Category Archives: Time Management

Why Self Care Is Especially Important During the Holiday Season

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While the holidays can be a fun and festive time of the year, as we all know, sometimes the holidays can bring upon different levels of stress between planning events, putting some strain on your finances, dealing with family members you might not want to see, etc. That is why it is important to still take time for self care and to not forget about yourself as it is very easy to do so during this time of year. Meaning that you should not neglect your daily self care regime and feel that you have to take care of everyone else without taking care of yourself.

If you are used to working out, still make time to work out whenever you find any time that you can do so. If you need a massage to relieve some tension, then you should go ahead and book an appointment. Be sure to find ways to always clock in enough sleep each day and to continue to a nutritional diet. Of course it is understandable to indulge if you’re at a holiday party or a special event but moderation is still important to keep in the back of your mind. The things that make you feel good and that relieves any stresses in your life are the things that you need to prioritize along with all the other things that are on your holiday list. Trust me, you will never regret taking care of yourself! 🙂

Why Are People Quitting Their Jobs at Record High Numbers?

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There is no denying that the ongoing pandemic has impacted many people one way or another–both for the good and the bad. One area that has heavily been impacted is one’s employment status. In the very beginning, many people found themselves without a job and might have had to collect unemployment for the very first time in their lives. Many were also furloughed for extended periods of time but eventually were able to be brought back to work. Depending on the industry, there were also people who have been working from home and haven’t set foot into an office since or might be easing back into working in person again just a few days a week. What many would not have anticipated is that while things are slowly getting back to some sort of new normalcy, many people (Americans in particular) are quitting their jobs altogether. I recently had read a statistic that 4.3 million Americans had quit their jobs this past August 2021 which is approximately 3% of the American workforce. While that might not seem too high, it is still alarming considering that this seems to be the new trend and more people are choosing to leave their jobs in its entirety.

One initial factor that comes to mind as to why this is happening could be the vaccine mandate which has put people in a position where they are forced to quit their jobs due to a lack of personal choice. However, surprisingly, this only accounts for a very small percentage of people who have left their jobs. Another thought might be that the generous unemployment benefits that were given out during the pandemic have also made it very easy for people to essentially get paid to stay home as opposed to going back to work. However, these extended pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA) benefits had been terminated in certain states a long time ago or had just ended this past September which means that people are no longer collecting large sums of money from the government anymore. So why are people still choosing to not go back to work?

During these times of uncertainty, I think people have been reflecting on their lives on a much deeper level and have really taken the time to examine what brings personal fulfillment. For many, work has consumed a good majority of life which can leave people to feel burnt out over extended periods of time to the point where people need to find a way to catch a break and there seems to be no better time than right now. I have written in the past about how having a lot of money might seem great but when you don’t have the free time to enjoy life, money does not hold as much value as TIME in my opinion. As I have also recently wrote about, you can always make money but you cannot always make up for lost time–as we all know how fast life passes us by.

Quality of life is essential yet so many people [unfortunately] let their jobs rob them away of this basic need and key to happiness. I think people are realizing now more than ever that quality of life is simply more important than work. While we need a stable job for basic survival, sometimes it just is not worth it if that means losing sleep, added amounts of stress, lack of flexibility, lack of family time, feeling unappreciated, menial wages, and so many other drawbacks. After awhile, enough is enough already.

If people find themselves reaching that breaking point, then yes–it’s time to quit and press the restart button. By restart, I simply mean to consider pursuing a new career path that will ensure intrinsic satisfaction and be in alignment with one’s life purpose. Perhaps restart could mean leaving the work force for an extended period of time to enjoy a hobby, spend quality time with family, or to travel the world. Everyone’s situation is different but at the end of the day, no one should be settling on a miserable work life. It is much better to look into starting over or to take a well deserved break. I think that the pandemic along with the current statistics are consistently showing that more people are coming to this realization and need to figure out a new game plan for life which ultimately is a positive thing.

Quality Time vs. Money – What’s More Valuable?

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As adults, we spend much of our lives working and developing our careers in order to build wealth and financial security. I am definitely all for working hard and making a lot of money but at the same time, I don’t think money is everything. Yes, money can buy many material goods and is needed to pay the bills but over time, I have discovered that quality time is much more valuable in the long run. Quality time to me means having the luxury to do the things that you enjoy such as pursuing your favorite hobbies and spending time with the people you care about most. The way in which we choose to spend our quality time really is personal to all of us and can also vary throughout the course of our lifetime. (Hey, it is never too late to pick up a new hobby!)

However, I will admit that the catch 22 of the situation is that you sort of need to have financial security (money) to buy you more quality time. By that I mean, in order to have more freedom and time, one must really have the money in the bank to be able to do what you want without having to constantly be working in order to make the money. That is why I cannot stress the importance of striking the right balance between work while also setting up free time for yourself. Working a crazy amount of hours might mean extra money in the bank but if you do not have the free time to enjoy it, is it really worth it? On the other hand, utilizing more of your free time without bringing money in is also not the way to live as it’s an added stress when you cannot make enough money to pay your monthly expenses.

When you’re much younger, sometimes it is necessary to really put in the extra work while you have the energy and are more dependent on working towards financial security which means less quality time to dedicate towards your passions; however, I can tell you from my personal experience, it is actually worth it (later)! That is not to say I was not having fun in my youth, I still think I managed to find a balance but I definitely made many sacrifices in order to comfortably build financial independence which now has paid off in giving me the opportunity to have more free time where I can afford to work less than I did before and allot more free time for myself. Working will always be very important to me as I look at it more for providing me a sense of purpose in which I will continue to be dedicated to my profession; however, I am not in a position where I am working incessantly in order to get by. It is wise to strive towards both financial security AND putting time aside for yourself but it’s good knowing that financial security will often provide you the quality time you deserve. Nowadays, I can take a step back and relax a bit to enjoy more quality time that is separate from my work life thanks to all the times I put in the extra work previously. Often you might find that you need to work harder in the beginning in order to earn quality time in the future. Trust me, it’s worth it! 🙂

This is a photo that was taken of me yesterday on my day off. Quality time is valuable, so let’s all find a way to enjoy it!

5 Ways to Improve the Quality of Your Life Starting Today

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Over the years, I have taken the time to really appreciate the quality of life which for me means having more time to myself for leisure activities, an active social life, and of course much needed alone time to feel fully recharged. I strongly believe in hard work but it is just as important to be able to enjoy life–whatever that means to you.

Take Care of Yourself by Adapting a Healthier Lifestyle – I always preach about developing healthy habits which can include eating higher quality foods and paying attention to portion control. It is okay to indulge but again, it is all about keeping everything within moderation. Besides a good diet, taking the time to exercise each day is also very important for increasing your longevity and overall well being.

Make Time for Vacations and Day Trips – People who work a lot often times do not take the time to actually plan a real vacation. I would suggest thinking about new places you want to explore and putting the money aside for it including the flight, accommodations, and entertainment money. Besides planning at least one big vacation, it is also good to plan long weekends and local day trips. Life experiences like travel are incredibly rewarding so be sure to make the time for it.

Stay Organized in All Areas of Your Life – Organization is such an important life skill but one that sometimes gets overlooked, especially when you are super busy. This can first start within your home and your surroundings by making a conscious effort to keep these areas neat and clutter free. If that means getting rid of items that are not practical, then take the time to do so. Aside from your living space, it is also a good habit to keep a planner or to do lists to keep your actual life organized or at least provide some structure. This will help you improve the quality of your life by allowing you to gain more control of how you spend your time each day.

Sleep More – Take Naps If Needed – When you work full time and have what it feels like ten million responsibilities each day, it is very easy to cut back on the amount of sleep you are getting each night. If this applies to you, I would suggest finding spare time in your day where you can take a power nap or by getting in the habit of going to bed earlier or sleeping in a little if you have a schedule that can allow for that.

Turn Cell Phone Notifications Off – It is really hard to imagine life without a cell phone nowadays. As much as it has improved the quality of our lives by allowing us to easily stay connected with others, have information at our finger tips, and apps for just about anything, there also comes a time it is healthy to turn the notifications off. If you are with other company, trying to be productive, working, or in a situation where you do not need to be attached to your phone, it is okay to put it aside and not check it for a few hours. You would be amazed how much quality time you can add back to your everyday life just by putting your cell phone down every so often.

This is just a short list of suggestions for improving the quality of your life that have really worked for me in recent years and are good things to apply if you do not already. All it takes is some added mindfulness and taking small steps to make these daily changes that will make an impact over time.

How to Manage Your Time When You Have Too Much Time – 5 Ways to Increase Your Productivity

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One would think that the more time you have, the more productive you are; however, that is not always the case. The lack of structure can actually make it even more challenging to increase your productivity during the day. When you have your day set with booked appointments, assigned work hours, and planned engagements, you can be held accountable for how you are investing your time.

Due to the current pandemic we are facing, there are many people who now have more time than they ever did before. Many find themselves unemployed or are forced to stay at home the majority of the day due to social distancing practices and business closures which has also put limits on our social lives. Time is one of our most valuable resources so it is essential to actually maximize this extra time we now have on our hands rather than let it waste away and have nothing to show for it. I am not saying that you should not utilize this time towards some relaxation or to catch up on some Netflix series but do you want to look back during this moment in your life and see it as lost time in which you could have done more but you didn’t?

Whether we are living through a pandemic or not, let’s take a look at some ways to better manage your time during your day-to-day life:

  • Plan Your Day the Day Before – If you do not already take the time to write daily to-do lists for yourself, then now is a good time to start. When I say write it down, I literally mean, get out a piece of paper and a pen and write it down! If you prefer the more digital route and rather write your lists on your cell phone or computer, then that can work effectively as long as you actually look at it and have access to it. I am constantly writing to do lists for myself for the week and for the day ahead. I find writing a general list of what I absolutely want to get done the day before is a good time management technique because I am planting the seed in my mind the day before of what my upcoming day is going to look like as opposed to just being spontaneous about it. Often times, I do not get every single thing accomplished and that is okay! I make sure I prioritize what is most important that I get done first and leave the remaining items on the list for the following day. Certain tasks might take a series of days to accomplish anyhow so it is important to be realistic about how much you can actually do. Everyone has their own way of pacing themselves and the goal is to find that balance without stressing yourself with too much or not assigning yourself with enough things to do to begin with.
  • Set Alarms and Set Aside Specific Times – If you want to take your daily to-do list a step further, choose specific times of your day that you are actually going to do a certain activity. When I set an alarm during the day and it goes off, I know I have to stop whatever it was that I was currently doing to go work on the assigned task I wanted to accomplish at that specific time. This is important because if you do not assign a time, you might keep putting it off until you reach the end of the night and you realize you did not get what you really wanted to get done. Even if it is a simple task, setting an appointment for yourself will better ensure that you follow through and can check it off your list by the end of the day.
  • Reduce the Digital Distractions – We live in a world where often times we are attached to our cell phones and/or computers. It is okay to put it aside sometimes and not check on it at certain points during your day. There are ways to reduce the distractions by turning off all the notifications altogether or by leaving the phone in another room so it is not at arm’s reach. This way there is no temptation to pick it up and check on your latest messages or get lost on social media.
  • Incorporate Do Not Disturb Hours – Mainly at night, I literally have “do not disturb” hours at a certain point where I will not take any phone calls after a certain time. Lately, my evenings have been my designated times of productivity in which I refuse to take a phone call during those hours. I will just let it go to voicemail or I might send a quick text saying that I will return the phone call the following day or at a time that works best for them. Whatever those times are for you, set blocks of time during the day that you will under no circumstances (unless it is an emergency) take phone calls. This will help you stay focused and get more accomplished without any disruptions.
  • Find Ways to Recharge – As much as it is important to want to stay self motivated and want to accomplish as much as you can in one day, there should also be some down time and breaks added to prevent yourself from over working yourself. For me personally, I like to go out for a walk on a nice day or I might take the time to connect with someone by making a phone call. Another way I like to recharge is by taking a mini coffee break for an energy boost or on the opposite extreme, I find an afternoon nap to be extra satisfying and a real luxury when I make the time for one. The importance of clocking in enough sleep cannot be underestimated so on days I went to bed late and woke up too early, I find taking a nap in the mid afternoon can be extra beneficial in order for me to get more done later that day simply by obtaining a little extra rest.

This highlights some ways to more effectively manage your time, especially during instances when you might have more time than usual and want to continue to stay productive.