups – Connecting with other people in professional groups on various platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn is a great way to post your content and get noticed. Posting on these forums will allow you to get your work in front of other industry professionals and could get a conversation started. Tip: Always remember to follow the posting guidelines on the group’s page.
  3. Start a website newsletter – One way to build relationships and to keep in touch regularly with people online is to create a blog newsletter. Creating a spot on your blog where people can sign up allows you to send out your content directly to their inboxes and will allow you to invite them to events you might be hosting while providing them with great content to read to further their knowledge.

Engaging with others is key to getting your career started. Taking your brand a step further using the internet is even more important when it comes to projecting your expertise to the world. Use the internet to your advantage to get your name noticed while getting known for your knowledge, to move your career ahead to your next dream role.

Planning for Simple Living

In this busy world that we live in, with a culture that is so obsessed with being constantly on the go, accumulating more, and pushing yourself harder, it is time to step back and rethink what an enjoyable life is. On my journey to simple living, I have moved to a job that is less demanding, simplified, and decluttered my home, and have learned new ways to live simply. While I have chosen to move to a less demanding job, I am not suggesting that everyone should do this, but rather that was a decision that I thought about for a long time, and when I was ready, I made the move at a time that I was financially able to and mentally in a place where the move made sense.

Planning for a simple life in my opinion is a process, a lifestyle change and it is something that takes time to do. While there are things that you can do such as making a new budget, decluttering your home, and starting to say no to things, planning a simple life is also something that you need to be prepared mentally to commit to it. For me, it was a change in my health that helped me to decide to move into a simpler life. While this might not be the case for everyone, and some people might be able to move into a simple life easier than others. This all depends on your current circumstances and commitments.

Planning for the Move  

When moving into a simple life the first thing you need to do is take an inventory or what you need to do change or would like to change. This can be something as simple as decreasing the amount of technology you use, decluttering your home, to making a career change. When you are ready to plan, you should do a visualization of what you want your life to look like. This can be as simple as writing out what you want or even making a vision board of what you feel would be your ideal simple life. The main idea is to get a concept of what you think your life should look like then plan to get there.

Once you have your visualization of what your life should look like begin planning what you intend to remove. Are you saying yes to projects that do not interest you? Start saying no to projects that are out of your scope of interest and start saying yes to the ones you genuinely care about and focus your energy on that aspect. You will find it to be more fulfilling and you will eliminate mental and physical clutter. While this is one example, there are other things you can start planning – if you want to start saving money you can plan a cash budget and stick to that budget and start saving money. Starting money jars for a budget is another strategy you can follow to lead to careful spending.

The main idea is to get back to the basics and work towards making your life simpler. Do you have a lot of unused things in your home? Start decluttering and get rid of things you don’t use. Have a keep, donate, and throw away pile. While there is more to making a simpler life, starting with airing out your space, budget and career will begin the journey to mental clarity, as you will feel like you will have more space to move about and will be able to start to focus on what matters.

Path to Mental Clarity

Once you have cleared out your space, freed up your time, and know where you are going with your budget it is time to work on your mind and take care of yourself. Things that be included in the journey are meditation, exercise, and starting to talk to yourself in a kind manner! As one wise person once said, “If we spoke to others the way we speak to ourselves, no one would want to be our friend.”  And this is true, as individuals, we are often much harder on ourselves than we are on others. When you catch yourself in a web of negative thoughts, change what you are thinking, and think is this true? What good things have I done in the past? Or how can I be more kind to myself? This type of thinking will take a while to work out because most people are used to thinking in a specific way, but after a while kind works to yourself will become a habit and you will see more clarity in what you are thinking and feeling.

Another method to get more clarity that I follow is watching motivational videos online, I watch these whenever I am feeling a lack of motivation or simply need a pick me up to reconfigure myself. There are hundreds of videos online that you can watch, and some video makers even post these videos daily! This is a great way to self-motivate and to get a better handle on positive thoughts as you move about your day.

Now as I say this, it is not just about positive thinking, there is an aspect of you that must believe that you are saying to yourself. A simple like will just be as simple as you make it. Clearing out the mental clutter is a good place to start and is a good place to move forward with creating new habits.