Chasing Your Dreams
“New Year, New Me!” is a common phrase we hear this time of year. As the old year ends and a new one begins, we all start to think about how we can better our lives. What can we change about ourselves? What goals can we focus on? How can we chase our dreams?
As military spouses, we might not know what the new year will bring. Will our spouse deploy again? When will the deployment they are currently on end? Will we PCS? And to where? There are so many unknowns it can be hard to know what to focus on.
As a military spouse, being able to chase your own dreams is important. You want to be able to focus on yourself instead of just your spouse’s career. Your career and dreams matter just as much.
As we go into a new year, start thinking about what you want your life to look like. You might not know if you will be living in Japan or Georgia, but you can work on yourself, and your own dreams as much as possible.
Here are a few ideas:
Do you want to go to school?
Maybe you already have your college degree but want to go back for something else. Maybe you never got your degree and feel like now is the time. There are many options for military spouses to go back to school. You can go 100% online, and get that degree from your own home, no matter where that might be. You can attend classes at a local college, or even on post. Here at Fort Campbell, you can attend some classes at their Education Center. This makes it easier for some military spouses to be able to focus on their education.
- Military Spouse’s College Guide to Going Back to School
- Spouse Education and Career Opportunities — SECO
- MyCAA Scholarship
Do you want to start a business?
Starting a new business can be a smart move for those interested in this type of work. A business is something you can possibly take with you from duty station to duty station. There are so many options for online businesses these days. If you have a good business idea, maybe the new year is the time to start. Figure out what you want to do, plan, and go for it.
- Boots to Business
- A Complete Guide to Starting Your Own Small Business as a Military Spouse
- These Resources Can Help You As a Military Spouse Entrepreneur
Do you want to write a book?
Books are truly the best things in life! Why not write your own? Do you have a book idea swimming in your head? Maybe the new year is the time to get it written. Whether it is a nonfiction book about your experiences as a military spouse or a fun romance you have been thinking about for a while. The sky is the limit!
- So You Want to Write a Book: Where Do You Begin?
- Military spouse shares path from writing to publishing
- Do You Want to Be a Writer? Here Are Some Great Resources
Do you want to find a new job?
Maybe you are ready for a job change. Perhaps you have been at home for a while and want to return to the workforce. Whatever the reason, looking for a new job can be pretty daunting. There are a lot of steps to finding the right job. Luckily, there are many job search resources available to military spouses.
Planning your new year
As a new year approaches, try to think about all the goals you want to accomplish, from personal to professional, to goals for your family. Make a list. Make notes about how you will achieve them. Create a vision board. Figure out how to get to where you want to be.
- Creating A Powerful Vision Board!
- Best Year Yet: The Goal Setting Guide for Military Spouses
- 4 Ways to Create Goals When You Don’t Know What Military Life Will Bring
Whatever your goals are for the new year, get yourself organized and figure out the best way to accomplish them. Working on your own goals, even if a deployment is in your future, will help you stay active and busy no matter what life brings. Good luck and Happy New Year!