‘LOSING MY JOB MADE ME LEAN IN AND LET GO’

IN APRIL I found myself without a job in the midst of a global crisis and a nationwide lockdown. I’d been made redundant before, so I was familiar with the feelings of shock and exhaustion. However, job loss compounded by complete and utter global uncertainty was a discomfort on a whole new level, as so many will now know.

For me, it felt like sitting in a boat without a sail on a glassy sea with no land in sight... I was stranded! After the initial emotional roller-coaster (shock, sadness, anger, acceptance) had subsided, I was reminded by some kind and concerned friends that there was little I could do to control this situation, I was fortunate to have some financial security, and that I should try to lean in to ‘letting go’ for the first time in my life. So, after I had tidied the house, the garden, the shed and the loft – I let go. The warm summer weather was a blessing and I gave myself permission to do ‘nothing’ – well, nothing compared to my previous life of up at 5.15am, back-to-back work until I collapsed into bed at 10.30pm. I looked after my family, checked in on friends, lay in the garden, read a lot, listened to podcasts, watched films, slept well and got really fit, taking advantage of daily exercise.

It turns out doing ‘nothing’ has benefits. It allows time for reflection, learning and growth, delivers perspective, clears space for new and creative thoughts, and gives you the chance to really focus on what’s important and what makes you happy. I discovered that what makes me truly happy is very simple: family, friends, health, nature, exercise, connecting, learning and sharing.

So, as I venture forth into a new year and an exciting new chapter, I will always be strangely grateful for my nail-biting, lockeddown career break, because it brought me, unexpectedly, back to me.

Follow Jo and her Navigating Change series on Instagram @jojoglynnsmith