By Donna Dunning

Caroline may get called to work in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner. Mike works weekends, so he can hit the ski slopes on a weekday. Sean works flexible hours and goes to kindergarten with his daughter when the class has an interesting activity or outing. Jane may be away from home for weeks at a time.

It is amazing how work can lead to such diverse lifestyles. Every kind of work has its own associated pattern of hours, stresses, activities, and commitments. The work you do, to a large extent, defines the life you lead.

Creating your Lifestyle

Work influences your day-to-day activities, so be sure your work aligns with how you want to spend your day. Have you thought about what your ideal daily lifestyle looks like?

Here are a few questions to facilitate your thinking:

• When and how much do you want to work?

• What hours do you want to work? Days? Evenings? Weekends? Holidays?

• Where do you want to work? Do you prefer to be inside or outside, with people or alone, on the computer or in front of a group?

• Do you want to live in the city, in a small town, or in the country? Maybe you would like to travel as you work?

Like knowing your personality preferences, identifying your preferred lifestyle can help you make better career choices.

Resources

Looking for a practical resource to help you plan your ideal career? Check out my book, What’s Your Type of Career?: Find Your Perfect Career By Using Your Personality Type