Career Refresh Digest #49
Welcome to the latest edition of the Career Refresh Digest.
This issue looks at how satisfying work has felt this year, and what to do if the answer is "only sometimes".
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WORTH THINKING ABOUT
Is "sometimes" good enough?
It's around this time of year that people start looking back on the year and asking whether they want another one like it.
Most people would probably say a version of "it wasn't all bad" or "some days were okay", but then "it just didn't feel satisfying often enough".
My quiz results suggest something similar. More than 1,000 people have taken my Career Wellbeing Quiz, and only 16% say they often feel a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment at work. Most (63%) feel it only sometimes. Only 25% say they like their work most days, and only 28% get to do what they're good at most days.
I know from thousands of hours of conversations with clients that the thought of change can feel scary and overwhelming, so it doesn't take much to persuade yourself that things are fine as they are.
The trouble is, if your job feels okay some of the time, you might be talking yourself into settling for something you'll look back on and wish you hadn't.
The moments that did feel fulfilling are important to notice, because they show you what you need more of.
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WORTH DOING
Notice what works
List three moments this year when you felt a real sense of accomplishment at work.
For each one, note what you were doing and what made it possible.
Then estimate how much of a typical week looks like that.
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WORTH CONSIDERING
If you want next year to look different
My six-session 1:1 programme is a structured process of reassessment. It helps you dig into what good looks like for you, and what you need from your work at your age and stage.
You get support to work through the fears and barriers holding you back, and come away with clear criteria so you can be confident about your direction and back your own decisions.
I often get asked around this time of year whether it's too late to start, because the programme usually runs over three months, with fortnightly sessions.
It isn't too late. If you start this month, most sessions can happen before Christmas, and they can run closer together if you'd like.
In fact, starting before the break works really well. You go into the holidays knowing what to reflect on, at a time when you're outside your normal routine and have space to think.
I've also seen the relief people feel once they've taken a first step to improve their situation, even if that's just booking a discovery call.
If you'd like next year to feel different, book a free 15-minute call to see if my coaching programme is a good fit.
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That's it from me for this fortnight. Have a good week.
– Lucy
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ABOUT THE CAREER REFRESH DIGEST
The Career Refresh Digest is a fortnightly newsletter for mid-career professionals who feel stuck or out of step with their work. Each issue shares practical insights and tools to help you reset direction, make clearer decisions, and reshape your work to better fit your life – drawing on recommendations, research, and insights from client work.