Tag Archives: work life balance

4 Tips for Adding More Spice to Your Life


Posted by Amanda Abella


 Schnebly Redlands Winery – Homestead, FL

I’ve already written posts about how we shouldn’t get stuck in the mundane and how to have some semblance of work/life balance. I’ve also written posts about how to manage stress and stay happy at work. Now I’m taking it a step further by helping you add some spice to your life

Because you see, the easiest way to avoid both unnecessary stress and getting stuck in a rut is by adding some spice to your life. And contrary to popular belief, it really doesn’t take some extraordinary act in order to achieve this. It doesn’t involve a new romantic partner, a new job, a crazy vacation or any other sort of future happenings. All it really takes is the willingness to explore new things right here and now.

1. Use Your Weekends for Local Adventures

This past weekend I did something hadn’t done since I was a kid – I went down South to Homestead to go farm hopping. I also did some wine tasting at a South Florida Winery that makes crazy wines out of fruits like avocado and mango. Last but not least I went to go check out a Buddhist temple because I’d never seen one before.

Use your weekends for local adventures. I bet there’s a lot in your area you have yet to discover and there’s no better time than now to start exploring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Try Something New Every Week

This was one of my main goals in 2011 that unfortunately got put on the back burner. Each week for the rest of 2012 decide on something new you’d like to try – and then make it a point to go after it! If one a week is too much cut it down to once or twice or month. The point is to open your horizons and explore new things you may have not done otherwise.

Want to know what’s on my list for the next few weeks?

- Tai Chi class

- The Coral Gables Farmer’s Market

- Going to the shooting range and learning to shoot a gun

- Ayruveda

- Miami International Film Festival

- A group coaching course with Gabrielle Bernstein

- St. Sophia’s Annual Greek Festival 

Those are just a few on the list for this year :)

3. Take a class at a community college and learn something new.

I haven’t done this yet, but one of my coworkers periodically signs up for crafting classes at the local community college. It’s a great way to de-stress, get the creative juices flowing and continue learning new things. Community colleges are also usually very decently priced so take advantage! Keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be crafting, it can be anything you have an interest in.

4. Volunteer

One of the best ways to get some feel good vibes is by volunteering. Pick a weekend out of the month to lend your services to a local cause or event. You’ll feel great that you helped other people and you can always learn a thing or two from volunteering.

These are just a few ways to start adding some spice to your life.

What do you do to add spice and variety? Feel free to share in the comments section!

Amanda Abella

Amanda Abella is a Gen Y blogger, freelance writer and recruiter in training based out of Miami, FL. She is also the author of Grad Meets World: The First Year Out of College and can be found writing for Brazen Careerist, SheNow and more.


How to Get Back in the Groove After a Break from Work


Posted by Amanda Abella

 

 

 

 

 

Park Benches

The past couple of weeks have been rough for many of us – we all went back to work after a glorious break.

Sure, we were refreshed and excited for a New Year, but the fact remains that it is very difficult to go back to work after a vacation. This is true for those of us who work in the traditional world and, from my experience, especially true for those of us with entrepreneurship projects.

For some reason – though we may feel refreshed – it’s difficult to focus and get back in the groove. I walked into work last Tuesday morning and it was like I’d completely forgotten what I do. I had very little motivation despite the fact that I actually like my job (how many people can say that, right?).

So how do we get back in the groove after a break? How do we buckle down and focus? Below you’ll find a few tips to get you started.

1. Shift your perspective.

There’s no reason we should hate waking up in the morning. Actually, the very fact that we’re alive and could wake up in the morning is enough to put a smile on our faces.

Unfortunately, however, sometimes work is just that – work. Even those of us who enjoy our work on most days sometimes find ourselves begrudgingly going to the office. It doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with us – after all we’re human and our emotions change – it just means we need to shift our perspective a bit.

Rather than dreading the thought of going to work and focusing on the negative – start focusing on the positive aspects of it. Best-selling author and motivational speaker Gabrielle Bernstein recently wrote a post on The Daily Love entitled Spirit Junkie’s Top 12 Tips for Happiness in 2012. In it she emphasized the importance of changing your perspective:

Tip 2: Change the conversation. Make a resolution to change your dialogue about fear and negativity. When you think, talk and act from a negative place, you attract negativity into your life. Commit to a new conversation. Begin the New Year talking and thinking about what you love about your life rather than replaying the same old negative story. You might just be surprised by the results.

(You can find out more about Gabrielle Bernstein, her story and how she began shifting her perspective on life by watching her Authors@Google Talk. )

2. Make a to-do list the night before.

I have found that making a to-do list the night before helps me clear my head and be organized when I walk into work in the morning. It gives me a starting point instead of just trying to sporadically figure out what I have to do when I get in there.

Also, I try to put no more than 3 big to-dos for the on the list. These are the three things that MUST get done that day when I’m not conducting interviews (i.e. invoices, calling candidates for a second interview, scheduling interviews). It ensures that you won’t feel overwhelmed by task overload and also leaves room for all the little things that pop up throughout the day – like running a credit card or writing receipts.

3. Don’t multi-task.

My boss recently showed me an article that was published in The Miami Herald back in August. It was all about how multi-tasking saps creativity. Having grown up in a generation where multi-tasking meant you were efficient, she was kind of in shock. However, it didn’t take her long to realize the truth behind the concept.

If you spread yourself out to thin you end up half-assing everything. You also miss out on actually be present in what you are doing – causing stress and chatter in the brain.

Focus on doing just one thing at a time. Leo Babauta, the mastermind behind Zen Habits, puts it wonderfully when he states:

If you’re washing a dish, do it slowly, and feel every sensation. If you’re eating a fruit, taste it, feel the textures, be mindful of your hunger or lack of it. If you’re writing something, pour your heart into that writing, become the writing, inhabit the words.

Just do.

(P.S. I highly recommend reading the entire post, The Zen of Doing. It’s a goody, I promise!)

4. Work for an hour, take a break.

I started incorporating this technique this week after reading about the importance of taking breaks from work. After a while of working our minds simply need to rest. I have personally found that getting some work done for an hour  at a time and taking 10 minute breaks in between helps me manage the to-do list more efficiently.

5. Do things you actually WANT to do when you’re not in the office.

I recently wrote a post about how it’s easy to get stuck in a mundane routine when we’re working. I emphasized how many people live their lives doing the same thing everyday without really feeling fulfilled. This generally tends to put us in a horrible mood as we go day in and day out without any change.

Make it a point to dedicate some time to the things YOU want to do. You’re not in the office or slaving away on your laptop 24 hours a day – so take advantage of the time you have! Maybe you’d like to take up a dance class, use your time to start exercising or do something as simple as write in a journal. Whatever it is, make sure to dedicate some time to yourself and things you would like to experience.

Going back to work doesn’t have to be a dreadful experience. With the right balance you can enjoy your day and even get some things done!

What do you do to get back in the groove?

Image via Chris_J

Amanda Abella

Amanda Abella is a Gen Y blogger, freelance writer and recruiter in training based out of Miami, FL. She is also the author of Grad Meets World: The First Year Out of College and can be found writing for Brazen Careerist, SheNow and more.


The Importance of Not Getting Stuck in the Mundane + 5 Tips for Work/Life Balance


Posted by Amanda Abella

 

 

 

Unfortunately, many of us seem to have the same routine day in and day out.

Wake up, drink some coffee, (some people begrudgingly) go to work , come home, watch TV, go to bed, repeat.

People spend most of their lives doing the same crap over and over again – and quite frankly I find this incredibly frustrating.

Take it from someone who conducts countless job interviews each day, there is an over abundance of average people in the world. Average people who didn’t do anything spectacular, never did what they actually wanted, put up with a crappy boss and spend half a job interview complaining about it. They feel stuck or like they’re just another cog in the wheel. They feel like their lives flew past them while they were hunched over a desk only to get laid off because of budget cuts or the recession.

The truth is I’m petrified of turning into most of the people I interview. But the fact of the matter remains that most of us have to work – money doesn’t grow on trees and nothing is free. It’s also a fact that work isn’t a bad thing – what’s bad is getting stuck in a mundane routine.

So this year I challenge you to take advantage of the time you have when you’re not in the office. Use your lunch hour to go on a walk. Use your nights to take up a dance class you’ve always wanted to take, do some physical activity or start a side business. Wake up early in the morning to meditate, write or go for a run. Use your weekends to try something you’ve never done before.

Do whatever is is that you’ve always wanted to do, but felt like you never had the time because of work.

There is life outside of the office – embrace it! Below you’ll find some tips to do just that.

1. Make a list of your passions, hobbies and/or interests. Then put them in order of importance.

Some people have so many things they want to do they don’t even know where to start. Making a list will help you visualize what you want to do. It will also help you organize them into a system you can later use follow, that way you aren’t unfocused and sporadic.  Consider it a like a short term bucket list.

2. Research how to make it happen.

Saying you’re going to do something is the easy part. Unfortunately when it comes to actually doing them we more often than not fall off the horse. After making a list take a look at it and see what needs some research.

For instance, maybe you want to take a crafting class at your local community college. In this case your next step would be to check the roster and see what’s available and what it will cost. If you want to do yoga, Google local studios and take a look at their schedule. If you want to start a side business research what you need to get started.

3. Action!

Once you’ve figured out what you want to do and how and where to do it you have to actually make an effort to act on it. Put a reminder on your phone, put a big red circle on your calendar, put it on the fridge, whatever.  I personally use my Erin Condren Life Planner for just about everything.

If showing up somewhere after work for the first time is really that difficult for you figure out some sort of accountability system, like giving yourself a treat for actually having shown up. You can also try making a list of benefits that will result from partaking in new activities as a form of motivation (I.E. If I go to the gym I will get healthier).

I understand that after work we’re tired and probably lazy (believe me, I’ve been there many a time). As a result it’s difficult to actually act on the things we want to do. However, the benefits (clearer head, breaking from a routine, break from work, experiencing new things, better mood) far outweigh the tiny inconveniences you may experience at first. Remember, the hardest part is showing up the first time – it’s smooth sailing after that!

4. Create a savings plan if money is an issue.

Sometimes money gets in the way of we want to do. The key is to prioritize and learn how to budget for the things you want to try.

For instance, I have an entire savings account dedicated to yoga. With each paycheck I put away a small amount that will later be used for classes, workshops and maybe even props and downloads.

For help on creating a savings plan check out a guest post I wrote for The Real Post Grad.

5. Go with a friend.

If one of your friends will be joining I bet you’ll feel more inclined to start trying new things. Your friends can also hold you accountable so that you don’t get back into a boring routine. By the same token you can also hold them accountable :)

As human beings we can’t always be stuck in the same boring routine. Our minds and bodies crave a break every once in a while. Your perspective could also use some beneficial changes to your routine – it really makes a difference to know that you are actively learning new things, going after things you’ve always wanted to do and that you have a life outside of the office.

Image via tibchris

Amanda Abella

Amanda Abella is a Gen Y blogger, freelance writer and recruiter in training based out of Miami, FL. She is also the author of Grad Meets World: The First Year Out of College and can be found writing for Brazen Careerist, SheNow and more.