"The work you do while you procrastinate is probably the work you should be doing for the rest of your life." -Jessica Hische
Aside from delicious vegan food, there isn’t a topic I enjoy discussing more than career happiness. It’s something I’m deeply passionate about and thrilled when I can throw ideas around with other people.
I could talk about it until I’m blue in the face. But, I guess that is pretty evident below.
Keep in mind, I really have no idea what I’m doing most days and I’m not here to give you advice on your unique academic or career situation. I can offer insight from my own experiences and lessons learned along the way. My goal for this post is to create a place for discussion so everyone can join in and offer their input, stories, and insight. That’s when the magic happens!
My story in short:
I graduated in October 2006 with a BAH degree in Psychology and minor in Family and Child Studies. In October 2008, I graduated with a Master’s Degree w/ Honours in Social Psychology. Prior to graduating, I interviewed for a full-time research position during Spring 2008. It was offered to me and I took it even though my gut told me that the timing wasn’t right. I was already a full-time grad student and part-time teaching assistant which kept me very busy.
But I took the job anyways even though every instinct I had was saying DON’T DO IT.
Lesson #1: Listen to your gut.
Eric and I were also planning our wedding to be held on Aug. 31, 2008. Stress was at an all-time high as I juggled courses, my thesis, a new demanding job, and wedding planning. My eating disorder got bad during this time and I often starved myself or over-exercised to deal with my emotions.
In October 2008, I was happy to be graduating, but I still wasn’t enjoying my career as a researcher like I thought I should be. While the money flowed, it didn’t matter.
On October 31, 2008 I started Oh She Glows as a hobby in an effort to add some joy back into my life.
Oh, and joy it brought!
This blog was in essence, ‘the work I did while I procrastinated’, as the opening quote mentions above. I blogged at breakfast, during my lunch break, and after dinner, for months. It was a lot of work, but looking back, it was the best positive escape I could’ve had to get me through that time.
This blog gave me the courage to pursue my passions full-time so I planned my actual escape and in early 2009, I quit.
It was the scariest, yet best thing I could have done.
Below are some of your career change questions that you posed on facebook last week.
How did you find your passion?
1. Get rid of life toxins
Until I was about 24-25 years old, my hobbies were calorie counting, the scale, and exercising. I didn’t have any real hobbies aside from playing sports throughout school and if you asked me what my passions were I would have stared at you blankly. To find my passions, I had to get rid of life toxins that weighed me down. Once I entered recovery for my eating disorder, I was able to add positivity back into my life such as finding new hobbies and activities. We need to get rid of things weighing us down to make room for inspiration, creativity, and authenticity.
2. Give yourself Me Time
It’s easy to say ‘I don’t have time right now’, but this is when it’s especially important to take time out for yourself. I gave myself permission to do things I enjoyed whether it be hanging out with friends, baking, reading, or spending time with Eric. Even if it was only 30 minutes a day, it was my time to do what I wanted and slowly discover activities that I enjoyed. ‘Me time’ allows us to figure out what it is that makes us happy.
3. Allow creativity to flow
Shortly after graduating, I started my blog which turned out to be the real gateway to discovering my passions. What better creative outlet than having a blank slate each day to write whatever inspires me? As a creative person, I consider my blog a virtual vision board. I can write about whatever I want which was a stark contrast to my role as a researcher. Overtime, I discovered that I had tapped into a huge passion in my life. (Another creative outlet I love is Pinterest). If there’s a voice inside you that suggests you try something out, give it a shot because it could be your hidden passion!
4. Look to your childhood
Look back to your childhood and ask yourself what activities you enjoyed. The passions we have as children are clues to what we might enjoy as adults.
As a child I loved:
- Playing house and school with all kinds of characters, names, and story-telling
- Playing with Barbie’s & Lego and creating stories about the ‘people’
- Polaroid, disposable, and film cameras !!!
- Writing Fiction stories
- Drawing, painting, crafting
- Baking & easy-bake ovens
- Playing with friends and animals
- The outdoors, playing outside for hours, skipping, building snow forts
- Track & Field, softball
My passions today seem to have the same underlying characteristics, albeit through different forms and expressions!
How did you know that your career was the right choice long-term?
Nothing in life is a sure bet, but my instincts told me I was on the right path. Sometimes hope, a good feeling, and a positive outlook are the only things we have. If I told myself I couldn’t do it, I would probably still be at my old job. Oh She Glows started out as a hobby while I did my ‘real work’. It turned out that I not only enjoyed blogging, but I fell in love with it. The blog and bakery brought together my passions like inspirational writing, healthy food, cooking/baking, fitness, and helping others.
When I couldn’t imagine myself not doing it, I knew I had found something special. It’s sort of like knowing you’ve met the person you want to spend your life with. I knew Eric was the one for me because I couldn’t imagine us apart. I felt the same way with my new career.
How did you deal with a severe pay cut?
Not getting a regular pay check in the bank every two weeks was difficult to deal with. I struggled with an identity-crisis (who was I now that I didn’t have a full-time job and steady income?) and insecurity (what would others think of me?). I had to make financial cutbacks in every aspect of my life. I only spent money on essentials like food and bills. I didn’t spend money on entertainment, eating out, clothing, or anything that I didn’t think was a necessity at the time. I got used to the cutbacks after a couple months and many of my money-saving habits stuck with me.
Do you think you would have taken that leap if it was just you taking care of you? I admire what you do and would give a kidney to be in your shoes, but just don’t feel that it’s possible for me. I’m not pessimistic–I am proud and satisfied with what I’ve done–but I’m realistic.
I would’ve left my research position eventually, but probably not as quickly had I been single. I saved consistently for almost a year before I left my research position so I could cover my share of the bills for the first while, but if I was single I probably would’ve stayed in the field for another 2-3 years so I could save up enough to feel stable financially. I knew in my heart that I wasn’t meant to be a researcher so I would’ve done what was necessary to change my career path even if it wasn’t as soon as I wanted. I’m a firm believer that planning and preparation is crucial if you are serious about making a career change. If you think it will never happen, you are probably right.
How did you take the leap with a career change?
Quitting my job was not an impulsive decision even though it may seem that way. It was a calculated decision that I planned for months before actually quitting. I flip flopped back and forth all the time, but ultimately, I knew in my heart that I had to go through with it. The day that I quit was not planned though. It just happened to be a really bad day that fueled my fire. :)
How do I know what my strengths are?
Growing up, I never really considered myself good at much. In my late teens, when I was trying to figure out what career I would enjoy, I asked Eric what I was good at because I had no clue. If you are lost about your own strengths, ask your family members or your partner. Most people can identify strengths in other people much easier than they can in themselves. Also, think about things that you do well. Are you an expert Sudoku player? Maybe you have a strength in problem solving. Are you great at knitting? Maybe you have a strong attention to detail and lots of patience. Do you love making lists and hosting parties? Maybe you have strengths in event planning. Do you love to bake? Maybe you have a sweet tooth like me. heheh…
Oddly enough, I went to see a Career Counselor during my first year of university because I was having doubts about my career path. After answering a battery of tests, I was told that I was suited for a creative field, such as teaching, writing, culinary arts, fashion design, or photography. A test could detect my strengths when I couldn’t detect them in myself. I highly recommend seeing a Career Counselor if you can.
I want to change careers, but my fear of other family members judging me is paralyzing. How did you get over worrying about what others thought?
This was my biggest hurdle of all. I think most of us care deeply about what our loved ones think, whether we like to admit it or not. I had so much anxiety to tell my friends and family that I quit. It almost kept me from quitting at all.
Ultimately, I realized that I couldn’t live my life for other people. We lost a friend suddenly to cancer in 2008 and it really made me change the way I live my life. I stopped beating myself up and worrying about what others thought. I don’t know how long my life will be, but I do know that I’m now living it authentically rather than putting off happiness for another day.
I would love to hear how it felt to walk away from a career you had invested so much time and money in!
The day I quit was a mix of negative and positive emotions. I felt shame, guilt, relief, anxiety, happiness, worry…you name it (see my I Quit post).
Do I regret the 7 years I spent in university? Not a chance. I now know what will make me happy in a career and what won’t. I may have figured it out the hard way, but I’m happy I did at all. An education is invaluable, even if not used in the traditional way that its intended (is it ever these days?). I still feel like I’m fulfilling my goal of helping other people (which is what drew me to psychology), but perhaps not in the way I initially imagined. The twists and turns of life are often the greatest.
How do you deal with isolation when making the change even though you know it’s an unhealthy career for you?
Losing contact with my coworkers was very isolating, especially during the first few months when I was feeling a gamut of negative emotions and questioning my path in life. In the workplace, coworkers are great for venting about problems, forming friendships, and leaning on when you need some support or advice. When I quit my job, I was on my own during workday hours. No one could figure it out but me and that was really scary.
Whether you are having a baby, moving, or taking on another big adjustment, surrounding yourself with supportive people helps so much. I talked to Eric, close family, friends, and on the blog. My mom always tells me that there is no greater joy than knowing your child is happy. If you can wake up each day and feel happy about where you’re going, you’re already a success.
“It isn’t necessary to know exactly how your ideal life will look; you only have to know what feels better and what feels worse…Begin making choices based on what makes you feel freer and happier, rather than on how you think an ideal life should look. It’s the process of feeling our way toward happiness, not the realization of the Platonic ideal, that creates our best lives.” ~Martha Beck
What she said. :)
~~
For a recap of how I changed careers and my full story, check out my ‘A Year Can Change A Lot’ Series:
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, and Part 10 (1 year later)
You are so amazing, how many times have I said that by the way!
You are a hero and lets just give you your own show right about now! :)
Great post, IMPRESSIVE. INSPIRATIONAL. AND MOTIVATIONAL.
I love what I do too and feel blessed everyday. Dreams can come true!
Great post! I just quit my full time job in the corporate world to return to school and pursue my passion in nutrition. At the same time, we moved from Kansas City to Portland. Needless to say, this time in my life has been a little scary, not knowing exactly what the future will hold for me, but I’m excited!
love this post! i am all about doing what you love – i’ve spent an entire life dealing with the negativity that comes with being an actress, but the outcome is well worth it.
I admire you so much for following your heart, Angela. I was pressured into putting all of my energy into the legal field, although I knew deep down that it wasn’t what I wanted to do. Today, I’ve backed out of it– and I’m enjoying life more than ever :D
You and your blog have been such an inspiration to me, as a college student in the midst of making major life decisions. I probably wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for your story.
Thank you for sharing with us :)
wow what a timely post for me and I see for many of your followers. I love your question about what we liked as children. 2 things popped in to my mind immediately when I read that and those two things were related to some choices I have been considering for my future. Thanks so much for posting this! You just confirmed what I had been thinking.
A great book on this is “Finding Your Own North Star” by Martha Beck.
Great post, so inspiring!
Wow these are all fantastic suggestions! I’m in a transitional phase of life right now (just graduated from college) and it’s been extraordinarily difficult to adjust to this new chapter.
The suggestion that resonated most with me is actually one that I have used throughout college- look back at who you were in childhood! Childhood is an unadulterated version of who we are deep inside :)
Great post!
Love this post, thank you for sharing.
Loved this post! Thanks for sharing!
I let go of a job that I had had for 18 years two years ago. It was a very tough decision to make, partly because I was worried about the money I was letting go and partly I was worried about letting go of my identity. I think the latter was the hardest part. I was making the career change to work with my husband in our business, but when you’ve been identified as doing a certain type of work so long, it’s hard to let that go. I think a huge part of making a career change is letting go of that part of yourself that says “I am ___________ and this is what I do”. So many times in social situations, people don’t want to know who you are–just what you do. Maybe society has to change how we view people. Anyway, I think the key is to come to terms with the fact that you are going to be doing something that you love/enjoy and that it doesn’t matter what others are thinking or going to think of you because of it.
Wow I can imagine that must have been so tough on you. Congrats for having the courage to try something new. A reader earlier mentioned, ‘what’s next’ and I think it sounds so much better than ‘well that didnt work out’.
Good for you!
I have to admit…I’m worried about whether medicine is really the right career for me, or if I’m just doing it because I’m *supposed* to. My hobbies (fiction writing, reading, acting, traveling, being outside, discussing international affairs and culture, fashion, and baking) are all not exactly great foundations for a secure future.
And, since my dad was unemployed for 5 years and is still unhappily underemployed, I put a lot of emphasis on career security…
I feel like I have been in school my whole life – degrees, diploma’s, certificates, etc. and am just now figuring out “what I want to be when I grow-up.” I have had many jobs but no career, and honestly the best jobs I have had are the ones that don’t require me to sit in an office all day. Variety is the spice of life and I think that is why blogging is so attractive and rewarding for many of us. We get to try on many hats and decide what works for us and makes us who we are.
My current job requires me to sit in front a computer and “look busy” all day. I am unfulfilled and many of my talents are wasted and unrecognized, but I know this is not where I will work for the rest of my life. It’s all part of the master plan. This job allows me to work on my blog, connect with other bloggers and hone my photoshop/illustrator/InDesign skills – and I still get all my work done!
I am slowly taking the steps to make the necessary changes beginning with a reduced work week starting in September. This will allow me to spend more time at home with my son, and will also reduce the financial aspect of daycare. And I don’t lose any of my mat leave time I have saved up in anticipation of baby #2 we are planning for in the next year or so.
The best part of the Master Plan? When my husband and I talk about our future careers we are both on the exact same page :)
i love when you talk about your university education, career choices, tough decisions…your story is one with which i can identify, but i also think you are such a positive example of how to take charge of your life.
i left teaching for retail at the running store…yup, family members still don’t get it, i have a tiny clothing/entertainment budget…but i dance in to work every day with a smile, and that is what counts the most.
thanks so much for this post, angela!
Angela,
Thanks for a beautiful and inspiring post. I’m particularly impressed by how well you planned and prepared for your career move.
I’d actually love to know more about what you do today and how you run your bakery. Is your bakery at home or somewhere else? Do you still feel isolated since you have no co-workers? What is your typical day like at the bakery? How do you like growing and owning a business as opposed to being a regular employee. I’d love for you to write a post on it!
Hey Dorata,
Thanks for your comment :) Great questions too. I have some info on my bakery on my FAQ page that may answer some of your questions.
As for the isolation, yes working from home is isolating at times, especially in the Winter. I have gotten used to it for the most part, and because of my blog I don’t really ever feel ‘alone’ if that makes sense. When I do get lonely I usually go to a coffee shop or have a friend over for lunch to help break up the day.
Thanks for the answer Angela! I work from home as well, which is why I ask :) Having someone over for lunch is a good idea!
Thank you! I’m at a fork right now, my contract of over 3 yrs is ending (and I started it as I was finishing my M.Sc. too). I don’t know where I’ll be next week and it has me feeling anxious, embarrassed, stressed. I am liberated because it is not my dream job, just was a good fit and transition, but I worry a lot about what family will think as I am out of work and ‘unproductive.’ I know I have to press on and wait for my ideal job/career to present itself.
Thank you, thank you, Angela! I feel like this post was shouting at me. I have finally found my passion in life. And although I’m not sure exactly where to go with it, I have decided the field I’m in, is not for me. All of those fears above reflect how I’m feeling. I even started a blog because I feel it helps to write (I’ve used alot of your tips on how to beat negative thinking), and I think it will help my creativity (even though I only have one post! Ha Ha!). You’re a beautiful inspiration on the inside, as well as out ;)
Cindy Robinson
Wow, what a wonderful post! I just just graduated with a degree in exercise physiology with a minor in nutrition, and I have no Idea what I should be doing! Positions in my field are all over the place and not so clear cut as other degrees. My passion is really nutrition and thats what I am going for! Wether it takes more school or not, it is what I truly want :) Thank you!
Thank you for this post. I always leave your blog feeling uplifted and inspired. :) One of the most important things for me since starting college (I’ll be a junior in a few weeks) is realizing that no matter what I’m doing, if I’m happy, I’m doing it right.
I have the hardest time with this. I’m trying to determine what sort of job I would like, if I should go back to school, if I do go back to school what I should take, etc. And I can never use the advice of what you loved to do as a kid and/or what you do to procrastinate because I just don’t see how I can turn them into jobs. As a child as now I listen to music, read a book, or watch TV. That’s about it, when I have free time I do one of those three things. And when I was younger I did one (or a combo) of those things for hours at a time. And when I hung out with friends we would go to the movies, listen to music, or watch TV.
Now if someone could just pay me to read a book or watch TV I’d be set! Especially since I’m not really a fan of rehashing what I’ve read or watched. I just like to absorb. It’s when I have to spit back out what I have “learned” that I lose interest. Which is why I always hated reading for school. I might have actually liked the book, but if I have to discuss it in depth and overanalyze the thing to death I just get bored.
All I have wanted for the past few years is to be a mom, but even after five years of trying I’m just not having any luck! And being a stay-at-home mom wouldn’t pay me anything either…I wouldn’t want the amount of money to affect my decision. But something would be nice!
Can I take this opportunity to vent?
First of all, we’re “major” twins! My undergraduate degree was in Psychology. I went on to get an MS and PhD in a business type psychology. Currently work in Human Resources in talent management (finding and developing successors to people’s positions), which is rather fun at times, even if it’s data-analysis intensive (I actually like that aspect).
I would say I’m doing what I want now… always wanted to “help people,” but there are LOTS of ways to “help people.” I didn’t want to be a researcher (did that) or clinician, so business psychology was my way to help others in something they do a lot (which is work… you spend more waking time at work than with your own family — true!).
BUT, with times like these, it has been VERY hard to nail down something, and it is very painful to think that all those years in school and planning has not quite worked out. I’m remaining hopeful, but I admit to blitzing resumes to anyplace I think I might qualify and have received a poor response. It seems like my education is now working against me when it comes to choosing people for professional-level jobs.
I thought about starting my own business, but I’m honestly not ready for that right now. I just want to find some corporate gig and then start a family in a few years. A career would be somewhat secondary, but I just want some stability (ie, not moving from job to job every year). I often feel so trapped. Kudos to those who are smart and daring enough to carve their own paths!