Working at the bakery is a whole different kind of exhausting. It’s not just my feet that ache by the end of the day—it’s like every part of me feels the impact of standing and physical work. After years in IT and InfoSec, nearly seven years working from my bed, a chair, a cafe, etc… this is a new level of tired. The fatigue from hours on my feet hits differently, and some days, it’s tough to imagine going back and doing it all again the next morning.

But for the next few weeks, I’m pushing through, even when the pain in my knee and ankle has me holding back tears for half the day. I’m saving whatever I can from each pay, setting aside small amounts because I know they’re building toward something. It’s not much, but it’s a step. And while I’m grinding through these shifts, I’m also carving out space for things that could lead somewhere new.

The plan is simple: get home, take a nap to recharge, and then dedicate at least two or three hours each night to projects that could eventually create new income. Whether it’s freelancing, fleshing out ideas I’ve been kicking around, or learning something new, it’s my way of building a future that doesn’t leave me this drained. This extra work feels like an investment in myself, and that’s what keeps me moving forward.

Some days, it’s a lot to handle—working all day and then mustering the energy to work on my dreams at night. But I’m not letting the exhaustion take over. I’ve got a vision of what life could be like if I stick to this. If I show up, day in and day out, eventually, something’s got to break open.

So here I am, taking it one day, one shift, one night at a time.