There is something deeply tragic about having to get up every morning and head to a job you dread. Not dislike. Not "meh". Dread. The kind of dread that knots your stomach before you even walk through the door.
And yet, so many do it.
They do it because they have to survive. Because bills don't stop. Because mouths need feeding. Because stability matters more than passion when there's no safety net.
It takes grit and courage to keep showing up when you'd rather be anywhere else. It takes resilience to carry the weight of obligation while your heart quietly longs for something more.
But that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. Despair, hopelessness, fatigue - they creep in. And so, the question becomes: How do you soften the edges of this survival work? How do you protect your spirit while honouring your responsibilities?
Strategies for Easing the Weight
1. Reframe Your Why
Even if you don't love the work, can you find meaning in the outcome? Maybe it funds your child's school supplies, keeps a roof over your head, or allows you to care for your family. Shift the focus from what you do, to what it allows.
2. Create Micro-Joys in Your Day
A playlist that lifts you on your commute. A coffee ritual that feels like a small act of rebellion against monotony. A five-minute walk outside at lunch. These tiny anchors remind you that you're more than your job.
3. Carve Out Time for "The Thing"
Even ten minutes a day for writing, sketching, learning, exercising - whatever lights your soul. It doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to remind you that you're building toward something beyond survival.
4. Nurture Your Body, Guard Your Mind
Exhaustion from obligation hits harder when you're not sleeping, moving, or nourishing yourself. Treat your body like your ally - because it's the vessel that will eventually carry you toward your next chapter.
5. Plant Seeds for Change
You may not be able to leap tomorrow, but can you take a class online? Update a résumé? Network quietly? Learn one new skill? Small steps over time create momentum.
✨ And remember: Even with all these micro-strategies, some days will still weigh heavy. When you come home and need to cry, or scream into a pillow, or take a cold shower to wash the day away - allow it. That release is healthy. Sometimes honoring your feelings is the most resilient act of all.
A Final Word
If you're in a season of survival, know this: it does not define your worth. You are not "less than" for doing what you must. You are strong, honourable, and resilient.
And when the time comes - because it will - you'll be ready to step into something more.
Until then, protect your spirit, hold onto hope, and remind yourself: survival today is not the end of your story.
💬 Share your thoughts in the comments on IG/Facebook or message me directly. I'd love to hear from you!
✨ If you're ready to explore more tools, or if you'd simply like a dose of encouragement through Lizzie's writing, head to the link below - that's where I house all my stuff. My resilience guide, blog posts, and daily reminders are waiting there for you.
linktr.ee/thelizzieexperience