What is the link between spring cleaning & your career?

The annual spring clean helps us to shake off the dust and dinginess of winter and prepare our homes for the lighter months when our energy is higher. The better weather provides opportunities for building & planting new things, which we hope will enrich our lives.

There are times when it feels we are experiencing the gloom of winter in our career and in these bleak economic times that feeling is likely to be stronger. Maybe then it is time to do a metaphorical spring clean of your work life.

1. Plan your strategy. Write a career plan, start with your values - what is really important to you? Think about the skills your want to use rather than focusing in on a particular job.

2. De-clutter. Think about what you want to leave behind and what it is important for you to keep. What do you need to stop doing to move forward in your career? What do you need to do more of? What do you need to start doing?

3. Build your skills. Think about how you can make yourself more marketable. For example if you are a manager, what about taking a management qualification such as an ILM certificate in Team Leading or maybe hiring a coach? For other professions, what other vocational qualifications are available? If you are current unemployed, look at government support is available for re-training.

4. Network. Find others who can help and support you. There are lots of new opportunities for networking on the web if you cannot get along to local networking events.

5. Look after yourself. Make sure that you keep your energy levels up. Eat well, reward yourself when you make progress, take regular exercise and get enough sleep.

As in nature, our lives go in cycles but we can take action to navigate quickly through the darker times and emerge stronger and more focused.