It’s Okay to Change Your Career in Your 30s

So I’ve officially been a whole freelance person for over 6 months. What a time to be alive. It got me thinking about how much my career has changed in the last few years because believe it or not, working in social media wasn’t ever my end goal until more recently. It’s kind of interesting because we often ask kids what they want to be when they grow up but that can change so much. I wanted to be a wedding dress designer when I was young… So how did I get here, and what’s it like to change your career in your 30s?

When I first started blogging, I didn’t really have any intention of turning it into a career. Writing and sharing posts on Instagram was much more of a creative outlet, and a great way to build a community of people around me. Perhaps the community aspect has been the one constant in all my career aspirations though.

From a young age, I loved the theatre. I loved being on stage, I loved being a part of something really special. Theatre to me was a chance to connect, to feel for a moment like we’re not alone in the human experience. So I was convinced I wanted to be an actress – I even pursued a degree in theatre. While I was studying I also started directing, and when I moved back to New York that became my focus. I worked in multiple theatres, auditioned and applied for directing and assistant directing jobs.

Theatre to me was a chance to connect, to feel for a moment like we’re not alone in the human experience.

When I moved to the UK, I was unemployed for 6 months. It was hard and it really took a toll. I had no way to make friends. It was around this time that I started blogging properly. I had a blog before, but it was small, random and I never posted on it. Being in a new city, I needed a creative outlet and this was it. Slowly, my love of blogging and social media began to outweigh my love of the theatre. In fact, even after moving, my attempts to pursue a career in the theatre came to nothing. So I felt a little disillusioned, and perhaps that’s why I clung so hard to this new idea.

A couple of years ago (read: in pre-Covid times) I had already been thinking about switching careers and finding a new job. I’d been working so hard on my blog and trying to find a path into a new career, but my main job was taking up on my energy. It was a pretty toxic workplace where I was definitely underpaid and undervalued. I was pretty unhappy at the time to be honest.

Then the pandemic happened and I was furloughed. It was a blessing in disguise really, because I finally felt like I had time to focus on what I wanted to. I had the time to dabble in more freelance work without the financial stress. I didn’t really have the luxury of quitting my day job because any freelance work I did have was very minimal. Also, the main reason for staying in my job was having a steady paycheck. The financial side of freelance can be stressful, even now that I feel more settled.

It was a blessing in disguise really, because I finally felt like I had time to focus on what I wanted to.

It’s tough though. I still get a bit of imposter syndrome and second guess myself. It feels at times like I’m starting from scratch because I spent so long pursuing another career. Sometimes I feel a bit like I’m playing catch up or I find myself comparing my work to my peers. We all know comparison is the thief of joy but that doesn’t always stop the thoughts from coming. Luckily, I have some great friends who work in the same industry who I can chat to and bounce ideas off of. It definitely makes things much easier to navigate.

So what exactly is my career? Well, I tend to refer to myself as a digital content creator. I use my own platforms and work with brands (like this AD I did with Specsavers recently or this one I did with VisitBritain). On top of that, I also have a couple of freelance clients I work with, helping to create digital content for them on their own social media/content platforms.

There are some things I miss about a traditional workspace, but I’m slowly finding my feet with this whole freelance thing! I set up a proper desk in our office; my husband is still working from home so it’s a bit of a squeeze but it works. Really it’s just about finding some balance and setting good boundaries between my work life and my home life. Easier said than done sometimes but we’ll get there!