Harriette Cole: They say it’s reckless for me to leave my tech job

DEAR HARRIETTE I ve been working in tech for the past five years and I ve saved up a decent amount of money with the intention of taking a year off to journey Related Articles Harriette Cole My boyfriend s bedtime ritual is a concern for me Can I ask him to stop Harriette Cole People are talking about the woman who lives with my aunt Harriette Cole Since the shooting I get panicked about going to work Harriette Cole Apparently I crossed a line when I inquired my ex for a favor Harriette Cole My teen won t go to family events and I don t know what to do It s something I ve dreamed about for a long time I want to see the world experience different cultures and give myself space to reflect on what I really want in life Lately though whenever I bring up this idea to friends or family they tell me it s irresponsible They worry I ll fall behind in my career or lose my momentum in such a competitive industry Certain even say I m being selfish for stepping away from a stable job when others are struggling to find one I understand their concerns but I can t shake the feeling that I m letting fear or other people s opinions deter me from something that could be life-changing I m not planning to blow through all of my savings or be reckless I ve done the math made a rough itinerary and even looked into means I could freelance or volunteer during my travels Still the doubt is starting to creep in What if I come back and can t find another job What if I regret stepping off the traditional path Is it really so wrong to pause my career to explore the world even if it s unconventional The Road Less Traveled DEAR THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED Listen to your own voice You have planned well saved and plotted your discipline There are risks with every decision but it sounds like you have done your best to consider the risks and weigh the odds Be bold and take your trip Enjoy your adventure Journal about what you see and experience Consider creating a blog where you talk about what you are seeing and learning Keep your eyes open for opportunities for the future as you set out on your journey Have faith that you will be able to take care of yourself each step of the way DEAR HARRIETTE I seem to have writer s block I have a huge project that I need to finish but every time I sit down to work on it nothing happens My deadline is coming up fast and if I don t get this work done I could lose my job How can I get past whatever is holding me back from hunkering down and working I have worked on things like this so numerous times There s nothing new about it but for chosen reason I feel stuck this time Writer s Block Related Articles Dear Abby She expects my sympathy about her drunk husband Asking Eric Is it worth the trauma to stay in the neighborhood where this woman lives Harriette Cole My boyfriend s bedtime ritual is a predicament for me Can I ask him to stop Miss Manners The wedding planner disclosed I couldn t sit with my partner Dear Abby Was I wrong to leave a note on the neighbor s windshield DEAR WRITER S BLOCK Approach the project differently Rather than looking at it as one big thing break it down into the smallest components attainable What are the sections that have to be filled out Are there chapters or other organizing tools that you can use to chip away at parts of the project rather than looking at it as one behemoth Create a schedule and be vigilant about following it Assign a couple of hours every day to getting the work done Even if nothing comes out at first sit in front of your computer during that time and will yourself to work on it no matter what Face your fears Every day do something and eventually you will get it done Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams You can send questions to askharriette harriettecole com or c o Andrews McMeel Syndication Walnut St Kansas City MO