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There was a time in my life when I asked myself the same question every morning. Standing in the shower, getting ready for another long day, I would ask myself: What is one thing I'm looking forward to today?
Just one thing. It didn't have to be anything special. Something small would do. And every single morning, I came up with the same answer.
Coming home and having dinner.
That was it. The only thing I looked forward to was getting home at around eight in the evening, sitting on the couch, eating my dinner in front of the television, and eventually going to bed. I had an entire day ahead of me, and all I wanted was for it to be over.
Do you know that feeling? You wake up already thinking about everything you have to do, and the best part of the day seems to be the moment when you can finally sleep and forget about it all.
Why I Started Asking That Question
At that point in my life, I already knew I was unhappy. I had been running our family business for years, dealing with constant pressure, financial difficulties, and responsibilities that seemed to have no end.
During a course called Winning the Game of Money by John Assaraf, I'd come to a surprising realisation. I'd spent so much time worrying about money, believing that solving our financial problems would make everything better. But when I looked at the different areas of my life, I realised I was unhappy in practically all of them.
That realisation, together with a panic attack I'd experienced, made me understand that something had to change. I wanted to feel better. I wanted to change my mindset and start finding more happiness in my everyday life.
Somewhere, I'd read a suggestion to begin each morning by thinking of just one thing you were looking forward to that day. It sounded simple enough, so I decided to try it.
What shocked me was that I couldn't find anything. Not a conversation, an activity, or a moment in my day that genuinely excited me. Just the thought of coming home, crashing in front of the TV, eating dinner, and finally resting.
And the following morning, the answer was exactly the same.
When Life Becomes a Routine You Want to Escape
My days started at five in the morning. I would wake up, turn on my computer, and begin working. Around ten, I'd take a shower, get dressed, and head to the office, where more problems and responsibilities were waiting for me.
By eight in the evening, I'd finally get home, exhausted. Dinner, television, sleep. And the next morning, it would all begin again. Seven days a week.
I was good at what I did. I could solve problems, manage crises, and handle enormous amounts of pressure. People depended on me, and I kept going because I believed that's what I was supposed to do.
But being good at something doesn't necessarily mean it's good for you.
Maybe you're in a similar situation. You're good at your job, people rely on you, and you manage to get everything done. But somewhere along the way, you've stopped asking yourself whether you're actually enjoying your life.
There was one part of my working life that felt completely different. For many years, I'd worked in concert production, something I absolutely loved. Even after it became a smaller part of my professional life, it continued to bring me joy.
The hours could be long, the work demanding, and there were always unexpected problems to solve. Yet I loved the music, the people, the creativity, and the excitement of making an event happen.
I could spend an entire day working on a concert and feel energised, while a few hours at the family business could leave me completely drained. Looking back, I can see that the difference was how I felt about what I was doing. One brought me joy, excitement, and a sense of freedom. The other had become a source of constant stress. That contrast was telling me something important about what I wanted from life.
Think about the things you love doing. The activities that give you energy, make you smile, or make you lose track of time. What do they have in common? They might be giving you valuable clues about what you'd like more of in your life.
From Surviving the Day to Enjoying It
Changing my life took time. There were difficult decisions, plenty of uncertainty, and years of learning more about myself. Closing our family business in January 2018 was one major turning point, but my transformation continued long after that.
Today, my life looks completely different. I genuinely look forward to waking up in the morning! I love coaching, writing, speaking, learning, travelling, and connecting with people. I even look forward to my Zoom sessions because I love what I do.
I still have responsibilities, challenges, and days when things don't go according to plan. That's part of life. But I enjoy my days, and that makes an enormous difference. I've finally created a life I don't need a vacation from.
And that's what I help others do, too.
I still love travelling and discovering new places. The difference is that I travel because I enjoy the experience, rather than because I desperately need a break from my life.
How many people spend their days counting down to Friday, their next holiday, or retirement? Just three more days until the weekend. Just two more months until my vacation. Just a few more years until I can finally enjoy myself.
I understand that feeling because I lived that way for years. But here's something worth remembering: Your everyday life is your life. It's happening while you're working, cooking, walking, talking to people, or simply going about your day.
Imagine waking up in the morning and actually looking forward to the day ahead, because you've created a life filled with things you enjoy. And if you're constantly waiting for something else to happen before you can enjoy it, how much of your life are you actually living?
Finding Joy in Everyday Life
Research suggests that paying attention to positive experiences can contribute to our well-being. Harvard Health, for example, discusses how appreciating small, enjoyable moments can help increase happiness.
That's exactly what I was hoping to achieve with my morning question. I wanted to train myself to notice something positive, even on the most difficult days. And I still believe that's a valuable practice. Sometimes we're so focused on problems, responsibilities, and everything that needs to get done that we overlook the things we could appreciate.
Appreciating what you have is important. So is recognising what you want to change. When you struggle to find anything to look forward to, it's worth examining how you're living.
You've filled your days with obligations and left very little room for the things you enjoy. You're doing what everyone expects of you, without considering what you actually want. Or perhaps you've become so accustomed to your routine that you've stopped questioning it. Whatever the reason, awareness gives you an opportunity to make different choices.
You can start by noticing what brings you joy, what gives you energy, and what makes you feel alive. Then look for ways to bring more of those experiences into your days. You may discover that you need more time for yourself, different boundaries, new experiences, or even a completely different direction.
You get to decide what matters to you.
One Thing to Look Forward To
Tomorrow morning, while you're in the shower, ask yourself:
What's one thing I'm looking forward to today?
Pay attention to your answer. If several things come to mind, wonderful! Take a moment to appreciate them.
If you struggle to find even one, think about something you could do that day to bring yourself a little joy. It could be listening to your favourite music, meeting a friend, going for a walk, or spending some time doing something you love.
Then take it a step further. Ask yourself what you'd like more of in your life and what small change you could make to create room for it.
Life is too precious to spend it waiting for the day to end.
Ready to Take a Closer Look at Your Life?
If this story resonates with you, I invite you to explore how satisfied you feel in the different areas of your own life.
My Life Balance Breakthrough Assessment helps you look at eight important areas, recognise what's working well, and discover where you might want to make changes.
It's a simple first step towards creating a life you don't need a vacation from.
Take the Free Life Balance Breakthrough Assessment
Be here. Be wild. Be you. 🦋