Looking for a New Career? Time to Cast Your Net
If you’re sitting at your desk right now reading this, you know that you’re not completely invested in your job. You may know that what you’re doing right now isn’t what you want to be doing for the rest of your life. But, you also don’t know what you should do or what you even want to do.
That’s why it’s important to cast your net…and to cast it wide.
What am I talking about? I’m talking about thinking about all of the careers that could be a fit for you, not just a handful. This gives you a greater chance of finding the right one. If you don’t cast your net wide enough, you risk missing out on the opportunity that may be “the one”.
How do you cast your net?
One crucial step is to really get to know yourself. You may be smirking a bit because you may be thinking, of course, I know myself. But, people change, and the you that you knew may not be the you that exists now. Perhaps, you never even took the time to get to know yourself.
Let’s start to get to know you. Here are some tools you can use as you cast your net to find a new career and get to know yourself better in the process.
Start Journaling
When you have a million thoughts running through your head throughout the day, you need an outlet for them. Starting a journal is the perfect place to put them. It’s not only a great way to organize your thoughts, but research has shown that it also relieves stress and increases self-confidence.
As you write, you begin to learn more about yourself. You start to see a pattern of the activities you enjoy. Guess what? All of that information you’re discovering can help you find that new career.
Spend Time Alone
Before you start thinking that spending time alone is going to make you lonely, think again. Spending time alone lets you spend time with your thoughts. Throughout the day we’re often so busy that we don’t even have time to think. So, when we’re alone (that means no TV or phone either), you not only have time to think but also reflect on your thoughts. This little process allows you to get to know yourself better. Isn’t that what we need to do to find a new career?
Unplug from Technology
Let’s face it. Many of us spend too much time on our phones and social media. We not only forget how to connect with other people, but we also forget how to connect with ourselves. As you work to find out who you are to help lead you on a new career path, you need time away from your devices and technology.
That information overload can harm us in more ways than you think. Studies have shown that heavy Facebook usage can make you depressed. If you start getting depressed, you’re going to feel like you’ll never be able to find a new career. Start unplugging so that you begin plugging into who you really are. You’ll thank me later.
Start Meditating
As you begin to spend more time alone and unplug from technology, you can also start to meditate. Think of this as a brain detox. You can let your thoughts go and clear your mind. Many times this type of clarity is what we need to put things into focus.
If you’re thinking that meditating is not for you and that you could never do this, think again. It’s as simple as starting off by closing your eyes and sitting quietly. When you start, you’ll be thinking a lot. Over time, you’ll notice those thoughts start melting away.
Strike a Balance
You may have just read that and said how does balance fall into helping me find a new career. Here’s how. If you don’t have balance in your life, you don’t have time to think about your next step or what’s important. Taking time away can help give you perspective.
If you’re currently a workaholic, dial back a bit. Find time to do things you enjoy and spend time with family and friends. This can give you the balance you need to get to know yourself better and find your true passion.
By starting to do these things, you can begin to peel the layers of who you truly are. You’ll begin to realize what makes you happy and what career may be the best fit. Remember, none of these things happen overnight. You need to be patient and take the time to cast your net to get the best catch.
