What If You Don’t Know What You Enjoy Doing?

It’s easy to distract ourselves nowadays. Whenever we’re bored, we can just scroll on our phones or stream something new on television. Over time, this can make us feel flattened out—there are neither the highs of achieving something we love nor the lows that push us to try harder. This makes it hard to know what we truly enjoy doing.

Many people are also stuck in the cycle of working, coming home exhausted, and avoiding picking up new hobbies. You’re not alone if you’re grappling with not knowing what you enjoy. Here are a few ways to get started on the journey of personal growth leading you toward fulfillment.

Try something new

It’s impossible to know whether you’ll enjoy something if you’ve never tried it. Sometimes, choosing to do a new thing feels paralyzing—you’ll have so many options you might become overwhelmed. But it’s better to have a lot of choices than to sit and do nothing.

If you’ve had any inkling you want to try a new dance style, learn a new language, or visit a foreign country, make plans to get started. It’s okay to have one activity one week and another the next. If you discover you don’t like something, move on to the next potential enjoyment.

Stop doing what you hate

Sometimes, it’s easier to know what you don’t want. If you’ve been feeling stuck in a rut doing things you don’t love, why continue? It is okay to quit something if you dislike it. Let go of feeling the obligation to keep going.

If you’re worried about what others will think of you, or if you’ve tied part of your identity to an uncomfortable part of your life, get introspective. Figure out what it is you dislike and try adjusting what you’re doing. Maybe it’s just a matter of slightly changing how you do things that will help you find new joy.

Push past fear

You might be feeling afraid and anxious if you’re not sure what you love to do. The fear of making the wrong choices or wasting time on things that feel unfulfilling can be paralyzing. A big step in figuring yourself out is recognizing and acknowledging these emotions without judging yourself. If your automatic doubts stop you from acting, question them. Write out a list of what can really happen—don’t just focus on the bad. Try shifting your perspective. What happens when you start thinking everything can go right? You can learn to do hard, scary things.

Learn your core values

Understanding your core values is a crucial step in aligning your activities with your authentic self. How can you know what you enjoy if you don’t know what you believe in and value most? Start by writing out a list of what matters to you the most. Read up on these issues, belief systems, and activities. Then, you can align your actions with these values. You’ll end up living with purpose and direction, which will lead you to discover new things you enjoy.

Are you struggling to find yourself?

Sometimes, people have a hard time knowing who they are and what they love because of past traumas or mental health issues. When someone is stuck in the fog of depression or was discouraged from exploring things as a child, they might not know what they’re looking for. If this sounds like you, consider seeking therapy. A therapist can guide you through your past history and help you become more introspective. As a result, you’ll feel more equipped to get outside your comfort zone.

To find out more about how career counseling can help you enjoy life, please reach out to us. Career, anxiety, or depression counseling can help you find a way forward.