From Pause to Progress

In today’s fast-paced and competitive work environment, many women are finding themselves at a crossroads, questioning whether they should continue pursuing their current career path or should take a break to maintain a work-life balance and pursue their passion instead.

The decision to take a break from the workforce can be a significant one for women. Whether it’s for personal reasons, such as starting a family, pursuing further education, or dealing with health issues taking time away from work can have a profound impact on a woman’s career. However, when the time comes to return to the workforce after a break, women often face unique challenges and opportunities.
One of the common challenges that women face when returning to the workforce after a break is the perception that their skills may have become outdated.

However, it’s crucial to recognize that the skills acquired during the break, such as managing a household, caregiving, volunteering, or pursuing further education, can be highly transferable to the workplace. Skills such as time management, multitasking, problem-solving, communication, and leadership are often developed and honed during a break and can be valuable assets in the workplace.

Returning to the workforce after a break can be daunting, and many women may experience self-doubt about their abilities and qualifications. It’s important to remember that taking a break does not diminish one’s skills or potential and that women have valuable experiences and perspectives to offer to the workforce.

Is it okay to take a break to pursue a passion? Hobbies and passions are activities that women enjoy and are deeply interested in, which provide them with a sense of fulfillment, joy, and relaxation. Engaging in hobbies and passions can help them to de-stress, rejuvenate, and recharge, leading to improved mental and physical well-being. Hobbies and passions can also provide an opportunity for personal growth, learning new skills, and exploring different interests, which can enhance self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-awareness.

Taking a break from work to pursue hobbies can also provide an opportunity for self-care, self-reflection, and self-discovery, which can enhance the self-awareness and personal growth of a woman.

Society often places a strong emphasis on work and career success, and taking a break from work to pursue hobbies and passions may be seen as unconventional or even frowned upon by some. Women, in particular, may face societal expectations and biases that prioritize their roles as caregivers, homemakers, or professionals. However, it’s important to challenge and overcome these expectations and pursue activities that bring personal fulfillment and happiness.

After all, returning to the workforce after taking a break is just a woman’s story of resilience and success.

Author Divyanshi Mehrotra is a professional Content Developer and Master of Mathematics. She works in the field of education; nurturing students and training teachers.