Going through a divorce does more than just upend your family and relationship — many women find that a divorce is like throwing a stick of dynamite to your survival mode, and it helps you more clearly see the path towards fulfillment and achieving your purpose. It’s a natural time to start questioning other parts of your life, even though it might sound daunting to transition through even more changes. Two of the most important areas you’ll want to re-examine are your career and your financial situation.

Instead of fearing more change in your life, try thinking of your divorce as an opportunity to reinvent or re-inspire your professional life to better align with your needs, values, and goals as a newly single mom. Many women with young children have made professional sacrifices so that they could meet the needs of their families in other ways; many have left the workforce entirely to be stay-at-home moms. But no matter how “behind” you might feel in your career, you need to remember not to count yourself out. You may not have the same title, accreditation, or financial proof that your male counterparts have, but if we evaluate our learnings, skills, and contributions, you’ll understand that you’re very capable of doing much more than your recent resumé might imply.

If you’re ready to consider a career change during your divorce, here are some questions to ask yourself:

Does my current job still support my lifestyle and contribute to my future, or do I need more?

Your finances are one of the most important elements to look at here (although not necessarily the most important). With your former partner’s salary no longer in the picture, you need to consider if your current job can still afford your desired lifestyle, as well as support your future retirement plans. If you were a stay-at-home mom or you were in business with your now former partner, you have to create a new solution for what’s going to bring in money and support your new life.                                                                                                                        

Does my current professional life give me the time and flexibility that my new life as a single mom demands?

Becoming a single parent will undoubtedly add new layers of complexity to your life, as you learn to manage transition days between homes, and handle things like sick days, snow days, school holidays, and extracurriculars on your own. Although financial stability is crucial, some single moms realize that flexibility in their careers is more important than a higher paycheck during this new stage of their lives.

Is my current job how I want to spend the rest of my professional career? Is it aligned with my values and goals?

We’ve said this before, and we’ll say it again: divorce is an amazing opportunity to become an even better version of yourself. With a growth mindset, a positive attitude, personal accountability, and self-awareness, you can rediscover your purpose in all areas of your life — especially in your career. So many women with young children end up going into professions that they’re not passionate about because they have to prioritize the needs of their families. Maybe now is the time to find out if you can actually have both?