"My ultimate dream is to go on a week-long wellness vacation—specifically, a White Lotus Season 3-style vacation without any murder, of course. I’d rest, relax, and completely detox from life’s stressors. My days would be filled with delicious, healthy meals that fuel my body, massages that release the tension in my shoulders, facials that make my skin glowier than ever, and sound baths and meditations that cleanse my mind. I’d turn my phone off, leave my laptop at home, and not think about work for a single second. In my daydreams, this would fix every single problem I have. But if I’m being realistic, a luxury vacation isn’t exactly in reach right now. The bright side? A detox doesn’t have to be off the table. In fact, I think everyone could specifically benefit from a career detox right about now, especially given the state of the job market.
Hanna Goefft, a career educator, recently posted a TikTok explaining how a career detox can help you reset your career and pivot into something you enjoy more. This series of steps, which starts with an energy audit, can help you “make sure that where you’re going is where you want to be” in your career, according to Goefft. So, if you’re desperate to hit the metaphorical reset button, here’s what you need to know, plus exactly how to do a career detox.
How career detoxes can help you find happiness at work
A recent poll revealed that over 70 percent of Gen Z and millennial professionals are interested in switching jobs or careers. This means that, for whatever reason, they aren’t happy with their existing job or workplace, whether it be due to a lack of passion, a result of burnout, or something else altogether. I think we all know, though, that saying you want to make a change is a lot easier than actually figuring out how to do it. Especially when you’re caught up in your workload and overwhelmed by deadlines, the last thing you want to do is think about work. However, there comes a point in time when you need to step back, reflect, and realign with what actually brings you fulfillment.
We spend so much of our lives at work, we should make it a priority to find enjoyment in it. A career detox invites you to intentionally pause and ask yourself, “What do I want from my career, really?” And from there, it teaches you how to go out and get it.
How to do a career detox
1. Audit your energy
First things first, open up your laptop, grab your notebook, and get ready to audit your energy. This first step is all about taking stock of your current situation and identifying what’s working for you and what’s not. Write down everything you do at work, from your smallest daily tasks to your largest responsibilities, and the percentage of the week you spend doing each. Then, rank each task on a scale from one to five: one being something you dread every time it’s assigned and five being a task you genuinely look forward to, love doing, and could do all day. This helps you see where your energy is being spent and whether or not it is going toward things you enjoy doing.
2. Determine what skills you want to flex
Now that you can see where the majority of your time and energy is being spent, take a step back to reflect on your fours and fives. Are there any patterns recurring in the tasks you enjoy most? If so, what exactly were you doing? What skills were you using? Maybe they all allowed you to be creative, analytical, or a mix of both. In doing these things, notice if they are more collaborative or if they require more solo work. Get super specific and be completely honest with yourself about how and why you enjoy this type of work. All of this information can help you determine what you specifically want to be doing so you can move forward with those skills at the forefront.
3. Do your research
Now that you know what you want to be doing, it’s time to find out how you can do more of it. If you’re interested in pivoting within your company, start by having a conversation with your manager about the parts of your job you’d like to lean into. While it’s unrealistic to think that you’ll be able to offload everything you don’t like right away, it’s a small step in the right direction. However, if your energy audit is taking your career in a totally different direction, spend some time researching what a pivot might look like.
What types of roles would allow you to lean into your strongest skills or the ones you love using most? To gather information, listen to podcasts, read blogs (may we suggest The Everygirl’s career archive?), search LinkedIn, or reach out to someone in your network if their career interests you. What type of work do they do? What’s the salary? How’s the work-life balance? These are all important to consider before making a switch.
4. Take it for a test run
Gathering information is important, but you can’t stop there. To complete your career detox, you need to put what you’ve learned into practice. Look for small ways you can start shifting your career in the direction you want. Maybe it’s starting a side hustle, signing up for an online course, or having a conversation with your manager about projects where you can use the skills you’re excited about. Whatever it is, don’t get stuck in research mode. Sometimes, we like what’s on paper better than what’s in practice, so you’ll want to test out your ideal job before jumping. If it goes well, you’ll have experience under your belt, which you can add to your resume, reference in interviews, and ultimately help you land your next role.
What to do after a career detox
Figuring out exactly what you want out of a career is a big ask, and even with small, actionable steps guiding you along the way, you still might discover that what you thought you wanted isn’t working out in reality. And that’s OK! You don’t have to stay committed to something that isn’t making you happy. Knowing what you don’t like is still valuable information. Plus, the beauty of a career detox is that you can do it as many times as you need to. Repeat the steps, stay open-minded, and continue to hone your skills. Eventually, you’ll land in a role that lights you up and sets you up for career success.
Lauren Blue, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives. Her articles span the topics of must-read books, movies, home tours, travel itineraries—and everything in between. When she isn’t testing the latest TikTok trend, she can be found scouring Goodreads for new releases to feature on the site.
Hailey Bouche, Assistant Managing Editor
As Assistant Managing Editor for The Everygirl, Hailey Bouche oversees, writes, and edits content across various categories on the site. From the pitching stage through publishing, she works alongside the team to ensure that the content that our readers see every day is inspiring, relatable, and timely.