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The start of a new year can be a time for reflection, and for a lot of us, that encompasses considering our work lives.

Two publishing professionals who left their roles due to organizational changes originally thought it was a disaster.

"I dedicated all my energy into the job... I had faith in the principles we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, that ethos weren't there," one of them says.

The two decided to employ the word "fired" and argue that being honest about the situation can help you deal with it.

"We use countless alternative phrases for losing a job. However, the quicker you acknowledge it, the sooner you're truthful about it, the quicker you can move on.

"That is the quickest route to anything you want to do next," she adds.

Now, they are excelling in new ventures, with one running her own media company and the other serving as lead editor for a luxury magazine.

If you've been made redundant or are simply considering a shift, these are four methods that can help.

1. Contemplate The Previous Year

It's common to have some apprehension about work post-festive period.

A professional advisor highlights the value of introspection before starting a new job search.

She suggests individuals to think about what they desire to increase, what they want less of, and the things that energizes or exhausts them.

Looking back at your accomplishments to find underlying threads is also beneficial. "Try not to just looking at the most recent period, since everyone suffer from for recency bias that can obstruct your judgment," she notes.

A former editor notes it is crucial to establish what place your job plays in your life.

This involves being candid about the amount of time you devote to work and its effect on your personal and social life.

After being let go, she suggests not allowing your life be dictated by your job.

2. Implement Gradual Moves

She states that individuals can implement small steps for a career transition without a complete leap.

Her own journey took seven years to make the jump from her corporate career to running her own company entirely, developing the venture concurrently with her role, which allowed she could pay herself.

"It needed a bit longer, but that represented my approach sustainably," she says.

She suggests a test-run method.

This might involve pro bono work, participating in an initiative you find appealing, or agreeing to a new challenge in your existing role.

"If it fails, you learn it's not a fit, but it's preferable to learn now than after you've made the move," she states.

Additionally, she suggests exploring temporary "stepping-stone" positions. They are perhaps not the perfect role, but they act as progress forward, for example a position that shares traits to your target field, but in a different area.

"It means granting yourself the space to accept this is suitable temporarily, but that does not mean permanent.

"That can be a clever strategy for getting nearer to a career change."

3. Acknowledge Your Accomplishments

If you've recently been made redundant from your position, you are not the only one – job cuts have surged to high levels lately.

She was the top editor in a magazine, previously her entire team were laid off after the company ceased print operations.

Recognizing that this situation was not indicative of her performance helped her process the change.

"What you've learned doesn't disappear simply due to lost your job.

"Don't relinquish your power, it's crucial for everyone to recognize their own worth."

Another professional was fired after ten years in a business journal after a change in senior ranks and the arrival of new leadership.

She emphasizes that much of the shame of dismissal is internal.

"With many people being laid off, it's not personal. It's probably not your fault, so refrain from bearing that burden of shame forward."

4. Build a Career Checklist

When you're urgently looking for employment or are profoundly unhappy in your current role, the temptation is to dive straight into applying for any vacancy – disregarding your own happiness.

But this is a major error.

Rather, she recommends an exercise called "browsing" – filtering opportunities on role profiles that capture your interest.

She advises searching sites like LinkedIn and gathering several that you like.

"Look for {the words|the