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Embracing Discomfort in 2021

Jaclyn Baker
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You never know what you’re capable of unless you try. Every time you say no to something you want to do, you’re missing out on a potential opportunity to grow!

The longer we avoid something, the scarier it tends to become. When something scares you, sometimes the best thing you can do is jump right in.

Embracing Discomfort in 2021

It’s time to become comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Be curious. Try new things. Keep an open mind and see what happens.

When you continue to do the same things, you will continue to get the same results.

Just because something isn’t working right now doesn’t mean it’ll never work. You just may have to go about it in a slightly different way. 

The Mind is an Incredible Tool

Our mind is such a powerful tool. It lets us know when things are dangerous and when we should walk away. 

However, sometimes our mind can play tricks on us and make us think things are scarier than they actually are.

Here’s an example.

Let’s say you stumbled across an ad online for your dream job. 

The job is close to home and pays well, but your mind keeps telling you that you aren’t qualified and shouldn’t even try. 

No matter what you do in life, there is always a chance things won’t work out. 

“You can’t let your fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” – Babe Ruth

Just because something feels impossible does not mean it is. Feelings are not facts. 

You Are In Charge Of Your Thoughts

You have more control over your thoughts than you give yourself for. 

You are in charge of your mind; your mind is not in charge of you.

The next time a negative thought pops into your head, don’t accept it. Challenge it!

The process may make you feel uncomfortable at first, but it will be worth it in the long run! 

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Coping with Loneliness During The Holidays

Jaclyn Baker
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The holidays are all about spending time with loved ones and making memories. 

As you know, this holiday season will be far different than most. 

Even though social distancing is keeping us safe, it can be a little lonely at times. 

You may not be able to erase your feelings of loneliness, but there are plenty of things you can do to make yourself feel better.

Be Good to Yourself:

We’ve talked about this on the blog a few times in the past. But we are going to repeat it since it is so true!

Whether you’re having a good or bad day, it’s so important to be your own best friend. 

You’ve got to listen to your body and give it what it needs. Doing something special just for you is a form of self-care. 

You Are Not Alone:

Feelings are not facts. Just because you may be feeling alone doesn’t mean you are alone.

Even though loneliness can be an uncomfortable feeling, it is nothing to be ashamed of. 

Don’t be afraid to open up to someone in your life and let them know how you feel.

You never know – they may be feeling the same way and can offer some words of encouragement.

Rethink Your Expectations:

So many of us are guilty of setting high expectations for the holidays and want everything to be perfect. 

A holiday does not have to be perfect in order to be special.

A virtual dinner with friends and family can be just as much fun as an in-person event.

 It all depends on how you look at it. 

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4 Things to do When You Can’t Sleep

Jaclyn Baker
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Have you ever had one of those days where you just could not wait to go to sleep…

But as soon as your head hits the pillow, you find yourself wide awake?

There are a lot of things that can interfere with our sleep. Everything from stress to our environment can play a role.

If you’re ready to get your sleep routine back on track, these tips and help.

Change Your Environment

Your sleep environment may not feel significant – but it is!

When it comes to pillows and blankets, we all have our own personal preferences. Some prefer weighted blankets, while others prefer something light.

The less time you spend trying to become comfortable, the more time you can spend relaxing and unwinding. 

Practice a Calming Ritual

Not all of us can walk through the front door and immediately go to sleep.

Most of us need to engage in a relaxing activity for at least 30 minutes.

When it comes to activities, the list is endless. You can take a hot shower, read a book or stretch.

Now, this is important. You don’t want to engage in an activity because you think you’re supposed to. You should find an activity you actually enjoy and look forward to every evening.

Turn off Electronics

Watching videos and texting friends is completely fine during the day, but not so much at night.

It’s so easy to lose track of time while scrolling through social media. 

Ten minutes of scrolling can easily turn into 30 minutes of scrolling if you aren’t careful.

Manage Anxious Thoughts

Have you ever been up at 2 AM, worrying about all the things that may or may not happen the next day?

Those evenings are never fun – and they happen to so many of us.

Although it’s much easier said than done, you have the power to change your thoughts.

Instead of thinking about that essay due tomorrow, you can think about how comfortable you are or things you’re grateful for. It may take some practice, but it’ll be well worth it. 

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Setting Intentions Instead of Resolutions

Jaclyn Baker
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Have New Year’s resolutions ever stressed you out?

If so, you are not alone!

So many of us worry we won’t be able to follow through with them or that we won’t set “the right ones.”

Here’s the deal. Typically, we set resolutions based on things we’d like to change in the future.

But why do we have to wait? Why can’t we start now?

Intentions are all about who we want to be in the present moment.

Think about it this way. What matters today may not necessarily matter in a year from now or even six months from now.

We live in a world that is constantly changing, and change can often impact our goals and values.

Now you might be thinking to yourself, “Okay, I’d love to start setting some intentions, but have no idea where to start.”

We’ve got you covered. Keep on reading to learn more. 

Start First Thing In The Morning

Of course, there will always be little things that pop up last minute, but it’s always a good idea to go into every day with some sort of a plan.

Starting out each day with a plan can help you prioritize tasks and know when it’s a good idea to say no. 

Check-in With Yourself Throughout The Day

Have you ever had one of those days that flew by in the blink of an eye? 

Even though those days can be fun, they can throw us off course. 

Every couple of hours throughout the day take a few minutes to think about how you’re feeling. 

Are you feeling rushed, excited, happy, nervous?

Whatever you may be feeling in that present moment, notice it!

Share Your Intentions With a Friend

It’s interesting. Simply sharing our intentions with friends can help them feel more real.

It can also make us feel more accountable to get things done. 

It never hurts to have someone on your side cheering you on! 

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What Happens When You Stop Procrastinating

Jaclyn Baker
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Even when you love what you do, there will always be those tasks you just don’t feel like doing. 

Wanting to stop procrastinating is one thing. Actually, going through with it is something else. 

Today we will be chatting all about what happens when you stop procrastinating.

You Are Less Likely to Forget Important Tasks:

How many times have you told yourself you’ll respond to that email tomorrow or follow up with that lead tomorrow?

The thing is, when you keep pushing off tasks until tomorrow, tomorrow never comes.

We’re all human, and we forget things all the time. However, the more tasks we put off, the more likely we are to forget about them – until it’s too late.

Generally speaking, if something takes less than 5 minutes to complete, you should do it right away. Every task completed will give you one less thing to worry about. 

You Won’t Miss Deadlines:

So many of us can fall into the habit of putting off non-time-sensitive tasks.

The thing is, when you put off a non-time-sensitive task long enough, it’s only a matter of time until it becomes time-sensitive.

Time really does fly, and deadlines have a funny way of sneaking up on us.

Just because that paper isn’t due until the 10th, doesn’t mean you should put it off until the 8th. There will always be last-minute tasks that throw us off guard. Exactly why it never hurts to get things done early. 

There’s Nothing Better Than a Completed To-Do-List:

There is nothing better than crossing every single item off your to-do list at the end of a long day.

It gives you such a strong feeling of accomplishment. If you finish your day-to-day tasks earlier than you expected, you can even get a head start on the following day’s list. Learn More

You Can Still Network During COVID-19 – Here’s How

Jaclyn Baker
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Networking events are a fantastic way to meet like-minded people, grow your network and hand out business cards. 

As you know, in-person networking events and conferences have been put on hold for almost nine months now.

Just because we can’t actually get together with people face-to-face does not mean networking is off the table. 

We just have to go about it in a slightly different way. 

Keep on reading to learn how you can safely network during COVID-19.

Log Into Zoom Events Early:

Several speakers have been organizing virtual events via Zoom during the pandemic.

However, having solid one on one conversations via Zoom events isn’t always an option.

That is if you join the event on time…

A great way to sneak in some one on one time with the speaker is by attending the event 5 – 10 minutes early.

Chances are, the speaker will already be logged in to ensure everything is set up correctly.

You can take that opportunity to introduce yourself and even ask them a question if they have time. 

Follow Up:

Forming solid relationships takes time, energy and effort.

The simple act of following up only takes a few minutes but delivers results! 

Keep in mind, your follow up techniques don’t have to be fancy. 

A couple of days after the first meeting, you can send them a short and sweet email thanking them for their time and advice.

And about 2 – 4 weeks later, you can email them again to touch-base.

Be Active On Social Media:

Posting on social media is amazing, but it’s not always enough to form solid relationships with like-minded people.

Networking online does take some time and energy, but it will be well worth it in the long run.

Taking even 10 minutes out of your day to like and comment on popular content can help get your name out there. 

Don’t be afraid to start conversations with people who don’t know. Every friendship and business relationship has to start somewhere!

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Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help At Work

Jaclyn Baker
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Have you ever been afraid to ask for help at work? Almost all of us have at least once or twice. 

Maybe you thought you could figure out the problem on your own…

Or maybe you thought no one would know the answer…

On one note, it’s important to be independent and try your best to figure things out. 

But at the same time, you need to know when something is above your skill-set and/or is a two-person job. 

The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed or confused at work, don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Asking For Help Saves Time:

The more experience you have in something, the faster you tend to get it done.

No matter how skilled you are in any given topic, there will always be people out there who know more than you, and that’s okay. Take advantage of your network and pick their brain when you need to. Two heads often work better than one. 

Asking For Help Can Open Your Eyes:

One of the best ways to learn something new or improve upon existing skill-sets is by studying other successful people in your field. 

Of course, just because one technique worked for someone else does not guarantee it will work for you. But it can’t hurt to try. 

Asking For Help Can Help You Set Goals:

Before you start working towards your goals, you have to figure out exactly what you want and know how you’ll get there.

Try and do at least one thing every day that will you get you closer to where you want to be. 

These tasks can be as small as sending an email or asking a co-worker for guidance. Taking small steps in the right direction is far better than not taking any steps at all. 

None of us know everything, and everyone has something to teach us. Never be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Learn More

It’s Time To Stop Putting So Much Pressure On Ourselves

Jaclyn Baker
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The truth is, life can be stressful. Everything from school to work to friends can be a lot to juggle.

Some stressful situations are out of our hands, and there isn’t much we can do about them. 

However, some of your habits may be contributing to some of your stress. 

Are you wondering what we mean by that? Keep on reading to learn more.

Perfectionism and High Achievinemnt Are Not The Same:

Wanting to do well and wanting to be perfect are two completely different things.

In life, you never fail. You either win or you learn. 

Live a Balanced Life:

Even if you absolutely love your job, too much of anything is not healthy.

We get it. Sometimes when you’re in the zone, it’s easier to work late and get the job done. But that should not become a habit.

There is so much more to life than work. Even if you feel fine right now, it’s only a matter of time until you experience burnout or anxiety.

Getting enough sleep, spending time with loved ones and having fun are all very important things.

Taking care of yourself is one of the best things you can do to prevent stress and keep it at bay.

Be Optimistic: 

We can’t control what other people do or think.

But we can control our actions and thoughts. The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, a few positive affirmations can go a long way. The secret is to talk to yourself the same way you’d talk to a best friend. 

It’s Okay To Feel Overwhelmed:

So many of us are guilty of pushing our feelings aside, hoping they will fade on our own. 

The longer you hold emotions in, the more they intensify.

If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, that is completely okay. You are allowed to feel whatever you want to feel.

You just have to learn how to deal with those feelings in healthy ways. The sooner you start, the better. 

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When to Call and When to Text

Jaclyn Baker
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Here’s something for you to think about.

How many hours a week do you think you spend talking on the phone?

And how many hours a week do you think you spend texting?

Chances are you spend many more hours a week texting. And you are not the only one. Texting is very easy, and you can reply basically whenever you’d like. While talking on the phone requires you to be completely present.

These past several months, most of us have been texting a lot more than usual. 

Texting has been one of the easiest ways to stay in touch with friends and family while social distancing.

The only thing is, texting is not always enough.

Of course, texting friends and family is far better than having no communication at all.

But there’s something special about hearing someone’s voice and/or seeing their face.

Sometimes text messages can get misunderstood or lost in our inbox. 

Here’s an example. Have you ever vented to a friend via text after a bad day and didn’t get the response you were looking for?

Maybe you felt like they didn’t understand. Or maybe you felt like you weren’t there for you.

Chances are, your friend didn’t fully understand the situation or misread something in your text.

Phone calls make it much easier to get your point across and clearly communicate emotions. 

Don’t get us wrong. Texting is great too.

It’s a very practical and easy way to pass on a quick message or confirm small details.

But solely relying on texting can make it much harder to maintain strong and healthy social connections during COVID.

Simply picking up the phone and calling a friend just to chat can go a long way.

Typing is one thing. Voices are another. 

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