Are you either in job seeking mode now, or are you an expectant parent? Or perhaps you’re both at the same time? If any of these descriptors fits you, please know that I’ve been deep in thought lately about how I can support you on your journey as a job seeker and expectant parent. And also, if you know me, I don’t stay lost in thought for very long…as a Clifton Strengths Finder “Activator” I have a bias toward taking action.
Today, I’m both proud and excited to share with you two new Mindful Return resources that you can now access on the wonderful (free) app, Insight Timer. The first is something I was inspired to create these past few weeks, as I watch so many of my neighbors, colleagues, friends, and members of this community struggle with layoffs and uncertainty. The second is a project that’s been in the works quite literally for years, and that finally found the right home, time, and platform. If you listen to or participate in either of these resources, I’d be honored if you’d leave a review so that other job seekers and new parents can find them.
For Job Seekers
If you’re struggling to find calm in your job search, take this 11 minutes to bring some peace to your nervous system: Meditation for Job Searching. (I also invite you to listen on the Insight Timer app itself.)
This meditation is for anyone who may be looking for a job right now. The journey from knowing you need to find a new job or change your career path, to researching options, to applying, interviewing, and evaluating job offers can be a long and stressful one. As with any journey, we must pause and breathe daily, pace ourselves, and keep up hope. I invite you to tune into this practice anytime you need a reassuring voice in your ear, anytime you need to get into a calm head space for a networking call or job interview, and anytime you simply need to take a break and re-set.
For Expectant Parents
If you are an expectant parent, looking forward to welcoming a little one into your life in the coming months, here is a 6-module course designed to help you calmly and intentionally plan for your parental leave: Mindful Preparation for Parental Leave.
Preparing to welcome a baby into your family can be a time of great excitement – and also anxiety. This course is for anyone who is planning to go out on parental leave from their place of employment – whether maternity or paternity leave – who would like to focus on both work and baby in a mindful, intentional, calm, and confident way. Over 6 lessons, you will learn how to reduce your anxiety around your leave, craft a thoughtful leave plan for your supervisor and your team prepare for logistical challenges, and develop leadership skills. Most importantly, you will feel connected to a working parent community and will feel less alone, knowing that new parents all over the world are having the same thoughts and feelings as you are.
Participating in the course does require access to Insight Timer’s “MemberPlus” subscription, but their membership is only $9.99/month and provides access to *all* courses on the platform. (I’ve taken some by Tara Brach and Reuben Lowe recently that have been wonderful.) The course also provides a classroom where participants can post questions and comments, and I’ll be responding personally to all questions that are posted there.
Standing with you in all of these times of transition,
Lori
Want more practical tips on working parenthood? Check out my book, Back to Work After Baby: How to Plan and Navigate a Mindful Return from Maternity Leave
