Want to know right away where you stand after summer? In this article you’ll find three short tests. No time to read it all? Just click one of the tests below.
Do you know the origin of the summer holiday period? Traditionally, children were kept home in the summer so they could help out on the land. Our summer holiday therefore has an agricultural background. These days, the summer holiday in our society serves very different purposes: rest and recovery, time with family, traveling, and tourism. In short, the summer holiday wakes you up and pulls you away from the daily autopilot.
With fewer obligations and lighter schedules than during the rest of the year, you quickly notice that your rhythm shifts to what naturally suits you best. Being active later in the day, spending more time outdoors, less time behind a screen, more connection with others, and different kinds of conversations with people you would normally not speak to. It’s what makes summer the favorite season for so many people.
But everything comes to an end. So does summer, and so does the holiday. Then comes the first week back at work: fresh energy, good intentions, and new plans. But also a full inbox, the need to get used to structure again, and ambitions from higher up that reach you from different directions all at once. How do you deal with this in a healthy way? And how do you make sure you hold on to what truly matters to you?
This post is here to help you bring focus and consciously choose what counts now.
We’ll look at the top three themes I work on with Growth Center clients after summer: career coaching, leadership coaching, and quarter-life crisis coaching. For each theme, you’ll find a short test to help you get a clear picture in just a few minutes of where you stand.
Your work and your career
After summer, many of us notice that we need to readjust to meet the demands of our work. Often, there are parts of ourselves we leave at home, adapting to fit the role. At the same time, there may be other areas where we are expected to deliver something that doesn’t come naturally to us. Once again, we adapt in order to provide what is required.
To some extent, this is something we all recognize. But what if you experience that the gap between you and your work has become too wide? Too little meaning or depth, too much or too little responsibility. Or the daily feeling that you are someone different at work than you are at home and in your free time.
From both my personal journey and my experience as a coach, I know this is the moment to be honest with yourself. What makes you willing to bring a sacrifice every day? Do you get something in return that truly matters to you? (and if so, what is it?) Or are you afraid to take action? In my practice, I see every day that there is so much more possible in your career than you might think. It is possible for you too — to be yourself at work. To find meaning in what you do. And to be rewarded for the value you bring.
The first step
Start by mapping out exactly where your work doesn’t align with you. From a vague feeling like “I’ve had enough” you cannot take focused action. You need clarity about where the friction lies. With the career fulfillment test you will get a sharp view of where the misalignment is.
You and your leadership
After summer, work life often fills up quickly again. Meetings, plans, and expectations start piling up. As a leader, you carry an extra layer of responsibility. You want to be there for your team, close and engaged. At the same time, you also need to stand firmly enough to truly step into your role as a leader. It’s a balancing act: being present without losing yourself, giving space without becoming vague, being clear without becoming harsh.
You may recognize moments when you join in too much with your team. You want to belong, but notice that your own position becomes blurred. Or the opposite: you withdraw and keep more distance than you would like. Sometimes you do feel your boundaries, but don’t show them. And there are times when your direction differs from what the group expects — and you wonder if you dare to face that tension. Good leadership is not a checklist you can tick off. It’s not a trick or a role you play for a few hours a day. Leadership is about you, in relation to the people around you. It’s about owning your role, showing example behavior, and being aware of the influence you have — even when it’s not immediately visible. The good news: these are all skills and insights you can develop.
The first step
The leadership test helps you see where you currently stand. How clear are you in your role? Do you show what you stand for? Do you give others the space they need, and do you truly delegate? In just a few minutes, you’ll discover where your strength lies — and where you can grow.
The quarter-life crisis
Summer is often a time of rest, freedom, and fresh energy. You may notice that during those weeks you feel more space to be yourself, spend more time outside, and have conversations you wouldn’t normally have. But as soon as work schedules fill up again, external expectations return. Building a career, buying a house, a relationship, starting a family, traveling, saving, finding your place at work — sometimes it feels like everything has to happen at once.
Under that pressure, doubt often arises. Am I still on the right path? Am I making choices that truly fit me, or am I mostly following the route others expect me to take? It can feel like you need to choose between security and freedom, between what your heart says and what seems practical. While what you really want is clarity: what truly matters to me right now?
The quarter-life crisis isn’t only about choices, but also about trusting yourself to make them. Sometimes you simply don’t know, and that’s okay. You don’t always need a tight plan to move forward. What matters is that your choices align with your values and personality — so you experience energy and fulfilment in what you do.
We make important choices mainly from feeling — from the body. Doubt is a signal to feel more. As you do, your mind naturally becomes calmer.
The first step
The quarter-life crisis test quickly shows how confident you are about your direction in life. You’ll see whether your choices fit what matters to you, whether you feel space to follow your own path, and how you handle external expectations. Twenty questions to help you move from doubting to consciously choosing.
Choose what you need right now
Whatever theme you want to work on — before you can set direction, you first need clarity on where you stand. The Growth Center tests help you get started right away!
Ready for the second step?
Would you like to talk with me? Schedule a free clarity call. Or send me a message. I’d be happy to think along with you about what you need.
