Lifelong Learning and Self-Care: Why They Matter

As a Career Development Practitioner and Certified Work-Life Strategist (CWS), I have always believed that lifelong learning and self-care truly matter.

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of collaborating with an exceptional team of fellow CDPs and other subject matter experts in the development and validation of Career Professional of Canada’s new Work-Life Coaching program. I was very fortunate to be a student in the pilot program. Not only did I learn a LOT that was new to me (“ikigai” comes to mind), but the experience reinforced my conviction that lifelong learning and self-care are essential to our overall well-being.

Why Lifelong Learning Matters

Just Google “lifelong learning is essential to existence” and you’ll get 21.2M hits in less than one second! Being a continuous learner offers many benefits.

Acquiring new knowledge and competencies is vital in the development of future opportunities — for ourselves and our clients. Competence leads to increased self-confidence, motivation, and resiliency. It enhances our personal and professional cachet and prevents stagnation.

Lifelong learning allows us to be flexible and able to quickly adapt to unexpected changes when they occur — the global pandemic is a good example of a significant change we all had to adapt to.

It is extremely important that we remain effective and knowledgeable practitioners by keeping up-to-date with career development trends, emerging technologies, and leading-edge strategies and tactics that we can use in the service of our clients. No one wants to be left behind! Let’s all focus on adopting lifelong learning as a priority in our lives.

Over the years, I have taken many courses to keep myself “professionally relevant.” I am constantly looking for training that will benefit both me and my clients as we aim to reach our career goals. I have learned so much through my membership in Career Professional of Canada, and as a result, I have expanded my skills and service offerings. And, as a bonus of membership, there are always knowledgeable, experienced, and helpful fellow members who are willing and able to answer any questions we may have via the CPC Facebook Group. They are collaborators in our quest for lifelong learning.

Why Self-Care Matters

Working as a Career Development Practitioner with a schedule chock-full of appointments and commitments, it can be difficult to find the time to practice self-care. But it is vital that we make a self-care plan or personalized check list and deliberately schedule time into our day to focus on ourselves. If we’re not at our best, our clients are not getting the top-notch service they deserve. Let’s present ourselves as role models as we help them with their goals and challenges.

Self-care does not have to be complicated, expensive, or time consuming. It can be any of the following: physical exercise, meditation, eating healthy meals, spending quality time with those in your social circle, enjoying hobbies, reading a good book, or watching a movie.

Furthermore, make  sure you get ample amounts of sleep and always check-in with your body. Listen to the messages that it’s giving you and respond accordingly: drink water when thirsty, sleep when tired, eat when hungry, stretch when muscles are tight or sore. By listening and responding to your body’s sensations, you are attending to your self-care.

Becoming a Certified Work-Life Strategist (CWS)

CPC’s Work-Life Coaching Course was an eye-opening experience for me. I’m confident in stating that this program will help both new and well-seasoned career professionals become the best they can be at their art of assisting their clients in all aspects of their career development journey.

I found the course to be very well-written and easy to read. It is packed with lots of knowledge to enhance our skills and abilities as CDPs. The course materials — the online modules and CWS Study eGuide — are well-organized and flow logically, allowing us to progress through foundational information to more advanced concepts related to living, learning, and working. There is plenty of opportunity for meaningful and enriching discussions with other well-trained professionals via the course’s online discussion forums.

If you’d like to enhance your skills in areas related to well-being, foundational life-skills, lifelong learning, and career management, enrol in CPC’s Work-Life Coaching program and be among the first to earn your CWS designation. The program offers the information, tools, and strategies you need to effectively support your clients in the new world of work. Don’t be surprised if you learn a lot, too!

Wendy Read has 15+ years of experience working as a Career Development Practitioner (CDP), life skills coach, career counsellor/coach, job developer, and teaching assistant. She received her BA at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Wendy lives her belief in lifelong learning and continues to pursue professional development opportunities in order to fulfill her personal goals and to improve client outcomes. She is Certified Career Strategist (CCS) and Certified Work-Life Strategist (CWS) through Career Professionals of Canada and, for 5+ years, has been a Registered Rehabilitation Professional (RRP) with the Vocational Rehabilitation Association (VRA). Wendy is the founder and principal of Results Career Services based in Nova Scotia. 

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