• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

PHONE: 240-277-6224|EMAIL: meredithtseu@gmail.com

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
MLT Careers

MLT Careers

Love Mondays Again

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Serve
  • Services
  • Testimonials
    • Resume Samples
  • Blog
  • Contact

The Need for Reflection in Our Careers

February 13, 2017 by Meredith Tseu
Take a break to reflect, even if you have to use sticky notes

Reflection is the foundation of career change, but so few of us practice it regularly, myself included. It’s tough when you’re stressed out, overworked, burned out people. The last thing you want to do is sit and “reflect” at the end of the day when Netflix is calling.

Dr. Spencer Niles, a dean at The College William & Mary and author of several career development books, says that reflection not just a good idea, it’s foundational. It’s just as important as taking a career assessment or working on our resumes in advancing our careers.

Read a Poem

Niles suggests we read poetry.  I used to read it all the time, and now I practically never crack a collection of poetry. Yet there are poets whose work directly address career. Niles cites poet David Whyte, who draws on literature to conduct leadership workshops at major corporations.

Reading poetry requires you to pause and think. It’s the antidote to sound bites and Twitter chatter. It can help build in time to think about bigger issues in a mindful way.

Make Reflection a Habit

I used to work at Georgetown University, and one day I visitedthe staff chaplain for an open house. Although I’m not Catholic, I loved hearing about the Jesuit routine of Examen.

Twice daily, the chaplain explained, he reflected on the events of the day as a form of prayer, reexamining decisions and actions and just being thoughtful about life. (Of course, there’s an app for it).

Whatever your beliefs, beginning a habit of pausing even once a day to review your decisions and actions can help you tune into yourself again. You can regain a sense of control.

One exercise I often assign to people thinking of switching careers is to list activities in your work day and rate them from a 1 to a 10. It’s worth a try if you’re wondering about the exact causes of your career pain.

Walk, Run, or Write a Sentence

Reflection can be found in so many places: walking the dog, doing the dishes, working on a craft.

Leo Babauta at Zen Habits, in this great post on how to make reflection a daily habit, suggests combining reflection with regular exercise, like a walk or run.

He als0 cites Gretchen Rubin of the The Happiness Project, who recommends the practice of a one-sentence journal. Just commit to that one sentence. That’s all.

Stick It to the Wall

Sometimes, when things get really hectic, I use sticky notes. I put them up in places where I want to trigger a thought. For instance, I put the “Lighten Up” sticky note above a light switch near my desk, because lately I’ve been feeling weighed down by problems in the world.

It reminds me that the world is still filled with things that I love. The bubble letters remind me of the 80s, when I played a lot of Ms. Pacman. I could really level up, devouring ghosts and floating fruit. I love when I find the table version in some out-of-the-way deli. Ms. Pacman, a BLT sandwich and a Dr. Pepper will cure so many things in life.

The important thing is to build reflection into your life. It can work like a vitamin in your career, protecting you from the dangers of an autopilot life, where you circle back to the same mistakes again and again. It’s the first step to getting your career together. Stay tuned for more steps in my process.

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Email Share on Twitter
Category: Career Change, General

About Meredith Tseu

What do you get when you combine a B.A. in religion and an M.A. in counseling with stints as a journalist and career coach? In my case, you get a resume writer and job-hunt coach with decades of experience helping job seekers find their true north.

Previous Post: « There’s No Such Thing as the Right Job
Next Post: Stand Out in the Job Hunt with Storytelling »

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • How to Get a Job After Four Years’ Gap
  • How to Find a Job After a Long Gap
  • Crafting Your Teacher Resume for a Career Change
  • Job Hopping in Your 20s? Five Ways to Explain It
  • Your Employment Gap: An Explanation Letter Sample

Enter your info to receive your free guide, 3 ways to use your non-traditional background to get the interview!

MLTCareers-LeadMagent

mltcareers

MEREDITH TSEU, CPRW

Ellicott City, MD

Phone: 240-277-6224

Email: meredithtseu@gmail.com

PHONE

240-277-6224

EMAIL

meredithtseu@gmail.com

FOLLOW US

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Copyright © 2022 · MLT Careers · All Rights Reserved.

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Sitemap
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Go to mobile version