As we’re closing out the holiday season, there’s a feel of renewal in the air. But throughout the holidays, work tells us to take time to spend with family and friends, yet I felt no break and no release from normal. I tried to reduce the stress and tension by enjoying my lit Christmas tree and candles during my couple hours at home, but found myself to be chugging along like our 9 to 5 is the most important thing. And here we are already tearing down our decorations.

I don’t want to be a pessimist. I am most surely a realist at heart. But I find that I am regularly reminding myself to see the brighter side. Fortunately, the cusp of the new year has me in lighter spirits, new mindsets, and desires for the year to come.

I have always been one to occupy all of my free time with school, work, and activities (for myself and others), and have grown to dislike spending an entire day “doing nothing”. I’ve written more on this in my previous post, Progressing Unproductivity, but I would encourage many others like me to not occupy all of your free time and to allow yourself time to play and discover. And if you can manage the time to do this while still in school – while you are young and still figuring out what you like and want – even better.

Let yourself live, and experience, and find what you love as soon as you can in life. But regardless of whether you found your thing, don’t let that stop you from trying others, and finding your drive, your continued purpose, and daily motivation because that is what will drive you through when times get monotonous and stressful. And your normal will grow to become more favorable.