The post Master Time Management: Tips for Students & Young Professionals appeared first on Our So Called 20s.

1. Develop a Routine

Having a routine is a MUST in your adult life. That means having a morning, night, weekend, and weekday routine.

Why it Works: Having a handle and regular pace on the mundane and recurring parts of life, makes managing the surprises that much easier.

Action Step: Create a morning and night routine for yourself that works for your lifestyle Monday – Friday. Make it specific and actionable!

2. Set Clear Goals

We often have ideas of what we want to do and who we want to become, but don’t make the time to set clear goals and stepping stones to get there.

Why it Works: Having goals means that you have something to apply the self-discipline to. Make sure they’re crystal clear and not vague.

Action Step: Set quarterly goals for the remainder of the year. Make sure the completion of each goal is a building block to the next one. This ensures that you stay on track.

3. Get Used to Delayed Gratification

The short-term results are rarely why you are truly ever doing something. Enjoy the instant gratification that may come, but don’t count on it. Always play the long game. I promise that satisfaction isn’t fleeting.

Why it Works: You’ll find yourself getting through the tough parts for the right reasons, not the instant pat on the back. This will in turn keep you going in the right direction, rather than stopping when someone else applauds you from the sidelines.

Action Step: Focus on the person you want to be, the career you want to have, or the people you want to be surrounded by 15+ years from now, not the things you want in the next 45 days.

4. Start Small

Sometimes we get caught up in the idea of climbing Everest. Although that may be a great thing to strive for long-term, what are the small things you can do tomorrow, to prepare you for climbing Everest later? Starting with the gym is a great way to start small, yet actionable.

Why it Works: Everything is a building block to the greater thing. The only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.

Action Step: Make a buildable goal for yourself to achieve over the next six months. Challenge yourself by making at least three milestones to hit before the goal is reached.

5. Reduce Distractions

We live in a world that is full of distractions. Although I don’t think it’s possible to escape all of them, I do think it’s possible to drastically reduce them.

Why it Works: It’s impossible to focus when the smallest of things are constantly fighting for your immediate attention.

Action Step: Start with your phone! go into your notifications settings and shut off the ones you know are not important. You can also create different Do Not Disturb settings for yourself too. I have some for work, dinner, sleeping, and workouts – each slightly adjusted to my needs at that given time.

6. Implement the 2-min Rule

The 2-minute Rule is the idea that anything that can be completed in 2 minutes or less, is completed first thing in the morning. Don’t push these things off to later in the day, because the reality is, that procrasting on these small tasks will only make them compound into something bigger in the future.

Why it Works: Being able to complete small tasks right at the start of your brain releases a small hit of dopamine in your brain, in turn encouraging you to continue to do more.

Action Step: Make a short list of the three to four things you complete every morning. Leave room for a wild-card task that will inevitably come up.

7. Develop Healthy Habits

The habits you develop now, are likely the habits you stick to for the rest of your life. You only have one vessel to last you a lifetime. Make sure you take care of it to the best of your ability.

Why it Works: Trying to change bad habits 20 years from now will be a lot harder than establishing good ones now.

Action Step: Swap your least healthy pleasures for a better alternative. Learn to cook, or start cooking more at home.

8. Fail and Learn From It

Failure was once taught to be a negative thing, but many of the successful people that we look up to today would say the opposite. Failure means you’ve learned a new way not to approach something, and will come closer to the best way to go about it next. The faster you fail, in theory, the faster you learn. Just remember to learn from the mistake.

Why it Works: If you never failed, it means you never tried. Give it a go and keep giving it your best shot. Eventually, you’ll find the success you were looking for.

Action Step: Try that thing you were afraid of starting. Start the journey and remember to look back on days 30, 60, and 90. You might just surprise yourself.

9. Be Kind to Yourself

There are a million people out there who are ready and willing to shoot you down. The world doesn’t need another nay-sayer. Be your biggest champion, not your biggest critic.

Why it Works: Being mean to yourself does nothing but continue to discourage you. Negative energy is just that – negative energy. Be a source of positivity for yourself. Choose to be a light.

Action Step: Reflect on all the ways you’ve grown over the past couple of years. Give yourself credit on who you once were, who you are now, and who you are destined to become.

10. Visualize the Future

Sometimes the present can be bleak. We dwell on it and it becomes a ball and chain as we try to get to the next pocket of light. Instead of filling your room with darkness, focus on your dreams for your future. Whether that’s a small moment of dinner with your best friends in your apartment one day, your next vacation, or even the weekends. Visualize the future and let that be a source of light in the dimmer moments of life. No one else is going to pick you up when you are down. So it’s important to develop this self-discipline now.

Why it Works: Sitting in the negative will only make it that much worse. Focusing on the future will give you the energy to get through the present.

Action Step: Think about something you are excited about in the future. Heck, make it your phone screen.

11. Learn How to Say ‘No’

Being a people-pleaser seems like a frictionless path until it’s at your expense. Learn to protect your mental health, your time, and your bandwidth by saying ‘no’ a little more often. On the other hand, if you are always saying ‘yes’ to social engagements when you can make time to focus on yourself and your personal development? Learning how to say ‘no’ can have a profound effect on your self-development.

Why it Works: You can’t be everything to everyone at the same time. You’re going to burn out or be resentful down the road when you realize you put everyone’s wants before your own.

Action Step: Look at your upcoming commitments. Is there anything you really don’t want to do, or something you had to over sacrifice for?

12. Spend Your Time with Like-Minded People

There’s no better way to develop self-discipline than having an army of like-minded people around you who will hold you accountable.  Birds of a feather flock together is a very true statement to live by.

Why it Works: If you’re constantly surrounded by people with opposite goals to yours, you’re highly unlikely to reach your goals. Why? Naturally, we compare ourselves to our peers. Are we behind, or are we ahead, are we on track? If the people you are comparing yourself to, are on another planet, you’re never going to have a true metric on where you should be.

Action Step: Find or build a community of like-minded people around you, like that of the Our So Called 20s community.

13. Remember to Reflect and Celebrate

Life is short. The ride will get bumpy. There will be twists and turns. There’s no doubt about that. Make sure you recognize how far you’ve come and you celebrate the wins as they come. Sometimes these moments are fleeting. Don’t miss them.

Why it Works: Reflecting and celebrating is still part of the journey. It’s like a birthday. Whether you feel accomplished or not, your birthday is coming and you will be celebrated before entering another year of life.

Action Step: Go out with your friends and make something to celebrate. Even if that’s just making it through the week.

Self-discipline isn’t an overnight skill to obtain. It’s a constant work in progress that is muti-facilitated. Give it your best shot, even when things get hard and inconvenient. Remember not to beat yourself up, because at the end of the day, your desire to just want to be better in this department speaks volumes. You ‘d be surprised by how many people don’t care to work on this aspect of their lives or even realize that they need to improve in this area.

The post Self-Discipline: The Foundation of Personal Growth (13 Tips to Get There) appeared first on Our So Called 20s.

Always ask for a student discount

I’m sure you’ve heard this one a million times, but it’s true. Most places, even online subscription services offer student discounts. It’s always worth asking for. At the end of the day, why would you pay for something when you can have it at a discount or even free? Some schools even have partner programs that you can claim with your school’s email address – locking you in for 4 years at that price. Amazon, Hulu, Spotify, HBO, and even an IKON Ski Pass are some of the companies I used while in college, off the top of my head.  Businesses want everyone’s money, even if it’s a discounted sale. Use this to your advantage! It is by far one of the easiest ways to save money as a student.

Check for discount days

Businesses are always trying new ways to market to students and discount days are one of the most common days. Your favorite spot might have free beer on Wednesdays or half-off cocktails. Some movie theatres also have discounted movie days and times for students.  You might be surprised by how many places will cater to students on random days of the week. When I was in college, Wednesdays were big discount days in the area. This meant Wednesday nights we went out and Saturdays we went to the beach. Almost like clockwork. Sure we weren’t going out on a Friday night, but honestly, Wednesday nights made the week fly by that much more. A lot of my friends did this throughout college and it was one of their most effective ways to save money as a student.

Make Your Own Coffee or Matcha

Buying matcha in college was the achilles heel for me. I’d spend $7 per latte around 5 times per week if I was being honest with myself. $35 a week on a beverage I’d consume on the go in about 3.5 minutes. And that’s not even including all the times I’d get coffee with my friends during our morning walks around campus or the beach. I’m sure if I included that, I was at about $60 per week…or $240 a month. WILD! When I realized how out of hand this was getting I went on Amazon, bought a $10 matcha matcha kit and a $15 bag of matcha and started making it at home. This $25 switch saved me SO much money and is a habit I made sure to bring into my post-grad life as well. On the off chance that I wanted to treat myself, I learned that my local coffee shop would sell me matcha at a bulk price if I bought a half gallon – so naturally I’d do that from time to time. I still saved a ton of money.

If coffee is your vice, try getting your grounds from your local grocery store, like a Kroger’s/Ralph’s/Aldi instead of the $20 special bag you’re hooked on. Or if you have a Kreuig-like system, switch to a reusable k-cup and pour in your own grounds. Maybe pull back on the creamers, sugars, and syrups and adjust to a more simple cup of coffee. Whatever it is, there is a way to reduce this recurring cost and still enjoy the thing you love. There is always a way to treat yourself while finding ways to save as a student. It just takes some creativity and reflection.

Travel in larger groups

Traveling during college can seem impossible. My best piece of advice would be to start small. Learn what expenses come up before you plan a cross-country ski trip. Learn who you want to travel with and who never pays people back. You want to learn that when things are cheaper – trust me. Once you’ve figured this out, then get a group together and figure out how much everyone is actually willing to spend and where you want to go. Study that place! When are the cheapest times of the year to travel there? What are the room rates? Buddy up and share rooms. Getting a trip of 6 friends in a 3-bed Airbnb is something you will never regret. So many memories will be made, but then you also get to split every bill 6 ways! Oh and make sure you go grocery shopping on day one of the trip and have a plan for that too! Traveling in college is very possible, you just have to be smart about it and plan!

Sell Your Unwanted Items

We all have things lying around that we don’t want. Whether that is an old skateboard, your old computer, or clothes that no longer fit. Try your best to sell them and get something for it. Facebook Marketplace, Offer Up, and Poshmark, are just some of the resale sites/apps I can think of off the top of my head that are commonly used. Even if you can only get $10 out of it, that’s $10 more than you had before and less clutter in your living space. That sounds like a win-win to me!

Look for a Local Farmer’s Market

Local farmer’s markets saved me in college! It took me a while to find them, but once I did, I made sure to attend them every week. A local farmer’s market can give you access to even more fresh produce produced by local farmers in your area, and odds are, it’ll be tax-free upon purchase. Some of them only accept cash, so make sure you do your homework before you go. Some farmer’s markets even have meats and fish, depending on where you are. Of course, if you live in a place like Kansas, and your local farmers market has 50% off oysters, I wouldn’t take the risk, but your standard fruit and veggies shouldn’t be a problem no matter where you live. Pro tip: make sure you bring a large, or many large reusable bags and maybe a friend to go with you.

Keep Tabs on Your Impulsive Purchases

It’s so easy to swipe your card or tap to pay throughout the day and not even notice it. I’m a big Amazon person and it’s too easy to add to cart and move on with my day. Although these purchases may be things that you actually need, be careful to not fall into the pattern of buying things just because they come to mind. Think about whether or not you really want that thing and sit on it for a couple of days. Then if you really want or need it, then go ahead and buy it. Otherwise, you might find yourself stuck in buying everything that comes to mind. It’s really easy to make a purchase nowadays. It’s really hard to stop yourself from buying just because.

Skip the Appetizers

I love an appetizer just as much as the next person, but I also realize that it can add another $15 to my bill – and we haven’t even gotten to the drinks yet. Of course, sometimes you just HAVE to have the mouthwatering appetizer, but I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that you don’t need them most of the time. Skipping this part of your meal out with friends will save you a lot of money in the long run. You’re still going out to dinner/lunch/breakfast, you’re just not ordering every part of the menu. Do this 2-3 times and you’ve already made back $50 let’s say. This little change might be one of the easiest ways to save money as a student.

Go Out When It Counts

Going out and being social is just a part of student life – you can’t escape it and you shouldn’t. You’ll probably find your best friend during this period of life, so enjoy it, just be smart about it! Think about what’s a more valuable experience for you. Is it grabbing Chipotle on a Wednesday afternoon because you are too lazy to make lunch, or would you rather use that $10 towards a fun night out with your friends on Saturday? I’m going to guess that Saturday means a lot more to you. It’s really easy to get into the habit of convenience and just pick up a small bite here and there, but when you add it all up, you’re actually spending more than you realize. Get a grip on this and break the bad habit of convenience spending while you’re in school. You can pay for convenience later in your life when time is actually limited.

Rent vs Buy

Textbooks can add up quickly from my experience, and if you don’t have to buy a textbook, odds are you have to pay a couple hundred to access online access key codes to view an online textbook. Although it may be harder to locate, a lot of these online textbook companies will offer a rental or semester-term rental. If you do have to get a hard-copy textbook, Amazon has a whole textbook rental service that will be a fraction of the cost of the book. Always check for this before buying – even if you’re looking to buy a used textbook. The odds are renting will save you a good bit, and then you won’t end up with a collection of books you’ll never use again. Books can be one of your biggest expenses as a student, so it’s always a great idea to focus on this category when thinking of ways to save money as a student.

Refrain from Getting a Pet

As fun and exciting of an idea as this may sound to be, the financial implication and social inconvenience is something you probably don’t want to have to worry about in your college years. Owning a pet in college means more than just buying food. You’ll have to buy the basic pet care necessities, odds are you’ll buy your pet toys, treats, maybe even clothes.  Then what happens when you want to travel and go out of town with your friends? Either you’re going to have to pay extra to have your furry friend with you, or you’ll be paying someone else to watch it. And don’t forget about vet bills. Those are always a surprise. You might even have to worry about an increase in your monthly rent to have a pet. Worry about adding this expense later in your life. If you really want a furry friend, go volunteer at your local animal shelter and have all the fun without any of the daily responsibilities!

There are countless ways to save money as a student. With that in mind, it’s important to remember that it’s not a matter of what you do, that you are doing something at all. You’d be surprised how these small changes can make a huge impact on the finances you have available to you. Let us know what other ways you’ve been saving money.

The post 11 Genius Ways to Save Money as a Student (Without Sacrificing Fun!) appeared first on Our So Called 20s.

Be Kind to Yourself

Being kind to yourself is by far the most important part of this. Ambitious people like yourself tend to strive for perfection, or at least the best version of self. The reality is, that there is no such thing as perfection, and life is full of ups and downs. It’s important to embrace these things and not beat yourself up for them. Especially for the things that are out of your control. During this mental health journey, don’t forget to pat yourself on the back and recognize every moment of growth, no matter how “small” it may seem.

Get Exercise

Moving your body is more important than we realize. Exercising has been proven to release dopamine receptors in the brain, resulting in a boosted mood. Even though exercise may be difficult for you in the interim, by the end of it you are bound to feel better. This can be something as simple as going for a walk and getting some fresh air, to doing an intense HIT workout at the gym.  Getting exercise can also keep your mind off of the things that might be stressing you out. Getting active can also make you step away from your phone and get caught up in the doom-scrolling we all inevitably fall for. No matter what you choose to do, do it. It’s a great way activity to add to your routine when you are trying to figure out how to maintain mental health. For more information on the benefits of exercise on your mental heath, click here.

Eat Healthy and Hydrate

Food is fuel and it’s important that you put the right kind of fuel in your engine to keep it going. We’ve all heard about the negative effects of things like fast food, sugars, additives, etc, so let’s not ignore that. Now, there’s nothing wrong with the occasional grubby meal, especially after a long night out with friends, but, it’s important to make sure this doesn’t become a habit. Make sure you are fueling your body with whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet. Switch out your sodas for flavored sparkling water, or for just plain ole water if you can. Try to cut back on the caffeine and opt for better sources for an energy boost. Chances are, you need this energy boost because you are lacking other nutritional elements in your diet. Focus on filling those holes, rather than masking it if you can. Making sure you are drinking enough water throughout the day is also huge! Hydration is fantastic for the brain and something that often goes overlooked. Take care of your body and be cognizant of what you put in it. You only have one to last you a lifetime, so treat it that way.

Give Yourself Time to Decompress

Sometimes we go go go and forget to just stop, breathe, and smell the roses. I’m guilty of it for sure. Although the intention of this speed is rooted in a desire to be the best versions of ourselves, this can oftentimes lead to burnout and other negative effects on our mental health. Make sure to give yourself time to decompress and recharge. Going at full speed 24/7 will never lead to anything good. If you are struggling with burnout, click here to read How to Avoid Burnout. This will also help you figure out how to maintain mental health.

Focus on the Positive

Focus on the positive. I can’t stress this enough. It’s really easy to just see all the things that are going or have gone wrong in life. The reality is, that’s just a part of life. The other part of life is the positive. It’s a much more productive use of your time to focus on the positive than to dwell on the negative. Of course, reflect on where things went wrong in life, but once you’ve done that, move on. Remember that you can’t change the past, you can only learn from it. And by that same token, you can learn from the positive too! Focus on that and be proud of yourself. You’re doing better than you realize and you need to give yourself credit for that. To read more about learning from the past to help you look ahead, click here to read You Can’t Change the Past, But you Can Learn From It.

Lean on Your Community

Your community is your lifeline at the end of the day. If you are struggling with your mental health, or just not in the best of places, open up to the people you trust. Talking about things can be more therapeutic than you even realize. Let the people around you be there for you in your time of need. You never know who else around you is experiencing the same thing. Odds are you are not alone and you just need to talk some things out. Bottling things up can have a more negative impact on your mental health and self-esteem than you realize. Forcing yourself to mask your true emotions when you are around your community can also be even more taxing on your mental health. Open up and be vulnerable with those you trust in your circle. Don’t be afraid to lean on them. At the end of the day, isn’t that what your community is there to do? Opening up to your community might also help you discover new ways of how to maintain mental health in such a difficult time of life.

Give Back

Giving back has been one of the most impactful changes in maintaining my mental health. I never understood it in the beginning, but as I continue to make this a part of my routine, I realize why. Sometimes we lose our confidence as we venture throughout the journey of our 20s. In the wake of this, we start to feel inadequate or not as great as we once thought. One of the many beauties of giving back is that you are often helping someone or a group of people who are in a very different position in life than you are. This means that the knowledge or skillset that you once took for granted and became numb to now has a use again for someone else. It can often remind you that you do have something to offer and you are just as great as you once thought. Giving back can also expose you to a new community in your life that you didn’t think you needed. This can be a community that values connection and friendship over accolades and material stuff. this can be a community that highly values your religion. This can even be a community that you came from and you get to go back and pass the baton to help the next person prosper. Whatever it is, the responsibility that you will now have will help you improve your mental health more than you realize. To read more about the importance and benefits of giving back, click here to read Why You Should Be Volunteering in Your 20s

Trying to do it all while maintaining it all at the same time isn’t easy. Make sure you aren’t lying to yourself and beating yourself up about the not-so-great parts of life. The hope is that these tips will help you learn how to maintain your mental health, while still achieving everything you set out to do. At the end of the day, stress management and self-care are what makes taking on more and more tasks possible. Without it, you’re bound to have things slip through the cracks, including your mental health.

The post How to Maintain Mental Health While Being Ambitious appeared first on Our So Called 20s.

Navigating the world of credit is a very new thing for many people in their 20s. It’s something we will all have to worry about, but it is a topic that not many people are informed about off the bat. The hope is that by the end of this article, you have a better idea of how to use a credit card responsibly, inturn building your credit score and avoiding any debt possible.

The Basics of a Credit Card

What is credit?

Credit (n) –  a contractual agreement in which a borrower receives a sum of money or something else of value and commits to repaying the lender later, typically with interest.

When you get a credit card, you are given a maximum amount that you are allowed to borrow at any given time. This is called a credit limit.  The amount that you are able to borrow is often determined by your income, credit history/duration, and your credit score, which we will get into next.

What is a credit score?

Credit Score (n) – a three-digit number that rates your creditworthiness. FICO scores range from 300 to 850. The higher the score, the more likely you will get approved for loans and better rates. 

Your credit score is based on a variety of factors like how many cards you have open, along with the age of each card, the credit card utilization of each card or your overall access to credit, payment history, debt to income ratio, and more. To learn more about the details of how a credit score works, click here to read more from Investopedia. 

Credit scores are graded based on the range they fall into. FICO’s credit score ranges are as follows:

The #1 Rule of ALL Credit Cards

You HAVE to pay it back. I know this may seem obvious to some, but this is not something that everyone understands. Just because you have access to spend the money, you MUST remember that it is borrowed money. You have to give that money back to the people you borrowed it from, ie the bank. Otherwise, you owe interest. 

Interest (n) – is the charge for borrowing money, typically expressed as a percentage of the principal amount borrowed.

This is where people find themselves in trouble. Your interest amount is based off of the APR (annual percentage rate). As of December 2024, the average credit card APR is 20.37% . That means, if you don’t end up paying off your card in full by the end of the statement date, you’re looking at a nice added charge for borrowing. This is where people get into a pickle with credit cards.

Yes, there is something called a minimum payment (the minimum you have to pay every month to be in good standing on your card), but paying this doesn’t mean that you avoid interest. It just means that you won’t receive a negative hit to your credit card like you would if you did not pay the minimum balance. The only way to avoid paying interest is to pay off your credit card bill in full at the end of every month.

The Gnitty Gritty of How to Use a Credit Card Responsibly

1. Keep an Eye on Your Spending

It’s really easy to get swipe-happy with a credit card. This is where you have to make sure you are disciplined enough to own a credit card. If you find yourself in a constant pickle of your credit card bill being higher than the money in your checking account, you’re going to find yourself in a bind sooner than you think. Keep in mind, that interest compounds a lot faster than your paycheck increases. Make sure you are keeping an eye on how much you are spending and cut back if necessary.

>Click here to read about the Best 5 Personal Finance Apps to help you track your credit card spending<<

2. Pay off Your Credit Card BEFORE It’s Due

If your credit card balance is due on the 30th, pay it off on the 20th, or better yet in 2-week intervals. This will help you in two ways:

1. You’ll get a nice mid-month pulse on how much you have already spent for the month.
2. You will likely see a positive impact to your payment history, as you are constantly paying off what was borrowed well in advance.

Sometimes life moves fast and we lose track of the days. The last thing you want to do is mistakenly miss a credit card payment. The best way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to set a recurring reminder on your phone, but more importantly, set up automatic payments from your checking account. With most major credit cards, you can set this up with an automatic full balance payment, or a set payment amount. That’s up to you and what you think is best for your situation. The most important thing is that your card is being paid off. This is the best way to avoid debt as well.

3. Use Your Bills to Your Advantage

If you are responsible with your credit card, this might be a great way for you to get a nice kickback from paying the bills you already owe. Utilizing a rewards credit card can give you points that you can use for airfare, hotels, points on eating out, and more. Every card has different offerings, so it’s important for you to figure out what card is best for you and your lifestyle.

With this in mind, why not put your recurring bills on your credit card? These can be bills like your phone bill, your renter’s insurance, your subscription services, etc. Paying them on your debit card gives you no perks, but paying them on your rewards credit card will give you points toward something you would enjoy a lot more.

Again if you are someone who tends to have a higher balance du on their credit card than the number in their checking account, then this might not be the best option for you. It’s best that you focus on better credit card habits than trying to focus on how to squeeze points out of existing bills.

4. Stay Under 30% CCU

CCU (n) – stands for credit card utilization.

Your CCU can have a much bigger impact on your credit score than you may think. A high CCU can often be connected with overspending or being over-leveraged. Remember your credit limit is also determined by your income, so you’re given a credit limit that is partially based on what the bank thinks you can pay back every month. If you are getting to 90% CCU every month, the odds are higher that there will be a carry-over balance month to month, which is not a habit we want to get into with a credit card. Staying under 30% CCU also shows that you can be responsible about paying off your card balance and managing your finances.

An example of CCU:

Credit Limit: $1,000

Credit Card Balance: $851

CCU = 851 / 1,000 = .851 or 85% Credit Card Utilization. This is way above the recommended 30% and below.

5. Other Random Benefits of Credit Cards

Although many of the benefits of a credit card seem very obvious, there are some perks of purchasing a credit card that aren’t as widely spread. These benefits do not apply to all credit cards, but some major credit card companies do offer these benefits. Some of the random benefits of credit cards are as follows:

• Protection insurance on technology purchases
• Extended warranties
• Fraud protection
• Free TSA, Clear, and Global Entry
• Travel concierge
• Credit monitoring
• Cashback
• Waived food delivery service fees
• Airport lounge access

If any of these seem appealing to you, it might be something to look into during your search. Again, every card is different, but it’s worth looking into!

Credit cards can be super useful when used correctly, but if you are not responsible with them, you can find yourself in a pickle VERY quickly. Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. It is critical to instill good credit card habits off the bat to stop you from getting on a slippery slope. Make sure you do your research before signing up for a card. You can also go in person and talk to a banker at your local branch to figure out what card is best for you. Whatever you do, make sure you do it with care. Learning how to use a credit card responsibly in your 20s will have a huge impact on your borrowing abilities and overall financial wellness later in life. Make wise choices and be responsible.

Sources

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If you haven’t heard the saying yet, I’m sure you’ll hear it soon. Your network is your networth. Something as simple as meeting and connecting with the right people can have a profound affect on the outcome and opportunities you are presented with in your career and even sometimes your personal life. These networking tips have helped me and many others over the year to establish a strong network that continues to evolve with us throughout the ebbs and flows of our careers and 20s.

Figure Out What You’re Interested In

Knowing what direction you want to go in is step one. If you don’t know what field you want to work in, you probably won’t quite know who to start looking for. Take some time to make sure you have this part established. It’ll save you lots of time down the road. You don’t have to know the exact job you’re looking for, but a ballpark of the industry or a sector within the industry is a great place to start!

Find a Mentor

Having a mentor completely changed my career and personal life trajectory, there is no doubt about it. Having a mentor, or mentors can really help instill guardrails in your personal and professional life. If you think about it, this person has already been where you are now. They’ve been able to look back and reflect on the decisions they made at your age and either stand-by them, or realize they should have gone about these things differently. This wisdom is now being passed down to you to save you time, energy, pain, and possibly even money. Heck, your mentor might even have some networking tips that you’ve never thought of, or funny stories of when they fumbled the ball in their early days of networking.  Of course, you don’t have to do everything your mentors share or recommend to you, but it’s better to have the information than not.

How do you find a mentor you might ask? There really is no wrong way to go about this. If you went to school, it can be a professor you really clicked with, it can even be a teacher you had in high school. Maybe you ran into someone at a conference that you’ve stayed in touch with and really jive with. Once you’ve found the person you think you might want as a mentor, have more meetings with them and get to know them better. Once you feel comfortable and confident in the person, then ask if they would mind mentoring you. The biggest thing to remember is that you want this person to be miles ahead of you and share the same values and morals as you. It would be even better if they have a personal life you respect and desire as well. At the end of the day, if a mentor is there to give you guidance, why would you take advice from someone you don’t want to be anything like?

Advocate for Yourself and Put Yourself Out There

Growing up in school, we often had an adult who would advocate for us. Your teacher would point out that you were a hard worker, or your dad would introduce you to the local restaurant owner to help you get your first job. Well, the rest of our lives isn’t like that. You’re going to have to put yourself out there and sell yourself. This is no different in the networking process. If you want to connect with someone, you need to give them a reason to want to connect with you. Why would they want you in their circle? What do you offer that they don’t already have? What are you good at? Where do you see yourself going? What have you done to get to this point? Now, you don’t need to be boastful and egotistical. There’s a way to naturally bring these things up in conversation without coming off crass – hint ask them questions in this ballpark and I’m sure it’ll be followed with a “and what about you?”, which gives you the floor to share your story.

You want to be confident but not cocky when meeting people. In fact, I think that’s a good reminder in every aspect of life. You’re not trying to upstage the person, you’re just trying to level with them and show that you can keep up with them and are worthy of being in their orbit. Keep in mind this person should do the same for you. One of the most important things to keep in mind when building a network is quality over quantity. If you know a lot of people and yet none of them can provide any growth for you, then what you really have is a weak friend group. You want to build a strong network of people who can challenge you and motivate you, while also possibly opening doors for you later down the line.

Ask for Informational Interviews

Informational interviews are some of my favorite things to ask for and one of the most effective networking tips I’ve ever been given. Why? Because they are the least threatening way to ask to chat with someone – especially if you don’t have any mutuals or a true “reason” to talk to this person. The flip side of this is that most people if not everyone, love to talk about themselves. This means that you can ask the person anything you want (within reason), and you’ll get to hear all about their journey and maybe gain some nuggets of information as you go. Asking for an informational interview is a great way to be able to have a meaningful conversation with people all while connecting with someone you might not have otherwise. If you’re lucky, they’ll ask you why you chose to reach out to them and a few questions about where you are in your career journey. Most of the time, these interviews have ended in introductions to people in their circles and more follow-up meetings. You never know if you don’t ask.

>>Click here to download the Cold Email Outreach Template to help you with your next cold email. <<

Utilize LinkedIn

LinkedIn can be a great networking tool, but not in the way you might think. I personally am against adding people for the sake of. If I don’t know them, I don’t add them. I like my LinkedIn network to be truly reflective of my network and who I really know. With that being said, the mutual contacts feature on LinkedIn can be a huge help when properly utilized. If you are trying to get a hold of someone and you see that you have a mutual, reach out to your mutual and ask if they are willing to do an introduction for you. This is why having a legitimate list of connections on LinkedIn is so important.

Another thing you can look at on LinkedIn is where someone has worked previously. Maybe you used to work at the same company, or maybe you went to the same school. Or maybe you had a similar career transition going from marketing to tech sales let’s say. No matter the similarity, doing some preliminary research here can be a great starting point for getting a conversation going.

Pass the Baton

I cannot stress this part enough. Just like your mentor will pass a baton to you, it’s crucial that you do the same thing for the people behind you. Odds are giving and helping others will give you more in return than when you just go out searching for something to take. The world is so small and you never know who knows who. You might also learn something from the person you’re helping. And who knows, maybe one day they’ll actually end up being ahead of you and you’ll need to call on them. You just never know, so don’t think you don’t have time to help those behind you or even on the same road as you. There is plenty of room for everyone at the top. Make sure you don’t do the climb alone. Bring others up with you, because at the end of the day, those people are still a part of your network. Better yet, share these networking tips with them and watch them grow in this area right beside you.

>>Click here to read Giving Back…Life is Bigger Than Just You<<

Networking isn’t about the instant result. Networking is all about connecting with like-minded individuals and having a strong rolodex of people to call on when you need it. Use these networking tips to help you build the connections now and worry about what you’ll get from it later, or better yet, not at all. I’m confident you’ll never regret the time and effort put into building a strong network.

The post Networking Tips: Building Meaningful Connections in Your Early Career appeared first on Our So Called 20s.

1. Go on a walk – Seriously!

Taking the time in the day to step away and just walk outside can be a great way to reset your mind. It’ll give you a chance to breathe, think, reflect, and just be. The added bonus of moving as well, at a more leisurely pace, will also help you slow down your mind and thoughts. Getting some vitamin D from being out in the sun is also always a great added bonus and mood booster. Many of us are stuck inside all day and we sit behind our computers as time passes. Take a break. Step away and humanize yourself.

2. Get comfortable with saying ‘no’

If you are a people pleaser, odds are you struggle with saying ‘no’. If you’re someone who wants to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, you might also struggle with saying ‘no’. In turn, you overwhelm yourself and overload your schedule. The first step here is removing the negative connotation you have with saying ‘no’. Saying ‘no’ doesn’t make you a bad person, and it doesn’t make you a lazy or ungrateful person. Sometimes saying ‘no’ is the BEST thing you can do. Saying ‘no’ to the things that don’t really matter or serve you, opens up space for the things that do. Sometimes saying ‘no’ means that you understand the value of your time and the opportunity cost that this event brings. You have to allow time for yourself and allow space to take a pause when you need it. If you are constantly saying ‘yes’ to everything, you’ll never have time to entertain the idea of slowing down.

3. Read a book

Ah, the joys of reading. If you haven’t discovered the joy of reading, you might want to read Read More. You Might Just Enjoy It Again. Reading is a great way to yourself to disconnect from your to-do list and just be in the moment. Reading allows your mind to escape to another place, be it fiction or non-fiction, while also doing one of the hardest things in today’s world – pulling you away from your phone. Reading is a great way to slow down and get lost in something else. It’s also a great way to ensure that you are making time for yourself. Find yourself a quiet, comfortable place, and your favorite warm drink and get lost in some pages of paper.

4. Spend time with friends

Spending time with friends can be one of the most fun ways to slow down. The possibilities are endless. Whether it be watching a sports game with your friends, going on a hike, going out to dinner or the nearest bar, or something as grand as taking a trip, spend time with your friends. Work will always be there for the rest of your life. There is no doubt about that, but make sure you keep your friends along the way. There’s nothing worse than having it all on paper, yet no one to share it with. Don’t get so caught up in life and work that you forget to look up and around you. Always make sure you have people to share things with – the highs and the lows. Slowing down and making the extra effort to spend time with your friends will ensure that.

5. Be spontaneous

This is my favorite, because it can truly be anything! Carve away some time to let life happen. Block out your Saturday and text the group message to see who’s available. Make it a point to do something fun next Wednesday evening after work. Collect your PTO days so you can take a multi-day vacation. Whatever it is, leave time to be spontaneous. The only way you can do this, is if you say ‘no’ to the things that aren’t really serving you. Who knows what you’ll do with this time, but it’s important to claim it before someone else does. Remember, there are so many different ways to slow down. You could just end up binge-watching your favorite show on Netflix, or maybe you’ll end up doing a road trip with friends, or even a staycation with your best friend or partner. That’s the exciting part of being spontaneous. Make space for the time and decide later on how you fill it.

I think it’s important to note that slowing down doesn’t mean being lazy. It doesn’t mean that you aren’t ambitious. Slowing down just means that you’re enjoying the moment and all the beauty that this season of life has to offer. Odds are you notice a lot more of your surroundings when you’re driving through a neighborhood, than when you’re driving on the highway, but you’re still in route to your destination.  Life is no different. Sometimes you need to go 25 to be able to enjoy going 65.

While it might take a while for you to fully implement these things into your life, it’s important to not focus on perfection but instead to just start. Start anywhere, with any of these tips. Even if it might seem like the smallest thing to implement, this one change will not only have a massive positive effect on you, but it will also give you the motivation and courage to do more, or shall I say less, as time goes on. Do yourself a favor and slow down. I’m sure you won’t regret it.

The post 5 Ways to Slow Down in Everyday Life appeared first on Our So Called 20s.

Ah, Secret Santa. The annual office formality that you never want to fumble on. It’s not a secret that life is getting more and more expensive and buying ancillary gifts is the last thing that anyone wants to do. Here is a list of 25 Secret Santa gifts under $25, in hopes of making this time of year just a little bit easier. Brought to you by Amazon of course. Thank you Jeff Bezos!

1. For the wine enthusiast

Secura Electric Wine Opener, Automatic Electric Wine Bottle Corkscrew Opener with Foil Cutter, Rechargeable (Stainless Steel) for$19.80

Click here to buy

2. For the workout buff

Massage Gun Deep Tissue, Handheld Electric Muscle Massager, High Intensity Percussion Massage Device for Pain Relief with 9 Attachments & 30 Speed(Black) for $24.98

Click here to buy

3. For the hostess with the mostest

RoyalHouse Unique Bamboo Cheese Board and Knife Set – Charcuterie Boards Set & Cheese Platter with Slide-Out Cutlery Drawer – Serving Tray for Crackers, Meat, and Wine – Anniversary and Wedding Gift for $19.95

Click here to buy

4. For the King of Dad jokes

Belly Fanny Pack Funny White Elephant Gifts for Men Women Gag gifts Christmas Gift Exchange,Dad Bag Fake Beer Belly Waist Pack Unisex Waist Bag for $7.99

Click here to buy

5. For the handyman

12 in 1 Hammer Multitool, Stocking Stuffers for Adults, Mens Gifts for Christmas for $15.99

Click here to buy

6. For the avid golfer

Putt Cup – 16oz Coffee Mug + Putting Trainer – Best Golfer Gift Idea Novelty Office Present for $23.99

Click here to buy

7. For the Type-A employee

Donewin Bedside Lamp with Clock, USB Port, 10W Fast Wireless Charger, Touch Table Lamps for Nightstand, Bedroom,Wood Decor,Stepless Dimming&3 Color Modes for $19.99

Click here to buy

8. For the vibe curator

Touch Control Beside Lamp with Bluetooth Speaker-Colors Outdoor Table Lamp with Smart Touch Control for $18.99

Click here to buy

9. For the kid at heart

Jorbest Burritos Tortilla Wrap Blanket Adult Kids and Baby Size Birthday Gifts, Double Sided Food Throw Blanket Funny Gifts for Women Men Teen, 285 GSM Soft Flannel Taco Blanket for $16.99

Click here to buy

10. For the trendy one

CPLA Moon Lamp Upgrade 128 Colors, Gifts for Girls Boys Kids Women Birthday, Teen Girl Gifts Trendy Stuff, Cool Astronomy Gifts, Shelf Decor, Remote & Touch Control Moon Night Light, Diameter 6 inch for $16.99

Click here to buy

11. For the big snacker

Saucemoto Dip Clip | An in-car sauce holder for ketchup and dipping sauces. As seen on Shark Tank (2 Pack, Black) for $9.99

Click here to buy

12. For the candle lover

MEIRUBY Lighter Electric Candle Lighter Long Electronic Rechargeable USB Lighter Arc Windproof Flameless Lighters for Candle Camping BBQ for $9.99

Click here to buy

13. For the accountant

I Do Payroll, You Should Be Nice To Me: Secret Santa Gifts for Men, Women, Coworkers, Bosses under 10 | Journal with 100 Pages (Premium Cream Paper) for $6.85

Click here to buy

14. For the bourbon connoisseur

Whiskey Glass Gift Set – 2 Whiskey Glasses and Whiskey Stones with Tongs in Velvet Bag All Presented in an Elegant Wooden Box for $22.99

Click here to buy

15. For the woman who’s constantly traveling

Parima Travel Jewelry Case – Small Travel Jewelry Boxes for Women, Travel Jewelry Case Organizer, Personalized Custom Monogrammed Jewelry Case Letter Jewelry Box for Women for $13.59

Click here to buy

16. For the Neat Freak

ODISTAR Desktop Vacuum Cleaner, Mini Table dust Sweeper Energy Saving,High Endurance up to 90 mins,Cordless&360º Rotatable Design for Keyboard/Home/School/Office for $9.73

Click here to buy

17. For the iced coffee/match addict

Glass Cups with Lids and Straws 4 pcs,16 oz Glass Cups for Coffee Bar Accessories-DWTS DANWEITESI Iced Coffee Cups with Lids,Drinking glasses Set,Coffee Cups Glass Tumbler with Straw and Lid for Gifts for $12.99

Click here to buy

18. For the matcha obsessed

Matcha Set, Japanese Tea Set Includes Matcha Bowl with Spout, Matcha Whisk Holder (chasen), 15.2 oz Handcrafted Coarse Pottery Ceramic Matcha Kit for Matcha Lovers for $20.79

Click here to buy

19. For the adventure seeker

Portable Charger, Solar Charger, 38800mAh Solar Power Bank with 2.4A USB-A Output Ports Compatible with iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and More, Dual Emergency LED Flashlight Perfect for Hiking, Camping for $17.99

Click here to buy

20. For the movie lover

Urban Accents MOVIE NIGHT Popcorn Kernels and Popcorn Seasoning Variety Pack (set of 8) – 3 Non-GMO Popcorn Kernel Packs and 5 Gourmet Popcorn Snack Seasoning for $22.00

Click here to buy

21. For the beanie wearer

Carhartt Men’s Knit Cuffed Beanie for $19.99

Click here to buy

22. For skin enthusiast

BAIMEI IcyMe Ice Roller for Face Women and Gua Sha Facial Tool Set, Ice Face Roller Reduces Puffiness, Relieves Migraines, Skin Care Tools, Self Care Gift for $6.35

Click here to buy

23. For the meditation master

Mindsight ‘Breathing Buddha’ Guided Visual Meditation Tool for Mindfulness | Slow Your Breathing & Calm Your Mind for Stress & Anxiety Relief for $21.95

Click here to buy

24. For the naturopath

Benatu Essential Oil Roll On Set (Dream, Lavender, Chamomile), Aromatherapy Roller for Massage, Body Skin Care, Home – Natural Fragrance Gift for $14.98

Click here to buy

25. For the office mug user

Coffee Mug Warmer for Desk, Cup Warmer with Auto Shut Off Smart Temperature Settings, Electric Beverage Tea Water Milk Warmer for All Cups and Mugs, Heating Plate Candle Wax Warmer for $18.95

Click here to buy

Hopefully, this list of 25 Secret Santa Gifts under $25 helps make your office’s Secret Santa just a little bit easier and wallet-friendly.

The post 25 Secret Santa Gifts Under $25 (From Amazon) appeared first on Our So Called 20s.

Burn-out* (n)

• • feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion;
  • increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and
  • reduced professional efficacy.

*according to the World Health Organization

It’s a real thing. If you haven’t experienced it yet, I’m so happy for you. If you have experienced it, you know how it feels. And if you feel like you’re not far from experiencing it, you’re probably right. Burnout takes a while to fully get back from, but is something that can also be avoided if you’re smart about it. These are some of my top ways to avoid burnout.

1. Don’t Set Yourself Up for Failure

Sometimes we get so caught up in checking off everything on our to-do list that we forget to realize how long the to-do list is constantly getting. Being productive is a great thing! But over-committing yourself day after day will set you up for failure. It’s important to remember that there are only a subset of working hours in a day. How many exist in your personal schedule is up to you and your specific situation. For some people, it’s eight working hours. For others, it might be 10. No matter what your limit is, don’t set yourself up for 12 hours of work, if the limit is eight hours. Sure, sometimes you need to overhaul the day, but doing that for months on end will only lead you in one direction. A good metric for me is checking in on my personal life tasks, ie laundry, cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, etc. If I’m getting to a point where month after month, I’m struggling to keep up with household responsibilities which only help me set myself up well for the next day, then there’s probably an aspect of imbalance in my life, which is soon to lead to burnout. Think about it. Unloading your groceries, washing dishes, unloading the dishwasher, and taking out the trash, probably take about 10 minutes for each task. Doing laundry only takes about 30 minutes of active work. If you’re struggling to keep up with personal tasks that collectively take you about 1.5 hours out of your daily or week, something is off. You might be overloading yourself with work, and neglecting your personal life, which is a great path to burnout.

2. Take Breaks – But Seriously

A 9-5 is a myth nowadays, and I think we all know that. I think an 8-7 is more like it, but even then everyone’s job requires a different chunk of their daily time. When you are just running Monday through Friday or even working on the weekends, you really need to make time to reboot. Take a break, even if that is just a couple of hours on the weekend. Constantly consuming your brain with work tasks and responsibilities will eventually drive you mad. When you start to forget what day it is, or stop recognizing the weekends as a time for some sort of personal reboot, you might need to take a step back and reevaluate the way you are going about your work. I understand that some industries require weekend work, I’ve been in one myself. But is there something you can do for yourself every few weekends to help give yourself time to reboot? This might even be something as simple as scheduling a dinner with friends or setting up a round of golf. This small change of routine in your life and social interaction can be a huge boost to your morale and stamina. It’s also a great reminder that you are human and not a robot made only to work in your life. Taking breaks is a huge step in the right direction to avoid burnout.

3. Make Time to Be Childish

“Being childish” is one of my favorite things to do right now. Yes, we are adults, but when did we forget about the joys of the things we once loved as kids? Remember when we used to have after-school activities
doing the most random things? From taekwondo to drawing classes, to chess club,  to sports. We used to do it all on a weekly basis. Let’s bring that back! Find the activities that you used to enjoy or new activities that you want to explore and give them a go! There is no loss in this investment and there is no better time in life than your 20s to get back into your hobbies or find new ones. Maybe you’ve always wanted to get into horseback riding. Maybe you want to join a rec flag football team in your area. It can be anything!  You are more than your job and it’s okay to do something that is just “for fun”. Doing these “childish” activities will help you refresh your mind, step away from your mounting work responsibilities, and replenish your energy and creativity in a different way.

4. Spend Time with Friends and Family

We are all social creatures, even the introverted ones out there. We are all a part of a community and your involvement in these is valued and appreciated. Our work schedule can get ahead of us sometimes, but no one ever wants to be that person who’s 50, successful, yet has no one to call on Friday or Saturday night. Just like you invest your time into your work and career, don’t forget to step back and invest time into your community. Check in on the people around you and let them check in on you too. Stay a part of your friends’ and family’s lives and allow yourself to decompress, laugh cry, and make memories outside of your office and computer screen. Social interaction can be a huge mood booster and stress reliever in your life and just like taking a break, and making time to be childish, having a change in your schedule can really help you to avoid burnout. Remember what is worth it at the end of the day, and ask your friends and family to hold you accountable to ensure that you’re finding balance in your life.

5. Move Your Body

Move, move, move. You can never move enough! Sitting sedentary in front of a computer screen day after day can really get to a person. It’s important that you make time to exercise, go on a walk, stretch, and get away from your office chair. Get some sunlight and fresh air, and let your mind and body reconnect from time to time. It’s even better if you can do this on a daily basis. Sitting sedentary all the time and starting out the same window day after day is not good for your mindset. Eventually, you’ll feel like a hamster running on the same wheel day after day getting nowhere. Although the odds are that you are being productive, being in the same place at the same time on repeat will make you feel differently. Don’t be afraid to change up your workplace for the day or your style of work if you can.

Burnout is a b*tch to say the least. I’ve learned my lesson the hard way before and I only hope to help prevent this from occurring in other people’s lives. I got so caught up in the day-to-day that I failed to stop, reflect, and live along the way. Make sure you do this, and remember to do the fun and childish things along the way. At the end of the day, spending time doing anything other than work is a great way to avoid burnout.

Sources:

“Burn-out an ‘Occupational Phenomenon’: International Classification of Diseases.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

The post How to Avoid Burnout appeared first on Our So Called 20s.

1. Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is so much more important than we all realize. Of course, your body can go a while without proper rest, but eventually, it’ll come crashing down. Just like a car’s engine, after a while you have to shut the car off, and let it rest. If you run it 24/7, the wear and tear on the car will compound much faster than expected and eventually it’ll stop working. Your body is the same way. Don’t keep your engine running. As often as you can, reach for eight hours of sleep, and if you can’t try to let your body rest and reboot over the weekend. Make sure you aren’t exposing yourself to unnecessary blue light right before bed. Yes, that means putting your phone away an hour before bed to help you properly wind down.

2. Have Hobbies

Hobbies are some things that can go by the wayside as we get older and start our careers. Suddenly everything fun has to be productive, and any second of downtime is spent doing mundane tasks like grocery shopping. If you’re not busy, then you’re exhausted and trying to recover from all the energy you’ve depleted throughout the week. I get it. One thing that has really helped me reboot after a long week is bringing my hobbies back into play. For some people that’s long-distance running. For you, that may be pottery making, playing music, cooking, making cocktails, surfing, skiing, painting, reading, rock climbing, you name it. Find the activities that make you happy and do those more. Shut your brain off from work and achievements and just learn how to be a kid again. Find fulfillment in just being you – outside of those life achievements.

3. Unplug Daily

This might be one of the hardest things to do, I know. If it’s not our work computer, it’s our personal computers. If it’s not our computer it’s our phone, or our smart watch, or our tablets and e-readers. The list goes on and on. With notifications coming in left and right, it’s never easy to just “unplug”. Something that has helped me, is setting a wind-down reminder on my phone. So about one hour before my planned bedtime, my phone will go into do-not disturb mode, silencing all of my notifications and allowing me to focus on my wind-down routine and not lose focus. I have friends who have also put certain permissions on their phones to stop them from opening certain apps at certain times of the day. This can be super helpful for those serial scrollers. Once you’ve interfered with your screen usage, make sure to replace that time with another activity, ie reading a book, doing yoga, cooking, etc. >>Click here for an easy-read recommendation: Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. 

4. Prioritize Self-Care

Self-care. The term we’ve all heard a million times over and over again. This can look like so many different things for different people. For some, it may look like having a slow night, drawing a bath, and reading their favorite book or watching their favorite show. For others, it may look like treating yourself to a massage or a facial. It can even be as simple as getting yourself a coffee and going on a walk, or sitting in a bar and ordering your favorite drink. There is no wrong way to prioritize self-care. What’s important is that you take time to do things for yourself, regardless of what’s going on around you. Investing in yourself will only increase your productivity and energy down the line. I’m not sure when treating yourself became demonized, but I think it’s important that we bring this aspect of life back to our routines.

5. Exercise

Exercise, exercise, exercise. It is never not important. No matter how you choose to go about this, make sure it is incorporated into your routine in some way shape, or form. Exercise can look different for everyone. You could be someone who likes to hit 10k steps a day, or you can be someone who likes low-intensity workouts like pilates or yoga. You could be someone who enjoys hit workouts, kickboxing, or jiujitsu. You could be someone who likes going on intense hikes, swimming, or just hitting the plain ole gym. Whatever it is, make it a non-negotiable priority in your daily life. Exercise has been proven to reduce stress, improve sleep patterns, aid in your overall long-term health, and help relieve chronic pain for those who suffer from it. The other perk of exercise when it comes to work-life balance, is the fact that you can’t do anything else while you’re exercising. You go in to complete a task and you don’t leave until it’s done. Take this time to just focus on yourself, and not the glooming to-do list that you know is at the top of your mind. >>Click here to learn more about the importance of exercise on the human body.

6. Fuel Your Body Right

The food you put into your body is just as important as the way you treat the outside of your body. Food is fuel for the human body, so many sure you are putting the right things in it. This means eating the rainbow. Make sure your diet is full of plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes, and as little processed foods as possible. It can be really easy to get caught up in eating out 24/7, or grabbing that microwave burrito from the fridge section of the grocery store. Although we all fall victim to the element of convenience, it’s important to not let it create a habit. Take the time to prepare food for yourself, especially if you have time to meal prep on the weekends. Something as simple as meal prepping can make healthy eating even easier for you to keep up with throughout the week, while also saving you money in the long run. “Fueling your body” with chips, soda, fast food, and processed sugars, is a surefire way to make sure your body will crash and burn, in turn making it harder to focus at work, complete basic tasks, and stay sharp. Eat the rainbow and give your brain and body the best chance at staying on top of your work-life balance.

7. Touch Grass

This has become one of my favorite sayings over this past year. This is mostly because it seems to solve so many problems in my life. Sometimes we get so caught up on what’s next, what’s around the corner, or what we don’t have. We are glued to our computers or staring at our phones with our heads down, hoping to get a glimmer of a dopamine hit, one scroll at a time. When life gets overwhelming, when work seems like too much, when your phone keeps pinging, just go touch grass. Go step outside, take a breather, and just be with yourself and your thoughts. Ignore whatever people are asking of you in that moment and just take five minutes to yourself. Of course, if you’re about to walk into a board meeting, this probably isn’t the best time to step away, but maybe make an effort earlier that morning to take some time, or later that evening. Whenever you have time, get some fresh air and sunlight. Sunlight exposure has been proven to help elevate one’s mood, lower blood pressure, improve sleep, and so much more. >>Click here to learn more about the benefits of sunlight exposure. 

Work-life balance is a lifelong journey that only you will know how to best craft for your unique situation. Although it’s easy to fall into the trap of “perfecting” this aspect of your life, don’t let this stop you from just starting. Perfection isn’t important. What’s important is that you start investing in yourself and your well-being and not just dumping every moment of your life into work. Even though this may feel fulfilling in the now, long-term you will regret not taking the time to perform routine maintenance checks and oil changes along the way.

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