Ending a 90-Day Experiment Early and Calling It Enough
Episode #63: Show Notes
Do you know anyone who naturally “goes with the flow,” doesn’t create plans, and is comfortable bending the rules? Well, that’s NOT me. Today I’m sharing how I created a plan, broke most of my own rules, and somehow ended up exactly where I needed anyway.
So, I started this plan, this 90 day experiment, feeling confused, overwhelmed, and stressed out about trying to bring some income into my life. I didn't know what was going to happen, if it would even help, or what to expect.
Well, today is day 36 of the 90 days, and I am ending it. Why? Because I've outgrown the criteria and the motivation behind it. In just the first third of this experiment I was able to quiet my mind, remove distractions, and actually get quite a bit of clarity. And I did NOT follow my own instructions like I planned.
How the Experiment Unfolded
I first shared details about this experiment in episodes 57 and 58, but here's a quick summary. There were three major parts of this experiment. One, to not build anything new and to pause promoting my podcast editing services. Two, to start applying for part-time jobs to bring in funds. Three, to start being a guest on other podcasts to reach new people with my work.
So that was the plan but that's not what happened at all. Not even close. I have applied for zero jobs and I also have not written my speech outlines or applied for any podcasts.
What happened instead was: I slowed down, did a lot of journaling, got honest with myself, worked with my mentors, and experienced significant spiritual growth, which was NOT even on the agenda. I'll share more about that part next time, because it deserves its own space.
Getting Clear on What’s Aligned
With more clarity it was easy to see which things I was trying to do just to bring in money to our household versus which things were actually aligned with me! the way I want to do business, which is not to be constantly on social media, creating zillions of images, wasting my time in Canva or doing anything that resembles “bro marketing” “girlboss” or “hustle culture”... 'cause that's not me and that's not what I believe in.
I also got clarity on the things I want to be doing every day, which includes being outside as much as possible during the daylight hours with only limited purposeful screen time. And I do have an outdoor office and I got clarity on what I want my life to look like with the addition of work. It’s been 11 months (wow )since I got laid off from my job and I've kind of gotten used to it. I know people always joke and say “what am I gonna do when I'm retired?” But my life is full, and I love it, and I have no idea how I used to work full time 'cause there's no space now!
Designing a Workday Around Your Real Life
But anyway, I thought about what I wanted my life to look like. I need flexibility to care for my dogs and my chickens and my plants, and that happens kind of certain times, mixed in throughout the day. And a nine to five job with me leaving all day just does not support that. And even a nine to five job where I'm tied to my computer or tied to my phone for the entire time doesn't support my life because dogs have to go potty. Dogs need walks, chickens need feeding, and those things don't happen before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM a lot of stuff happens in between. But I also love doing focused work when it's dark in the early morning and after dusk, that's when my computer work fits in best.
And actually when it's dark, that's the easiest time for me to do the audio and video editing. Because it's really hard to see the program that I use in the sunshine. Even if there's just a little bit of sun. It's really difficult to see it.
Fridays, Traffic & Flexibility
Now you probably have your own similar list of how you'd like your workday to look if you could optimize it just for you. I know one of the things I really enjoyed when I had my previous job was we had a four day work week, and I tell you what, having Fridays off was just a wonderful gift, and the job that I had prior to that was only a part-time job. But I had every Tuesday and Thursday off, so my week was kind of broken up with a mix of working and being home. And then of course I was home all weekend. So that was a great balance for my life. And with that job, I actually negotiated to come in super early and work super late so I could get that schedule that I wanted.
And also avoid the horrible traffic in the commute to get there. Have you ever asked yourself, what am I doing just to bring in money and what am I doing? Because it's actually my passion and what I wanna do with my day. Most people have never separated those two lists or even gotten quiet enough to explore that.
Are You Ecstatic About What You Do?
If you're not ecstatic about the work you get up and do every day, I encourage you to take some time to think about this and journal about it. And I'm also talking to those of you who have a really high paying job with great benefits. If it makes you feel horrible every day, I'm talking to you also.
Maybe there's something else you'd rather be doing for a little less money. Yep. I said it. I had a job like that once as well. At the time, it was the highest income I had ever made. And I hated the commute. I didn't like the work. I didn't like the office environment. And I forget how long I stayed there. I'm gonna say maybe two or three months. And then I moved on to another job I couldn't do, it wasn't worth it, but I know people who would've stayed just because the paycheck was good. So don't do that unless you have to.
Two Lists Worth Making
Have you ever asked yourself, "What am I doing just to bring in money — and what am I doing because it's actually my passion?" Most people have never separated these two lists or gotten quiet enough to explore that.
And I know people who love parts of what they do that feel like their passion, but other parts of their job end up working against their natural flow and their natural makeup. And it can turn something you love into something you really don't like anymore.
When Stress Hijacks Everything
For me personally, at the beginning of this experiment, I was in a frenzied, overwhelmed, stressed out state. I didn't know where my next income check was gonna come from, and I didn't see anything promising on the horizon. And that in itself was making it hard for me to work on my passion to write, to work on this podcast, and to provide the content that I wanted to put out in the world.
It also would make it hard for me to do a job interview because who would wanna hire me? If I was in a stressed out state, you might not realize it, but that shows people pick that up, whether it's a job interview or a client interview. Those things show. So back to the beginning of this experiment, it was kind of like my mind was being hijacked by stress. Even though I know a whole ton of stress relieving tools, EFT, tapping Tai Chi meditation, deep breathing, and even though I've done so much flippin' work! Can you relate? When you know better, but suffer through something anyway?
Remember to Use Your Own Tools
I've heard this same story from many of my friends in the healing community. They're often so good at helping others, but forget to use the same healing tools they’re well versed in on themselves when they need it. And as we share our stories with each other, one of us will say "oh, did you tap on that?" Nope. Like "duh!"
This is a theme that I see coming up again and again. Even for everyday people who know some self-help tools, like deep breathing, journalling, or talking a quiet “time out”… but don’t remember to USE them in the exact moments they were designed for.
A New Possibility & Hidden Costs
One possibility that came out of this experiment is that I'm considering opening myself up to providing professional narration and voice-over services for wellness, self-help, and spiritual books specifically. I mean, I love to read that kind of material. I love absorbing the knowledge, and I think it could be really rewarding to breathe life into the words that people are going to hear. And the possibility of how many people would be affected, and how far my voice could go!
But here's something I learned about that industry. Two little sneaky things. One is, in order to get the highest wages, you have to also be a social media promoter and promote the book, which is not what I want to do. If that happened naturally, fine. But experts are saying they want you to have 50,000 followers and become this influencer, which I have no interest in doing. And it goes against my values to be fake anyway.
The second sneaky thing I learned was you also have to edit and produce the audio book files so that they're ready to be published immediately. And that's not a problem, technically, because I DO have the professional audio video editing skills. However, I put a pause on my podcast editing service because it takes so much time to edit audio and video. And it makes me stare at my computer for a lot of hours in a row, which I don't like.
Only “Good” on Paper?
So even though being a narrator sounded good on paper, the more I thought about it, now I'm not sure. Basically, you get paid per hour of finished audio and one hour of finished audio is going to take probably an hour and a half to record or longer. Might even take two hours to record with boo-boos and retakes. And then it takes a good, probably four hours to edit and produce. So my point is, the reading and narration part is the smallest part of the work.
And I realized — the part I was excited about? That's only maybe 20% of the actual job.
So I’m thankful this came into my awareness as a possibility, but it’s going to live on my list of "maybes," and table it for at least a little bit while I work on the reorganization of everything else I do.
You know, sometimes things sound ideal on the surface, but after you investigate them thoroughly, you discover the hidden costs. But I think that's a GOOD thing, because that allows you to make grounded decisions without guilt, to have discernment in action.
What's one idea or task on your to-do list that looks good on paper but, if you're honest, costs more than it pays or rewards you? Another way to make good use of your journal, friends!
Graduating Early
This experiment outgrew itself, and yet I still consider it a success, not a failure. I set a plan, but only followed about 30% of it because I broke so many of my own rules. And somehow that in itself led to breakthroughs and clarity for me. If you're an old-school, type-A, follow the rules kind of person like me, this challenges the deeply held belief that discipline equals following the original plan. The real discipline in my case was listening.
It also gently taught me the lesson that it's OK to give myself permission to not finish what I started. I ended this at Day 36 out of 90. Done. Not because I failed — because I graduated early.
Where in your life are you following a plan you've already outgrown? Remember, not every abandoned plan is a failure.
When did you last change your mind about something important — and let yourself feel good about it? Our culture may see changing direction as a weakness, but I disagree. I see choosing to change direction as a strength, especially if done with clarity, discernment, and intention.
What would you discover about yourself if you got quiet for even a week?" Not 90 days — just a week of journaling, slowing down, being honest.
What Stillness Actually Gave Me
And no, I still don’t have a job, but I DO have a solid income plan that my mentors helped me optimize to fit my work style, my ethical beliefs, and will allow me to use the gifts and talents that bring me the most joy in my daily work… while also paying the bills. And that would not have happened with space and stillness. When you are stressed out, or have fear on your shoulders, you really can’t see solutions or creative ideas. I know for me, I tend to doubt myself when I’m in a state like that. I don’t trust the thoughts and ideas that rise for me. Do you notice that too, or is it just me?
Have a fabulous week, my friends.
Meet Our Host: Jennifer Robin O’Keefe
Jennifer Robin is always searching for the next thing that might help: the book, the practice, the reframe you didn't know existed but turns out to be exactly what you needed.
Through conversations with experts, authors, and everyday humans, along with personal reflection, Jennifer focuses on bridging the gap between "woo" and practical, accessible self-support. Her work is rooted in the belief that wellness is not about fixing yourself, but about remembering your worth and finding what genuinely works for you.
She has spent decades exploring personal growth, energy healing, and mind-body wellness. She's trained in EFT Tapping and coaching, tools she often references in her conversations. She's not positioning herself as an expert who has it all figured out. She approaches her work with humility, curiosity, and deep respect for individual experience.
Jennifer is a lifelong learner who cherishes books and notebooks. She loves diving into research and sharing what she learns in a way that feels relatable, compassionate, and pressure-free. These conversations are an invitation: to ask your own questions, gather perspectives that resonate, and build a life that actually feels good to you.