One thing that worked for me: think about what you’d do in retirement. Beyond video games/tv/your vice of choice.
Then start doing that now. Probably can’t do it to the same extent. But you can usually approximate it some.
You’ll be surprised at how life-giving it is, and that’s because it was a real desire buried under a mountain of “should.” And how hard it can be to even figure out what you want to do, and actually follow through on it.
Also the addition of "how hard it can be to even figure out what you want to do". This is imo a huge thing.
The decision paralysis and fear of doing and being what YOU authentically want - not somebody else, not some rules, not some abstract expectation what your future partner want you to be like, not what your mother/friends/teachers/mentors wants you to be like, not some "rational person" as described below, but you and you only - brings you pain and avoidant behaviors.
The avoidant behaviors come with a compounding cost on top and you can spend so much time not actually doing what you want.
I’ve made a few apps that together generate gas money every month and practice music almost every day, along with getting instruction from a very good teacher.
Next step is buying out time from my day job to build my own business further. Also learning more market research, and marketing in general.
Then start doing that now. Probably can’t do it to the same extent. But you can usually approximate it some.
You’ll be surprised at how life-giving it is, and that’s because it was a real desire buried under a mountain of “should.” And how hard it can be to even figure out what you want to do, and actually follow through on it.