This post will take on a different format from my usual, as I am acutely aware that it has been far too long since I added new articles. The main reason my website has taken a backseat is solely due to focusing on work and establishing a client base, in addition to dealing with an incredibly tragic family bereavement for the majority of 2024. Sometimes, certain things in life just have to give, so that resulted in my website being neglected.
Despite the difficulties faced last year, work became my focus outside of familial matters. On reflection, I am grateful that I had my freelance business to keep me grounded and my mind occupied (for the most part). I may have thrown myself too much into work and could have struck a healthier work-life balance; although, it’s all a learning curve in the freelancing sphere.
Projects have been varied, ranging from writing GP training materials covering a wide array of health conditions to a position within the online health community space. That particular role not only involved writing blog posts for their website but also interviewing various medical practitioners and authors. That aspect reconfirmed my interest in utilising critical, analytical and conceptual thinking, in addition to conducting qualitative research (with quantitative research also being an area I am not adverse to working in).
Aside from the day-to-day tasks, which not only consist of replying to and sending emails, cold-pitching, applying to jobs, exploring various job roles, joining freelancing platforms and expanding my network on LinkedIn, oftentimes I find my mind going in all sorts of directions, in terms of how I could diversify my work. It’s understandable why people find (and stick with) a specific niche, working their way up the ladder, so to speak.
Freelancing (as with full-time employment) certainly has its advantages and drawbacks, but then again, the beauty of freelancing is having the flexibility to take one’s work in any direction. Despite the world being my oyster in that regard, sometimes having too many options can be overwhelming and almost ‘paralysing’. The happy medium would be finding an area of work which is not only in demand, but also fuses my passions and interests, is varied, plus intellectually and creatively expansive.
My passion for health and wellness continues, with content in environmental, public health and behavioural science piquing my interest. A job title I recently stumbled upon after sitting in on an NHS Careers webinar was a ‘Public Health Intelligence Analyst’ it certainly is eye-opening, learning about roles not considered ‘run of the mill’. Interests have also expanded into the realm of design, notably industrial, interior and architectural. Ultimately, I would love to incorporate both health and design in some capacity. The topic of how materials can impact health and wellbeing is an area I find particularly intriguing, in addition to the generic process of design and development, mostly surrounding tangible products and services.
I enjoy methodical tasks, with data entry and analysis roles being another area I am pursuing, within health and wellness, in addition to trends and insights. A recent trend I have noticed in the job market is an increase in UX/UI positions, mainly within design and research. Another observation is that UX writing (particularly in the UK) has not yet become mainstream, but maybe that area is yet to take off. Nevertheless, I shall keep an eye on in terms of opportunities, as UX writing would be a logical area to move into. Other areas I am looking into within UX/UI include Healthcare UX and USX (User Space Experience), ideally within health and wellbeing – again, these areas would fit my skill set, although these aspects of UX seem to be in their infancy.
So for the time being I shall keep plugging away, and with regards to ‘apuralife’, I have several ideas in terms of the direction I would like to take things – my greatest desire, documenting moving into my very own property and the process of making it home; with a focus on ‘wellness design’ and eco-friendly initiatives, be that from flooring choices, paint, fabrics, furniture and water filtration systems, to measuring and enhancing air quality. I have been researching companies, brands and products, so that when the time comes, I won’t have to start from scratch in that regard. I find that visualisation comes naturally, and that I possess a strong vision and decisiveness when it comes to furniture and furnishings, including overall aesthetics. Who knows, maybe one day I shall launch a product line, be that natural skincare, stationery (what writer doesn’t like high-quality notebooks, pens and stationery?), or possibly something along the lines of home interiors.
To conclude this post, I am equally open to testing and reviewing products, in addition to collaborative opportunities within design, interiors, health, wellness or even HealthTech. As always, if you would like to collaborate or are aware of any other suitable job opportunities in the areas mentioned, don’t hesitate to email caitlin@apuralife.com or contact me via LinkedIn. Once again, thank you to those following and anyone who has given positive feedback on my website, both its content and imagery.