What to Do With Your Life When You Don't Know What to Do With Your Life

When I typed out the title for this weeks post, my mum looked over my shoulder and said: 'That's a big question for a Sunday morning'. And she is right, but I'm not claiming to be someone who knows exactly what YOU should do with your life. I'm someone who's gone from not having a clue, to having a pretty solid idea of where I'd like to be and what I'd like to do. And I know how I narrowed it down. So Im going to tell you how you can do that too.

1. Do things. Just start. Do anything - try a new hobby, get a new job, join a volunteer programme, read a book about a weird subject. Do the thing and keep evaluating the thing. Ask yourself which bits you enjoy, which bits you hate, what would make you prefer it. For example:
 - I got a job as a waitress. I love being a part of people's special occasions and making sure they have a good time. I hate the company's way of conceding to ridiculous complaints with large discounts. From those likes and dislikes I know that I like hospitality, and that I don't like working for a company that doesn't stand by what they produce. The wide world of possibility just got a little bit narrower! So all you have to do is make sure you don't get complacent. If you like something - great! If you hate something, well, that's probably even better! The more you hate about a job/hobby, the more you can eliminate, and the more you've just narrowed it down, so there's a silver lining there.

2. Be realistic about your expectations but STOP PUTTING YOURSELF DOWN. When you don't know what to do with your life and you don't know where to start, it's really easy to get bogged down in a self-doubt swamp. Okay, so you're not gonna fall straight into your dream job, but you might be able to sneak in as the administration assistant TO a potential dream job? Then you are dream job adjacent, and you can give it the side-eye and pick up all the tips, whilst also figuring out if it's actually for you. Realistic expectations means setting yourself up for modesty, but also being able to see the pros in the modesty. So stay grounded for sure. But honestly, if you've had even one job, you'll have seen first hand how useless some top staff members are. We've all met them, the CEO of the company who saunters around your store for a visit and suggests sales-based changes that everyone knows would be IDIOTIC in practicality if actually implemented. That guy has the top job at that company. You can definitely get to at least near his level.

3. Take advice, inspiration and motivation from your friends. It's very easy, if you feel at a loose end, to compare yourself to even your most favourite people, and become bitter that they're succeeding while you're sinking. Go for a walk pal, give your head a shake. There's no room for seething and sulking when you don't know what to do with your life. Call your friend who just got a great job minutes after coming back from a month-long trip to India and ask her how she did it. Ask her what she likes about this job and what she doesn't, ask her what travelling taught her, which bits of India she'd recommend, ask her what she thinks you'd be good at. Hating someone for what they're doing just means you can't ask them for help in doing it too. Everyone feels that sting sometimes, but try to sweep it away if you can. Be excited for your pal and be excited for yourself too - you're going great places.

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