Gen Z Guide to FI

There’s been something off about me lately. I can’t really explain it but I just feel it. I’ve been feeling more uninspired than normal. I listened to this book recently called Everything I know about love by Dolly Alderton. I’m loosely paraphrasing, but, in the book, she mentioned how at some point the only joy in her adult life was “buying shit on Amazon”.

The buying shit on Amazon for joy person has become me. Except I’ve been carefully cataloging my Amazon purchases and making sure they are returned if they aren’t providing as much value as needed. And I’m not spending on like anything crazy. I’m staying within budget but still trying out retail therapy. However, that in itself is not giving me much joy.

Some of the factors that have led to my current funk have been: the weather (it’s my first really cold winter on the East coast since I lived in Canada a lifetime ago), my self-imposed isolation for 5 weeks (I don’t know why I did this to myself) & my general lack of routine during winter break.

On the bright side, I got back into crocheting, saved a shit ton of money by maximizing my rent & got caught up on all my favorite shows. I do realize that the healthy maximum time to not interact with human beings is 4 weeks (for me). I can’t believe I had a phase when I went 6 months without human interaction and loved it (COVID). I don’t know how that version of me did it. She was stronger. I do feel like I really underestimated how serious seasonal depression is. Tell me why every day that has been above freezing point has been such a great day for me because I have left my house on purpose.

Anyway, in my last week of break before school gets back, I’m going to go see my baby boy (my best friends new born) and hang out with my homies in California. I’m excited for the warmer climate. I don’t know how I’m gonna last another 4 months of this weather. So fucking tragic.

Because I don’t like to feel bad for myself, I’m trying to take some steps to get out of this funk. I’m starting with remembering things I’m grateful for like Bad Bunny’s new album, my younger self who set me up well to live till June 2025 without needing a job (I’ve lived without a job since May 2024 so wild), the fact that I can jump on a flight with miles to enjoy warmer climate, friends who love me and will pick me up from the airport and give me a place to stay, a summer internship in PA that was SO hard to secure etc. I have blessings on blessings but I’ve been fixating on all my recent ‘failures’.

Also, I’m rediscovering my love for movies by going to the movies on Tuesdays (or movie night at home with popcorn). I think somewhere between my senior year of college and trying to get into grad school, I lost my interest in watching movies for fun. I got too wrapped up in MBA this and MBA that and I forgot why I put myself through this mess in the first place. 

I’m also taking yet another hiatus from dating apps. If I’m feeling uninspired, the last thing I need is to use the limited positive energy I have on men who’ll ghost me after 1 date. So it’s back to being my fucking season. I mean it’s always been my season. I just needed to remind myself.

XOXO Gen Z Fire Baby