In modern days’ society, success is measured by career achievements. One should start to be employed as early as possible and hustle throughout their adolescent years to be considered a great worker later in their lives. Success should come by the time you’re 30. You’re supposed to have achieved all the promotions, all the pay raises and be on the top of a ladder at a multinational company, or have your small business go viral and call yourself an entrepreneur, potentially making 6 figures.

But what if life happens? What if the grind we tend to romanticize so much is just not for you? What if you wish to live a peaceful life, in a stress-free environment, and focus on things other than your badges? Then this article is exactly for you.

Times and expectations change

Throughout our lives, we are anchored and programmed to hit targets. Earlier, it was finding a partner, moving out, having kids and living the married life in peace until the end. Now, we are exposed to much higher expectations that never seem to end. Going through a decade of schooling only to be underpaid by an employer as an intern, working day and night, sacrificing all of our free time to earn a promotion, have enough money to support ourselves, sustain a home and even have a happy family and social life you actively care for. The problem with this? You only have 24 hours a day, and only limited years to experience planet Earth and figure out what you want to do with your life on it. Why would you make that decision based on generational fixations? Why would you keep yourself to a timeline that was set by others, and doesn’t seem to serve you?

Everyone has different goals

The key to ultimate fulfillment in your professional life is letting go of all the goals you never really wanted to accomplish, and finding the purpose you actually enjoy spending time with. Try to get to know the real you, maybe work with a coach or a mentor, or trust that little gut feeling you kept having for so long. Take on a new project, go on that trip, enjoy some fresh air, or keep some distance from your average days. Sooner or later, clarity will come, and ideas will flow.

Success has nothing to do with age

Some of us are millionaires by 20. Others by 50. Most of us never make millions, and there are people struggling to make ends meet every single day. Being appreciative of what you currently have is the first step towards an improved quality of life. Taking steps back, getting into a new profession, taking a gap year, going back to school, or entirely cutting yourself from work for some time is nothing you should be afraid of, just because it seems to delay an ending point. Success was never, and is never going to be the end of a journey. It’s the mental state that you manage to maintain during your life, and the general satisfaction that accompanies it.

Every journey is unique

Realizing you don’t have to follow a pattern is a great start. Letting go of society’s timing, accepting that not everyone will follow you from start to finish, and creating your steps on your own path are all essential parts of progress. Comparing yourself to others may be tempting, but at any stage of your journey, it either gives you anxiety or paints a fake picture of gratitude you get by imagining being ahead of your fellows. Your happiness should be your own, and your own only. Celebrate others when it’s their time to shine, and celebrate yourself when you hit a milestone that is important to you. Authenticity, confidence, improved focus on yourself and better inter-, and intrapersonal relationships will slowly but surely follow.

You don’t have to plan everything to be happy

Not having your whole life figured out is human, okay, and absolutely not shameful. While setting clear goals makes execution easier most times, it does not mean that you are not allowed to just go with the flow sometimes. Having and keeping our shit together is the latest fetish of the workaholic layer of our society. Productivity is hailed all through social media, job advertisements and performance reports. But sometimes showing up for yourself is the most you can do for your well-being, both mentally and physically. If not having a plan is something you enjoy, why not just go with it? Ultimately, you will remember the cheerful memories made along the way, not the number of zeros on your paycheck.

A recruiter’s take

We know, you have to pay the bills and feed yourself, maybe even the kids. If reading all this made you question if you ever will be hired with that approach, we have good news for you. The pandemic rearranged the priorities, values and approach to work in more ways than one. Companies had to adapt to a more employee-centric, accepting and humane culture. It made everyone reevaluate the importance of work-life balance. Leaders, hiring managers and recruiters are not frightened or turned off by a missing year in your employment report, and many places have adopted policies that support the personal lives of their colleagues as well. If you keep your standards high and your eyes open, we guarantee you will find such. And if you need any help with that, feel free to reach out to us through our website.