Hi 2025, this is how I will get fit for the future.

Things are slowing down at work and it’s got me in a reflective mood, as you do when the year comes to an end. While this year has been good to me and there’s a whole lot to be grateful for, most of my thoughts veer towards the next year as it’s not looking optimistic.

Booking.com will be implementing a restructuring program, which might result in layoffs. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that, but what if it happens to me? It’s a new reality that UX folks have to deal with. Regardless of how capable you are, the company can decide one day that it no longer has you in its plans. There’s nothing you can do to prevent that from happening. But what you can do, is to prepare for the worst. And that’s what I plan to do. 

Always have a plan B

I don't want to get caught with my pants down. The first step is to start thinking about possible next steps. Do I see myself pursuing another UX writing role in another company? Do I want to stay in the fintech space? Do I want to stay in the Netherlands? While I really hope to stay in my current role, it’s hard to ignore the fact that a permanent role is no longer as permanent or secure as it seems.

The end retirement goal for me has always been to be a freelancer writer. Not just that, but to be financially independent enough to take up writing jobs not because I need to, but because I want to. I know it’s a lofty goal.

And how the hell do I get there? I have no inheritance, sugar daddy, or enough savings to retire. So recently I’ve gone down many rabbit holes on YouTube, Reddit, and TikTok searching for tips and advice on investing, side hustles, personal branding etc. And you know what my main takeaway was? That I needed to stop doom scrolling and start something.

Consume less, create more

So here we are at the last few days of the year, with the excitement of a new beginning within reach. This is why my mind is going in all different directions, trying to figure out a safety net for my career trajectory.

As I try and hype myself up for this, I had to remind myself that I’ve done this before. Adapting has always been my game. When I was a writer for a home decor magazine, readership was decreasing as people shifted to websites and blogs for home decor tips. So I went from an editorial writer to a content strategist for a tech company. And when I wanted to look for a new job in Europe, I realised that being a UX writer was not enough to set me apart from the competition. So I strategically positioned my portfolio and job search within the fintech niche, which landed me in my current role. Some days, I still can’t believe that I managed to pull myself out of my parents’ home in Singapore and build such a nice life for myself here in Amsterdam.

But it’s now time to play that game again. This time, it’ll be more experimental. Maybe a little more cringe as well because I’ll be putting myself out there a little more. These days, UX professionals need to reinvent themselves every couple of years. Take a page out of Madonna’s books. Market ourselves like she did by reinventing herself as an entertainer to keep herself relevant over 30 years. We’re just living in our Madame UX era (hah, don’t say that I didn’t warn you). Who knows what will come next?

The plan

I’ve decided to start small, by focusing on what I do best — writing. Trust me, every time I evaluate my life, I have the most random ideas like starting a watercolour card business, or creating an app for pet sitters to manage their admin, or signing up for a cooking course so I can fulfil my fantasy of being a patisserie chef. But for now, I will listen to my head and start with a writing project. 

I will renew this website membership, sign up to exercise my writing muscles weekly, and get fit for my future. This is the rough plan:

1. Announce my grand plan to the world so I’d have more peer pressure to practice what I preach

2. Draft a content strategy based on desktop research, competitive analysis, publishing platforms, and content buckets.

3. Create a weekly routine to turn writing outside of work into a habit.

4. Publish original content once a week.

This challenge will motivate me to educate myself on trending industry topics, explore the writing craft a little deeper, share my experiences with people, and build a better personal brand. So let’s see where this takes me!

To my fellow worried UX writers out there reading this… I encourage you to start thinking about life outside of your current role too. Working in tech has been awesome, but the tides are changing and we’ve got to prepare for stormy weather. So hold on tight, prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.

Till next year,
Mavis