I was unwell for an extended period. 🙁

I don’t know exactly how long because I wasn’t paying attention. 

What was “it” exactly? When did it start? What was the catalyst? 

I didn’t know the answers to any of those questions. Yet it didn’t seem like something I needed to see a doctor for, although it was impacting my well-being (by the way, two words no one uttered earlier in my career).

One day on my way to work, I secretly wished for a small car accident. Not a serious one. Just big enough to keep me home for a week, and small enough not to seriously injure me or anyone else. THAT is when I knew something had to change. 

I was in overdrive. I was saying yes to everything. I thought I had to prove myself again and again.

I needed a reality check, and you might, too. 💛

Maybe you’ve worked hard. Secured sponsors. Self-advocated. Landed the promotion.

Now, you’re supposed to feel good. Right?

So why do you feel lousy? 

You’re depleted,  but you can’t slow down. And this promotion reiterates the message you’ve heard for years: keep doing what you’re doing. So you do. Sometimes you do even more, just to prove you earned it. And to quell your insatiable need for achievement or being insanely productive.

But instead of feeling validated and euphoric, you feel the opposite. There’s a name for what you’re experiencing, and it’s not burnout. 

It’s the lack of career wellness.

What do I mean by that? 

Think about your body. You know when you are physically well (or not). You can have zero medical diagnoses and still be exhausted, unfit, running on caffeine and willpower. Same goes for your mind. You know if your mind is well (or not). You may not have received a clinical diagnosis, but still feel foggy, scattered, or like your thoughts are running you instead of the other way around.

Career wellness is the professional version. You can be crushing your KPIs and still be stagnating, undervalued, or quietly checked out. Simply put, career wellness means your work fits your life and satisfies you. Your career is not something merely to survive and power through. It fulfills you. The pace is sustainable.

To gauge where you stand, the questions to ask yourself are:

• Does my work align with my values and my life right now?
• Am I making intentional choices or just reacting to what’s in front of me?
• Is my work fulfilling?
• Is it sustainable? 

You may not have pondered these questions before. And it’s unlikely they are discussed in your manager touchbase meeting or performance review. That’s okay. Take a minute to jot down your thoughts or talk them over with a trusted friend. Ultimately, only you can determine the answers.

Here are 6 signs your career is unwell:

• Sunday night dread that’s worse than usual
• Feeling numb or cynical about work you used to care about
• Low-grade exhaustion that a weekend doesn’t fix
• Snapping at people you don’t normally snap at
• Going through the motions with no real enjoyment
• Finishing a big project and experiencing no pride, relief, or satisfaction

New job or new moves?

You don’t need a new job to feel differently about the one you have. (If you want a major career change, I wrote about “finding your fit” in an earlier newsletter that can guide you on an approach.) There are small changes you can make today to improve your career wellness.

Here are 6 practical moves:

• Audit your day. Assess how you’re showing up each day. What would it take to bring your best self without feeling worn out? Maybe it’s coming in later, exercising during a longer lunch hour, skipping non-essential meetings, or working remotely on Fridays.
  
• Pick one value and build toward it. Say it’s “impact.” Before you say yes to your next project, ask: does this actually move the needle, or does it just look busy? Say it’s “creativity.” Push for the assignment that lets you build something, not just execute someone else’s plan.
  
• Offload tediousness. Pinpoint a task that’s draining you and find a way to delegate it, rotate it, automate it, or cut it completely. Learn the AI tools that will free you up for more of the stuff you enjoy.
  
• Protect your space. Build in one non-negotiable boundary, such as no Slack after 6 pm or logging into work email on weekends. Resist saying yes to someone else’s emergency.
  
• Choose your crew. Establish or rebuild at least one friendship at work that energizes you instead of drains you. And deliberately spend less time with those who drain your energy.
  
• Make an ask. Ask for one thing you actually want: more vacation, flexibility, an intern, remote working options, or recognition at the staff meeting.

Beyond the practical moves, there is one big shift I made in my own life to achieve career wellness: to care more about less. I believe it so strongly, I dedicated a standalone chapter to it in my latest book, UP!: The Playbook for Every Woman on the Rise) That idea takes a moment to sink in. The goal is to reduce the number of things you truly care about, give those your time and attention, and let everything else fade into the background. Simple to say, harder to do. For example, maybe you care more about the relationships you’re building and less about raising your hand for every stretch assignment. Maybe you care more about developing a transferable skill than about grinding for another promotion.

It’s all about being intentional with where your energy actually goes. What will you commit to changing this week to enhance your career wellness? Hit reply and let me know what move is on your list. I love hearing from you! 

You’re equipt to pursue career wellness.