You know that dramatic moment when you’re staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m., the fan spinning like it’s judging your entire life choices, and you mutter to the dark, “I’m done. I’m giving up”?
That whisper turned into a full-on mic-drop declaration. But here’s the plot twist: I’m not giving up on dreams, goals, or my questionable love for pushing myself. Nope. I’m giving up on the stuff that’s been quietly (and not so quietly) draining the joy out of my days.
- Corporate Job: Check.
- Self-doubt? See ya.
- Excuses? Buh-bye
Thanks for the memories, but we’re breaking up…
This wasn’t a crisis. It’s a glow-up disguised as surrender. And honestly? It’s the most intentional thing I’ve done in years.
First: the corporate job
90 days ago I signed off for the last time. Endless Teams pings. “Can we hop on a quick call to discuss the call we just had?” Performance reviews, death by powerpoint, KPI’s, metrics that matter, all those things..
The final straw wasn’t one big dramatic thing—it was the slow drip of realizing I was performing a version of success that didn’t feel like mine anymore. So I decided to write my resignation email.
Yes, I did use ChatGPT to help me draft my poetic resignation email and yes, I did send it to the same boss who loved to say “just ask ChatGPT” whenever anyone had a question. I fed it the tone I wanted (professional, gracious, firm, zero drama), and it spat out a perfectly polished letter. I tweaked it a little and hit send (6 months later). I didn’t want to leave angry, or upset. Done. No tears, no rage-quit, just closure.
And now—here’s the part that still makes me smile every morning—I’ve been officially retired for 90 days. Ninety glorious, quiet, no-meeting days. The world didn’t end. My identity didn’t collapse. Instead, I’ve rediscovered what mornings feel like without dread, what afternoons feel like with actual space to think, and what it’s like to choose how I spend my hours instead of having them chosen for me.
The freedom hit like stepping off a treadmill that’s been running at Mach 5 for a decade. No more pretending spreadsheets are my passion. I can wear yoga pants to “meetings” (aka staring at my laptop while my coffee gets cold). Giving up the 9-to-5 grind wasn’t quitting—it was finally firing the version of me who thought security meant soul-crushing routine.
Next: self-doubt.
This little gremlin and I have been codependent since middle school. It shows up uninvited like that one friend who only texts when they need an ego boost—except it’s boosting itself by tearing me down. “You’re going to fail.” “Everyone will see you’re faking it.” “Who do you think you are?”
I used to debate it for hours. Now? I just serve the eviction notice. Self-doubt doesn’t pay rent. It doesn’t bring snacks. It just squats in my brain eating all the good ideas.
When it pipes up with “You can’t do that,” I shrug and say, “Bet.” It’s still there sometimes (old habits die hard), but it’s no longer in the driver’s seat. I’m choosing belief until evidence says otherwise—and so far, the evidence (including these 90 retired days) is stacking up in my favor.
Then comes the excuses. Creative and exhausting excuses.
We like being comfortable and sometimes change is HARD! Excuses let me stay cozy, familiar, and completely full of shit. I wasn’t happy.
Dropping them feels like kicking off shoes that are two sizes too small. At first the silence is awkward—no instant alibi to dodge the scary thing. But then? Magic. You just… do it. No negotiation. No bargaining. Just action.
Turns out life gets wildly simpler when you stop haggling with yourself. “Should I do the thing?” Yes. “But what if”…then it’ll be imperfect and we’ll survive. Revolutionary stuff.
Giving up these things—corporate life, self-doubt and excuses—feels like the ultimate Marie Kondo moment for my entire existence.
Does it spark joy? No? Thank you for your service.
People keet asking if I’m “okay.” “You quit your job?? Are you… going through something?” The honest answer is yes, I’m going through building a life. It can still get messy, and 100% worth it as it feels like freedom.
BONUS LIFE:
With all this freedom I get the opportunity to ADD things that I love. I do still love structure, and fun so why not combine them both. Starting right here I’m kicking off my Monthly Health Challenge here on the blog. Each month we will pick one simple, doable focus to build better. habits without the overwhelm.Perfection not required!Just consistency, effort and a little community cheerleading.
- February: Squat Challenge
- March: Meal Prep Mastery (batch cook once, eat well all week and no more “what’s for dinner” negotiations
And more to come! Think Hydration habits, walking goals, sleep resets, whatever feels nourish for where we are.
Want in? Join the fun! Totally free and just for fun. Follow on instagram as well as subscribe today for weekly updates! We are in this together – no judgement.
Until next week! With love, Julie