How to Stay Focused When You’re So Flippen Excited to Leave

I was so excited to write about this because this is something that I have the hardest time with. Staying focused and in the moment when you’re so flippen excited to leave. The second I make a grand decision, I’m ready to carry it out. Deciding to get a tattoo? Let’s go right now! Thinking about cutting my hair? Let’s pull out the scissors! While this can be an exciting quality because I want to live life to the fullest, it’s also a curse because I then want to drop all responsibilities and keep moving forward. Sadly, I don’t have that option this time because I have some pretty big commitments I can’t leave behind just yet such as finishing up my Master’s degree (kind of a big one). Thankfully I graduate in May, but until then I wait and wait and wait which is maddening but I have come to find some ways to remain grounded when I am so ready to take off. So for those that tend to be in the same boat as me, here are a few ways to stay focused when you’re so flippen excited to leave!

Make Monthly Goals

When we decided back in June to live in Ireland in May, I knew that it would take everything in me to not pack up and leave immediately. However, making monthly goals has been the most helpful for me. I wrote out each month of things I could be doing to prepare for the big move. So these things included making a Facebook post to tell the world, selling some of my stuff in our yearly garage sale (look for that post in the future), or purchasing a guidebook. My current goal for the month of September is “Focus on not quitting school and leaving the country.” It sounds silly but I love checklists and making goals so I know I’ll hold myself accountable to sticking to the list. If the list says we can’t quit school and leave the country just yet, then we can’t. Create some type of monthly goal list for yourself so that you keep moving forward but also remain in your current life.

Get Little Things to Prepare

via GIPHY

I like to treat myself to little things that will be beneficial for the move. But I am careful to space them out so that it becomes many little gifts. Last month I purchased a passport and card holder, and this month I got a few staple clothing items. I even bought Maggie a luggage tag because it was still considered useful to the trip and oh so cute! Now it is important to only purchase things that will be useful for the trip! Otherwise, you end up buying more junk that you will probably have to get rid of or put in storage anyways. I have it in my month goals to purchase an Ireland guidebook in November so that I can learn more before I go and channel my excitement into something that is beneficial for the trip.

Place Reminders Somewhere

Even though I have my monthly goal list, I have to place a reminder somewhere as to why I am not just leaving right now. Ya’ll, I was deadly serious when I said it has taken everything for me to stay focused. I made a list that I put in my journal that I look at every morning I wake up and every night before I go to bed. This list goes something like this:

      Reasons Why We Can’t Leave Just Yet:

1. We have already put so much money towards this Master’s degree
   1. I will hurt you if you waste it
   2. Plus, we really want to be called Master Sunflower
2. We can’t finish the degree online because our apartment won’t allow it
3. Your mother would kill you
   1. We like keeping the momma happy
4. Don’t have enough money saved yet
   1. We don’t want to be insanely poor overseas
5. You need to learn self-restraint and this is the best way
6. Our chapter is not done here just yet

Number 6 is my biggest one because I firmly believe were all living our one great book which is comprised of multiple awesome chapters. Some people’s books are a short story, others are a novel. While I want mine to be a novel, I know that you must let each chapter play itself out. I always have a certain tingle or vibration in my soul when a chapter is ending and even though my excitement is clouding most of my emotions at the moment, I know I am still not done just yet. I have much to still do with my family and friends and a little impact I want to leave here. And while many may think “oh it’s not like your world is ending”, that’s true but I know a great chapter is about to begin.

Have a Support Buddy

Luckily I have been blessed to have Maggie by my side to complain to and get excited with about our big adventure! While I know I have other friends I can reach out to, its not the same because they won’t be experiencing this awesome transition with me. So even if you plan to travel alone, find a support buddy that has either been through it or understands the emotions you’re going through. If there’s no one you can actually find, go to social media! Since starting this blog, Maggie and I have found ridiculous amounts of support from other bloggers and just travelers who are currently still traveling or have experienced it before. It’s amazing what can happen when you build such an amazing community around you.

So these are just a few things that I can offer for you to try and stay focused but trust me, I understand it is hard! I send good vibes your way that you are able to remain focused and I ask (beg) that you send good vibes back at me!  Stay focused my friend 🙂