Why do we call it Labor Day when the whole point is to take an extra day off of work?  Because Labor Day was originally established in 1882 by the American labor movement as a yearly tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Most of us are probably going to spend Labor Day enjoying the last days of summer weather on the beach, in the park, or in the backyard.

But Labor Day is also a time to reflect on work and your career path in general (preferably while reclining in the sun somewhere with a cold drink in your hand — it’s less painful that way). Are you happy about how and where you’re putting in all those work hours? Does your current job allow you to use your talents and contribute the way you’d like to? Does the idea of spending another year laboring in your job inspire feelings of excitement or dread?

There’s something about returning to work after Labor Day weekend that has come to symbolize a fresh start for many of us. Maybe we’re conditioned to think that way from our back-to-school days. I almost feel like going shopping for new Jordache jeans and a shiny new Trapper Keeper (oops, showing my age and my 80s roots).

With the vacation days of the summer behind us, we dive into new projects with a new enthusiasm. That is, if we’re lucky.  For those of us who are unhappy in our current careers, there can be a major letdown after the distractions of summer have passed and it’s back to business-as usual.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Channel that fresh-start enthusiasm into plotting your escape to a more fulfilling career. After all, hiring managers are also coming back from summer vacation and getting serious about filling vacant positions. Consultants’ phones are starting to ring off the hook as clients figure out how they’re going to spend that third-quarter budget.

Why not pick up a shiny new notebook at a Back to School sale near you and spend some of your Labor Day downtime jotting down ideas and plans for the next phase of your brilliant career?

I guarantee that it will be a lot less painful to go back to work on Tuesday morning if you’ve got a plan in place to find labor that you love.

Have a happy Labor Day weekend!