I recently went back to work. Well, I didn’t ever stop; I’ve had my coaching clients to see and been doing some freelance facilitation and communications work. 

I mean I recently went back to being on an actual payroll. I’ve just started working in a school as an exams invigilator. It had been more than 40 years since I sat my school exams so I had no idea someone other than the teachers acted as invigilators. But a few of my semi-retired friends do it so I thought I’d look into it. 

Long story short, I’m now part of the exams team in a local school, helping to make sure GCSEs, A-levels and other exams run smoothly. At almost 60, I’ve found myself looking back at my own life and everything that’s happened since my exams. And I hold every young person in the room in my heart, willing them to do the very best they can in such pressurised circumstances. I wouldn’t go through that again for anything! 

One of the other main things for me though is how it feels to be part of a working team again. I was lucky enough to be able to semi retire from my NHS job a couple of years ago, and I don’t have a nanosecond of regret about taking that opportunity. But I’ve always been a team player and know that it’s important to find my team belonging in other ways now that I work for myself. 

I get some of that from being on the team at Chelmsford Counselling Centre and regular volunteering. They’re both great, but they run on an ad hoc basis and we can be a bit like ships in the night. So being part of the school team and on the payroll has provided a surprising amount of belonging for me again and it’s lovely to feel part of a team that makes a difference – like I always felt in my NHS career. 

Belonging for me is all about how we feel in certain circumstances. For example, where and with who do we feel we can really be ourselves? Who makes us feel most heard? Where can we really shine and contribute to what’s going on? What do we most look forward to? Who in our lives makes us smile and leaves the best memories? 

Without realising it, you may have got into bad habits of doing things that aren’t nourishing or fulfilling you just because they’re what you’ve always done. 

Easy done. Old habits die hard. But coaching can help you look at who and what you have in your life and the ways you’re spending your time. 

Where do you really feel you belong? Who are the people who bring out the best in you? How much time are you managing to spend with them? Work-wise, are you doing what you love? If your job isn’t as fulfilling as you’d like it to be, how are you finding belonging and happiness in your outside-work activities? 

If you’re feeling a bit stuck or not as happy as you think you could be, get in touch to see how I could help. 

As the poet Mary Oliver said, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”