When you’re in that strange place between childhood and adulthood, it can feel like the future is this huge weight that’s constantly pressing down on you. Everyone around you seems to be constantly telling you that you should be thinking about what you want to do with your life, as though now is the only time that you can make that kind of decision. It can often feel completely and utterly overwhelming to the point that it’s almost impossible to actually make any decisions. The best thing to try and combat that feeling is to break things down so that it doesn’t seem quite so all-encompassing and scary. Here are a few things to remember when you’re trying to figure out what to do next.
Follow what you’re passionate about
If you want to figure out what to do with your life, then one of the very best places to start is with your passions. What do you really love to do? Think about your hobbies and interests. While parents and teachers might try to tell you that they are a distraction from more important things like school or college, your hobbies can actually tell you a lot about the kinds of careers that might make you happy. Do you spend every weekend playing sports with your friends and know everything there is no know about your favorite sport? Well, then there’s a good chance that you’d enjoy something in that direction. Even if you’re not playing professionally, there are hundreds of careers available for people with a knowledge and passion for sports of any sort.
One of the biggest mistakes that a lot of kids make is that they assume that whatever decision they make now is going to have to be the thing that they stick with forever. This is far from the truth. Plenty of things that you do can be stepping stones towards what you really want. You might not be in a position to start the career that you really want because you don’t have the right amount of experience, but things like volunteering and internships can give you that experience so that you can go into that career further down the road. Thinking of things in terms of where they are taking you in life, rather than as destinations in and of themselves, is a great way to avoid letting the future seem so big and intimidating.
It’s okay not to know
Here’s the big secret that a lot of people won’t tell you: no one really knows what they want to be when they grow up. Even so-called “grown-ups.” If your teachers and parents were really honest, they’d probably tell you that they are just filled with uncertainty and confusion as you are. There is nothing wrong with feeling like you don’t have a clear direction to follow. Sometimes you have to try a bunch of things and see what sticks. Life is long, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t take your time and figure out what you want to do at your own pace.
I hope you enjoyed the post! Do you think about your future a lot? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks so much for reading, as always <3
Xoxo, Rae
Disclaimer: Pictures are from Pexels and are free stock images.
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