The early days of the pandemic felt a bit like a fever dream. With the sudden demand to wear masks and mobs over toiletries, it seemed unlikely anything good could ever come out of the pandemic. Yet somehow, between learning to use zoom, and becoming masters of the app, we began to appreciate the serenity of working from home and being in a comfortable space.
Despite all the chaos it brought, the pandemic also opened our eyes to a life of comfort. It showed us how much better life can be when you give equal priority to your feelings and wellbeing, as you do to your work. With getting to sit through corporate meetings from the comfort of our beds, we thought we had this work-life balance thing in the bag.
However, as the virus dwindles, we must let go of the pandemic work culture and return to the old normal. Finding balance in your career and personal life is a challenge people spend entire lives trying to overcome. Now that so many of us finally achieved this balance during the pandemic, how can we let it go so easily?
The pandemic allowed us to step onto the other side of the field. Now that we know the grass is greener, many working individuals have a big decision to make. Do we accept that good things never last and go back to the pre-pandemic lifestyle? Or do we decide we want to hold on to this new lifestyle and reorganize our careers according to these new priorities?
If you are also confused about the future of your career after the pandemic, you may find comfort in the stories we are about to share with you today. A recent Wall Street Journal article tells the story of three individuals who conquered work-life balance during the pandemic and decided that this newfound Zen was something worth fighting for.
25-year-old Ashlee Shoup switched from the manager of a financial services company to a remote worker of a life insurance firm during the pandemic. Though the pay was less from her previous job, she could spend more time with her family and be productive around the house thanks to the flexibility of her job.
Things seemed to go well until her company announced that workers have to come to the office at least three times a week. Ms. Shoup felt anxious and uneasy about giving up her new balanced lifestyle. Thus she made the brave decision to put herself first and quit her job. Ms. Shoup is now starting a photography business. Though the future is uncertain, she is happy to be doing something she loves.
55-year-old Jennifer Gravel, Director of the City Planning Department at New York shares similar sentiments about returning to work. Working remotely allowed Ms. Gravel to spend more time with her kids and find a work-life balance she didn’t think was possible in her line of work. Now that offices are open again, she says she feels burdened by the commute and hopes to take a break from work in 2022.
This shift in work culture has encouraged many companies to plan a hybrid working system. However, Andrew Zane, 33 years Old Andrew Zane shared that this small change was not enough. After hearing executives discussing a hybrid work system, he quit his job to find something new. Mr. Zane now works a full-time remote job at Salesforce and is much happier than he was at his old job.
These three individuals show us that we shouldn’t be afraid to prioritize our needs over our careers. At the end of the day, what is the point of having a good job if we are unhappy? Let us know your thoughts on the matter through our community forum. Also, make sure to register to our website to read more inspiring stories such as this.
