According to a McKinsey study, 70% of us see work as our sole purpose.
I predict we've learned this idea from:
Older generations passing it down
College focusing solely on you getting a job
The challenge with work being our sole purpose:
Puts pressure on work to be perfect
Happiness is coming from 1 thing
Becomes our identity
I was a part of that 70%.
Age 22, fresh out of college, at my first corporate job -
I would roll myself out of bed, get ready, and commute 30 mins to work in the dark through cornfields - hoping my coffee would wake me up in time for when I arrived to the office.
I would walk into the office with an energetic smile and plop myself down at my desk. I was a try-hard, perfectionist, and I was ready to absolutely kill it at work.
Because I thought work was everything.
But as the first few months went on - getting up, driving to work, and sitting down at my desk 5 days a week (when people were still going to the office 5 days a week), I started to think…
"I think there is more than this."
Not in the "maybe the grass is greener somewhere else" kind of way or not being thankful for where I was at, but was curious IF you could do things outside of work.
Slowly, the drives to work became my time to think about what I could be or do outside of work.
I would listen to podcasts interviewing entrepreneurs, creatives, and writers doing all these cool things..
When I finished my drive and got to my desk, I found myself writing sticky notes of habits/activities I could try, and blog ideas and podcast scripts for things I wanted to talk about.
But how would I have time to do these things? I was always so tired after work!
Making these fun things part of my morning routine became the opportune time - weren't social events going on, I could prioritize what I wanted to do, and start my day on my own terms.
I could BE more than my work.
Over the next 6 years - those sticky notes and early mornings turned into writing 40 podcasts, 128 blog posts, 191 newsletters, 1900+ journal entries, a Morning Routine Workbook, a Morning Routine Workshop, & much more.
Because of making space in the morning.
But if you're considering doing something outside of work, I know the morning doesn't work for everyone.
Maybe you’re in a stage in your life where the evening is better - take the morning or evening routine advice you need & leave the rest for someone else.
Or maybe you’re in a stage where work needs to be everything - consider how a 2-min grounding morning routine could make your work better.
Or maybe you feel like being a wife, mom, or partner is your sole purpose right now.
No matter where you’re at in your life, I don't want you to ignore the nudge to:
Be curious - lean into the "I think there is more than this"
Write the sticky notes or journal - so you can build on your ideas over time
Find time that works for you to think or act on these - in the morning, in the car, on a walk, etc.
If I had ignored it, I would still be the girl defining herself by 1 thing, and I know I'm so much more than that.
And so are you!