authentic career + life design

Recently, a friend shared with me that now that her children were off to college, she suddenly had so much free time—and she wasn’t sure how to spend it. For years, her schedule outside of her work revolved around school drop-offs, sports practices, and family dinners. Now, with that chapter behind her, she found herself staring at empty hours in the day, wondering, ‘What do I even like to do?’

Maybe you’ve felt this way too. It could be after a major life change—graduating, changing careers, retiring, or simply realizing your routine no longer excites you. Whatever the reason, figuring out what truly interests you can feel overwhelming. But the good news? You don’t have to have all the answers right away. Instead of waiting for inspiration to strike, you can actively uncover what excites you with a few simple exercises.

Hobbies, Passions, Curiosities, Pursuits, Leisure Activities, Creative Outlets, Personal Projects, Favorite Pastimes, or Recreational Activities—all of these are different ways to describe your interests. Depending on your current season of life, you may have more or less time to devote to them, but regardless of how actively you engage, your interests are still there.

Sometimes, interests are obvious—we’re drawn to them naturally. Other times, especially after major life changes or shifts in priorities, they can feel unclear or buried beneath daily responsibilities. But just because you haven’t explored them in a while doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure about what truly excites you, don’t worry—you’re not alone. To help bring clarity, I’ll share three simple yet powerful activities I’ve used with clients to uncover their interests. These exercises have not only helped them identify what they genuinely enjoy but have also sparked ideas for potential career paths and personal fulfillment.

Discover Your Interests: Free Printable

Use this guided worksheet to explore what truly excites you! This free printable walks you through three simple exercises—the Free Day Exercise, Social Media Interest Scan, and School & Extracurricular Insights—helping you uncover hidden passions and take actionable steps toward personal and professional fulfillment. Download now and start designing a life you love!

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Activity 1: The Free Day Exercise

Imagine you have an entire day to yourself—no responsibilities, no to-do list, and no one to take care of. How would you spend it?

Would you sleep in, go on an adventure, create something, or learn a new skill?

This exercise helps uncover what naturally excites you when obligations aren’t in the way.

Journal Prompt: Write out your ideal free day in detail. Look for themes—do they involve creativity, learning, movement, or social engagement?

Additional Prompts to Consider:

• Where would you go? Would you stay home, visit a favorite spot, or explore somewhere new?
• Who, if anyone, would you spend time with? Do you prefer solo time or social interactions?
• What activities bring you the most joy or relaxation? Do you enjoy physical activity, reading, cooking, or making something with your hands?
• If money were no object, how would you enhance this day? Would you travel, take a class, or invest in a passion project?
• Think about the last time you felt truly engaged in an activity—what were you doing, and how did it make you feel?

After journaling, review your answers—do you notice any recurring themes or surprises?

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Activity 2: Social Media Interest Scan

Your social media habits reveal what draws your attention. Take a moment to scroll through your TikTok, Pinterest, Instagram, or YouTube. Think about the content that consistently captures your attention.

Not on social media? Think about the books, articles, TV shows, or movies that captivate you—what draws you in?

• Who do you follow? Which creators, entrepreneurs, fitness coaches, travel bloggers, DIY experts, chefs, authors, etc.
  • What makes you interested in these content creators/authors?
  • Are there any common threads in the people you follow?
• What type of content do you engage with most?
  • Are you more drawn to videos, photos, articles, or stories?
  • Do you prefer inspiration, education, entertainment, or a mix?
• Have you explored any of these interests further?
  • Have you taken any courses, joined communities, or tried any activities related to these interests?

Reflection Questions:

• What’s one recurring theme across your saved posts or followed accounts?
  For example: nature, personal growth, creativity, wellness, business, etc.
  • How do these themes connect to your passions or values?
• Is there an interest you’ve wanted to try but haven’t yet?
  • What’s been holding you back?
  • Can you pinpoint a small first step to explore this interest?
• How can you take a small action step toward exploring it?
  • Could you follow a new account related to this interest?
  • Could you start a mini-project?
  • Could you attend a webinar or online class?

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Bonus: Create a Vision Board

Step 1: Curate Images That Speak to You

As you scroll through Pinterest, Instagram, or any online source, choose images that you feel emotionally drawn to—ones that inspire you, bring you joy, or refl ect a dream you’ve been considering. Don’t overthink it or worry about making it look “perfect.” This board is for you, and it only needs to make sense to you.

• Keep your Pinterest board as your digital vision board
• Upload your images to create a custom collage to display
• Print out your vision board and display it where you’ll see it daily

Step 2: Organize Your Board with Categories

To bring more clarity, categorize your images based on areas of interest or aspects of life you want to explore. Ask yourself:

• What sparks my curiosity? (Creativity, wellness, adventure, learning, entrepreneurship?)
• What experiences do I want more of? (Travel, nature, social connection, personal growth?)
• What skills or activities excite me? (Photography, fi tness, writing, design, public speaking?)

Step 3: Be Specific with Your Vision

The more detailed your board, the clearer your interests will become. Instead of vague images, find ones that truly represent what excites you:

Step 4: Add Affirmations & Words That Inspire You

Words can reinforce your vision and help guide your exploration. Add quotes, keywords, or affirmations to bring your board to life.

Step 5: Reflect on Your Vision Board

Once your board is complete, take time to analyze it. What themes or patterns emerge? Are there interests you hadn’t noticed before? Does a specific type of activity, place, or goal stand out? A digital vision board isn’t just about visualizing your future—it’s a tool for self-discovery. By reflecting on what excites and inspires you, you can take small steps toward exploring those interests in real life.

I like these two articles on Vision Boards:

• How to Make a Vision Board on Pinterest {In Just 5 Minutes!}
• Everything You Need to Know to Make a Vision Board That Actually Works

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Activity 3: School & Extracurricular Insights

Think back to your school years (or your current studies). What subjects or activities excited you? Often, the things that energized us in school can reveal hidden passions or skills.

Favorite Classes:

Reflect on the classes that brought you the most joy or fulfillment. Were you drawn to science, literature, business, or the arts?

• What was it about those subjects that caught your attention? Was it the problem-solving aspect, the creative freedom, or the deep thinking required?
• How did you feel when you were in these classes? Engaged? Curious? Challenged? Excited?

Extracurricular Activities:

Think about the clubs, sports, volunteer opportunities, or hobbies you pursued outside the classroom.

• Did you enjoy sports, theater, debate, robotics, volunteering, or something else?
• Were you energized by group work, or did you prefer independent projects?
• Were there moments in extracurriculars when you felt proud of your contributions or when something “clicked” for you?

Even if you didn’t pursue them long-term, these interests can still hold valuable clues about what excites you.

Reflection Exercise:

List 3 classes or extracurricular activities you truly enjoyed. 

Think about both the subjects and the experiences that stood out to you.

• What made you passionate about them?
• Examples: problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, leadership, discovery, expression, competition, helping others

What skills did you develop through these experiences?

Reflect on the skills you practiced:

• Did you grow in leadership? Public speaking? Organization? Analytical thinking?
• Did you learn how to collaborate, create, or innovate?
• Can you identify strengths that you still use today?

Is there a way to reconnect with one of those interests now?

• How can you tap into that passion or skill in your current life?
• Is there an online class or local group that focuses on one of these interests?
• Can you dedicate a small amount of time each week to explore something related to those subjects or activities?
• Could you volunteer, take a hobby class, or start a personal project to re-engage with that passion?

Bonus Exploration:

How have your interests evolved?

• Are there any overlaps between what excited you in the past and what excites you today?
• How can you use these past interests to help inform your current goals or future career?
• Are there any unexpected ways you could blend old and new interests into your life?

By deepening the reflection and not only recalling past passions but also taking actionable steps, this activity can offer valuable insights for reigniting those forgotten or dormant interests in new, exciting ways.

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Takeaways

Uncovering Your Interests Requires Active Exploration – Identifying what excites you, especially after life changes or routines shifting, can feel challenging, but it’s a process of self-reflection. Activities like the Free Day Exercise, Social Media Interest Scan, and School & Extracurricular Insights can help you rediscover your passions and interests.

Past Experiences Hold Valuable Clues – Looking back at activities you enjoyed in school or during extracurriculars can reveal patterns that connect to your current passions. These past experiences can help you understand what energizes you and how those interests might inform future opportunities.

Small Steps Lead to Big Discoveries – You don’t have to have everything figured out immediately. Starting with small, actionable steps—whether it’s creating a vision board, exploring online courses, or dedicating time to a personal project—can help you reconnect with old passions or spark new ones that can enrich both your personal and professional life.

Try out one or more of the exercises to guide you toward recognizing and exploring your interests, whether for personal fulfillment or career development.

The Free Day Exercise – Imagine a responsibility-free day and journal how you’d spend it. Look for recurring themes in your choices.

Social Media Interest Scan – Analyze the content you engage with most (social media, books, shows) to uncover hidden passions.

School & Extracurricular Insights – Reflect on past classes, hobbies, and activities that excited you to identify patterns in your interests and strengths.

By exploring these exercises, you can reconnect with past passions, uncover new interests, and take small steps toward a more fulfilling life and career.

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Final Thoughts

Exploring what truly excites you is a journey, and it doesn’t always come with immediate clarity. Whether it’s rediscovering past passions, noticing patterns in your daily habits, or taking a closer look at the content you engage with online, these activities can help you begin to see where your interests lie. Remember, it’s okay not to have all the answers right away—what matters is the willingness to explore and be open to the possibilities that spark joy and fulfillment in your life.

Call to Action

Now that you’ve explored these activities, take a moment to reflect on your findings. Which one resonated most with you? What action step will you take to reconnect with an interest that excites you? Whether it’s starting a mini-project, exploring a class, or simply taking more time to notice what grabs your attention, the first step is yours to take. Don’t wait for inspiration to come to you—go out and create it. The world is full of opportunities, and your next passion could be just around the corner. Let’s start designing your authentic career and life, one small step at a time!

Start your journey today. In the blog post Five Steps to Discovering Your Career Path Using the Alignment Blueprint you can find an introduction to using your interests, skills, and values to find what you were uniquely created to do.  In my next post I’ll tackle work and lifestyle values.  

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🔗 Links and Resources

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