I'm stuck... I currently work from home as a contract designer, designing hotel and casino carpets. Working from home has its benefits, but at my stage in life, I'm craving office interaction. I'm also missing the overall aspect of interior design; lighting, flooring, fabrics and finishes, AutoCad, interaction with sales reps. I'm nearing the one year mark with my company in March, but have been somewhat unhappy/bored since last July or August. The company has been nothing but great to me...month-long training in the UK, cell phone, more flexible work hours, etc., so I'm hesitant to switch to a different firm. I'm also curious as to whether it will be better in a design firm, especially since I left a small design firm (first job out of college) after nine months to take this job.

Another loop is that I also have a passion for fitness. Going into college, I was torn with majoring in Kinesiology/Fitness Management or Interior Design. I figured, however, that design REQUIRED a 4-year degree where a personal training certification could be obtained outside of school in less time. Once I began my first job as junior interior designer, I was unhappy with the fast-paced deadlines/stress/computer time and felt physically unhealthy. In the free time I had I studied and obtained my NASM personal training certification last January. I have yet to train any clients, though, because I don't know how to work it into my schedule. Design goes in spurts...dead one moment, deadline the next so I don't want to set a definite client training and have a design deadline spring up.

My mind is spinning with the options:

• Should I try to stay with the current company and work in a little training at the gym on the side?
• Switch design companies and hope interior design is better than carpet design and that I can try starting training sessions with clients.
• Take a break from design as a career and try training full force in order to better build up clientele. Maybe help friends/family with design on the side, and if need be go back to design later down the road if I miss it too much.

There's pros and cons to each. Design has interesting perspectives and fun projects. Awesome networking and fun events; most of my friends are in the industry and we see each other at events. Very rewarding when you see your projects built. But it is a lot of sedentary computer work and overtime. Fitness is hands on activity; movement and interaction with others. Very rewarding if you can help someone achieve better health. More defined hours. Yet it lacks the creative artistic side. I want a little of both worlds, but don't know how to incorporate them. I don't want to commit to both and overwhelm myself-- end up hating both paths, but don't know how to test them out. Help!