This simple yet effective exercise is designed to help you reflect on your work experience and take action toward a more meaningful and fulfilling professional life.
Ever feel like something’s off at work, but you can’t quite put your finger on it? Or maybe you’ve been thinking about what makes you feel good and energized but haven’t acted. A “Stop, Start, Continue” plan can help clarify those feelings and give you a roadmap for change.
This simple yet effective exercise is designed to help you reflect on your work experience and take action toward a more meaningful and fulfilling professional life. It’s about pausing to ask yourself important questions: What’s working? What’s draining you? And what new things can you introduce to bring more energy and satisfaction into your daily routine?
How a Stop, Start, Continue plan works
This exercise encourages you to think in three key areas:
Stop: What activities, tasks, or habits are no longer serving you? These might be things that drain your energy, cause stress, or simply don’t align with your goals anymore, like stop answering email on your phone when you’re with your family. Identifying what to stop helps clear space for more meaningful work.
Start: What new actions or behaviors could bring more purpose or joy into your work? These might be habits that challenge you in a positive way, encourage creativity, or build meaningful connections. Starting something new can open up fresh possibilities, like speaking up in meetings when I have an idea.
Continue: What are you already doing that feels fulfilling and aligned with your goals? This is an opportunity to recognize the things that bring you joy or success, so you can keep them going strong, like continuing pursuing education in my field.
Writing it down matters
Putting your thoughts into words makes the process more intentional. By writing down what you want to stop, start, and continue, you create a clear, actionable plan. It helps you avoid feeling overwhelmed by big changes, as the plan is designed to focus on manageable, achievable goals. You’re not only deciding what new actions to take but also identifying what you’re already doing well and what you need to let go of. This balance keeps the process grounded and prevents burnout.
The Stop, Start, Continue method also encourages incremental progress. Big leaps aren’t necessary here—small steps can make a huge difference over time. Whether you’re adding a new positive habit or phasing out a draining task, each action contributes to your personal and professional growth.
Evolving with your goals
Another great aspect of this plan is that it’s a “living document.” It’s not something you create once and forget about; it grows and changes with you. As you gain new insights or encounter different challenges, you can adjust your plan to reflect your evolving needs and goals. This adaptability ensures that you stay aligned with what matters most to you, even as your work environment or personal circumstances shift.
Building a more meaningful work experience
Implementing a Stop, Start, Continue can help you stay mindful of the actions that either drain or energize you, making it easier to focus on what truly matters. Over time, you might not even realize how much progress you’ve made until you look back and see how far you’ve come.
By breaking your goals into clear, actionable steps, this plan helps you take control of your worklife in a way that feels empowering rather than overwhelming. You’re not just floating through your day—you’re actively working toward a more meaningful and fulfilling career.
Ready to get started?
If you’ve been feeling stuck, unfulfilled, or simply curious about how you can improve your work experience, consider taking the Meaningful Work Inventory and scheduling a session with one of our Guides to work through your personal Stop, Start, Continue plan. It’s a simple yet powerful way to reflect on your current situation, set achievable goals, and move forward with purpose.
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