There are several reasons that one might conclude that they need a career change. Their current positions might barely pay the bills, provide no support or opportunity for promotion, fail to tap into their best skills, cause a great deal of stress, or simply not satisfy their innermost passions. While it’s never too late to pursue your dreams, the many responsibilities of raising a family can make it more difficult.
You’re wondering how you can be there for your loved ones while investing your time to switch careers successfully. Though this journey won’t be smooth-sailing at all times, there are ways to make raising and family and changing jobs a bit easier. Check out these tips below.
Create a Gameplan
Deciding you want to make a career change is only the first step. Next, you need to determine how you’ll do this. Sit down and do some research to create a gameplan to accomplishing your goals. For example, if you’re a teacher interested in becoming a principal, you’d need to look into an online administrative credential program to gain the administrative background necessary to take on the role. If you already have the credentials for the career you’d like to pursue, consider how you’ll find open positions available in your area.
Talk To Your Family
Before taking any steps towards a career change, discuss with your family. If you’re in a relationship, you and your partner need to be on the same page as your finances, children, and home. Tell them your dreams and what it will take to ensure they can provide you with the support you need. Next, you’ll need to talk with your children so they’re fully aware of the changes that will occur within the household.
Get Support
Whether you’re married, co-parenting, or a single parent, you’ll need others’ support to ensure that your family’s needs are met. Don’t be afraid to share your goals with close family and friends and ask for their assistance. Your parents might be willing to take the kids on weekends so you can study while your friends might pitch in by helping with after school activities. If you don’t have family and friends you can rely on; you can also reach out to your child’s school, babysitters, and other women who can assist you in your journey.
Create Routines
Order and organization go a long way in balancing chasing your dreams and raising a family. Routines essentially make it easier for you to manage your new lifestyle. Create a morning, afternoon, evening, and bedtime routine for yourself and your children. You can use alarms, calendars, and family meetings to ensure you all stay on task. When creating these routines, be sure to incorporate the time necessary to transition into your new career. Doing so will require some time and effort, which is where your community of support comes into play. For activities or tasks that you cannot complete, look to your significant other, older children, family, friends, afterschool program leaders, and mom support group participants to help you out.
Pace Yourself
Depending on where you are professionally and academically related to your career change, it can take time to actualize your dreams. While it may seem like a good idea to pile it on and get things out of the way, putting too much on yourself can backfire. It is important to pace yourself. Don’t load your days with so many things that you begin to feel overwhelmed. Even if it takes you an additional few months or years to make the career change, it’s better than wearing yourself out physically and emotionally.
Don’t allow your responsibilities as a wife, mother, and employee to keep you from doing what makes you happy. A successful career change can improve your mood, boost your confidence, increase your earnings, and fuel your passions. At the end of the day, all of these things work in favor of you and the very people that you’ve dedicated your life to. Balancing your dream career and raising a family may have its challenges, but the above-mentioned suggestions can make the journey much easier.
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