What Should I Do With My Life: 8 Considerations To Build a Life You Love<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Building your ideal life is a bit like putting a puzzle together. No one piece shows you what the entire picture looks like. But put the pieces together the right way, and a meaningful image begins to appear. Let\u2019s take a look at what pieces you need to combine so that you can begin to see what you need to do with your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Education and Learning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"what](\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/what-should-i-do-with-my-life-education-and-learning.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAmerican entrepreneur Jim Rohn once said, \u201cFormal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.\u201d The message is clear: education is key, regardless of whether you attain it through an institution or decide to go the self-learning<\/a> route.<\/p>\n\n\n\nKeep in mind that learning is a continuous process that doesn\u2019t end when you graduate from college or land a job. Your ability to constantly learn new skills will determine your salary\u2014it\u2019ll also contribute to your sense of accomplishment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How can you go about learning new things? You can, of course, learn new things by enrolling in conventional degrees at colleges. But also know that the Internet is a great source to learn new things at very little cost, whether that\u2019s basic coding<\/a> or something more advanced like data analysis<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nCareer and Work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"what](\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/what-should-i-do-with-my-life-career-and-work.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen you\u2019re wondering what to do with your life, a big part of the answer comes from knowing what you want to do in your professional life. If you\u2019re at this juncture, ask yourself these questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Do I Know What Career To Pursue?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you want to be when you grow up?\u201d is a question often asked of children, but it\u2019s a question that\u2019s just as prescient for adults too. It\u2019s a big question, and oftentimes, it\u2019s less daunting to break these down into their parts. Consider the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get To Know Yourself<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Have you met yourself? It may seem like all of the information you need to pick a career is out there<\/em>. But really, most of it is inside you. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself to hone in on your career aspirations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- What do I enjoy doing even though there is no outside pressure for me to spend time on those things?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Which of my interests can I use to make money and see a clear job market for?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What are some of the most meaningful ways for me to spend my time?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Which of my skills am I most proud of and am usually recognized for by others?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Those are just a few of the questions you should ask on your road to self-discovery. The goal is to get to the bottom of your interests and find out how you can turn them into a marketable skill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Learn About Different Industries<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Most career aspirants make the mistake of assuming they know what kinds of jobs are out there or what a job is about without taking the time to research it. This is a pitfall you should avoid if you want to arrive at a career goal that is right for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, if you want to enter into the tech space, you should be asking yourself questions like: What does it mean to be a data analyst<\/a>? How do machine learning engineers<\/a> actually contribute to software projects? Knowing what these jobs actually entail will help you determine whether or not they\u2019re right for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThink Long-Term<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
A career isn\u2019t something you\u2019re going to do over the weekend. So make sure that you choose a career that will help you achieve the long-term goals you have for your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Your Work Can Look Like <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A work-life balance is important to consider when deciding what you\u2019re going to do with the rest of your life, and so much of this is informed by your work schedule. Here are a couple of different ways that can look:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9-5 Job<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
The most common way to work is by doing the standard 9-5 workday. You should choose this option if you like having predictable, structured workdays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Owning Your Own Business<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
You can, of course, run a business yourself. This entails taking on multiple roles at the same time and making decisions that determine the survival of the company. It can be quite exhilarating to be an entrepreneur, and you should choose this form of work if you like complete control over your professional life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consultanting, Freelancing, or Self-Employment<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Working as a consultant<\/a> or freelancer is something of a middle ground between conventional employment and running a business. Consultants and freelancers find their own clients and engage with them over the course of short- or long-term projects. You may not necessarily grow it into a full-fledged business with a large team, but you also get to decide who you work with and when. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSide Hustles or Multiple Income Streams<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
The Internet has made it possible to work multiple different jobs at the same time. That means that you can be a digital marketer by day<\/a> and focus on your artisanal cheese business by night. People who have a strong interest in multiple areas and can juggle them on a daily basis usually pick this form of work. <\/p>\n\n\n\nMaking a Career Change<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
You should put a lot of time and effort into picking a career. But remember\u2014you aren\u2019t tethered to it, and you can pick a different career if you want. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
First things first, you should give your current career a fair chance. Try it out for a period of time before you decide that it\u2019s not working out. If you\u2019re sure that\u2019s the case, then you should explore your options and begin to build your resume in the new discipline. Read more about how you can switch careers the right way here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHobbies, Interests, and Passions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"what](\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/what-should-i-do-with-my-life-hobbies-interests-and-passions.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYour hobbies and passions can help you identify the things that are most important to you. You don\u2019t necessarily have to dedicate yourself directly to something that you\u2019re interested in. For example, being passionate about tennis doesn\u2019t mean that Wimbledon should be your career goal. But you can use that passion to unearth related interests, which may lead you to things like sports journalism, athlete management, equipment sales, and so on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s important is that you take a reflective stance toward your hobbies. They aren\u2019t there by chance. You can use them to find out what you have fun doing and what kind of skills you will have an easy time picking up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Balancing Friends and Family<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Finding ways to have a nourishing personal life is part of your quest to find what you should spend your life doing. Make sure that your career path offers you enough time to spend with family and friends. But don\u2019t forget all those cool people you haven\u2019t met yet. It\u2019s important that you make new friends, find mentors<\/a>, and meet like-minded people who aren\u2019t in your network. This takes an investment of energy that you need to account for when deciding what your ideal life looks like. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFinancial Success<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re at a stage where you\u2019re wondering what to do with your life, then you\u2019re probably having to consider the degree of financial success that you want to attain. Financial success is often the factor that makes a lot of other things possible in your life. Being financially secure will enable you to pursue your goals with focus and give you a fallback during the rough patches that you might encounter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Travel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Traveling is one of the best ways to broaden your horizons and give you perspective. But, travel is also expensive. So when you\u2019re charting out what you want your life to look like, make sure that you strike a balance between having enough time to travel and making enough to travel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Personal Development<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pushing yourself to continue growing and learning is one of the few surefire ways to achieve personal development. So make sure that you\u2019re choosing a career that provides room for growth. Here are a few things that you should try to do along the way: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Always have one new skill that you\u2019re working on <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Maintain a journal and track how you spend your time <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Work on your communication and problem-solving skills because they apply to most disciplines <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Learn active listening so that you\u2019re always learning from the people around you <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Create a circle of people who will give you honest feedback in the areas that you need it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Charity and Giving Back<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
For two reasons, giving back is an integral part of building a meaningful life. First, there are others out there who don\u2019t have the same resources that you do, and you can have a huge impact by sharing with them. The second reason is that it can feel fulfilling to you to take the focus off yourself and be of use to your community and people in need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can go about giving back in many different ways. It could be as simple as contributing monetarily to a charity or a more involved method like volunteering. What\u2019s important is that you find something that aligns with your values and contributes to them on a regular basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Factors To Help Determine What To Do With Your Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Factors](\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/factors-to-help-determine-what-to-do-with-your-life.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHere are a few things that you should consider as you zero in on what you should do with your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Core Values<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your values are the guiding principles of your life. They show you what you care about and what you\u2019re not willing to compromise on. These values are a great starting point if you\u2019re not sure what to do with your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Self-reflection and talking to people close to you can help you figure out what your values are. List out 3-5 core values after you do that, so you know which ones are most important to you. Here are some examples of core values: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Authenticity <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Adventurousness <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Courage <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Dependability <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Integrity <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Positivity <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Ambition <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Where You Are in Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Where you are in life will largely determine your options for what to do with the rest of it. For example, if you\u2019re just out of college, and are asking what you should do with your life, then your options probably include a gap year, a range of jobs, or working on your own side hustle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, if you have ten years of professional experience under your belt, then your options are probably going to be shaped by your professional network, your financial situation, and potentially, your familial responsibilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marketable Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Skills pay the bills, they say. We\u2019d like to qualify that a bit: marketable<\/em> skills pay the bills. But you can always mold your skills into marketable skills. Let\u2019s say you were a fixture of the debate team in school. Debating isn\u2019t necessarily a career path, but you can present your debating experience as having given you public speaking and communication skills, which are definitely marketable. <\/p>\n\n\n\nPassions and What Makes You Happy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The most basic rule of deciding what you do with your life is choosing things that make you happy. There\u2019s no point in choosing a career path <\/a>that\u2019s the current fad or dedicating time to a cause you don\u2019t actually believe in.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen in doubt, fall back on the things that you feel passionately about. These can show you what your values are and how you enjoy spending your time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Broad, Long-Term Life Vision <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When you\u2019re working towards the life you want, always have one eye on your long-term vision. Your future self will be grateful that you thought about them and invested in things that pay off in the long run. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s not always easy to figure out what your long-term vision is. Visualization can come in handy during this process. It can help you foresee what you want your life to look like. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two areas for which you\u2019ll want to come up with a long-term vision: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professional Life<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Creating a long-term vision for your professional work entails deciding what kind of roles you want to take in the future and the skills that you need to work on to get there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Personal Life<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s slightly tougher to come up with long-term goals for your personal life. But here are a few examples of what it can look like: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Learn how to process emotions better <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Develop a positive mindset<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Be open to trying new things and having experiences outside my comfort zone<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Meet new people and expand my network of friends <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Spend more time with family <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Tips To Help You Determine What To Do With Your Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Tips](\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/tips-to-help-you-determine-what-to-do-with-your-life.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDeciding what to do with your life can be an overwhelming process. Here are a few pointers to help you along the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Devote Enough Time to Making a Decision: There’s No Rush<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is your life we\u2019re talking about. You aren\u2019t going to figure it out in a week or a month, or maybe even a year. And you don\u2019t need to. You should take your time figuring things out and allow yourself to fail, and start over whenever you need to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t Be Swayed by Friends, Family, or FOMO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Family and friends are good sources of feedback. But make sure that your idea of the good life is your own, and not theirs. Always gather information from those you trust and finally make choices based on what seems like the best course of action for you<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nConsider the Factors We Detailed Earlier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve gone over multiple steps that you can take to figure out what to do with your life. Use these as a rubric to chart out your path. You may start off with many career options and life goals. You can tick things off that list as you gain more clarity about yourself by following the tips laid out in this post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember: It\u2019s Never Too Late To Change<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you choose a job that you now realize isn\u2019t the best for you. Or perhaps you aren\u2019t interested in what you majored in anymore. Don\u2019t judge yourself by your mistakes. Allow yourself room to course-correct when you need to and modify your plans along the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAQs About Figuring Out What To Do With My Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve got the answers to your most frequently asked questions:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n\n\nHow Can I Find My Life Path?<\/h3>\n\n\nThe key to finding your path in life is to have a growth mindset and create goals that align with who you are. It\u2019s not easy to chart out your path in life so you should be open to making mistakes and have a long-term perspective.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nHow Do I Find My True Passion?<\/h3>\n\n\nYour passion is something of a mixture of your values, interests, and marketable skills. Anything that ticks those boxes can be considered a passion and is something you can pursue as a life goal.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nAm I Too Old To Make a Career Change?<\/h3>\n\n\nYou\u2019re never too old for a career change<\/a>. If you\u2019re passionate about something new, you can switch careers by picking up relevant skills and building a portfolio in that area. Doing that greatly maximizes your chances of landing a job and building a whole new career.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nSince you\u2019re here\u2026
<\/strong>Curious about a career in data science? Experiment with our free data science learning path<\/a>, or join our Data Science Bootcamp<\/a>, where you\u2019ll get your tuition back if you don’t land a job after graduating. We\u2019re confident because our courses work \u2013 check out our student success stories<\/a> to get inspired.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cWhat should I do with my life?\u201d Few questions are grander in scope and more daunting to answer. Usually, it\u2019s the kind of question one asks oneself at key junctures in one\u2019s life. Maybe you\u2019re wondering what you should do with your life because you\u2019ve just finished college and are seeking a meaningful career path. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":100,"featured_media":41302,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","_eb_data_table":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[125],"tags":[],"marketing_tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-41291","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-career-advice"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41291"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/100"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41291"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52447,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41291\/revisions\/52447"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41291"},{"taxonomy":"marketing_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/marketing_tags?post=41291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAmerican entrepreneur Jim Rohn once said, \u201cFormal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.\u201d The message is clear: education is key, regardless of whether you attain it through an institution or decide to go the self-learning<\/a> route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that learning is a continuous process that doesn\u2019t end when you graduate from college or land a job. Your ability to constantly learn new skills will determine your salary\u2014it\u2019ll also contribute to your sense of accomplishment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How can you go about learning new things? You can, of course, learn new things by enrolling in conventional degrees at colleges. But also know that the Internet is a great source to learn new things at very little cost, whether that\u2019s basic coding<\/a> or something more advanced like data analysis<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re wondering what to do with your life, a big part of the answer comes from knowing what you want to do in your professional life. If you\u2019re at this juncture, ask yourself these questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat do you want to be when you grow up?\u201d is a question often asked of children, but it\u2019s a question that\u2019s just as prescient for adults too. It\u2019s a big question, and oftentimes, it\u2019s less daunting to break these down into their parts. Consider the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you met yourself? It may seem like all of the information you need to pick a career is out there<\/em>. But really, most of it is inside you. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself to hone in on your career aspirations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Those are just a few of the questions you should ask on your road to self-discovery. The goal is to get to the bottom of your interests and find out how you can turn them into a marketable skill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most career aspirants make the mistake of assuming they know what kinds of jobs are out there or what a job is about without taking the time to research it. This is a pitfall you should avoid if you want to arrive at a career goal that is right for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if you want to enter into the tech space, you should be asking yourself questions like: What does it mean to be a data analyst<\/a>? How do machine learning engineers<\/a> actually contribute to software projects? Knowing what these jobs actually entail will help you determine whether or not they\u2019re right for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A career isn\u2019t something you\u2019re going to do over the weekend. So make sure that you choose a career that will help you achieve the long-term goals you have for your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A work-life balance is important to consider when deciding what you\u2019re going to do with the rest of your life, and so much of this is informed by your work schedule. Here are a couple of different ways that can look:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most common way to work is by doing the standard 9-5 workday. You should choose this option if you like having predictable, structured workdays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can, of course, run a business yourself. This entails taking on multiple roles at the same time and making decisions that determine the survival of the company. It can be quite exhilarating to be an entrepreneur, and you should choose this form of work if you like complete control over your professional life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Working as a consultant<\/a> or freelancer is something of a middle ground between conventional employment and running a business. Consultants and freelancers find their own clients and engage with them over the course of short- or long-term projects. You may not necessarily grow it into a full-fledged business with a large team, but you also get to decide who you work with and when. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Internet has made it possible to work multiple different jobs at the same time. That means that you can be a digital marketer by day<\/a> and focus on your artisanal cheese business by night. People who have a strong interest in multiple areas and can juggle them on a daily basis usually pick this form of work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You should put a lot of time and effort into picking a career. But remember\u2014you aren\u2019t tethered to it, and you can pick a different career if you want. <\/p>\n\n\n\n First things first, you should give your current career a fair chance. Try it out for a period of time before you decide that it\u2019s not working out. If you\u2019re sure that\u2019s the case, then you should explore your options and begin to build your resume in the new discipline. Read more about how you can switch careers the right way here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your hobbies and passions can help you identify the things that are most important to you. You don\u2019t necessarily have to dedicate yourself directly to something that you\u2019re interested in. For example, being passionate about tennis doesn\u2019t mean that Wimbledon should be your career goal. But you can use that passion to unearth related interests, which may lead you to things like sports journalism, athlete management, equipment sales, and so on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s important is that you take a reflective stance toward your hobbies. They aren\u2019t there by chance. You can use them to find out what you have fun doing and what kind of skills you will have an easy time picking up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finding ways to have a nourishing personal life is part of your quest to find what you should spend your life doing. Make sure that your career path offers you enough time to spend with family and friends. But don\u2019t forget all those cool people you haven\u2019t met yet. It\u2019s important that you make new friends, find mentors<\/a>, and meet like-minded people who aren\u2019t in your network. This takes an investment of energy that you need to account for when deciding what your ideal life looks like. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re at a stage where you\u2019re wondering what to do with your life, then you\u2019re probably having to consider the degree of financial success that you want to attain. Financial success is often the factor that makes a lot of other things possible in your life. Being financially secure will enable you to pursue your goals with focus and give you a fallback during the rough patches that you might encounter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Traveling is one of the best ways to broaden your horizons and give you perspective. But, travel is also expensive. So when you\u2019re charting out what you want your life to look like, make sure that you strike a balance between having enough time to travel and making enough to travel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pushing yourself to continue growing and learning is one of the few surefire ways to achieve personal development. So make sure that you\u2019re choosing a career that provides room for growth. Here are a few things that you should try to do along the way: <\/p>\n\n\n\n For two reasons, giving back is an integral part of building a meaningful life. First, there are others out there who don\u2019t have the same resources that you do, and you can have a huge impact by sharing with them. The second reason is that it can feel fulfilling to you to take the focus off yourself and be of use to your community and people in need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can go about giving back in many different ways. It could be as simple as contributing monetarily to a charity or a more involved method like volunteering. What\u2019s important is that you find something that aligns with your values and contributes to them on a regular basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few things that you should consider as you zero in on what you should do with your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your values are the guiding principles of your life. They show you what you care about and what you\u2019re not willing to compromise on. These values are a great starting point if you\u2019re not sure what to do with your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Self-reflection and talking to people close to you can help you figure out what your values are. List out 3-5 core values after you do that, so you know which ones are most important to you. Here are some examples of core values: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Where you are in life will largely determine your options for what to do with the rest of it. For example, if you\u2019re just out of college, and are asking what you should do with your life, then your options probably include a gap year, a range of jobs, or working on your own side hustle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, if you have ten years of professional experience under your belt, then your options are probably going to be shaped by your professional network, your financial situation, and potentially, your familial responsibilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Skills pay the bills, they say. We\u2019d like to qualify that a bit: marketable<\/em> skills pay the bills. But you can always mold your skills into marketable skills. Let\u2019s say you were a fixture of the debate team in school. Debating isn\u2019t necessarily a career path, but you can present your debating experience as having given you public speaking and communication skills, which are definitely marketable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The most basic rule of deciding what you do with your life is choosing things that make you happy. There\u2019s no point in choosing a career path <\/a>that\u2019s the current fad or dedicating time to a cause you don\u2019t actually believe in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When in doubt, fall back on the things that you feel passionately about. These can show you what your values are and how you enjoy spending your time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re working towards the life you want, always have one eye on your long-term vision. Your future self will be grateful that you thought about them and invested in things that pay off in the long run. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not always easy to figure out what your long-term vision is. Visualization can come in handy during this process. It can help you foresee what you want your life to look like. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are two areas for which you\u2019ll want to come up with a long-term vision: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Creating a long-term vision for your professional work entails deciding what kind of roles you want to take in the future and the skills that you need to work on to get there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s slightly tougher to come up with long-term goals for your personal life. But here are a few examples of what it can look like: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Deciding what to do with your life can be an overwhelming process. Here are a few pointers to help you along the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is your life we\u2019re talking about. You aren\u2019t going to figure it out in a week or a month, or maybe even a year. And you don\u2019t need to. You should take your time figuring things out and allow yourself to fail, and start over whenever you need to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Family and friends are good sources of feedback. But make sure that your idea of the good life is your own, and not theirs. Always gather information from those you trust and finally make choices based on what seems like the best course of action for you<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve gone over multiple steps that you can take to figure out what to do with your life. Use these as a rubric to chart out your path. You may start off with many career options and life goals. You can tick things off that list as you gain more clarity about yourself by following the tips laid out in this post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe you choose a job that you now realize isn\u2019t the best for you. Or perhaps you aren\u2019t interested in what you majored in anymore. Don\u2019t judge yourself by your mistakes. Allow yourself room to course-correct when you need to and modify your plans along the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve got the answers to your most frequently asked questions:<\/p>\n\n\n The key to finding your path in life is to have a growth mindset and create goals that align with who you are. It\u2019s not easy to chart out your path in life so you should be open to making mistakes and have a long-term perspective.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Your passion is something of a mixture of your values, interests, and marketable skills. Anything that ticks those boxes can be considered a passion and is something you can pursue as a life goal.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n You\u2019re never too old for a career change<\/a>. If you\u2019re passionate about something new, you can switch careers by picking up relevant skills and building a portfolio in that area. Doing that greatly maximizes your chances of landing a job and building a whole new career.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Since you\u2019re here\u2026 \u201cWhat should I do with my life?\u201d Few questions are grander in scope and more daunting to answer. Usually, it\u2019s the kind of question one asks oneself at key junctures in one\u2019s life. Maybe you\u2019re wondering what you should do with your life because you\u2019ve just finished college and are seeking a meaningful career path. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":100,"featured_media":41302,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","_eb_data_table":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[125],"tags":[],"marketing_tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-41291","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-career-advice"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41291"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/100"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41291"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52447,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41291\/revisions\/52447"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41291"},{"taxonomy":"marketing_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/marketing_tags?post=41291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Career and Work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow Do I Know What Career To Pursue?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Get To Know Yourself<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\n
Learn About Different Industries<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Think Long-Term<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
What Your Work Can Look Like <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
9-5 Job<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Owning Your Own Business<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Consultanting, Freelancing, or Self-Employment<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Side Hustles or Multiple Income Streams<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Making a Career Change<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Hobbies, Interests, and Passions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBalancing Friends and Family<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Financial Success<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Travel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Personal Development<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Charity and Giving Back<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Factors To Help Determine What To Do With Your Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCore Values<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Where You Are in Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Marketable Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Passions and What Makes You Happy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Broad, Long-Term Life Vision <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Professional Life<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Personal Life<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
Tips To Help You Determine What To Do With Your Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDevote Enough Time to Making a Decision: There’s No Rush<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don’t Be Swayed by Friends, Family, or FOMO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Consider the Factors We Detailed Earlier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Remember: It\u2019s Never Too Late To Change<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
FAQs About Figuring Out What To Do With My Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Can I Find My Life Path?<\/h3>\n
How Do I Find My True Passion?<\/h3>\n
Am I Too Old To Make a Career Change?<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>Curious about a career in data science? Experiment with our free data science learning path<\/a>, or join our Data Science Bootcamp<\/a>, where you\u2019ll get your tuition back if you don’t land a job after graduating. We\u2019re confident because our courses work \u2013 check out our student success stories<\/a> to get inspired.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"