Guest Post: Rebuilding Confidence After a Breakup
I’m so excited to welcome Leanne from Life After +1 to the blog! Leanne is a passionate single parent coach who supports single parents in rediscovering their confidence, identity, and direction after breakups and major life changes.
In this beautifully written post, she shares powerful tips for single parents who are ready to rebuild their confidence and step back into the workforce after a breakup. It's real, relatable, and packed with encouragement. Whether you're feeling stuck, self-doubting, or simply unsure how to move forward, this one's for you.
How to Rebuild Your Confidence When getting back into the Workforce After a Breakup…
Let’s be real, breakups suck. Whether it’s a relationship, or a whole chapter of your life, being in that awkward in-between space can make your confidence feel like it’s gone on holiday without you.
And if you’re a single parent who’s also trying to re-enter the workforce after a breakup, it can feel even more intimidating. You're wondering:
“Do I even know how to people anymore?”
“Is it too late to start over?”
“Who even am I outside of my kids and my ex?”
“What Am I going to do?”
Sound familiar?
If yes, you’re not alone, and you’re definitely not broken. Confidence isn’t some magical personality trait you either have or don’t. It’s something you build (and rebuild), like IKEA furniture, possibly frustrating, but 100% doable.
Let’s be real: maybe your ex told you, you wouldn’t succeed without them. That you’re not good enough. That you’re “just a mum.”
It’s cruel. And while you know it’s not true, it still stings. Because when someone who once loved you uses words to rattle your self-worth, it can shake your core and those worse can destroy your confidence.
But here’s what you need to remember:
They don’t get to decide who you are. You do!
They say those things to keep power they’ve already lost. When they see you rising, moving on, rebuilding? That threatens them. So they throw doubt at you, hoping it’ll stick.
But you get to choose whether you believe it. This next chapter is about cutting through the noise, owning your story, and building something better, its not to prove them wrong, but to prove to yourself just how right you are about what you're capable of.
Because you are powerful!
Here’s how to start:
1. Remind Yourself You're Still a Boss (Even if You Haven’t Had a Payslip in a While)
You’ve managed a household, kept tiny humans alive, made 754 school lunches, AND survived a breakup. You’re not “starting from scratch”, you’ve just been gaining experience in a different (very underpaid) field. Don’t downplay your worth, translate it and use it to your advantage.
2. Get Out of Your (Trackies) Comfort Zone
Look, I love a good elastic waistband as much as the next person, but stepping back into the world means showing up a little. Apply for that job. Go to that interview. Say yes to that coffee catch-up. Confidence builds when you do things that scare you just a little.
3. Ditch the “I’m Not Good Enough” Story
Whether it’s dating or job hunting, rejection can mess with your head, especially when you're doing it all on your own. You might start telling yourself you’re not smart enough, young enough, experienced enough…. But spoiler alert: you are. Rewrite that narrative. You're not behind in life, you're just on a different path.
4. Practice Being Seen Again
If you’ve spent years putting yourself last, it can feel weird to be in the spotlight, even a job interview or a team meeting might trigger your “am I allowed to speak?” voice. Take up space. Share your ideas. You’ve got value to bring, even if your confidence is still catching up.
5. Surround Yourself With Hype People (No Energy Vampires Allowed)
This is not the time to be around people who make you question your every move and keep you keep up in your past life. Find your crew the ones who remind you of your magic, laugh with you when it all feels like a disaster, and send you job listings with “YOU COULD SMASH THIS!” in the subject line.
6. Celebrate the Weird Little Wins
Sent your resume? Huge win. Learnt to not respond to all the nasty text messages your ex sends? Massive. Left the house in something other than activewear? Iconic. Confidence comes from stacking small wins, not waiting for one big moment.
Confidence isn’t just about having a partner on your arm or walking into a room with your head held high. It’s about how you feel about you. And when you stop letting the opinions of others dictate your decisions? You unlock a level of freedom that’s truly life-changing.
That kind of inner shift doesn’t just help you in work or dating, it changes how you show up in everything. It’s like turning up the volume on your own voice after years of keeping it on mute. That’s a huge step forward, and it deserves to be celebrated.
If this blog hit home and you're ready to rebuild your confidence after a breakup, career break, or big life change, I’d love to support you through it. I offer 1:1 coaching for single parents who are done playing small and ready to feel confident, clear, and empowered again.
Book your Free 1:1 Chat here Complimentary Discovery Call | Life After Plus One
Because the truth is: you’ve got everything you need, you just need someone in your corner to remind you how powerful you already are.
Leanne Hutchinson
LIFE AFTER + 1