Your Low-Stress Guide to Leveling-Up Your Bedtime Routine
Are You Burnt Out or Depressed?
I fell asleep in my quiet suburban room wishing there was street noise blaring outside my window.
I wanted it all so badly.
In my 20s, my life really did feel like living in one of those movies I loved.
I lived in small apartments in Manhattan with too many roommates.
I did everything I set out to do.
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Heres the thing: High school me never visualized what my life would look like past age 29.
That didnt feel quite as right anymore.
But when I tried to picture what I actuallydidwant for myself…nothing clearly came to mind.
Feeling stuck, I decided the solution was to move somewhere new.
I decided to move closer to family, in Raleigh, NC.
Maybe being more active in my nephews lives would give my own life more meaning.
I also didnt know anyone in the city except my family, so it had a fresh start feel.
For the first year I lived in Raleigh, I stuck to the plan.
And I planned other trips, too.
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To Los Angeles for a hybrid work trip-vacation.
To Paris to visit my best friend.
I started to think that this would be what my 30s could look like.
Then the pandemic hit, and like most of the rest of the world, I wasnt going anywhere.
Id never pictured myself living in a house before; I always thought it would just be an apartment.
There were no more trips to plan.
In New York, having a half set-up apartment with sweaters in the oven was a flex.
The first quarantine purchase I made was a new desk and chair.
I spent hours on Pinterest creating home office boards.
Instead of getting an Ikea desk, I splurged for what I really wanted from West Elm.
I boughtcandlesthat made it smell good and put potted plants on my little balcony.
I found that I didnt miss traveling at all.
I also startedinvesting more in my new friendships, even if it was just virtually.
I liked the structure of having these activities to look forward to.
Raleigh is dotted with neighborhoods with old historic homes that all have big wrap-around porches.
Id never pictured myself living in a house before; I always thought it would just be an apartment.
My cat could sleep in the sun underneath that big bay window.
Is that a little garden in the backyard?
I could do that.
After one of these walks, I came home and did some quick searches on Zillow and Realtor.
Sure, not a big one.
But a little one with still enough room to have my friends and family over?
I started to put the money I wasnt spending traveling to and from New York into it.
And I added smaller amounts, too, weighing the cost versus saving for a house.
When I didnt click add to cart on an Anthroplogie dress, another $120 went to my savings.
Im turning 34 this month.
Id be squarely in my mid-30s without even knowing what I wanted this whole decade to look like.
Ive learned that, actually, I dont want to travel as much.
I like having my family a car ride away instead of a plane flight away.
And for that, Im eternally grateful.
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