My nearly 18-year-old announced at the dinner table that she has decided which college to attend this fall. While I’m excited for her future plans, it’s another reminder that I’m entering a new season. Each life and career stage brings with it a set of challenges and opportunities. Like spring, summer, winter, and fall, the seasons that mark major milestones leave behind the activities of the former season to embrace the new ones. Summer swimming gives way to winter’s outdoor ice skating just as play dates give way to graduation parties.
Researchers and practitioners recognize the impact of life and career stages on what employees want and need from their bosses. From work-life policies to managerial support and work schedules, the unique needs of each season change, shifting the dynamic interplay between work and life. For instance, employees with toddlers may be more interested in benefits like on-site or subsidized daycare than those with school-age children. Personally, I spent years adjusting my work schedule to make myself more available for my kids’ school activities.
One common assumption about workforce needs is that there are differences in worker attitudes and values based on generational differences – Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials. However, the research reveals that the majority of these observed differences are actually the result of career stages. When we understand the impact of seasons of life and career stages on what workers want and need, we can do a better job of navigating our own changing seasons and helping others do the same.
Changing seasons are as sure as the rotation of the earth around the sun. This means we can count on the fact that whatever season we’re in won’t last forever. As seasons transition from one to the next, our availability and aspirations shift in response. A promotion that seemed out of reach before is now aligned with the type of challenge we’re ready to tackle. The travel opportunities we said no to in favor of being home every night no longer pose the same obstacle to family life. As seasons change, we enter new career stages that allow us to grow and embrace the space we’re in.
Strategies for Seasonal Changes
The first strategy for stepping fully into new seasons of life and work is to take stock of the season you’re in and the season you’re entering. Identify the characteristics of your current season by making a list of all the considerations that influence your decisions. Think about your family, your community involvement, your lifestyle, and your goals. For me, the ages of my kids and the health of my parents have been two aspects of my season of life that have had a significant impact on my decision-making in other areas. I’ve focused my community involvement on staying connected with my kids, and my lifestyle has centered on carving out family time. I’ve set aside some career goals in this season to make room for parenting and professional development goals that weren’t easily put off.
After a review of your current season, turn your attention to the season you’re entering. For me, this includes launching my oldest daughter into college and finishing an educational journey that has spanned most of my adult life. The new season will center more on my career goals and creating meaningful work experiences than the former seasons have. As I contemplate each aspect of the coming season, I can begin to make decisions about what stays in my schedule and what goes.
The second strategy is critical: you must carefully determine what activities belong in your life in this season and what activities need to be passed up or postponed. Choosing how to invest your time and energy will free you up to be fully in engaged in the season you’re entering. Hanging on to activities past their seasonal expiration date will hinder your progress. In my life, I’ve started to exit a few roles that will not be part of my next season.
Exit strategies are rarely an immediate change, so planning to step out smoothly will help your transition as well as passing the baton to those you work with. Removing some roles and responsibilities from your current season will open space for you to step into new opportunities as they arise in the new season. Identifying what you will NOT do in the new season is just as important as pursuing what you will do.
The third strategy involves making ongoing adjustments as your new season unfolds. Despite the best laid plans, your predictions about the new season will never be 100% accurate. It’s vital to assess your situation regularly. When you are sensitive to what works and what doesn’t, you can make adjustments to your plan. I started a new morning routine this year, adding in a few habits, but it didn’t take more than a couple of days to find a few sticky spots where the routine gets hung-up. I could beat myself up for “failing” to follow-through on my planned routine, or I can acknowledge the parts of it that didn’t work as I anticipated. Once I acknowledge the hiccup, I can find ways to modify the routine to resolve the snags.
Plans are always different in practice than they are on paper. If we are too rigid in our approach to new seasons, we will miss the chance to refine our plans and optimize outcomes. If we fail to create structure, we may fall through our days without a clear focus. The ability to make thoughtful plans then adapt with agility is critical to success as we navigate new seasons. As you enter new seasons, don’t be afraid to edit your life accordingly. As you do, you’ll be able to fully engage in life and work in intentional and satisfying ways.
What excites you most about the season you are entering? What are you hesitant to leave behind?
