How curious—I have a list with dates and details of the goals and projects I successfully completed this year 2025… but all of them are work-related. I don’t have a single list showing personal goals or projects. I did some things, but they’re not as present in my mind as work achievements. That’s not a good sign.
I feel proud of having made significant changes at the company: shifting paradigms, having the courage to go somewhat against my manager and colleagues, and convincing them that change—even when scary—is good. With my determination and persuasive skills—always backed by solid arguments—we accomplished changes that just a year before would have been practically impossible. While this will look great on my resume, it felt like the reward was more work. During the second half of the year, I was performing two roles with the salary of one, supporting another department while doing my slightly reduced daily job and my innovative projects. A week ago, I gathered the courage to speak with my manager. This “efficiency” that usually defines me was taking a toll on my health.
And then I started reflecting. Was all that effort and dedication worth it? In the end, the only reward was more work, more stress, worse health, and more mental and physical exhaustion. And what about my personal achievements? In fact, I didn’t have clear, specific personal goals… what a disappointment.
Two or three months ago, when my body started paying the price for overwork with frequent migraines, aches, and pains, I decided to put my health first… well, more or less. I’m still doing both jobs (until the end of the year), but I started making time to exercise, even if it’s just during lunch. I also ventured into yoga at one studio and Barré at another. I’ve been consistent with strength training and yoga, which I fell in love with. I also returned to meditating, even if just for a few minutes each day. But today, I feel it’s not enough. I still feel trapped in a cage where I have everything, yet must dedicate most of my life to work just to keep living in this prison where I “lack nothing”… except my mental and spiritual peace.
They say numbers are cold, but objective. Let’s do the math: my main activities are work, sleep, exercise, and meditation. According to my calculations, almost 40% of my existence is dedicated to work. And while the financial reward is respectable, the fact that my “free time” is only 7% of my life is honestly ridiculous. The rest is spent sleeping.
These percentages don’t include the time it takes to get ready in the mornings, the constant switching between activities, the leftover mental residue that lingers, the study time for my certification, or physical therapy for my injured shoulder. Not to mention cleaning the house—even coordinating with Brenda, who helps me—doing laundry, grocery shopping, preparing meals, or taking care of the dog… It’s overwhelming. My “free time” becomes almost virtual or imaginary. No wonder washing dishes sometimes feels like a huge burden, and weekends feel short and unproductive. It’s sad to think that every Monday, coffee is the only reason to get up.
It’s time to make changes. If you read my blog a few months ago, you’ll remember this question: What would I do if I weren’t afraid?
Let’s imagine I’m not afraid. Fear doesn’t exist—it’s just a thought, a learned or copied belief that, just as it arrived, can leave.
Thank you, fear, for protecting me, alerting me, and keeping me safe. Today I don’t need you. You can leave. Thank you.
Throughout my adult life, I’ve made crazy, impulsive decisions: going to university at 40, radically changing my life by moving to the U.S. at 45, or buying a house in Tucson at 53. I think it’s time for another one of those decisions, this time for the health of my body and my soul. This isn’t a mental crisis, a nervous breakdown, a menopausal thought, or a childhood trauma; it’s a gentle tap on the shoulder from my soul saying, “Hey, we need to talk.” And today, I’m listening.
Before taking action—because I’m that impulsive—I want to visualize how I want my life to be. I know I don’t want to keep dedicating 40% of my existence to work, of that I’m certain. And if it must be that way, it should be work I enjoy so much that I could do it for free.
So I want more than 7% for exercise, meditation, and study. I don’t yet know exactly how to get there, but I will. Now, let’s go for this new life.
Purpose and Reflection. I’ll take a few days off this December during the holidays to step back, reflect, and envision what my ideal life looks like. This time will help me clarify my goals, understand what truly matters, and reconnect with why I want to make changes and with what purpose.
Self-Assessment. I’ll look at my current situation with honesty: how I spend my time, how much money I spend and why, what gives me energy, and what drains me. I want to understand my priorities and what supports my well-being.
Exploration. I’ll explore possibilities and consider new ways of living and organizing my life. I’ll reflect on what adjustments could make my days more aligned with my values and aspirations.
Planning. With clarity from reflection and exploration, I’ll decide how to move forward in a way that feels realistic, manageable, and meaningful. I’ll trust myself to take the steps that feel right, at my own pace.
Review. Every three months, I’ll check in with myself to see how things are going, how I feel, and whether my life is moving closer to what I want. I’ll use these reflections to adjust and refine my approach as needed.
This Friday is my birthday, and I’m taking the day off. I plan to go to yoga in the morning, then get a DEXA scan—which fits perfectly into this project and will be part of the self-assessment—and in the afternoon go to the hairdresser to refresh my hair and feel better.
During these few days off, I’ll focus on this project. I’m going to change my life for the better—for the well-being of my physical, mental, and spiritual self.
My soul found the perfect moment for me to go through this process: the start of a new trip around the sun, the end of one year, and the beginning of another. But more than recognizing the perfect timing, this time I listened.
And you—what has your soul been telling you lately? Don’t ignore it. Pay attention; it probably has incredible plans for you.
Happy holidays and Happy New Year!
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