Running a household and looking after loved ones is like having a full-time job that demands your attention round the clock – this is a reality that many can relate to after years of experience in this role. When a family member decides to reenter the workforce after dedicating time to caring for the family and managing tasks, it can be quite daunting.
The moments spent nurturing family bonds and taking care of often unnoticed tasks are truly invaluable and cannot be quantified in terms. Now there's a chance to apply those abilities in a field that is both thrilling and challenging at the same time! If you know a family member or friend who is going through this phase in their life, let’s discuss some hurdles and ways you could offer them reassurance and encouragement during this change.
Let’s face it. Making changes isn't easy at all! After spending years in the comfort of home and finally reentering the job scene, it can feel like walking out on stage in front of thousands. The worry, fear, and stress--the uncertainty of it all. Your loved one might be concerned about how things may have shifted in the workplace the commute, who is working there, and whether the workplace might be a good fit. Their concerns might be unsettling for sure! You may recall how you had nervous butterflies in your stomach before you started a new job.
Acknowledge their emotions
Assure them that feeling nervous is normal. Returning to work can be overwhelming for anyone. It’s understandable to feel this way.
Start with something like suggesting they try part-time work or volunteering before seeking full-time work to avoid feeling too overwhelmed.
Think of individuals who have successfully navigated this transition process. It can be reassuring to hear about their experiences and learn from their journeys. Offer to connect your loved one with supportive people who have done similar things.
It can be challenging for someone accustomed to being the caregiver in their household to envision themselves in a new position. They might be questioning their identity without that responsibility; "Who am I if I'm not the one managing everything at home?"
Ways You Can Help: Emphasize their talents
Validate their concerns, but also encourage them by noting that managing a home is no easy feat and they do well with household tasks. Demonstrate how their abilities are essential such as juggling chores all at once and managing finances efficiently. Skills like those are highly valuable in a professional setting.
Encourage your loved one to believe in themselves by highlighting that this new experience is a chance for professional development and growth rather than a departure from their core identity.
Assist with their resume by transforming their life story into a standout resume that highlights their skills and experiences effectively.
Heading off to work and leaving your family behind during the 9 to 5 grind or any other job schedule can stir up feelings of guilt for caregivers. It often feels like we're deserting our responsibilities even when our families are managing fine without us at home.
Let them know that it's perfectly normal to seek work-life balance.
Tell them that going out to work doesn't mean they're neglecting their responsibilities—it's all, about finding an equilibrium, for both them and their loved ones not abandoning their duties but broadening them.
Ways You Can Help: Help with Chores
Establish a family schedule where everyone collaborates in sharing household responsibilities to show that the family can function well when not everyone is around all the time.
Consider their perspective. Emphasize how having a job can offer lasting advantages for the entire family. Be it ensuring financial stability or experiencing a sense of satisfaction that positively impacts family dynamics.
Navigating the job market can feel daunting for individuals—particularly when faced with periods of unemployment or career gaps that may spark feelings of insecurity and apprehension about rejection and perceived inadequacies in qualifications or relevance amidst an evolving world.
Encourage them to participate in activities that lead to their goals.
Recommend trying out a refresher course or attending a workshop to enhance their abilities and self-assurance even updating computer skills can have an impact.
Ways You Can Help: Help with the Job Search and Scheduling Activities
Offer to practice mock job interviews to help boost their confidence.
Focus on the journey. Not the outcome. Let them know that returning to work takes time and effort. View each job application submitted, and every interview arranged as a step forward even if it doesn't result in a job offer.
Let’s be honest. Throwing a job into the mix while already balancing a family can seem overwhelming at times, right?! The concern of "How will I handle everything?" is legitimate.
Create a timetable together by scheduling work activities, alongside quality family time and setting aside personal time for each other to maintain a healthy life balance.
Consider flexibility
It might be a good idea to explore job opportunities that provide flexible hours or the option to work remotely to help make the transition smoother and less overwhelming.
Encourage them to delegate tasks and emphasize that they no longer need to handle all household responsibilities. Sharing chores with family members is truly beneficial; it allows them to concentrate better on everything related to seeking employment.
Some relatives may feel concerned about relinquishing control when they venture outside of what is familiar since they have been managing the household for a long time. It can be challenging to loosen the reins.
Ways to Help: Be Supportive
Reassure them by letting them know that household responsibilities will continue to run as normal, but also be patient and understanding with family members because it will take time to adjust. Let them know that delegation is a key strategy that allows everyone to develop responsibility.
It's important to focus on the advantages of working outside the home for them. It could bring about changes in the family dynamic such as increased independence and shared responsibilities. It might also lead to a sense of gratitude for all their work and efforts.
When the day ends and you're urging a family member to join the workforce it’s a process that engages the family unit – requiring patience and understanding along the way. It's important to cheer for their successes and offer a listening ear when uncertainties arise; all while emphasizing that this transition is more than landing a new job—it's about unlocking fresh chances, for individual development and contentment.
It's a win-win situation when we all progress and flourish while discovering our purpose, in both our lives and beyond that sphere of existence! Therefore, let’s show our support for others by being gentle in our tone, open in our communication, patient, and understanding as our loved ones embark on this new phase of their journey through life.
Nicholl McGuire is the Blog Owner and the Author of When Mothers Cry, check out the blog and book here.
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