I definitely have a problem with focusing myself sometimes. Even with this blog, I originally reserved the domain name with the thought that this would be a blog about my digging myself out of my seemingly never-ending student loan debt. I had just finished reading Joe Mihalic’s account of how he had dug himself out of $90,000 in student loans in 9 months. (He graduated from Harvard with an MBA and there are definitely differences in our financial situations to start, but still, his story motivated me. His blog is called No More Harvard Debt.)
As you can see, this blog is about more than just getting out of debt. The problem is, some days I just don’t know what to work on next and it gets overwhelming. I want to have or build my own tiny house, but I have no real carpentry or mechanical skills. I’m going to the tiny house workshop in DC in October as a precursor to another class in Vermont next summer, but then I have to save money to take that trip to Vermont, and I still want to pay off my personal loan of about $4200 by December, and I want to take some e-courses at the same time, and continue my studies toward the CES certification. Oh, and I want to continue working out at least 5 days per week plus riding my bike to and from work. And still make time for my animals, because well, they are my kids. And eat healthily and grow my own wheat grass and dehydrate my fruit in the new dehydrator I just bought. And try to blog at least 3 times per week, and have the posts be more than mindless drivel. And…and….and….. But wait, when do I sleep????
Do you see where this is going?? How do you decide what to do first or chase first when there are so many things to do?? (Wow, I’m using a lot of question marks, aren’t I?)
If anyone has any advice as to how to slow down and prioritize your energies when you want to accomplish so much to change your life, I’m all ears, so please leave me a comment below. In the meantime, I will try to remember what it was like to focus on the sounds of the waves lapping against the shore of Grand Cayman just a little over a month ago, pictured above.
Chasing Simple Dreams 
What do you want in life? What are your real goals? You need to figure out what makes you happy and what you look forward to doing. Those are the things you need to prioritze in life.
When you think about what you want and what your goals are, be honest with yourself.
For the longest time, I wanted to quit my job and travel the world. I let my “situation” in life get in the way. I finally realized that quitting and traveling is possible. In fact, I put in my letter of resignation today!
Be honest and really think about what YOU want and what really makes you happy. Then ACT!
Kristin, congratulations for putting in your resignation letter today – that is awesome! I think what I really want in life is to be able to help animals and to help people be physically fit. So I’ve studied for and passed the Certified Professional Trainer exam, and am now taking a class for the Certified Exercise Science certification. I want to have a tiny house in an area that is beautiful but which will also allow me to support myself with either a job at a gym or with my own fitness business. And I love writing, so somehow I have to fit that in there.
I know what you mean about “situation.” I feel like my student loans have captured me and kept me in jobs that although they didn’t really feel like they were soul-fulfilling, they paid the bills.
Funny the word “Act” – I heard someone say last night that “action kills fear.” That has definitely stuck with me. I need to get over that fear of failing.
Thank you so much for commenting, wow, I can’t believe you found my blog!
Terri
Hi Terri, I love your blog! We sound like twins! I’m also interested in pets, downsizing, health/fitness, paying off debt and dehydrators! haha I have been wanting to get one but just haven’t purchased it yet! Did you get a Nesco? Anyway, I feel your pain when it comes to focus. I came up with a temporary solution that involves skipping sleep (as you mentioned) but unfortunately this is not so good for our health. So that didn’t last too long. My best advice is to focus insanely on the one task or skill that will help you make the most money because that will allow you to accomplish most, if not all of our goals! It’s good to do what makes you happy but realistically we need money in order to make that happen.
Amanda, thank you so much for writing, and like I said to the other two ladies, I’m so sorry for not writing back before this. I need to have my blog’s email forward to the email account I use all the time! Yes, realistically we do need money to make the real dreams happen (in my case anyway, because of all of my student loans.) But I’m really hoping that once they are gone, I can truly focus on what I really LOVE doing every day, so that it won’t feel like work.
Oh, and for dehydrators, this the one I got: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008H2OELY/ref=oh_details_o03_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1