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All careers undergo change at some point. Some changes can be swift, like being laid off or suddenly needing to care for an ill family member. Others can be gradual, such as adapting to new leadership at your organization, or working toward a promotion.

And still other changes – like a novel virus forcing us to quickly adapt to an increasingly new normal – bring about a level of uncertainty that is in and of itself novel. The current COVID-19 pandemic is different from anything we have experienced before.

How we adjust personally and professionally to this unprecedented change will help us not just get through it, but keep going in those critical moments when it seems easier to give up.

Instead of: Backing away from your career goals, or putting plans on hold entirely …

Try: Taking small, meaningful steps to adjust during these unprecedented times.

1. Focus on what you can do each day. During this extraordinary time of change it can be highly beneficial to break things down into micro tasks. Identifying what you need to do today – just today – allows you to focus on the here and now, and it’s a great way to stay in the present moment.

For example, if you are job hunting, you might follow up deliberately with a recruiter on the resume you just submitted. Just commit to that one phone call or email. Doing so can help you stand out, especially if you approach it with empathy – in other words, understanding that HR professionals and recruiters are experiencing their own level of duress right now.

One more tip is to write down your answer to this question: “How have you successfully managed things you can’t control?” This may be a top question potential employers want to explore with you.

2. Consider a change of scenery. Often a new setting can bring a sense of relief and release, and this has never been truer than with our current circumstances. If you are working from home, looking for a new job, or sharing extra-close quarters with your spouse and children, think about changing up your environment to reflect on your next move.

For example, today my 11-year-old son became very frustrated with his distance learning. I asked him what he would do to re-energize. A bike ride? A walk around the block? Play basketball? He chose to “sit at the window and look at nature.” After 10 minutes, he was clearer-headed and back at his work.

3. Give yourself a break. Life looks really different right now, and your energy and productivity levels have likely dipped. You may feel like you aren’t cutting it in this new normal. Self-care and self-kindness are really important, and that applies to the care and feeding of your career as well.

If you have lost your job, allow yourself time to grieve that loss. If you are suddenly working from home, know that it’s okay to make a mistake with new technology. If you are job hunting and getting nowhere, that’s okay too – it won’t always be this way.

If I’ve learned anything from my clients as a Career Coach for 15 years, it’s about the ingenuity and resilience of the human spirit. We will get through this – one day and one small adjustment at a time.

Research shows that practicing gratitude on a regular basis is linked to enhanced self-esteem, feeling more positive about work, improving and strengthening relationships, becoming more effective managers and teammates, and reducing stress. To name a few!

Here are three ways to practice gratitude to improve your career happiness – and perhaps even find deeper meaning in your work.

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – William Arthur Ward

Instead of: Coming up with a few things that you are thankful for to share at the Thanksgiving dinner table once a year….

Try: Practicing gratitude in the workplace. Here’s how…

Be thankful for something each day at work. It might be the morning sun when you got up, the lighter-than-usual commute, the meeting that went well, that lunch with a colleague, a compliment from a teammate. It may be the fact that you got through a tough presentation. Or that you sent out one resume even when you didn’t feel like looking for a job that day. In this fast-paced, modern era, it can be hard to stop and find something each day that we feel grateful for – especially when things are not going well. However, that’s often the moment you may want to focus on feeling grateful. Research shows that when we practice gratitude during times of distress, we actually lessen those negative emotions, which reduces stress and fosters resilience.

Look to give to others. Give back to others and you will experience a sense of greater fulfillment. Look around you at work and decide: Who can I help? You have skills, expertise, and experiences that can tremendously benefit someone’s professional development. Think about who you can mentor or coach to improve their career. You may be surprised by a newfound sense of confidence, and be on the receiving end of someone else’s gratitude.

Appreciate other people’s accomplishments. You know that colleague who seems to effortlessly get it all done and build a successful career? It’s easy to be envious of what we feel we don’t have. But try to appreciate others’ accomplishments, and you might experience a shift. Offer a word of praise or thank someone for what he or she brings to the table (that you don’t!). Your envy might all but disappear, and you may potentially create better working relationships.
Every day I am grateful for the hundreds of people (and counting!) who have chosen and trusted me to help them discover and enjoy greater career happiness. One of my favorite parts, after 15 years? Shining the light on my clients’ amazingly unique skills, strengths, and personal brands. I am grateful that you, reader, took few minutes today to read this, and I hope it helps you become happier with your career. Happy Thanksgiving! ~ Ellen.