Growing up I always had a plan. I knew what I would be doing, how to get there, and what I wanted to do along the way. That all changed when I became self-employed and started working from home. I feel like I’ve skipped a few steps and am now in this no-man’s land without any clear idea of what to do next. It’s caused a lot of stress and anxiety with a dash of listlessness thrown in for good measure. I just didn’t know what I wanted anymore. Days started to blur together and I lost a lot of passion.
My brilliant husband Alex came to me one day after months of watching me just go through the motions. He asked to take me out to lunch to talk about what we wanted in life. I jumped at the chance for lunch at Panera and didn’t realize how this one lunch date would completely change my outlook on things.
We both brought our own notebook and he asked me, “What would you do if you didn’t have to work constantly and money wasn’t a concern?” At first I wasn’t sure, but soon the ideas started flowing.
I want to take more dance classes, focus on interior design, grow more plants, and take a cake decorating class. Just writing these wants down instantly changed my mood. It gave me things to focus on, goals to work towards, and things to look forward to.
Plus I got to see what he would do. It taught me so much more about him, about what he values, and how to make our relationship even stronger.
So if you’ve found yourself on the other side of college without a road map you’ve followed for so many years previously, don’t fret. Write down the things you want to do, whether it’s travelling, opening your own bakery, what have you. Just getting your dreams and goals down on paper is a huge motivation booster. Then figure out what you have to do to get to those goals.
I know it sounds simple, but why can’t it be?
