There comes a point when “what’s next?” stops feeling like a vague daydream and starts feeling urgent. Maybe you have been caught up in the Great Resignation wave, or you are simply craving work that feels more aligned with who you are becoming.
Finding your purpose is not a single lightning-bolt moment. It is a process of paying attention — to how you spend your time, what sparks jealousy or joy, and what your gut tells you when life offers a fork in the road. Here are seven steps to help you find yours, without the Instagram pressure.
What is the Great Resignation?
The term Great Resignation was coined by Anthony Klotz, an associate professor at Texas A&M University. Millions of workers quit their jobs in 2021, with resignations impacting almost every industry and career level. The trend spread well beyond the US.
People’s priorities are shifting. Pre-pandemic, many of us were used to a traditional office-based model. Covid changed that. Jo Hooper, a mental health at work mentor and coach, explains: “The last few years have given many of us a taste of how work could be. Not office-based, with more freedom, more understanding. For many, it has been a wake-up call to what they might want to change.”
Alicia Kaye, a nurse turned life and career coach, adds: “I think many people want to slow down and live at a pace that allows them to squeeze more joy out of life than ever before. A lot of people are now asking whether they want to keep pushing themselves to the brink of exhaustion, day in day out.”
How to cope with stress at work
If you are struggling with stress at work, you are not alone. In 2020, 79% of British adults reported experiencing workplace stress — 20% higher than just two years before. Handing in your notice is not always the answer.
Jo Hooper advises starting by isolating exactly what is causing the most stress: “Try to talk to your boss and clearly set out what is causing the stress and the impact it is having on you.” She also recommends:
- Using your company’s Employee Assistance Programme if one exists
- Talking to your GP about time off, talking therapy, or medication
- Considering a private GP for faster access to support
“If you are unhappy at work — know it does not need to be that way. You have options. There is support available. Seek it out.”
Why we need to remove the pressure from finding your purpose
Even with support in place, you may crave something different. “People are craving to feel more connected and passionate about their work,” says Alicia Kaye. “Since the pandemic, people no longer want to sleepwalk through their days in jobs that are not fulfilling or flexible.”
But give yourself grace along the way. A scroll through social media makes it look as though everyone else has it figured out. They have not. Keep these truths in mind:
- Not everyone knows their purpose right away — you need time to try things, follow unexpected paths, and learn from mistakes.
- It is never too late — some of the most successful people find their purpose later in life as “late bloomer” entrepreneurs.
- Not everyone’s purpose is their career — your purpose might live in family, creativity, community, or wellbeing rather than your job title.
How to find your purpose in life: 7 steps
You are about to start paying attention to one person you might typically ignore: you. Get your favourite journal and log everything over the next three to six months. Then review what comes up.
1. Track how you are spending your time
Write down what you did, who it was with, and (most importantly) how it made you feel. Notice what brings joy and what brings stress — then adjust accordingly.
2. Chat with your friends about their careers
Most of us know the headline of what friends do, not the detail. Ask about what they love about their work and use those conversations as inspiration for your own path.
3. Monitor your jealousy
Jealousy is uncomfortable but useful. Each time it appears, ask: “What is it about this situation that I want?” Then look at how you can bring some of that into your life.
4. Tune into your gut reaction
When companies announced return-to-office plans, some employees cheered and others grimaced. Your gut was signalling workplace values — remote vs office, flexible vs fixed hours, team vs solo work. Pay attention before your brain catches up.
5. Uncover your personal values
“I would always encourage people to think deeply about their values and get really curious about what is important to them,” says Alicia. “When we explore what means the most to us, we can start to understand what areas of life need prioritising.”
6. Look back through your childhood
Before society’s expectations took hold, what brought you happiness without worrying what anyone thought? Making up stories? Playing with animals? Test bringing those joys back in small ways.
7. Consider what you do not want
“For those really struggling, spend time thinking about what you do not want,” Alicia suggests. “Sometimes it is easier to think about what we do not want and build upwards from there during times of uncertainty.”
Plan out your life goals
Once you have clarity on what matters, turn insight into action. Our guide to types of goals walks through 19 goal frameworks plus a simple three-step process: choose a goal for the next three months, break it into tasks, and review what worked.
Pair goal-setting with year-in-review journaling or building consistency so your purpose work becomes a habit, not a one-off brainstorm.
Choose your journal
A lined notebook or guided journal gives you space to log moods, values, and career experiments as you search for purpose.
