The Incredible Benefits of Taking a Career Pause

“Should I take a career pause?”

“I don’t know if we can afford for me to take time off of work to care full-time for our children.”

“Will I be destroying my chances for returning to paid work when I decide to return to the workforce after a career pause?”

Sound familiar? If you have thought any of these before, you are not alone. Taking a career pause can be scary. Paid work provides financial and career security. Giving up that kind of long-term stability is understandably nerve wracking. 

As a successful career coach for parents looking to pivot back to paid work after a career pause, I am here to tell you that the benefits of taking a career pause can absolutely be worth it!

Is Taking A Career Pause Right For You?

According to a recent study by the Ohio State University, a discouraging 66% of parents reported being burnt out. And burn out quickly leads to depression, anxiety, and can even lead to attention behavior issues coming from the children. 

There are many tactics parents use to address burnout: rearranging schedules, hiring help, and take a vacation are among the most common. But it’s not often that parents seriously consider taking a career pause as a solution to burn out.

“The treatment for all this burnout is rest, and it’s not restful to be taking care of kids, working full-time, and looking for a new job. From a mental health, self-focused perspective, the smart way to go about it is to stop, regroup, and evaluate what you want.” 

- Christin Drake, MD, a perinatal psychiatrist as quoted in Oprah Daily

If you find yourself in that 66% of burnt out parents, it’s time for a shift somewhere. Take time to reflect on the cause of your burnout and talk it over with your family. A career break may be just what you need to get back to your true self, while also rejuvenating your future career in paid work.

The 5 ‘R’s | Benefits Of A Career Pause

There are many benefits to taking time off of paid work to focus on yourself and your family. Focusing your career pause on these 5 ‘R’s will assure you are making the most of your time.  

Rest. The oxford dictionary defines rest as, “an instance or period of relaxing or ceasing to engage in strenuous or stressful activity.” Rest doesn’t necessarily mean sitting on the couch (although it can). Rest can be taking time off from any stressful activity (AKA your job).

If you are taking a career pause after having a new baby join your family, rest will look different for you than for others. But it is possible to get rest even while caring for babies and small children. The key is to schedule time for rest - which seems counterintuitive, I know! Whether it be regular 30 minute “me-time” breaks or a weekend away, take time during your career pause to truly rest. 

Rejuvenate. What is it that refills your tank? For some people, it might be a day at the spa, a long hike through the woods, or time with family or friends. For others it might be taking time away from the computer screen or reading books to your children. Whatever it is that gives you energy, do it as much and as often as you can. Sometimes you might have to flex the timing or arrangement (because, that’s what parenthood is all about!). But as long as you are rejuvenating, your career pause will be providing value to you and your family.

Reassess. What is it that you want to be doing with your life? Do you want to be a full-time mom for the foreseeable future? Great! Do you want to get out of your marketing job and try something new? Fantastic! There is no right or wrong answer here. Think, journal, dream, chat, share, and plan whatever your heart and mind is telling you. A career pause is the perfect time to reassess your life’s goals, direction, and focus.

Realign. After all of that reassessing, you may realize that you want to do a complete 180 shift from what you were doing before. And that’s OK! You’ll need to take some steps to realign your values, your goals, and even your family’s routine to sync up with your new direction. This is a great time to recruit the entire family in the alignment process so that everyone is on the same page and knows how to support you. After all, if you are getting the support you need, you’ll be able to support and serve the family even better in return.

Reboot. Everyone knows that when your computer starts freezing up or is working slower than normal it’s probably time to restart the computer and install any new updates available. We should be thinking the same way with people! Sometimes we lose our motivation, our speed, and even our efficacy because our heart just isn’t in it anymore. Taking a career pause is a great time to reboot. Power down and look for ways to update your skills. 

There are dozens of ways to work on your skills during a career break. For example, you can take a free online course, join a networking group, find a mentorship program, or focus on mom transferable skills such as such as research and problem solving, adaptability and agility, strategic thinking, communication, motivation, and organization. For even more mom skills that transfer to the workplace, click here.

Preparing For Your Return During Your Career Break

When you are ready to return to work after taking a career pause, there are steps you can take to prepare yourself for success in finding the perfect job that fits both you and your family. There are resources that are sure to set you up for success:

Join Anna McKay for a powerful and FREE masterclass where you will:

• Learn what you need to know about the current landscape for returning to paid work.

• Work through some of the most common struggles returners face.

• Hear from someone who has successfully returned to paid work after a 21 year career pause.

• Discover the 3 things you must have for a successful return to paid work.

"I recently accepted a job for full-time work and your presentation helped me get there after 16+ years as a stay-at-home parent. Thank you so much!” - Amanda M.

Learn More & Register Today

You don’t have to feel overwhelmed. Get full support with your job search from one of our trained coaches. You will be joining a group of like-minded return-to-work candidates through 1 1:1 coaching session, 9 group coaching calls, unlimited e-mail support, and access to our private Facebook group.

Find CLARITY around what’s next career-wise, build CONFIDENCE in your professional skills, with a COACH trained in the THRIVE framework for returning to paid work and support from a COMMUNITY of other returners just like you. 

Learn More & Register Today

Partner With Parents Pivot

It’s ultimately up to you if you decide to take a career pause, but the benefits are well worth it. If you decide it’s what you want (and need) to do, whether it’s for 3 months, 3 years, or 30 years,  Parents Pivot is here to help you make the most of your time away. And we’ll be here when you are ready to make a great return to the workplace!

5 Signs You Should Consider a Career Pivot

Finding a fulfilling career is not a life event, it’s a journey. For most people, it’s not even a linear process, but rather a series of twists and turns. That’s because what is ideal in one season of life may not be in another. Lifestyles change, priorities change, and physical and emotional needs change.

Knowing that, one of the most valuable insights you can develop on your career journey is understanding when it’s time to pivot. It’s important to know when the work you are currently doing no longer meets your needs and the needs of your family. To help guide you through that process, here are five signs that you should consider a career pivot.

5 Signs You Should Consider a Career Pivot

If you’re wondering whether the path you’re on may no longer be the right fit for you, ask yourself if you relate to the following descriptions:

• You're missing the flexibility to spend time with family. Once you become a parent, your priorities naturally and inevitably change. Your children need you, both physically and emotionally, and time with them is important. If your current career does not allow the flexibility you need to spend time with your family, that is a good sign you should consider a career pivot.

• Your life values have changed. Age, parenthood, and life experience all have a way of changing us. As a result, you likely have different life values now from when you first started your career. If so, and if your new values do not align with your current career, it may be time to seek a new one.

• You are often frustrated by your work instead of being fulfilled by it. If you dread going to work, you feel demoralized or undervalued, or you’re simply performing on autopilot, it might be time for a change. Everyone has days that require a little extra boost to get up and go to work, but when it’s every day, that signifies a deeper issue. If you find yourself frustrated and dissatisfied more days than not, you should consider pivoting to a career that better aligns with your passions.

• Your work is adversely affecting your personal life. Your work should challenge you, but it should not debilitate you. If you suffer from chronic exhaustion, regular headaches, loss of sleep, stress ulcers, or other physical symptoms, that’s your body’s cry for change. If your schedule is affecting your relationships, your loved ones have commented on your stress levels or irritability, or you notice you’re not the person you once were, those are also signs a career change may be in order.

• You daydream about a different career. No job is perfect, and everyone has moments in their career when they question what they are doing. However, if you find yourself pouring over job boards, spending your breaks thinking about what you’d rather be doing, or fantasizing about giving your two weeks’ notice, it’s more than a passing mood. Regularly daydreaming about a different career is a good indication it may be time to pivot.

Even if your current career was once your dream job, life changes. There’s nothing wrong with acknowledging that the work you’re doing now is no longer the right fit for you. In fact, that’s the perfect next step in your journey of finding a fulfilling career.

If, after reading these five signs that point to a career pivot, you know you need to make a change, reach out to Parents Pivot. We would love to help you find the next career that’s right for you.

Plan The Future Of Your Career Without Sacrificing Summer Family Fun

“Almost half of working mothers have taken an extended career break beyond their paid family leave benefits after the birth of their children, and many hiring managers believe the personal skills they develop during that time off make them better employees when they return.” 

- BizJournals

Did you catch that? Hiring managers WANT YOU, mommas! You are a valuable asset in the working world, and the career gap you now have on your resume, whether it’s three months, three years, or 18 years, will not stop you from finding a satisfying and fulfilling career that you love. 

Given the recent coronavirus pandemic, you may be a mom taking an unexpected career break until things get back to normal. Or maybe you are on maternity leave, planning to return in a few weeks or months. Or maybe you are a mom that stayed at home with your kids during those critical, formative years, but now you are ready to get back to work. Whatever your reason for taking a career break, there are things you can do this summer to plan for your future career. Below, you’ll find tips that are stress-free and can be worked into your fun-filled summer plans. 

Plan Your Future Career This Summer Without Sacrificing Family Fun

I don’t know about you, but my summer plans include splashing in the pool with my two daughters while relaxing under the warm sun and recharging from a hectic winter and spring. If you are planning a return to paid work in the fall, there is no reason why you can’t plan the future of your career and still enjoy that valuable time with your family. Review the tips below and customize them to fit your family’s situation and your career.

Choose one career skill to work on during the summer. Alison offers free, online courses on a range of topics: health, technology, science, language, business, lifestyle, and more. Choose one skill that will enhance your value at work, and spend an hour or two here and there during your week taking a professional development class. The thing I love most about Alison is that you can enroll in everything from a non-verbal communications class to yoga. Use this season to take classes to develop your professional skills plus you can do new things together as a family (like take a cooking class)! (Note: You do have to have an account to take courses, but it’s free to sign up.)

Network at Every Opportunity. I can’t tell you how many clients I talk to who have struck up conversations with friends at kids birthday parties and found a job lead. Get out there and get comfortable speaking about what you are looking for. 

This summer may look a little different than normal because of social distancing, but there are still opportunities to network! You don’t have to wait until the next in-person birthday party to make connections. I’m seeing a surge in zoom meetings and online social gatherings that are great places to network. Drop the news that you are looking to return on your next wine and zoom! Put yourself out there and meet new people, introducing what you’d like to do with your career when it’s appropriate. You never know who might have a connection that will give you that foot in the door.

Practice Your [Adult] Social Skills. Being with kids 24/7 can make being with adults seem like a vacation. But don’t get caught up in wanting to have a non-kid chat so much that you don’t stop talking. (Confession: I’m guilty of this!) Be sure to ask lots of questions and actively listen to whom you are speaking with.

And here’s a social distancing way you can practice: When on the phone, smile! It sounds silly since they can’t see you. But a smile comes across in your tone. Don’t believe me? Give it a try! Call your best friend and do an experiment. Say a couple of phrases twice in a row - one without smiling and one with smiling. Ask which one was with a smile. Was he or she correct? Simply smiling can make a big difference in your career development. 

Write out your goals and aspirations. Planning for your future career won't be successful if you don’t set actionable and measurable goals for yourself. Ask yourself where you want to be in five years, then set yearly, quarterly, and even monthly goals to reach between now and then. Thinking long-term first will help you to create smaller steps that are more likely to get you there. 

And keep in mind that this process should take some time. Don’t plan to sit down and be done in an hour. Spend 30 minutes a few times a week working on it during the summer. You can even brainstorm while sitting next to the pool or taking a family road trip. And don’t be afraid to get the family involved! They will love that you are including them in such a big move and will likely have some great ideas.

Want more? Here are five effective Parents Pivot tips for re-establishing yourself after a career break after kids. And if you are finding the process of returning to work stressful and overwhelming, I’m here to help you make it fun and successful! Contact me today to set up a one-on-one coaching session to uncover your potential.