aillenintokyo

Today marks 1 year since I left my teaching job and started working in a Japanese company. And here’s the truth I wish I understood earlier: There is no perfect job. Every path comes with something— stress, doubt, discomfort, uncertainty. Teaching had freedom… but I felt stuck. Corporate gave me growth… but also pressure. So the question isn’t: “Which job is perfect?” It’s: “Where am I growing?” Because staying somewhere just because it’s comfortable… is what keeps you stuck the longest. Leaving won’t guarantee everything gets better. But staying in a place where you’re no longer growing? That guarantees nothing will change. This past year taught me: You’re allowed to outgrow a version of your life. And you don’t need to have everything figured out to take the next step. If you’ve been thinking about making a change… this is your sign 🤍 @aillenintokyo _____ #corporategirl #tokyolife #30something #exteacher #lifeinjapan

Day 10/32 not my job. not my city. not my circumstances. my standards. my habits. my boundaries. I stopped waiting for life to feel different and started showing up differently. same life. different energy. that’s what changed ✨ #30something #corporategirl #tokyolife #exteacher #expat

It should! 🙈 ____ #30something #tokyolife #corporategirl #exteacher #sololiving

quit 6 years of teaching in Japan, with 2years of instructor visa just to jump into a japanese corporate world, and hoping I'd get a new 3-year visa. And guess what? Got 3year of visa, celebrated 1-year at work, and still have my sanity intact! #tokyolife #corporategirl #30something #japanlife #sololiving

Episode 3: it’s funny how you can finally have the life you once wanted… and still not fully live it I used to think having more time would fix everything that once I had “the right schedule” I’d automatically become more consistent but that’s not how it works nothing really changes until your habits do the life you want is already available to you in small ways it’s just built in the things you choose to do daily not the big plans… but the quiet decisions no one sees what’s one small habit you’ve been putting off? #tokyolife #corporategirl #30something #japantrip #japanlife

Day 6/32 one year after stepping into the unknown I didn’t have a perfect plan—just a decision to stop choosing what felt safe over what felt right. quit teaching, jumped into japanese work culture, new routine, new version of me still figuring things out, but no longer stuck turns out growth doesn’t feel clear… it just feels like moving anyway if you’re scared to change something, that’s probably your sign cheering for you on this side of Japan 🇯🇵 @aillenintokyo _______ #exteacher #corporategirl #tokyolife #30something #japanlife

"Episode 13: your 30s aren’t a deadline— they’re the phase where you stop living on autopilot where you question the path you were given and start choosing one that actually fits it’s messy, it’s uncomfortable, it doesn’t always make sense but it’s the first time your life starts to feel like it’s yours #30something #corporategirl #japanlife #womenmindset #lifeinjapan

Imagine looking back one day and realising you were brave enough to chase the life you really wanted, and it actually worked. _____ #30something #corporategirl #exteacher #japanlife #womenmindset

this is for you because I was you 6 years teaching in Japan safe, stable… expected but I felt stuck like I was living a life that wasn’t mine I remember crying at night thinking… is this really it? until one day, I decided this wouldn’t be my whole story so at 31, I started over new career. new environment. new me no perfect plan just one decision then another then another and slowly… everything changed so if you feel lost right now you’re not you’re just one decision away this is how your dream life actually gets built—save this ✨

if you’re on your 30s and feel like you’re behind… this is for you I know what it feels like to question your path to compare your timeline to wonder if you missed your moment I moved to japan changed careers at 31 and I’m still figuring things out but I’ve learned this… you’re not behind you’re just building a life that actually fits you follow along — we’re figuring it out together ✨ @aillenintokyo ____ #tokyolife #corporategirl #30something #japanlife #lifeinjapan

I still remember that girl crying at night because she felt stuck in teaching I’m so glad I wasn’t too scared to choose a different life ____ #japanlife #corporategirl #exteacher #tokyolife #30something

that was me… stuck teaching at a japanese school for 6 years comfortable, but not fulfilled so at 31, I did something that scared me… I started over I left teaching and stepped into the japanese corporate world and honestly… that decision changed everything Follow along @aillenintokyo 🤍 ____ #30something #japanlife #corporategirl #japandiaries #GlowUp

being a corporate girlie in japan by day… and building my dream life at night yeah… wrong girl 😌 #30something #tokyolife #japanlife #corporategirl #japancreators

Decided to visit a friend in China 🇨🇳 _____ #tokyolife #chinatrip #shanghai #hangzhou #corporategirl

It's the putting to rest all my braincells for me. ____ #30something #tokyolife #japanlife #corporategirl #traveljapan

Day 1/32 lessons Live life one day at a time… not everything needs to be figured out right now. not every day needs to be perfect. just show up, do your best, and trust that it’s all working out—one step, one moment, one day at a time ✨ ____ #helloapril #30something #japanlife #corporategirl #womeninspiringwomen❤️

Would you rather have someone making six figures, but can’t make plans? or.... ____ #tokyolife #corporategirl #30something #japanlife #ugcjapan

Your 30s teaches you so much about love… like real love. not the rushed, confusing kind. self love becomes less about “fixing yourself” and more about accepting who you already are you stop chasing people who are unsure about you and start choosing what feels calm, not chaotic you learn to love your career differently too not just for titles or validation but for the life it gives you, the freedom you’re building and the biggest one? you realize love isn’t supposed to feel draining it’s supposed to feel safe. steady. easy. whether it’s with yourself, your work, or your people you just… choose better what has your 30s been teaching you lately? 💭

i have a strong feeling 🤍✨🫶🏻

You gotta love a Filipina. ___ #tokyolife #corporategirl #japanlife #japanfashion #filipino