Too busy ‘doing’ the day job? 10 ways to get back to your *actual* career plan
‘I don’t have the time to focus on my career, I’m too busy doing my job’
If you want something enough - no matter what it is - you’ll make the time.
Smart time management is especially critical if you are currently working in a role that is demanding. You know you’ll need to continue doing a good job in your current role, keeping your current employer happy, whilst freeing yourself up some time to work on your actual career plan. It’s the one that sparks joy and plays to your passion, purpose and strengths? That all important plan!
You’re thinking, ‘where will I find the time’?
Here are 10 ways to FIND the TIME and be more effective:
Make an actual plan - detailed with a set of goals + actions you’re prepared to take
Set target dates for completion and stick to them
Allocate specific times to work on your career - for example set aside Monday evenings to research, send emails, work on your CV
Delegate what you can and decide on what can wait
Use your lunch breaks effectively - research, meet up with people, connect with a mentor
Stop staying late at work - leave on time
Don’t send or respond to emails at the weekends or late in to the evenings - unless they really are urgent
Generate opportunities at work that will be developmental for you and beneficial to the company, such as spending time building relationships with peers, practicing your new leadership skills or conversation toolkit (hint, hint)
Make lasting connections with your work colleagues, customers, suppliers etc - you never know who you might bump into again on the way up. Also, they can vouch for you!
Volunteer to meet other people in your industry / and to gain new skills in other areas
If you find yourself saying ‘ yes, but’..
Be honest with yourself, it's not the time management it's something else. Figure out what it * really * is and you can then start tackling the real issue and not the pretend one.
Just remember what’s important, you can always find time if you’re motivated to do so.
A career partnership could help you with the Developing You programme.
