The positive outcomes of ‘trash’ TV when it comes to following your dreams 🤩

Who here loves ‘trash’ TV? Yup, I’m talking reality shows. Stick with me here.

I’m not exactly obsessed with reality shows, but I do like a few of them, and actually, I’d even go as far as saying that some of them have changed the trajectory of my life.

Yes, really.

But how? I hear you ask. Aren’t they all just filled with annoying rich people yelling and throwing wine in each other’s faces?

OK, yes, there is some of that… but not all reality TV is the same, and – as with everything in life – you might need to put up with some of the drama to find the golden nuggets of motivation and inspiration.

For instance:

🤩 A Netflix show, Twentysomethings: Austin – where eight people move to Austin, Texas and try to ‘make it’ while living together and becoming friends – prompted me to do something about my own circumstances.

I was fed up of living alone, working at home alone, and just generally being bored. I wanted to meet new people and have new adventures, just like the Twentysomethings on the show (ignoring the fact I’m a Thirtysomething). Not long after, I booked a month-long stay in a co-living house in the Basque Country, Spain, where I’d be working and living with 20+ people.

🤩 Fast forward a few months, and I’ve decided to go to South Africa with several people I met in that same co-living house. We’re going to be staying in an Airbnb, but for a week or so my friends want to go on a hiking/camping adventure (though, fortunately, staying in huts rather than tents), which is definitely not my kind of thing.

I wasn’t sure about it all – especially as they recommend you bring a shovel with you to help you go to the bathroom while hiking, which is pretty much my worst nightmare – but I didn’t want to be the only one of the group not to go.

Then I watched a show – again on Netflix – called Snowflake Mountain, where they dump a load of spoiled young adults in the Lake District and give them tasks and challenges to help prepare them for the ‘real world’. The first thing they do is make them pack a small bag out of their huge suitcases they’ve brought with them… and then they blow up their suitcases, resulting in a lot of tears and a lot of swear words. But, over time, the group of ‘brats’ learn hard lessons, bond, and grow together, and actually end up having a great time in the middle of nowhere, camping and living the simple life.

After a few episodes of this, I was inspired to get out of my comfort zone more – and I said yes to the hiking/camping trip in Cape Town with zero hesitation, shovel and all.

🤩 Watching the Netflix show (I swear this isn’t an ad for Netflix) Selling Sunset really inspires me. If you ignore all the bitching and drama, you get to see awesome women going after their dreams, and the million-dollar homes they’re selling is great motivation to earn lots of money so you too can one day live in a nice house with a great view. The same goes for any other real estate or dream house show.

🤩 The Netflix show The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals gave me serious travel envy when I first watched it, then it gave me serious travel ideas and inspiration when I decided to head out on the road. Several of the Airbnbs they stay at in the show are now on my bucket list.

🤩 Even shows like Real Housewives and Keeping Up With The Kardashians can be motivational if you look at them the right way.

Again, ditch the drama, and instead focus on the women themselves. Many of them have built up incredible business empires, and all of them know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to personal branding – which is something everyone should think about if they have their own business or side hustle. These women work so incredibly hard, and I think that’s pretty inspirational whatever you may think of them.

So, have any reality TV shows ever inspired you to change something big in your life? Or motivated you to go and do something you’ve always wanted to do? If so, I’d love to know – just comment below!

That’s it for now – until next time, I’ll catch you on the flip side!

Jess xx