🚀Not Back to School, But Back to Me

 I’ve been out of school for years.
And sure, I still daydream about grad school sometimes. About returning to the structure and momentum of academia, the books, the deadlines, the coffee-fueled all-nighters.
But that’s not my life right now. And that’s okay.

Because not being in school doesn’t mean I have to stop learning.
It doesn’t mean I have to give up my deep love for stationery, either.
I still romanticize the start of the school year: fresh planners, colorful pens, a new notebook that holds the promise of something. Even if most of my work (both professional and creative) is paperless these days, the craving for a fresh start still lingers every September.

So no, I’m not going back to school.
But I am coming back to a part of myself that I really value—the curious part.
The part of me that wants to understand, explore, and keep growing.
The student in me never really left. She just needed a different kind of classroom.

📓 Self-Directed Learning Still Counts

Just to get it out of the way—enrolling in a community college class is easier than ever these days. If you’ve got the time and interest, I fully support it. (And hey, if you’re still paying off student loans, technically deferring those payments is a perk worth noting. Just saying.)

But enrolling in a formal class isn’t the only way to keep learning.
There are so many resources out there: online, in your community, and even in your own living room. A local seminar. A public workshop. A blog rabbit hole. A podcast that makes you go, wait, what? Learning happens everywhere.

Researching for a blog? Valid.
Reading nonfiction? Valid.
Trying a new hobby with zero expectation of getting “good” at it? Valid.
Learning is learning.

That said, not all information is created equal.
Use your judgment. Not everything that shows up on your For You Page or search results is true or helpful. Confirmation bias is a real thing, and it’s easy to fall into a rabbit hole of misinformation that looks polished and persuasive. Curiosity is powerful, but so is discernment.

Lately, I’ve been picking up all kinds of new skills. Some practical, some deeply unserious, and some just because they looked fun.

For work, I’ve been brushing up on Excel functions so I can be faster and more effective (and way less annoyed) on the job. Outside of work? I’ve been learning how to juggle. I’ve been roller skating in a parking lot and hoping I don’t injure myself. I’m taking aerial silks and Lyra classes at what can only be described as a circus gym. I’m also in weekend trainings for yoga styles I don’t usually practice—yin and restorative—since I’m usually a ride-or-die vinyasa girly.

I’ve been watching YouTube tutorials on cooking techniques I never mastered.
I’ve been letting curiosity guide me, instead of structure.

Traditional school is great—but it’s not the only option.
Your growth doesn’t have to be graded to be real.
Just keep your brain on and your bullshit detector calibrated.

🌱 Rebuilding Routines That Actually Support Me

Maybe it’s just residual conditioning from being in school for so long, but something about September always makes me want to re-evaluate my routines.

It’s like my body remembers the rhythm of fresh notebooks, new schedules, and the quiet optimism of a reset.
So this time of year, I find myself asking:

• Where am I burning out?

• Where can I be more gentle with myself?

• What routines need to be retired, and what can I breathe new life into?

Not because I’m chasing some upgraded version of myself.
Not for the productivity-to-burnout pipeline.
But because I’m trying to be more intentional about how I support myself.

Getting curious again feels good. I’ve been picking new nonfiction audiobooks to keep me company during my morning commute. I’ve been peeking at trending hobbies—not to keep up, but to see if any of them genuinely spark something in me. And I’ve been circling back to old hobbies I haven’t touched in a while. (No, I have not abandoned my yarn and crochet hooks. We’re just on a break.)

Structure doesn’t have to be strict. It can be soft.
It can make room for rest, play, and wonder—if I let it.

🎨 Letting Curiosity Lead

I’m not trying to master anything right now.
I’m not chasing 10,000 hours or trying to become an expert.
This season of learning isn’t about achievement—it’s about curiosity.

What feels good for my brain?
What soothes my body?
What lights up something in my spirit—or whatever else we’re made of?

This is soft learning.
Documentaries. Bite-sized deep dives on YouTube. Picking up a hobby I already know I love and just letting myself get lost in it. No pressure. No performance.

I’m not trying to monetize it. I’m not trying to optimize it.
(Okay, maybe the Excel worksheets thing—but only because it makes work less painful. And honestly, if you’re someone who genuinely enjoys building spreadsheets for fun, I have some follow-up questions. Like… are you okay?)

This is about letting learning spark joy.
It’s about chasing dopamine.
It’s about asking, “What if I just liked something and did it for that reason alone?”

🕯️ A Gentle Semester, No Syllabus Required

I’m not going back to school this fall, but I am going back to myself.
The version of me that loves asking questions.
The version of me that doesn’t need gold stars or degrees to keep growing.
The one who learns for the joy of it.

Learning doesn’t have to be goal-oriented or impressive to be meaningful.
It doesn’t have to be part of a career ladder or a five-year plan.
It can be small. Gentle. Playful. Personal.

So this season, I’m letting my curiosity lead me somewhere soft.
No grades. No deadlines. No performance.
Just presence. Exploration. And the reminder that I’m still allowed to learn slowly, messily, and entirely for myself.

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📌 This Week’s Mantra:

"I don’t need a syllabus to grow."