October was all about alignment.

We looked at where we are aligned in our careers and where we are misaligned. We learned ways to pick up on misalignment faster, so we don’t go too far down a rabbit hole. Alignment occurs when there is congruence between our values, what matters most to us, our purpose, our thoughts and the actions we take.

With Alignment, our thoughts and actions are led by our inner authority and wisdom. We are 100%, wholly our authentic selves in all areas of our careers and with our career choices.

This monthly conversation had one of the Alchemists ask, “What if you know you are out of alignment at work, but you can’t leave yet?”

What a great question!

What To Do When You Know You are Misaligned at Work

Given all that is happening in the world, it would not surprise me if this might be your reality right now. I know many of us have experienced this at some point in our careers.

• You are approaching retirement or being fully vested and need to ride it out just a bit longer.
• You are committed to a project and your integrity has you staying put until it is live.
• You are in the process of purchasing a home and you need to keep your employment stable until the paperwork is signed.
• You are in the midst of a buyout at work, and you want to wait to see what your buyout might be.
• Maybe there is a medical condition keeping you there.
• Your last child is graduating college in 1 year, and you want to keep things status quo until then.

There are so many factors beyond simply not wanting to start a job search that can keep you feeling misaligned with your current situation but aligned with why you are staying put.

So, what do you do when you feel misaligned but are choosing to stay?

8 Ways to Find Alignment in Your Current Work (When You Can’t Leave Yet)

1. Shift from Stuck to Strategic

Thought to choose: “I’m not ‘trapped,’ I am in a transition period with purpose.”

Action: Reframe your current job as your “investor” or “training ground.” What can you learn, save, or prepare now that will serve Future You? Set one goal each month (skill, savings, or relationship) that directly supports where you’re headed next.

2. Rediscover What You Do Love — and Do More of It

Thought to choose: “Even though I’m not loving work right now, there are things that light me up.”

Action: Audit your day or week: when do you feel most engaged or energized? It might be mentoring others, solving puzzles, or organizing chaos. Once you know, do more of it. Volunteer for related projects, propose small changes, or simply savor the joyful moments.

3. Find Control in the Micro

Thought to choose: “I can’t control the company culture or my boss, but I can control my energy, reactions, and environment.”

Action: Redesign what’s within reach — your workspace, your schedule, or your morning routine. Try setting clear boundaries, curating your music or workspace vibe, or batching unpleasant tasks so they don’t dominate your day.

4. Make Work a Game (Seriously)

Thought to choose: “A playful approach disrupts frustration and re-engages my brain.”

Action: Give yourself a daily or weekly “quest”. Write three thank-you notes this week or find one process you can streamline or declutter your desk. Track your wins and celebrate yourself with a spa date or gourmet coffee. Gamifying work makes the worst days more fun.

5. Connect and Reconnect

Thought to choose: “People can help me feel better about where I am at right now.”

Action: Reconnect with 1–2 old colleagues per month just to check in. Join or create a small work group focused on something you care about like women in tech, innovation lab, or wellness walkers. Attend an external event to keep expanding your sense of belonging beyond your current role.

6. Upgrade Your Self-Care Like It’s a Job Skill

Thought to choose: “I can’t outwork burnout … but I can out-care it.”

Action: Prioritize movement, rest, and nutrition not as luxuries but as tools for resilience. Replace numbing habits (doom-scrolling, stress-snacking) with short, intentional resets (a walk, a deep breath, journaling). Think of this as building your “staying power” while you have chosen to stay put.

7. Do the Thought Work: Rewire the Narrative

Mindset: “I’m stuck here” becomes “I’m choosing to stay right now. This choice has power.”

Action: Write down your current circumstance (“I’m staying in my job until my buyout”) and your current thought (“I’m miserable”). Now, practice a new thought that’s believable but empowering:

• “This is my growth lab.”
• “I’m practicing patience and strategy.”
• “I’m learning to find peace where I am.”

Your thoughts create your experience — even before your external situation changes.

8. Prepare for What’s Next — Without Rushing It

Start a quiet job search prep: update your resume, document your achievements, learn a new skill, and keep your network warm. This effort often shows that there is light at the end of this tunnel. You will feel more energized and you will bring that hopeful energy into your current situation as well. Everything starts to feel lighter.

You may not be able to change your circumstances right now, but you can change how you think and feel about them. You can find actions that align with where you will be heading.

Alignment isn’t about everything being perfect — it’s about staying true to yourself, even in imperfect seasons. The choices you make now are setting the stage for what comes next. You’re not stuck. You’re joyously becoming.