November Reset: Getting my life together (or at least trying to)

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Life with Callie | November 1, 2026

HAPPY NOVEMBER, PRETTY PEOPLE!!!

You know what that means, right??? IT'S OFFICIALLY CHRISTMAS TIME!!! I don't care what anyone says about Thanksgiving coming first. The second Halloween is over, I am mentally putting up my Christmas tree, blasting Christmas music, and pretending that Florida isn't still 80 degrees outside.

Sorry, not sorry.

If you know me, you know Christmas is my absolute FAVORITE holiday. The decorations, the music, the movies, the shopping, the cute outfits, the FOOD. Literally everything about it makes me happy. And honestly, after the year I've had, I think a little Christmas magic is exactly what I need.

BUTTTT... as much as I would love to spend the next two months watching Hallmark movies, drinking hot chocolate, and living in my own little winter wonderland, unfortunately, adulthood has other plans.

Because apparently, being 23 means you can't just sit around and wait for Santa to bring you a career, financial stability, and a five-year plan. RUDE.

So, welcome to my November reset, where I attempt to get my life together. Emphasis on attempt.

The Job Search Is Job Searching...

Okay, can we talk about how STRESSFUL applying for jobs is???

I spent four years in college working toward my degree, building my résumé, gaining experience, and doing everything I thought I was supposed to do. I graduated from the University of Alabama in May, and now I'm in that awkward stage of life where I'm qualified enough to graduate but apparently still have approximately 500 things to figure out.

And don't even get me started on job applications.

Between updating my résumé, writing cover letters, searching for opportunities, and constantly refreshing my email, I feel like applying for jobs could genuinely be a full-time job itself. Except, you know, without the paycheck.

LOVE THAT FOR ME.

As many of you know, my dream is to work in sports broadcasting and media. That dream hasn't changed one bit. If anything, graduating has made me want it even more.

But I would be lying if I said the process wasn't discouraging sometimes.

It's hard putting so much effort into something and not knowing when it's going to pay off. You can have the experience, the passion, the education, and the drive, but sometimes all you can do is submit the application and hope someone gives you a chance.

And for someone who likes having a plan (hi, it's me), the uncertainty is probably the hardest part.

I'm trying to remind myself that just because something hasn't happened YET doesn't mean it won't happen. My career isn't on anyone else's timeline, and I don't have to have my entire future figured out six months after graduating.

But if someone wants to send me a job offer wrapped in a pretty red Christmas bow, I certainly wouldn't complain. (Still manifesting btw)

Living in Florida: The Good, the Bad, and the Humidity

Another thing I'm still adjusting to? Living in a completely different state.

Don't get me wrong, moving to Florida and participating in the Disney College Program has been one of the biggest adventures of my life. I've met some amazing people, made memories I'll cherish forever, and experienced things I probably never would have if I'd stayed in Alabama.

But moving away from everything you've ever known is WEIRD.

One minute, you're having the time of your life with your friends, and the next, you're missing home, your old routines, and the comfort of knowing exactly where you belong.

And then there's the Florida weather.

Y'all. It's NOVEMBER. Why am I still sweating???

I want sweaters. I want boots. I want cute fall outfits and crisp mornings. Instead, I'm checking the weather before leaving my apartment and preparing to walk directly into a sauna.

Not exactly the cozy fall aesthetic I had in mind.

But jokes aside, living here has taught me a lot about myself. I've learned how to be more independent, how to adapt to unfamiliar situations, and how to make a home somewhere completely new.

It's not always easy, but I think that's part of growing up.

Trying to Balance Work, Life, and Everything in Between

Can we also discuss how there are simply NOT enough hours in the day?

Between working at Disney, applying for jobs, trying to maintain friendships, keeping up with family, and finding time for myself, I genuinely don't understand how people do it all.

Some days, I feel SO productive. I'll get things done, make plans, clean my room, and convince myself that I have officially mastered adulthood.

And then other days? I get home from work, put on pajamas, scroll on TikTok, and suddenly it's midnight.

Balance? Never heard of her.

One thing I'm really trying to work on this month is giving myself a little more grace. I have a tendency to feel like I should always be doing something productive, especially when it comes to my future.

If I'm not applying for jobs, I feel like I should be. If I'm relaxing, I start thinking about everything on my to-do list.

And honestly? It's exhausting.

I'm learning that rest doesn't mean I'm falling behind. Sometimes it's okay to spend a day doing absolutely nothing. Sometimes it's okay to say no to plans. And sometimes it's okay to just enjoy being 23 instead of worrying about where I'll be at 25.

Easier said than done, but we're working on it!

The Comparison Game

Something else I've noticed since graduating is how easy it is to compare your life to everyone else's.

You open Instagram and suddenly someone you graduated with has landed their dream job, someone else is moving into their first apartment, and another person is announcing some huge life milestone.

Meanwhile, I'm sitting here wondering what I'm going to eat for dinner and whether I should submit one more application before bed.

It's so easy to feel like everyone else has everything figured out.

But the truth is, we're all on completely different paths.

Some people jump straight into their careers. Some move across the country. Some go back to school. Some take time to travel, explore, or figure out what they actually want.

And some of us move to Florida to work at Disney while chasing a dream we've had for years.

None of those paths are wrong.

I'm trying to stop measuring my progress against someone else's highlight reel and start appreciating how far I've already come.

Because when I really think about it, I've accomplished a lot this year. I graduated college, moved to a new state, started a new job, met incredible people, and stepped outside my comfort zone in more ways than I can count.

That's something worth being proud of, even if I don't have everything figured out just yet.

So, What's the Plan for November?

Well, first and foremost, CHRISTMAS.

Kidding. Kind of.

But seriously, I want November to be a month of getting back into a routine and focusing on the things I can actually control.

I want to stay consistent with job applications without letting them consume my entire life. I want to be smarter with my money, especially with the holidays coming up. I want to make more time for my friends, take better care of myself, and continue writing here on Life with Callie.

I also want to enjoy the little things.

The spontaneous plans. The late-night conversations. The Christmas movie marathons. The random days off. The moments that might not seem like a big deal now but will probably become some of my favorite memories later.

Because as much as I'm looking forward to the next chapter, I don't want to spend so much time worrying about the future that I forget to enjoy the one I'm living right now.

And with my Disney College Program coming to an end in January, I know these next couple of months are going to fly by.

Which is exciting... and also slightly terrifying.

Here's to November!

If there's one thing I've learned this year, it's that life after college is NOTHING like I imagined.

It's exciting, stressful, confusing, fun, overwhelming, and somehow all of those things at the exact same time.

But maybe that's what your 20s are supposed to be.

Maybe you're not supposed to have everything figured out. Maybe you're supposed to make mistakes, change your plans, meet new people, take chances, and figure things out as you go.

So this month, I'm choosing to be excited about what's ahead instead of constantly stressing over what hasn't happened yet.

I'm going to keep working hard, keep applying, keep praying, and keep believing that everything will fall into place when it's supposed to.

And in the meantime? I'll be listening to Christmas music, drinking an unnecessary amount of Christmas coffee, and pretending I have my life together.

Because if we're going to have a quarter-life crisis, we might as well make it festive.

Here's to November, new beginnings, unanswered job applications, and a little bit of Christmas magic.

XOXO,

Callie ♡