Milestone 4: Redefining work-life balance
A PCS can provide an opportunity for you to reevaluate your goals and seek out new sources of support in your new location. Use each PCS as motivation to reset or re-prioritize your individual and family goals, your schedule, your professional development opportunities, and your focus on self-care.
Assessing your new normal and navigating new schedules
Upon receiving orders to a new location, you can start to plan for some of the foundational support systems you may need to continue on your career path. Factors that may change include the availability of child care, your children’s school schedule, and your service member’s day-to-day service-related duties. The sooner you begin planning, the sooner you can grasp how this PCS may impact your career goals.
All done with this step?
Developing professionally
With every move, you can continue to rely on the virtual training and programs you have found throughout your career. If your move is associated with starting a new job or working on a new team, it can provide an opportunity to seek out new resources and connections to continue your path as a lifelong learner.
Revisit Upskilling & ReSkilling Resources with Every PCS
- Continue to use online resources for upskilling or reskilling, such as edX or Coursera, Grow with Google, LinkedIn Learning, Primer, and GCFGlobal.
- Revisit educational institutions in your area using the College Scorecard website and information from the Department of Education
- Find Training from CareerOneStop
- Research Vocational Schools with information from the Federal Trade Commission
- Find an Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship using information from the Department of Labor
- If your PCS resulted in a new job in a new location, ask your new employer or organization about any available upskilling or reskilling programs
All done with this step?
Seeking time for self-care
Remember that self-care chat we had a few crossroads back? Well, here we are again and this time it’s just as important. Make time for the things you love, and bring joy into your life in ways that truly make YOU joyful. No matter where you are on your career journey, your self-care practice should always travel with you.
Weaving Self-Care into your Military Life after a PCS – Assess, Adapt, & Accomplish
- Revisit that list of three enjoyable activities you would do if you had a day away from all of your other responsibilities. Which ones did you complete? Which tasks are still on the list, unchecked?
- Use Google, the newspaper, and social media sites to search for local opportunities to plan at least one of your desired activities in your new location.
- Schedule the activity for a few weeks into the future. Then intentionally weave it into your schedule.
- Invite a new connection to complete the activity with you.
- Go do the activity!
- If applicable, identify 1 to 2 ways that the experience helped you with your career or education (e.g.., mentoring, networking, skill development, teamwork, a creativity boost). Share your thoughts with your new network connection.
- As you become more familiar with your new location, repeat this process and build upon your experiences.
