Adjusting after a career change
Pandemic has impacted work-life dynamics
If you changed careers, went part time, or left the labor force within the last year or so, you’re not alone.
The COVID-19 pandemic drastically impacted not only our health, but our mental well-being, child care and elder care needs, and work-life dynamics.
Women were especially affected by the work-life balance shift; 2.2 million fewer women participated in paid work in October 2020 than in October 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
If you’ve made a significant career change in the last year, your family’s finances were most certainly impacted too. Here are three ways to rethink your finances if you made or are considering a major occupational change:
- Determine what you value most.
- Is it important for you to be home with your kids or aging parents? What about an option for remote or flexible work? Your values and goals will guide your decisions about what’s next.
- Evaluate your lifestyle habits.
- Many of us spent less on restaurants and travel over the past year than before the pandemic. With more businesses opening, you may be tempted to return to your old spending habits even if your income is lower. Try using an Everence Financial® cash flow worksheet and cash flow template to bring awareness to your habits.
- Adjust your expectations and your financial plan.
- A career change is an ideal time to talk with your financial consultant about former employer retirement plans, updated insurance needs, and ways to achieve your financial goals in alignment with your values.