Rethinking Our Careers: The New Theme for 2021

It seems that 2021 has already been a year filled with big changes, ranging from the ways in which we socialize to how and where we work. With many people opting to jump on the freelancing or remote work bandwagon, there are definitely more opportunities than ever before.

But, exactly how and why did this all come to happen?

Looking at Our Lifestyle Choices

Due to the obvious events of the past year, it seems that everyone went through a period of true reflection. How many of our "friends" did we find that we could really do without? Did that job that we once loved seem so important anymore?

So many people looked at things that just never came to mind before, including proactively keeping up with their medical visits, and even learning more about life insurance. People stopped smoking and cut back on their carbs. We began to use our treadmills for more than a place to hang our clothes. It was finally time to take care of ourselves, for a change.

And, there was still more.

Continued Learning

As some found themselves with more time than ever before, continuing their education jumped to the top of many to-do lists. Online courses and certifications became very popular again, with a lot of companies actually investing in their own employees with unlimited growth opportunities.

And with so many different types of learning available, there were numerous ways that motivated workers could find to invest in a promotion, move to a different department or opt for a new career altogether.

Reassessing Your Skills

This has also been a good time to really take a hard look at what we’ve accumulated in our tool kits. When a marketer first starts a position in social media, he or she may possess a particular set of skills. But in less than a year, this individual is probably very sufficient at both email and content marketing, digital PR, and a handful of other marketing strategies.

However, it often takes an unplanned event, or some time to slow down and really look at where we are, to completely recognize the new skills that we’ve learned that now feel commonplace. Now, there are more things that we’re "good at," meaning that our career possibilities have once again broadened, and our options have tripled or quadrupled.

In the End

As we begin to move through 2021, more and more business people realize that life is too short, indeed, to continue that role where they have no growth opportunities, or to mindlessly complete tasks where they feel little-to-no self-achievement. Many have left their 9-to-5 positions of 20-plus years to explore the freedom of freelancing work, while some have used a newly-earned degree to advance their careers to heights they could’ve never imagined.

If we’ve learned anything from 2020, it’s that we can apply all of the doubts and uncertainties to motivate us to be innovative, creative and inspired enough to make 2021 a year of change — for good.

Angela Ash is an expert writer, editor and marketer, with a unique voice and expert knowledge. She focuses on topics related to remote work, freelancing, entrepreneurship and more.