How Moms Can Find Meaningful Work

How Moms Can Find Meaningful WorkHow Moms Can Find Meaningful Work2You always imagined that you would have a career in the future, one that satisfied you both professionally and personally, focusing on meaningful work. But in reality, you may have had a string of unrelated jobs- and unsatisfying work experiences- that didnt really mean all that much to you. So now that its time to head back into the workforce, you really dont have any idea of what youd like to do. You know that you definitely dont want to be just a body filling up space and biding your time until the workdays over. Heres how moms can find meaningful work in five steps.Pursue your passion.Sure, your big sister may be a veterinarian, and your younger brother might be a stockbroker. But what youve always wanted to do was teach dance. One of the most direct paths to meaningful work is to discover what you really love to do. If youre still unsure, there are a couple of ways to figure it out. What would you do, even if no one ever paid you for it? What makes you feel excited and happy when you are doing it or are thinking about it? That is your passion, and your first step towards meaningful work.Dont be specific.Once you have a general idea of which area of work interests you, its time to start taking the steps towards making it happen. Unfortunately, this is the step that trips up most people. Why? Because many people falsely assume that you need to know exactly what you want to do from the get-go, and thats simply not the case. Even when youre gainfully employed, you will continue to change and grow within your desired field for years to come. Youll most likely have several jobs before you retire, so trying to predict the end goal job is virtually impossible. Simply knowing what interests you and what youd potentially like to do is a good second step. That way, you wont put unnecessary pressure on yourself.Know what you want. If your passions are a little, well, fuzzy, then another option is to fo cus on your talents. Everyone is good at at least one thing (if not more), and its time to assess what youre good at. Maybe over the course of being a stay-at-home mom you uncovered your superior organizational and collaboration skills, which might lead to a job as a project manager. Or perhaps you unearthed your fantabulous fundraising and budgeting skills, which might be the impetus for an accounting or grant writing career.Redefine success.You may have held positions in the past that you kind of sort of liked, but didnt measure up in your eyes as being a real career. In order to find meaningful work- and be happy doing it- youll need to come to terms with what success means for you and you alone. For you, meaningful work may come in the form of being a teachers assistant for autistic children and helping them build life skills. Or it might be making enough money so that you can send your daughter to cheerleading camp for the summer. Satisfaction comes in many different varieties. What matters most is determining what means the most to you.Find your flex. You may find a great job that allows you to pursue your passion. But that dream job can quickly turn into a nightmare if it doesnt align with your work-life balance needs. So as you look through job listings, be aware of what type of workplace flexibility youll need as you navigate the tricky waters of being a working mom. Keep in mind, too, that your needs may change over time you may start out needing a part-time telecommuting job so that you can be home in time for the school bus but eventually will be able to work full-time.You found meaning in being a mom. Now its time to find meaning in your work, too. Hopefully these tips will help you in your search for a job that youll like, which will eventually grow into a career that youll adore.Are you a mom looking for a job with flexibility? Take a look at thesegreat work-at-home jobs for stay-at-home moms.