January is a bleak month. It’s cold, dark and everyone is setting “life-fulfilling” new year’s resolutions. Suddenly it can feel depressing to still be in the same role as you were last year, doing the same thing.

It’s easy to get drawn into a negative mindset, especially after the sparkles of Christmas. Suddenly it feels like we need a change.

 

This job isn’t right for me anymore……

I need to find something more fulfilling……..

I need a new challenge…….

Everything will be better if……

What if things could be great again where you already are? Sometimes we don’t need to make a drastic change, but instead regain a new perspective about what we’ve got.

If you’re thinking it’s time for a change, try out some of these tips first and see what happens.

 

1. Bring back what brought you joy.

 

Remind yourself what you used to love about your job – when are you most in flow. What’s changed? Maybe the balance has shifted and you’re being pulled in a different direction. Or your day is being spent in meetings rather than ‘doing’ the work you love.

How can you redress the balance of your time? This might be tasks that you enjoy completing, or situations that play to your strengths.

 

2. Stretch yourself.

 

When you start a new role, there’s so much challenge and new opportunity. After a while this can dissipate and you might begin to lose interest. Consider what scope there is to get involved in new and interesting projects or opportunities within or even outside of your team.

Is there an idea you’re holding in? Do you want to go deeper as an expert in your field or broaden your experience in a new area? Are there skills you want to learn in readiness for progression?

 

3. Get connected.

 

Women are often too focused on getting a good job done and don’t spend enough time building valuable relationships. This is all the more important if you spend a lot of time working from home. If you build one new relationship, find yourself a mentor. Someone more senior within or outside your direct function, or even organisation. Don’t wait to be offered one. Connect with a leader you admire and ask them to be a mentor. Let them help you open doors, build new connections, consider new opportunities that align to your goals, challenge your thinking about ‘how things are done here’.

 

4. Help others.

 

One of the most impactful measures of satisfaction is helping others. Even if you’re in a role that isn’t intrinsically a ‘helping’ role, seeking out opportunities to mentor new colleagues or help a team member with a task outside of your scope can significantly increase your sense of meaning whilst strengthening deeper relationships with colleagues.

So, before rushing to Linkedin jobs, take some time to test whether a change is really what you want. Who knows, maybe a rainbow will appear through the clouds.

This article was written by Rachel Childs. Rachel is coach who empowers working parents to define and build their own career success. She helps working parents who are navigating parental or career transitions to build clarity on their career ambitions, work life boundaries and how to optimise their support network.

January 9, 2023