Professional Unknown: How to Stop Panicking & Refocus Your Job Search

Do you ever have those moments in life when you're stuck in a state of limbo a bit longer than you'd like? I've been in the process of switching jobs for a few months now, and I'm chomping at the bit for the hunt to be over...but I haven't found a new job yet. Come October 1st, I will be working solely on a freelance basis after deciding to leave my part-time job.

This decision wasn't one I took lightly, but with the opportunity to increase my income working freelance and dedicate more time to finding a full-time job, I believe it's the best option for me. I spent about a week or two freaking out about the possibility of not having a steady income (especially with student loans and medical bills from a tonsillectomy rapidly coming around the corner), but I've managed to move past the initial terror and into a more productive realm of thinking. 

It can be tough having blind faith that something will work out, but I've found a way to manage the fear of the professional unknown somewhat gracefully. Here's how you can, too: 

• Find your safety net: I'm extremely fortunate to have my parents to rely on. As much as I complain about wanting to move out on my own and get away from my mom's smothering worrying, I wouldn't be able to work on finding a career that ignites my passion and provides for me financially if I didn't have them to support me. Living at home might not be the coolest thing to do, but it's definitely providing me with much needed space to collect myself. Unfortunately, you might not have the same type of support system and might have to build a nest egg as your safety net instead, which could mean having to spend a bit more time at the job you're looking to leave. 
• Scour job posting apps before bed: When my mind starts racing at night when I'm trying to sleep, I'll sometimes log onto the LinkedIn Jobs or Indeed apps on my own and scroll through new postings in my field. Of course, this is in addition to the day-to-day search that I try to constantly stay on top of. If I go through and save a few jobs on the app, I feel like I've been productive and stress a little bit less before I nod off. The light from my phone might be bad for my circadian rhythms, but it sure beats endless ruminations about unemployment.
• Come up with alternative routes: Since spending most of my summer in various degrees of sickness, I had to get used to working from home. At first, I found myself missing the camaraderie of an office setting, but I quickly set up my own work desk and scheduled phone calls and emails accordingly. I even began practicing this with my freelance work. And you know what? I love working remotely. My creative energy is at an all time high when I don't have to live The Sarah Show for eight hours a day. The more I think about it, the more I realize that a full-time position may not be the right choice for me. In case I don't find a job I like in the near future, I'm working on building up my freelance client base. If you have skills that can easily be done remotely, consider looking into freelance for yourself. If nothing else, it's more money in your pocket!

How are you making it through your job search? Do you have any tips for me? I'd love to hear them!

Why I Want to Live in a Tiny House

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have noticed that I'm a little obsessed with tiny houses. A few months ago I randomly tuned into a marathon of Tiny House, Big Living on HGTV and immediately fell in love with the concept. Right now, nothing sounds better to me than blogging, drinking coffee, and hanging out with my dog in a tiny house.

Source: Cleveland.com

Here's why I think tiny house living is for me:

• Anti-hoarding: My family has clutter everywhere. In comparison, I love nothing more than a good purge of all the stuff I'm not using regularly or doesn't add to the quality of my life, which is really weird to my family (perks of living at home post-grad). In a tiny house, there's no room for excess things. I would be forced to keep only what I need or what brings me joy. I've been trying to build a capsule wardrobe for years—it's still a work in progress—and can only imagine how easy this would be to accomplish with such minimal space
• Low cost: You can own a tiny house outright (although you still need a place to put it) for around $30,000 or less depending on the quality and amount of work that needs to be done. If I eventually get to a point where I can pay off my student loans and save a lot of additional money, I could theoretically live without rent or a mortgage. 
• Solitude: At best, two people can live in a tiny house. As an introvert this sounds like heaven to me. After recently going through a break-up, I can see myself being happy living alone (with my dog) in a tiny little haven. 

I think a tiny house would suit the lifestyle I imagine for myself. Right now, I'm trying to convince my parents to turn the cute little shed in our backyard into a tiny house, but they don't seem to be taking me seriously. If anyone knows of one I can rent in the PA/MD area, let me know!

Just Give Me A Reason

Remember when I said I was confident what I want for my future? Yeah, that lasted all of two minutes. Instead, I keep ricocheting back and forth between abject terror at having no idea what I want with no prolonged happiness in sight and being mildly numb or content with the idea of meandering onto a career path.

Source: Startup Stock Photos

My gut doesn't speak to me in truths anymore. What I'm absolutely sure of one moment can dissolve within seconds. I can't seem to listen to my heart, gut, instinct, soul, or whatever because I keep being led astray. I don't know how to buckle down and get to the root out of what I want in life.

Right now, in a moment of relative calm I feel okay with the uncertainty. A few of the jobs that I've been applying to are truly appealing and my fingers are crossed that I'll find something that feels right. Maybe I'm overthinking my future too much, trying to control every aspect. Perhaps I just need to let things happen.

The one thing I'm sure of is that I've always believed that everything happens for a reason. I can hear my grandmother echoing those words she learned from her mother. A long line of women in my family have given themselves over to the hope that the universe will serve them well. I think it's time I follow in those foot steps.

For the first time in my life, I don't have a plan. I don't have a vision for my future. I'm willing to take a peek at any open door on my path to see which is the right for me. I'm terrified and I can almost guarantee I'll be stress crying again tomorrow. But when that happens, I'll remind myself to have a little faith that everything will work out in the end.

Have you been struggling with post-grad life or just trying to change direction? Share your story in the comments!