Here is my point. You work 40+ hours, 5 days a week with only 2 weeks leave in a year where you can actually look forward to having a break or going on holiday. Weekends are usually spent running errands, cooking and finishing work you couldn't get done during the week. Before you know it, it's Monday again and you are back at your desk, with the only ambiance being telephones ringing and the smell of cheap coffee. A promotion or a salary boost is nowhere in site, and you feel that your hard work goes unnoticed the majority of the time. All you are really waiting for, and saving up for, and longing for is the moment you can retire at the age of 60 or so and take your life back. Sound familiar? What kind of life is that?
If you are one of those lucky few that actually enjoy their chosen career, take pride in their work and gain fulfilment through their contribution to society...this post is not for you.
I know what you are thinking, and no I am not afraid of hard work. I thrive on inspiration, facing new challenges and being goal-oriented. I like to work in different environments, travel frequently and meet new people, and I could think of nothing better than owning my time or being my own boss. I have learnt over the last few years that if I want any of the above, I will not be able to find it in a generic corporate environment.
Our generation are quick thinkers who are extremely familiar with advanced technology and social media. With everything we could possibly want to know or understand at our fingertips, we get bored easily and require constant stimulation. We want more out of life than a stable desk-bound job, and we have a strong desire to see the world and try new things. The world has slowly become this giant global village with all the opportunities one could ever comprehend, and there is no reason you can't use this to your advantage.
The trick is to decide exactly what you want out of your life, and then work towards that goal by any means necessary. To do this, you have to really get to know yourself on a deeper level. To start off, answer the following questions on a piece of paper:
1. What makes me excited?
2. What skills and hobbies do I have?
3. Am I good with people or do I prefer to work alone?
4. Am I self-motivated and disciplined?
5. Do I have something unique to offer people?
6. What 4 words best describe me?
7. Which environment am I most comfortable?
After answering these questions you should already be able to see a pattern, and hone in on what you want to spend your days doing. Whether you crave wealth, success, travel or recognition, you can create the life you want to live. You have to be honest with yourself about what you desire and what you are willing to do to get it. Does that mean selling your car to start a business from home? Does that mean working 3 jobs to save up and go overseas? Yes, it will be tough at first, but you have to take the next step and start your life exactly the way you want it.
You only have this one crazy, beautiful, unpredictable life that is waiting to be lived, and you need to understand that it doesn't have to be boring, stressful or limited. Having money in your bank means nothing if you are miserable, believe me. It is all about what you do with your time, the adventures you experience, the people you meet and the stories you get to share thereafter.
I am not here to tell you exactly how to do it because every single person is different, and has their own idea about what they want out of life. I am about to move from South Africa to Thailand to teach English to children, and blog while I travel around Asia with my boyfriend. This is the path I have chosen for myself, and you can do the same. Here are some ways that you can earn money and design your lifestyle according to how you want your time to be used each day.
- Website design
- Blogging (food, travel, beauty, fashion)
- Freelance writing
- Book keeping from home
- Private tutoring and classes
- Foreign language teacher or translator
- Social media management
- Product reviews
- Software development
- Selling ebooks
- Online consulting
- Life coach or motivational speaker
- Religious instructor
- Buying/sewing and selling clothing
- Personal training and exercise programmes
- Corporate document editing
If none of the above suggestions appeal to you or focus on what you are good at, then do some research to find what you are passionate about. There is no such thing as a get-rich-quick opportunity (it is usually a scam), so understand that lifestyle design is not about making tons of money by doing nothing. It is rather about making enough money to live a full and happy life without wasting hours sitting at a desk, dreaming of better days. x
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