You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.
Tag: vacation
The 5 Strategies of Successful Achievers…
They begin with the end in mind They set specific and challenging goals
A 2-week getaway to Singapore! For 2 years that’s what she planned. All with the bells and whistles of flight, hotels, cruise, and cultural site visits along the way. She did it with the spirit and taste of satisfying dreams.
But how many of us actually do that? Create our goals, plan it, save for it, and not deviate. Hers was a vacation to a far away land. Ours may be Entrepreneurship, a job, career, exercise, home ownership, writing, starting a family, and more. Often we start off with a bang! Then we stall. Procrastinate or give up.
Marcel Schwantes shared Article that Science Says Only 8 Percent of People Actually Achieve Their Goals. Here Are 7 Things They Do Differently. Of the 7, I like 5. Here I share my favs:
Things Done Differently
- They begin with the end in mind
- They build a support system around them
- They set specific and challenging goals
- They recognize when they are procrastinating
- They don’t multi-task
How about you? How do you stay on track to achieve your own goals? Do share. We’d love to hear.
Cheers!
Books: Readers Share Their Top Getaway Reads…
Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. ~Ursula K. Le Guin
We have all had our favorite books that we have read from a young age. Some have left an impact on our lives. On a B&N public forum, a reader asked “What Book has stayed with you long after you’ve read it?” Fellow readers poured in with responses. Here I share a few that may prove worthwhile for your vacation, getaway, or a mid-summer night’s read.
- Man’s Search for Meaning
- Pecan Man
- The Power
- We Were the Lucky Ones
- The Book Thief
- Before I Fall
- The Lovely Bones
- It Ends with Us
- The Sparrow
- The Lovely Bones
- One Hundred Years f solitude
- The Alchemist
- Harry Potter
- We Were Yours
- East of Eden
- The Chrysalids
- The Bible
- The Savage Song
- To Kill A Mockingbird
- The Notebook
- The Outsiders
- A History of Loneliness
- Tell Me Your Dreams
- The Art of War
- The Graveyard Book
- The Water Stone
- The Secret
- Gone Girl
- Her
- The Night Circus
- Gone With the Wind
- Fallen Angels
- Unbroken
- Beautiful Creatures
- Crime and Punishment
- The Power of Now
- Beautiful Chaos
- A Little Life
- The Leisure Seeker
- GreenLight
- Jane Eyre
- Tuesdays with Morrie
- Their Eyes Were Watching God
- The Kite Runner
- We Were Liars
Does any resonate? Can you add your favorite or two that may be missing? Do share. We’d love to hear.
Cheers!
The Ravishing Benefits of Going To The Beach…
Live near the beach? Grab your swimsuits and go enjoy the slow swooshing sound of the waves as they crash against the shore.
Anne Gherini shared in this INC article research about the benefits of going to the beach (as if we needed another reason …smile). From the points listed, here I share my top 3.
- Listen to the crashing waves puts your brain at ease
- Feel the sand between your toes as it stimulates your mind
- Remove the Blues. Stare at the ocean and get to that relaxing meditative State.
In this world of mad rush, stress and strain, plan a trip or two to the beach for a quick getaway. Then bask in the Benefits to relax, unwind, reboot. Your Brain cells are sure to recharge pushing you further along the Skewed productivity chain.
Cheers!
Planning To Take Vacation This Year? 35 Percent Don’t. Here’s Why…
Hawaii, Paris, Caribbean, Central America, Vegas, or a Simple Staycation. It’s amazing what a little break can do to our mental capacity. From the planning, organizing and more, all exude times of exhilaration, relaxation and joy!
Yet…The Society of Human Resources Associates (SHRM) shared that over 35 percent of Americans don’t plan on taking all their vacation days this year. A potential year of the Cranks in the making? Here are the reasons cited:
- 43% Saving time for something later
- 21% Too much work
- 15% Don’t have enough money
- 9% Feel guilty
- 9% Other reasons
- 3% Discouraged by their boss
In light of the more transient workforce, employers are trying various options to attract quality applicants. Such measures include a combined databank of employee time off which includes up to 4 weeks off on date of hire. Naturally, employees are ecstatic of this change and proves it’s a great methodology for recruitment. However, this databank represents a combination of paid time off including sick and vacation.
Paid Time Off
Do you plan on taking your vacation this year? If so, great! If not, why not? Does your reason fall into any of the above? Something to think about.
Need help with your workforce plans? Lets connect!
Cheers!
Do Not Disturb…
17 Self-Care Activities…
When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water. ~ Benjamin Franklin
Self care is important. It has become more common these days as the thrust to lessen the Notable stress in our daily lives Meanders. Suddenly, it becomes important when the daring effects plunge in.
Here are 17 activities you can engage (even in small spurts), to take care of you.
- Read
- Go to the beach
- Make a daily self-care plan
- Go for a bike ride
- Dance
- Go to the movies
- Go to church
- Go swimming
- Paint your nails
- Jump in puddles
- Eat a meal you enjoy
- Sing
- Exercise
- Breathe deeply
- Wrap-up in a blanket
- Draw
- Sleep in
Does any resonate? Are there more you can add? Do share.
Cheers!
The Perfect Reading Companion….
We read to know we’re not alone
What is your favorite activity when you grab that delightful book, and get lost in its world of Imagination? Barnes and Noble asked the question. Is it a cup of tea? Your pet? A cozy chair? Foreign? What’s your perfect reading companion?
Here I share excerpts of those who enthusiastically shared their favs.
- Rain, snacks, home alone, quiet
- A cloudy or rainy day
- Tea and chunky blanket
- Dog, a blanket, and Earl Grey
- My bed
- Reading with a nice cup of ice tea
- A warm blanket and the sound of the rain
- A cosy chair with a cup of tea and a cat curled in lap
- Coffee and comfy chair
- Silence
- Strawberry Milk and China Anne McClain
- My couch
- Relaxing music, PJs
- Solitude
- Rainy day by a fireplace
- Wine, red wine
11 Simple Ways To De-Stress…
Life is amazing! But sometimes it gets Messy with on-the-job demands , caring for family, life conquests, desires, dreams, and the pursuit of our goals become overwhelming. When they all come together to intertwine, it can get downright busy. ith little Courage, we feel unable to manage them all.
That’s when wisdom steps in and urges us to step back. To breathe. That’s when we receive that inner call for time-out so you can refresh, revive and rejuvenate. It would be great to get away on a vacation and take a trip to Europe… but hey though that’s ideal, it’s not always possible to do getaway that far on a whim. So here I share a few tips gleaned for a quick reboot.
You may also like 9 Things To Do By Yourself…
- Go for a walk
- Cut back on the caffeine
- Watch a funny movie
- Enjoy a new hobby
- Write down your woes, then throw them away
- Visit a close friend
- Put away your phone
- Get some Exercise
- Plan ahead so you’re not so rushed
- Perform a random act of kindness
- Read a good book
Hope this list helps. Adopt one, two or a few, and start your journey to de-stress today.
Cheers!
15 Ways To Ask For a Raise…
No, don’t do it by email.
George approached his manager asking for a raise. Said he had been with the company for years and was in dire need, unable to meet his personal expenses. He just had a child and threatened that he would resign if it was received.
Sounds familiar? At times many find themselves searching for that Loophole to earn extra cash to supplement their disposable income to do the things you would like to do. Things such as get married; buy your first place; get a larger home for your new and growing family; or simply to getaway on that dream vacation.
But accomplishing these goals is not as easy as most would like. It is then that creativity jumps in as I shared in a recent article on 20 Ways to Earn Extra Income. In that article I promised to share the how to ask your boss for a raise (yikes!). But while this method of increasing your income is upfront, and center (basically right under your nose), it’s not the easiest for us to do. We get nervous, shake, get angry, scared, have sleepless nights, all in our efforts to come up with the most plausible reason why we deserve the salary/rate increase .
15 Ways To Ask For A Raise
Having managed Human Resources internationally for over two decades dealing with issues like this, I’ll share a few pointers on how to do it ‘right‘. How to Evoke the response that will not remain Static with your employer, boss, supervisor–whichever pertains to you.
Here I share:
- Prepare yourself for the ask.
- Timing is everything.
- Consider your company’s policy on salary reviews.
- Evaluate the financial situation of your employer.
- Take on more responsibility.
- Demonstrate your wins, and added values
- Share your goals and ask for feedback
- Request a face to face meeting. If you’re in a different location, use your internal communication channel. Whatever you do, don’t do the initial ask by email.
- Focus on the ‘why‘ not the ‘need’. Why you deserve the increase (not why you need it)
- Practice your pitch and anticipate questions
- Don’t use other colleagues as your argument (he/she received an increase and so should you). That’s the worse thing you can do.
- Don’t discuss workload
- Do your research…know what the market pays
- No, no, no. Be prepared to hear no. It happens. Decide to ask for other things such as bonus, incentives, or personal development opportunities. Be confident that once you’ve asked, you’ve taken that giant step and the request stays in your boss’ mind.
- Never threaten that you will resign.
Still afraid? Have questions? Let’s connect
Cheers!
