We've all heard that if you do something you enjoy for work, then work won’t feel like work. But is that practical to find?

It’s not that I didn’t like my last job. Six months after leaving, I realized I enjoyed my previous job—heck, at times, I loved it. I worked with people I liked, had a large sense of control, and was paid well (despite my complaints about others getting paid more elsewhere). However, I often dreaded going to work, worrying about nonsensical problems that might arise the next day. But isn’t that normal for every job? I grew up believing that a job that is impactful and enjoyable is rare. Such jobs often come with challenges I’m not ready to handle, perhaps because they lack redeeming qualities beyond making an impact. It feels like the drive needs to be more important than the paycheck. I’ve always oscillated between these two lifestyle prospects. My previous lifestyle wasn’t bad—it gave me time and money to do things I enjoy, right?

For the last two weeks, I tried the opposite lifestyle. At the Coral Tribe program, I wake up to conservation tasks and scuba diving. I wake up excited for a challenge and a chance to make an impact. I can’t decide if it’s because I’ve found a new purpose, I’m learning something new, or because work doesn’t feel like work. For the first time in recent memory, I am experiencing enjoyment and fulfillment with my job. I’m not delusional—I know this work won’t always be fun and impactful. Like any job, it has its challenges. The difference is that this aligns with my interests and passions. The challenges in this line of work are far more bearable than those in my last job. Many people I’ve talked to mention that “a bad day of diving is better than a good day at the office.”

In the last few days of the “internship,” I’ve learned how to weld rebar to create artificial reefs, coat rebar in resin for coral transplantation, and become a better diver. I’ve talked to Simon and Mark, who had similar experiences, took a sabbatical from work, traveled the world, and ended up working in marine conservation without degrees in the field. For the first time in a while, I can answer the question of what I would do every day if money didn’t matter. I know this is a passion I want to incorporate into my daily life—either as a career or a side hobby. Simon and Mark also did something remarkable—they helped me chart a career path in this field, making the challenges sound fun, enticing, and approachable. After these two weeks, I’ve experienced a sense of accomplishment that rivals any career I pursue.

I tend to shy away from giving advice on this blog, but I’ll say this: if you’re feeling unfulfilled, invest in a short-term program to try something new. Use Volunteer World or a similar service to take a workcation in a different industry. You might find a new passion, a new career path, and lifelong friends who push you to pursue your dreams.

Overnight, I found the life options I was looking for. I went from being unsure of my path to having clarity about what I want to pursue. I’m still nervous about sorting through all my options and have many questions to answer, but every day, I build more confidence that everything will work out for the best.