The Recommendation Room

As the year comes to an end, we talk a lot about reflection.

About the future.

About accomplishments.

About what we achieved.

But what we don’t talk about enough is the present moment.

What is.

And how you’re actually feeling right now.

For many people, especially those working traditional nine-to-five or corporate jobs, the present moment can feel heavy. You might feel disconnected, unfulfilled, or quietly hopeless. You start questioning everything. Why did I go to college? Why did I stay at this company? Why did I work so hard for something I don’t even want to climb anymore?

And those questions can spiral into a bigger one: What is this all for?

I’ve been there. Truly.

There were moments when I felt completely lost and unsure where to turn.

Several years ago, I started working with a career coach who helped me reshape how I viewed my job. As a people pleaser and overachiever, I had wrapped my entire sense of value into my work. For years, it was my everything. I didn’t have much outside of it.

So when my job didn’t give me the reassurance, support, or fulfillment I was searching for, it created panic.

One piece of advice she gave me has stayed with me ever since:

You have to have something outside of your job.

Even if you don’t love the work.

Even if you don’t care about climbing.

Even if the job is just a job.

You need a life beyond it.

When I was at my lowest, I committed to doing one thing for myself each week. Something that had nothing to do with productivity or achievement. I took workout classes. I tried hobbies. I went to a dance class.

And slowly, it gave me somewhere else to put my energy.

Somewhere else to feel alive.

Somewhere else to focus that wasn’t rooted in hopelessness.

So if I can leave you with one recommendation today, it’s this:

Find something outside of your nine-to-five that supports you.

I know for many people, the little free time they have goes to family, and that matters deeply. But it’s still important to carve out space just for yourself. Even if it’s at home. Even if it’s small.

And one more thing, because this comes up often:

Not every hobby needs to be monetized.

Not everything needs to be “useful.”

Find the thing that sparks joy.

The thing that feels creative.

The thing that gives you a sense of lightness.

Give it a little of your energy and see what happens.

That feeling of hopelessness may not disappear entirely, especially if you’re in a job that doesn’t align with what you once dreamed of. But it will soften. And you can take pieces of your joy back.

As you look toward 2026, ask yourself:

Where can I reclaim my creativity?

Where can I make space for myself again?

And start there.