Studio Notes 02 - Two Years Later
Do you remember back in November 2024 I said that I wanted to retire by the time I was 55? Did I do it? ABSOLUTELY NOT *Insert [FACE PALM]* What I did do was continue to be frustrated with my situation by writing and rewriting what I WANTED to do but NEVER really doing anything.
I'm not saying that to shame myself, but what I am saying is that I learned that it's okay to not achieve a goal that I was passionate about. In hindsight I needed a bit more lead time and to be more grounded (and realistic) with my approach.
I didn't take into account my energy levels and how they've changed in the last two years. Grieving is a hell of a thing, you think you're in the clear and BAM something happens to derail you. It could be little and nonsensical but it still can derail you nonetheless.
So when I made the declaration that I was going to retire at 55 I was working not one but TWO full time jobs! Yes two. Plus I decided in December 2025 that I was going to return to school. Yeah I know insane right?! Well I was beyond burnt out (still am) but it was the first time in my adult life that I got my finances in order! Yay me!
Buuuuuttt... that ultimately was short lived because this past February 2026 I truly hit a brick wall. I could no longer sustain working two full time jobs (and going to school)so I went on leave through May and then had to end up quitting job #2. I've been working one job ever since and yes my credit card bills have piled up but that's okay.
I'm now working 30 hours a week at only one job and I'm done with taking classes (for now). I realized today that I went from working almost 80 hours a week to only 30 and I've been able to sustain my expenses (aside from the cc bills) with just working only 30 hours! Wow!
Honestly while I am still working for someone else in a W2 job I'm working only 30 hours, so to me I've gotten 10 hours of my week or I should really say MY LIFE back! Yay!
Now the goal is to continue reducing my weekly W2 work hours until I have all that time back for me to use at my discretion and not a boss to tell me what I can do with that time.
I'll have alot more to report soon (I hope) I'm not very good at keeping this blog up. I'm going to do my best to keep you updated. I've been toying with the idea of starting a Youtube channel. Actually I've been "toying" with the idea for 14 year now.
Yeah I know, don't come at me. Social media is exhausting most days but because I want to document my life in a different way than just journaling or this blog I thought I'd start a video journal. You can follow my channel here. I'm on the TikTok as well as Instagram if you wanted to take a peek or follow. *hint hint*
See you soon!