3 staycations that could help advance your career

I know many of my colleagues at work have not taken any of their 4 weeks of vacation.  And let's be honest - for many of us right now, it looks like our summer travel plans are probably canceled.  We may get a road trip in but generally, it's looking pretty unlikely that we'll be setting off on any adventures this summer.   

Well your "staycation" can be something other than binge-watching Netflix or knocking out those home improvement or organization projects you've been meaning to.  Here are three staycation ideas that could help you advance your career (and give you something to mention during your midyear review):

1) Attend a virtual conference.  Many conferences are transforming into virtual summits.  I attended my first virtual conference since the pandemic a couple weeks ago.  It was fantastic.   Three days of learning and interacting with others.  I honestly didn't know what to expect.  I was able to get a lot from it!  And I met many other attendees.  Not the same as in person networking but still a great experience.

2) Binge-learn. Read a book or learn a new skill.  There are free courses offered through online universities such as Coursera.  You can also find many options through your local university or community college - many are being offered online.

You can also invest in some skills that complement your strengths or existing skillsets. For example, I instruct and facilitate on a regular basis so I've been taking a course on building my visual vocabulary and visual facilitation. I love teaching with just a whiteboard or flipchart.  It's so much more fun for me than PowerPoint.  And this course is not only helping me draw better visuals but also building my facilitating skills.

If you're looking for some other options, check out some courses that I offer on career management as well as creativity and problem-solving.

3) Assess and reflect.  Take the time to document your achievements so far this year.  Think about what's next for you career-wise and what you have to do to be ready for that opportunity.  Download my Career Assessment and Reflection Workbook.  

And since its a staycation, perhaps you could be out on your patio or by the pool!