Get Some Clarity on Your Career in 2006 Before the Year Ends
The space between Christmas and New Year can feel oddly quiet.
Work pauses. The noise drops. And without quite meaning to, many people start reflecting — not just on the year that’s ending, but on their work, their energy, and whether their career still fits.
If you’ve found yourself thinking things like:
“I should feel more settled than this by now”
“Nothing is ‘wrong’, but something isn’t right”
“I can’t face another year feeling like this”
You’re not alone. And you’re not behind.
For many experienced professionals, this time of year brings clarity not because anything dramatic has happened — but because the usual distractions fall away.
Career dissatisfaction is often quiet
Most people I work with aren’t in crisis.
They’re functioning, capable, and outwardly successful.
But internally, they feel flat, tired, or disconnected from their work.
This kind of dissatisfaction doesn’t shout.
It whispers.
And because it’s subtle, it’s easy to dismiss — or promise yourself you’ll “deal with it later”.
January, however, has a habit of amplifying whatever you didn’t quite resolve before it arrived.
Why reflection matters before action
There’s a lot of pressure at this time of year to do something:
update your CV, set new goals, make a plan.
But meaningful career change doesn’t start with action.
It starts with understanding.
Before you decide what needs to change, it helps to pause and ask:
What actually drained my energy this year?
What sustained me — even in small ways?
What no longer fits who I am now?
What do I want more of going forward?
These aren’t questions to rush.
They’re questions to sit with.
A simple place to start
I’ve created a gentle End-of-Year Career Review to help you reflect before the year closes.
It’s not a goal-setting exercise.
There’s no pressure to know the answer.
It’s simply a structured space to take stock — thoughtfully, honestly, and without judgement.
Many people tell me that just putting things into words helps them feel calmer and clearer going into January.
Sometimes clarity doesn’t come from deciding —
it comes from noticing.
If you’re feeling the nudge
If something about your work has been quietly bothering you, this review can help you understand why — and what might need attention next year.
The End-of-Year Career Review will be available until 1 January, after which I’ll be taking it down.
You can download it here:
[Download the End-of-Year Career Review]
And if this reflection raises questions you’d like help exploring, I’ll also be running a free Career Clarity Webinar on 13th January 2026 — a calm, practical space to think things through properly.
For now, though, this is simply an invitation to pause — before the year turns, and before life speeds up again.
About Diana
I’m Diana Dawson, Founder of Working Career. For more than 20 years, I’ve worked with professionals who want to navigate change, develop resilience, and create meaningful careers. My Career Change, Career Development, and Interview Coaching programmes blend human insight with modern tools (including AI) to give you clarity, confidence, and momentum.