Career change is a marathon, not a sprint. And a marathon isn’t won in the first mile.
But when you’re deep into exploring your next career move – allowing yourself to dream up your ideal scenario, exploring, testing and verifying ideas – it can start to feel like a LONG journey.
The path isn’t straight. It zigzags. Sometimes you take a step sideways before you can take one forward. And when nothing seems to be moving, it’s tempting to just… stop. Throw in the towel. Stay where you are, because at least it’s familiar.
And I get it. I see it in almost every conversation I have with experienced public sector leaders who are ready for something new.
So today, I want to talk about something important we don’t often talk about: how to look after yourself while you’re in the thick of it.
Navigating Public Sector Career Change Beyond Productivity Hacks
I keep hearing a variation of this from capable public sector leaders: “Am I really good enough to make this career shift?”
It’s a strange thing that happens on a career change journey. You start questioning not just your next move but your identity. Your value. Your worth.
And it makes sense. When your job title has been part of how you’ve introduced yourself for years, taking a step into the unknown can feel like you’re losing your footing.
So if you need to hear this today:
Your value extends far beyond your job title or job status.
That’s not a throwaway line. It’s the thing to hold onto, not only for the next few minutes, but for your career change journey as a whole.
I’d like to share three ideas that I think matter more than any productivity hack right now.
First, prioritise your mental health and wellbeing.
I know that can feel counterintuitive.
Taking your foot off the pedal can feel like you’re dropping the ball, missing an opportunity, slacking. But when your body is sending you signals – tiredness, tension, that low hum of dread before you open your laptop – that’s information.
Listen to it. Be kind enough to yourself to step away for a moment. Do something that brings you joy. It’s not a detour from the journey. It is part of it.
Second, recognise the cycle.
The job market moves in waves. Some weeks it feels like everything’s opening up, other weeks it feels like nothing is landing. That’s not a reflection of you. It’s the nature of the market.
And here’s something worth sitting with: a setback can actually be useful. It’s often the moment that pushes you to get clear on what you really want: your dealbreakers and must-haves.
That clarity has to come BEFORE you rewrite your CV, again. Otherwise you risk landing a role that pays the bills but drains you, instead of one that actually lights you up.
Third, keep momentum and faith.
Rejection and uncertainty will test you. You might catch yourself asking, “Should I be doing more, or should I be resting more?”
It’s rarely one OR the other. It’s both, in the right measure, at the right time. Tune into your body. Trust yourself to know what you need.
5 Tips for Looking After Yourself on Your Career Change Journey
So here are five practical ways to do that:
- Set Small Goals. Break your exploration into smaller chunks you can complete in a day. Researching one idea or one person, listening to a podcast episode, sending one message. Celebrate that.
- Stay connected. Talk to people who understand what this actually feels like. You don’t have to do this alone.
- Do What Energises You. Whatever fills your tank and lifts you up: movement, your hobby, dancing to your favourite song, your community. Protect that time like it’s a non-negotiable. Because it is.
- Schedule Downtime. The same way you’d block time for networking or a call, block time for rest. For a cup of tea and a chapter in a book. Meditation. Or whatever helps you regulate your nervous system. It won’t happen by accident.
- Reflect Regularly. Check in with yourself. During the day, once a week, once a month. How am I actually feeling? If the answer is “low,” that’s your cue to pull back and look after yourself before you push forward again.
If there’s one thing I want you to take way from this, it’s this:
You are not alone in this.
You do not have to do this alone.
It’s more than okay to ask for guidance as you find your way through it.
If you’d like my support to take the first step and get clear on your dealbreakers and must-haves, my 90-minute Jumpstart Session might be a good place to start.
Find all the details at spacetoshiftyourcareer.com/jumpstart. The link is in the the show notes.
Thanks for listening, and be kind to yourself.
Until next time: Make space, re-discover you, and then take action.