Creating Space to Think About Your Career

Once a year, I try to get away for a short trip on my own. 

While it's only for a day or two and I don’t venture far from home, these escapes couldn’t feel more different from my usual life.

As a mom of two young kids (plus two pets!) and a business owner, much of my time is spent in “go” mode: juggling seemingly endless lists of tasks, shuttling between work and life responsibilities, and managing the mental load that comes along with it all.

And while I often crave more spaciousness, creating it for myself can feel challenging.  It can be hard to manage logistically, and on a deeper level, I often struggle to give myself permission to take breaks.

But my little getaways remind me why making the space to step away from my daily routines is so essential. 

These pauses have given me time to reflect and reconnect with what really matters to me. They help me assess if I’m living and working in line with my values, and if I’m taking meaningful steps toward my goals (and if those are even the right goals anymore). 

Today I want to share a little more about why creating space is so important for all of us, and how you can start to create the space to think about what you want in your career and life, whether you’re able to get away on your own or not. 

Why #1: We Need Space to See If We’re on the Right Path

During my latest solo escape, I went hiking and found myself off course a couple of times. Thankfully, I realized it before straying too far and quickly found my way back to the trail (otherwise, this might have been a very different post!).

This experience reminded me that we can always double back when we get off course, but it’s important to pay attention to our surroundings so we don’t get too far off course.  In our careers, it’s so easy to lose sight of where we’re going when we’re just forging ahead and not paying attention to our surroundings. When we don’t stop periodically to notice where we are, we can end up going too far in the wrong direction.

Taking time to pause and reflect allows us to check in and see if we’re still on the right path, or if we’ve strayed too far and might need a course correction.

Why #2: We Need Space to Remember What We Like to Do

On my solo trips I’ve experienced something I never feel in my daily life: the sensation of having nothing to do. It’s not the tedious boredom of waiting in line or being on hold. It’s a different kind of stillness, almost existential: “What do I do now?”

We often tell kids that boredom sparks creativity. And it’s true! Yet as adults, we rarely allow ourselves this kind of unstructured time to be “bored” and see what comes. 

These moments of open space can be so valuable because they help us rediscover what we truly enjoy. When we allow ourselves to do whatever we want, we gravitate toward experiences that are fulfilling and aligned with our core values and strengths. 

If you’ve hit the stage of life where you feel like you’ve forgotten what you even like to do, giving yourself space is key to remembering it. 

Why #3: We Need Space to Help Our Brains Work at Their Best

The final reason creating space is so important is because it helps us generate new insights and creative breakthroughs.

his happens because of a specific network in our brains that turns on only when we’re not focused on a specific task. This network helps us connect dots, solve problems, and generate those “aha” moments and insights. If you’ve ever had a great idea in the shower or while taking a walk, this is why!

So if you’re feeling stuck, whether it’s about a career decision or a personal challenge, pushing harder isn’t the answer. Stepping back and giving your mind some space can help unlock the clarity you need.

How to Build More Space into Your Life

Now that we’ve established why creating more space in your life is important, let’s talk about the how.  During my trips, I’ve noticed three themes in how I spend my time (conveniently they all start with S!). Getting clear about these has helped me integrate these practices more into my daily life - because while solo trips are amazing, they aren’t easy to pull off more than once a year and I want to make sure I’m reflecting more often than that.

1. Silence

While I love my work and family, I also need a break from the incessant calls of “Mommy!”, the days full of Zoom meetings, and the constant background noise that comes with living in NYC. In silence, my inner voice becomes much easier to hear, and I’m able to tune into the wisest part of myself.  How I’ve integrated silence: I go for headphone-free walks in a park near my home a few times a week. I take in the beauty around me and allow myself to listen to my thoughts as they come. On these walks I get some of my best ideas and I solve problems that I just can’t crack when I’m at my desk. (Bonus: mindful walks are one way we can cultivate our sense of awe, which has many benefits). 

2. Schedule Freedom

Between work and family obligations, my days are usually tightly scheduled. Having the freedom to do what I want, when I want, feels like such a gift. And as someone who  struggles with decision-making, this unstructured time helps me practice feeling into what I really want and deciding to do it, in a low stakes way. How I’ve integrated schedule freedom: I keep a meeting-free day once a week, which gives me freedom to arrange my day in a way that works for me, and to work from somewhere other than my home office if I choose. I often use these days for deep work that requires more concentrated thinking time and “me” activities like exercise classes, getting a haircut, or whatever I decide in the moment!

3. Solo Adventures

While I can’t get away on a solo trip more than once a year, I do go on smaller adventures on my own closer to home, like exploring a new neighborhood or visiting a museum. As an introvert, I find that it’s important for me to have some alone time to feel really restored. And research shows that engaging in active pursuits or hobbies is much better for recharging our energy than what we typically think of as rest - sorry Netflix! 

How I’ve integrated solo adventures: My husband and I take turns giving each other one night off from parenting responsibilities each week, which I use to go on local mini-adventures or pursue hobbies (most recently, taking improv classes). Having this dedicated time has been game-changing, and is a strategy I highly recommend if you can swing it! 

How Will You Create Space?

What would it look like to carve out more moments for quiet reflection, freedom, and even fun adventures in your life?

Start small, and pay attention to what you choose to do with your time, when you have full freedom to decide. These moments can help you understand what energizes and restores you, what you’re genuinely interested in, and what’s most important to you.

By creating more space, you can tap into the clarity and creativity that can feel so elusive when you’re caught up in the day to day. And you can make sure you’re moving forward on a career and life path that’s right for you.

Ready to Reimagine Your Career?

If you’d like to create the space to think about your career future in a structured way, our Take Ownership of Your Career program will help you intentionally reflect and align your career with your values.  

The themes I've shared here are also at the heart of this program:

• You’ll quiet the external noise to focus on what you truly want, through guided reflections, exercises, and personalized coaching. 

• You’ll reimagine your career with a sense of freedom and possibility, designing a path that works for you.

• And you’ll create a plan to embark on your next career adventure, exploring new ideas and taking action to move forward.

If you’re ready to create the space to envision your next career chapter with clarity and confidence, learn more and join us here.