Why do I feel so exhausted by the thought of 'career planning'?

Hello there. Please know that what you are feeling is incredibly common, and your exhaustion is a valid emotional response to the weight of high expectations. When we view career planning as a static destination rather than a fluid journey, it naturally feels like a heavy chore.

You are essentially being asked to predict your future self when your brain and interests are still evolving. To make this process feel less daunting and more engaging, consider shifting your perspective with these strategies:

• Focus on curiosity over commitment: Replace the pressure of choosing a life path with the joy of investigating specific problems or topics that spark your genuine interest.
• Adopt a trial-and-error mindset: Treat career exploration like a series of small, low-stakes experiments—such as attending a workshop, watching a day-in-the-life video, or talking to someone in a field that sounds vaguely interesting.
• Grant yourself permission to pause: It is perfectly acceptable to step back from formal planning. Your development is a lifelong process, not a race that must be won in your teenage years.

You are not behind. You are simply growing, and that takes energy. Focus on your curiosity today, and the rest will slowly find its own rhythm.