I’ve officially spent one year working in corporate. Woo! I can’t believe how fast a year goes. It feels like yesterday I was walking downtown to my first day of training. Scared. Excited. Optimistic. Proud. And then there was my first day with my client. I left crying. Not ready to enter the “real” world yet. Not ready to lose summer and my college freedom. One year later and I can say that “I made it” and had a few big wins in my first year too (along with many lessons)…
Lessons:
Your first job may not be your dream job. That’s okay!
Having a weekly capacity in hours is a good thing.
Talk to everyone. Yes, even if they’re your parents age.
Jump in with two feet. Take on tasks. Say yes.
Try new things. Go to networking events.
Talk to everyone. You’ll learn something!
Take advantage of mentorship and trainings.
Keep an open mind. See everything as a lesson.
Find a friend (or three) at work. Check in often.
Corporate is a roller coster. Nothing is certain.
Tips:
Keep track of the value you add to your company.
Be proactive about meeting with your managers.
Ask a lot of questions. This is how you learn.
Update your resume frequently (while it’s fresh).
Connect with team members on LinkedIn.
Take advantage of activities and trainings.
Make notes of what drains and energizes you at work.
Set a few work goals. What do you want to achieve?
I just returned from a 10-day trip to Stockholm, Sweden. I was invited to travel with my aunt and grandma to visit my cousin who just finished a semester abroad in the charming city.
Stockholm is the capitol of Sweden. It lies on the Baltic Sea and encompasses 14 islands.
I loved the old architecture, abundance of cafes, the famous old town, and easy access transportation. The city was very walkable and clean. Everyone was nice. Most people spoke English, too. There is plenty of activities and sight-seeing to do in Stockholm itself, but we did venture to the countryside for a few activities.
Notes for traveling to Sweden:
Purchase the SL pass for transportation
No need for cash; tap to pay with credit card (Swedish Krona)
Wear good walking shoes or sneakers
People dress cute; lots of linen, neutrals, dresses, and sneakers
Pack for all types of weather (sun, rain, wind, heat, etc.)
We had 8 full days which felt a long; I would recommend 6 full days
The tap water in Stockholm is safe to drink
Travel
From MSP airport, it takes about one full day to arrive to Arlanda International Airport. We took a flight from MSP to JFK to ARN and arrived around 8 a.m. Sweden time. We were fortunate to have a family friend pick us up from the airport, but there are plenty of public transpiration options.
Transportation
Stockholm has great public transportation. We bought a seven-day SL card which gave us unlimited access to the trains, busses, and boats. It’s easy to navigate with a little help from Google or the SL app.
One day we took the commuter rail to Upsala and did need to buy a day pass for the UL busses although it is also walkable depending on where you want to visit.
Because we had a family friend in Sweden, we were picked up in a car from the airport and did a day trip to Trosa and Södertälje via car, but driving in Stockholm is uncommon.
For two of our excursions, one to the Archipelago and another to the Drottningholm Palace, we took a Stroma boat tour. I think there is an option to take the SL bus or train to these locations, but we wanted a tour and more of an experience.
Accommodations
We stayed in a penthouse in Södermalm with two bedrooms, one loft (where I slept), a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and balcony. It was a lovely place, great location, close to the train, and had a great neighborhood near food and grocery store.
Places
Gamla Stan
Archipelago
Djorgorden
Upsala
Drottningholm
Trosa & Södertälje
Restaurants
I was lucky to have had a few homemade meals on the trip. Although there were many options for eating out, I wasn’t impressed with all the places were went. The best Swedish meatballs, in my opinions are from these two restaurants.
Meatballs for the People
Pelikan
Cafes
FIKA is a large part of Swedish culture. It means to have coffee or a coffee break. It’s about sitting down with family and friends to enjoy coffee and something sweet. My FIKA’s were often paired a Chockladbollar.
Fabrique
Vete-Katten
Panem
Bröd & Salt
S:T Paul Bageri
Café Lillia
Shopping
The shopping in Europe is next level. My favorite areas to shop were in the T-Centralen Area (for chains) and Gamla Stan (for boutiques).
Ugh, I hate change. Well, it’s a love/hate relationship. I know that change is good, but it’s still hard. It’s tough to see the benefits that come with change in the moment, but with time it’s easier to see.
I’m challenging myself to see all change as a new beginning. A new change. A new opportunity.
Stepping into the unknown is scary. Saying goodbye to the old is sad. New beginnings require patience and trust.
Benefits of change:
Personal growth
Adaptability
Improvements
Reinforces values
Small changes lead to big changes
Progress
Opportunities
Tips for entering a new beginning:
Feel the feelings. Process. Say goodbye. Cry if you need.
Make a gratitude list from the past. Be thankful for the lessons and people.
Embrace the beginning. Jump in with two feet. Ask questions. Be curious. Learn.
Give yourself grace as you settle into new places and routines. It’s going to be uncomfortable and maybe a little scary.
Lean into the habits and routines that feel normal. When you feel unsettled, lean into the activities that ground you.
Journal prompts for change:
Identify three emotions you have been feeling recently around a change in your life. Write down the ways they have shown up in your behaviors and conversations.
Do you like change or find it difficult? Explain why.
If you don’t like change, list some reasons you might be resisting it. Then list three ways that you can embrace it more.
Is what’s changing in your life important to you? Why or why not?
List any obstacles that might be holding you back from change right now. Now list three realistic ways you can overcome each of them.
What do you wish to gain or experience coming out of a current change you’re going through? What are three goals you want to accomplish from this change?
Yes, you read that right. Thirty days of NO spending.
I followed the You Need a Budget (YNAB) More Money Challenge. At first, it was a bit overwhelming, but it was a great reset and brought about a lot of awareness around my current spending habits.
Here are my biggest take-aways and lessons learned that you might benefit from.
The Rules:
Track your spending.
Only buy essentials.
No dining out.
What I Started With:
Once I understood the no-spend assignment, I listed a few exceptions and set my intentions for the 30-day challenge.
My spending exceptions included activities with friends, work dinners, and wellness appointments. I value once-in-a-lifetime experiences, quality time, and health so I made exceptions for these areas. I encourage you to make your decisions in alignment with your values.
My intentions for the challenge were to identify my spending triggers and save the money I would be tempted to spend for an upcoming trip. Setting intentions will helped me stay motivated during the challenge.
“Budgeting is not a shackle of spending limits but a reminder of what’s important to you.” -Unknown
Things I Learned in 30-Days:
Identified the “triggers” that motivate me to spend money.
Find a partner to support you through the challenge. You’ll want to spend.
Pause. Wait. See if you remember the item in one week.
Check in. Are you being influence? Or is it a need?
Identify your personal and money values. Spend money in alignment with values.
Flex your discipline muscle. Test yourself. Challenge yourself not to spend.
Use what you have. Do you really need “X”, or could you use something you have?
Make a list of the things you want to buy. Revisit later. Is this a want? Trend? Need?
Money Triggers:
Trigger
Action
Tendency to online shop when bored
Pause
Influenced by social media influencers
Unfollow
Email sale campaigns
Unsubscribe
“Buying ‘things’ you don’t need steals from your future self.” -Unknown
As an avid reader and self-development junkie, I’m often asked what books I recommend for young adults. Well, here they are. A list of nine personal development books for twenty-somethings.
The Defining Decade by Meg Jay
Our “thirty-is-the-new-twenty” culture tells us the twenty-something years don’t matter. Some say they are a second adolescence. Others call them an emerging adulthood. Dr. Meg Jay, a clinical psychologist, argues that twentysomethings have been caught in a swirl of hype and misinformation, much of which has trivialized what is the most defining decade of adulthood.
Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
In this book, Bill Burnett and Dave Evans show us how design thinking can help us create lives that are both meaningful and fulfilling, regardless of whom or where we are, what we do or have done for a living, or how young or old we are. The same design thinking responsible for amazing technology, products, and spaces can be used to design and build your career and your life, a life of fulfillment and joy, constantly creative and productive, one that always holds the possibility of surprise.
Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
Daring Greatly is about courage. In a world where “never enough” dominates and feeling afraid has become second nature, vulnerability is subversive. Uncomfortable. It’s even a little dangerous at times. And, without question, putting ourselves out there means there’s a far greater risk of getting criticized or feeling hurt. But when we step back and examine our lives, we will find that nothing is as uncomfortable, dangerous, and hurtful as standing on the outside of our lives looking in and wondering what it would be like if we had the courage to step into the arena – whether it’s a new relationship, an important meeting, the creative process, or a difficult family conversation. Daring Greatly is a practice and a powerful new vision for letting ourselves be seen.
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
In The Four Agreements, don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the The Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love.
Wolfpack by Abby Wambach
In WOLFPACK, Abby’s message to women is: We have never been Little Red Riding Hood. We are the wolves. We must wander off the path and blaze a new one: together.
She insists women must let go of old rules of leadership that neither include or serve them. She’s created a new set of wolf pack rules to help women unleash their individual power, unite with their wolf pack, and change the landscape of their lives and world: from the family room to the board room to the White House.
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Soulful and uproarious, forceful, and tender, Untamed is both an intimate memoir and a galvanizing wake-up call. It is the story of how one woman learned that a responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live. It is the story of navigating divorce, forming a new blended family, and discovering that the brokenness or wholeness of a family depends not on its structure but on each member’s ability to bring her full self to the table. And it is the story of how each of us can begin to trust ourselves enough to set boundaries, make peace with our bodies, honor our anger and heartbreak, and unleash our truest, wildest instincts so that we become women who can finally look at ourselves and say: There She Is.
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
Brené writes, “This book is an invitation to join a wholehearted revolution. A small, quiet, grassroots movement that starts with each of us saying, ‘My story matters because I matter.’ Revolution might sound a little dramatic, but in this world, choosing authenticity and worthiness is an absolute act of resistance.”
You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
In this inspirational book by the late world-renowned bestselling author and self-help pioneer Louise Hay, you’ll find profound insight into the relationship between the mind and the body. Exploring the way that limiting thoughts and ideas control and constrict us, she offers us a powerful key to understanding the roots of our physical dis-eases and discomforts. Full of positive affirmations, this practical guidebook will change the way you think forever!
BONUS: Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap
Featuring journaling prompts, deep-dives into the invisible aspects of the financial landscape, and interviews with experts on everything money—from predatory credit card companies to the racial wealth gap and voting with your dollars—Financial Feminist is the ultimate guide to making your money work harder for you (rather than the other way around).
Author Note: Book synopsis copied from author book description.
I just returned from a beautiful vacation in Antigua (an-tee-ga). Here’s a run-down of my time on the charming 108 square mile island.
To start, it takes almost a full day to fly to the island from Minnesota (no direct flights). Eight total days (six full days) wasn’t long enough. It felt like we were just settling into our vacation when it was time to pack up and leave.
Accommodations:
We stayed at a VRBO rental in Jolly Harbour, a village on the west coast. It’s home to restaurants, fruit stands, one market, boat services, two beaches, pool, golf course, and security. Our rental villa was located near the North Beach (quiet) and about a 1.5 mile walk to the South Beach (active). We had five miles of safe road to walk and run between the channel and beaches, all of it beautifully landscaped with gorgeous island flowers. The area also has a security check points throughout. We felt very safe. The rental included a “buggy” aka golf cart which we used as our transportation in Jolly Harbour for the week. Although the buggy took a while to “warm up” it was wonderful to have and served us well. The house had two bedrooms, three bathrooms, kitchen, living room, and patio on the harbor channel. Just as we learned how to work the air conditioning, we lost water for two days. We’d later learn this was common on the area and most houses have backup systems – except for our house. So, we went without showers for a short time. The rental was also old and had about three U.S. standard outlets – which isn’t typical on the island. You get what you pay for; invest in a slightly nicer villa on the channel, because the area is worth being in. Despite the minor setbacks, the beaches, food, and experiences made up for the accommodations.
Transportation:
For starters, I wouldn’t recommend renting a car if you’re from the U.S. as 1) cars drive on the other side of the road and 2) the roads have no rhyme or reason – easy to get lost. We used a taxi service to and from the airport. Jolly Harbour was roughly 40 minutes from airport. Prepare for “island time” when passing through customs.
We met David, native to the island, who would become our driver for the week at South Beach through Alex (reflexologist we also met on the beach). David took us on a full-day taxi tour around the island and answered all our questions. He also drove us to Shirley Heights for music, views, drinks, and dinner (more on that below).
Food:
Homemade meals:
Lobster – Sandra’s son (of Sandra’s Beach Shop Bar and Grill), Sherwin, cooked us a delicious lobster, rice, and salad meal from our house. 12/10 shared experience.
Supermarket – The market had every provision we needed for the week. Our favorite was the coconut yogurt and granola.
Fruit and Veggie Stands – There were a few fruits and veggie stands in the harbor. Use the EC dollar or you will get shorted. Sweet potatoes and papaya are a must.
Sailboat meal – The sailboat tour provided us with an authentic chicken, rice, beans, and mac and cheese meal.
Restaurants:
Akropolis Greek – Skip this. Bar tenders didn’t know drink orders and manager was yelling at employees.
The Curry House – Not a must, but good. Large portions. Satisfied my want for shrimp. Waiter was nice.
Al Porto – Italian and seafood. Pizza was good, but we went for sea food, and they were out of sea food. Nice view of the harbor.
Petal’s Café – Go once for the experience. Petal cooks all meals from a stove behind the counter. Coffee included a delicious cookie.
The Pop-Up Beach Bar – Only go for the free beach chairs. Expensive and the food isn’t great. Order drinks (get the ginger lemonade mocktail and add vodka). Nice bathroom option.
Clean Food’N Jooce – Small food truck. Once we discovered, we didn’t stop going. Great healthy food, juice, and smoothie options. Lovely person taking orders. Hours are questionable.
Shirley Heights – Hire a taxi and go for the evening. Live music on Sunday and Thursday. Great views. Authentic food. Lots of options. Great experience.
Sites:
Jolly Harbour – We stayed in this area. We had two lovely beaches – North and South. North beach was quiet – we loved the sunsets here. South beach had more resorts, food, and chairs.
Fruit and Fish Market – We stopped here on our tour. Good for shopping. More for locals.
Fort James – Important site to see. Good tour stop. Beautiful water views.
Dickenson Bay – Gorgeous beach. Bar and restaurant. Busy, Sandal’s is located here.
Devil’s Bridge – Stunning rock formation. The waves were calm enough to walk across.
Shirley Heights – Amazing view of the English Harbor and Nelson’s Dockyard. Fun atmosphere. Go at sunset on a Sunday or Thursday for live music and food.
Turner Beach – We could have spent all day here. So many shells and sea glass, perfectly smooth. We were mesmerized.
Activities:
Beach – No need to pay for chairs and umbrellas if you buy some food from the restaurants on the beach. There are vendors on the busier beaches, but they are respectful.
Walking – Pack your tennis shoes. We had five plus miles to walk and run in Jolly Harbour plus endless beach between harbors. Very safe.
Shelling – On Turner Beach and the shells on North Finger were unheard of.
Sailing – The sailboat private tour was by Denzil and Treasure Island. For the price, this was incredible. We were on the boat, Jai Jai.
Snorkeling – Abundant reefs. Tolerable water temperature. Not too wavy. We had the whole reef to ourselves. We saw lots of coral, fish, conch, and stingray.
Watching sunset – Having scenery that includes green rolling hills, sailboats and beach makes for the best sunsets.
Taxi tour – a great way to see the island. David from Sandra’s was our guide and driver.
Weather:
Great temperatures aside from two rainy days. We used the air conditioning at night but enjoyed the light breeze during the day.
Tips:
Use the Eastern Caribbean (EC), not the U.S. dollar. Cash machines were plentiful.
Jolly Harbour was casual. Resort wear not necessary. Pack light.
Prepare for frequent power and water outages. Be flexible.
Plan for at least eight full days (ten total days) at minimum.
Talk to the locals around the villa, beach, and resort areas. They are helpful.
“If you are willing to open up, ask questions and take advice from locals,you will be completely taken care of.” – Tiffany
Overall, Antigua was a wonderful island. I can’t wait to go back to the land of sea and sun.
How often do you slow down long enough to let yourself think, process, and plan?
The other day, I was trying to make a decision and had this thought… How am I going to make a decision if I don’t slow down to think about what I’m actually trying to make a decision about?
Rushing, working, creating, and doing is all great but doing these things isn’t actually helping me solve the problem at hand.
Journal Prompts:
Where in your life do you need to slow down?
What decisions do you need to make?
How can you add intentional “thinking” time do your life?
“To find the answer, you have to pause to think.” -Grace
“You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret to your success is found in your daily routine.”
~ John C. Maxwell
Winter break sounds exciting and it is… until it’s not. We can quickly find ourselves sleeping in late, mindlessly scrolling on our phones, and having no sense of time.
Structured days lead to a feeling of groundedness, organization, and accomplishment.
Without structure, life is messy. It’s hard to stay focused. We lose the feeling of self.
Set An Alarm
Yes, even if you don’t need to get up and go anywhere. Using an alarm clock helps regulate schedules and is beneficial for our body’s internal clocks. Try to stay consistent with wake-up and bed times. Choose a wake-up time that allows you around 8 hours of sleep.
Identify Priorities
Notice what’s important to you. Make a list. Do these things daily.
Do you have daily non-negotiables? This could be a morning workout, meditation, connecting with a friend, work, journaling, etc.
Use these priorities as a starting point to create structure each day.
To-Do List
Create a to-do list with items to complete each day. It doesn’t need to be a mile long. Make it manageable. Create a list the night before you go to bed or in the morning so you can refer to it throughout the day.
Some ideas:
Fold laundry
Change bed sheets
Reach out to a friend
Apply for summer internships
Make dinner
Having a to-do list gives you things to do each day and also adds structure. It can be tough to think of things to do on the spot. When you write the task down, you can see it and refer back to that list. Perhaps before checking your phone, complete one task. Plus, when you check items off your to-do list you’ll feel an added sense of accomplishment.
Time Block
Use a calendar either on paper, in a planner, or use an app like Google Calendar to block out time for things like workouts, meetings, and activities. Simple block our an hour (or two or three) of time to complete a task.
Allow Flexibility
Be flexible and open. Go day by day. Plans change. Remember, this is a ‘break’ so be sure to add in time for relaxation, recovery, and enjoyment.
Adding structure may be tough at first. You might resist. Push through. Feel the discomfort. In the end, it will lead to a better feeling. If it’s not working, adjust your plan. Try something new. Find what works best for you.
Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t know where to start? Forgetting what you need to do?
Bullet journaling is a great tool for self-expression. It is a way to get thoughts out of your head and onto paper. It also boosts productivity by building mental clarity and organization.
How did I discover bullet journaling?
When I transitioned from high school to college, I was overwhelmed with the college workload. My mom suggested I try to organize my thoughts through bullet journaling. It helped me build a system to organize my day, my thoughts, track memories and habits, and make plans.
Are you ready for a productivity hack? Read on.
Why does bullet journaling work?
Bullet journaling is the process of writing what’s in your head onto paper. The bullet journal system can be used as a tracker, journal and planner all in one place. No need for multiple journals, a planner and Post-It notes. The bullet journal allows for everything to be in one place.
Ryder Carroll coined the term “The Bullet Journal Method” and wrote a book describing how to use your journal for productivity in 2018. He discovered the method, found it valuable and decided to share his method with the world.
According to Carroll, bullet journaling will help you accomplish more and work less by helping you identify and focus on what is meaningful. Bullet journaling is a flexible, forgiving and practical method that leads to more mindfulness and intentionality.
“Bullet journaling is one of the most elegant and effective productivity systems I’ve ever encountered. It will not only help you get more organized but will also help you become a better person.”
– Cal Newport, author of Deep Work
What do I need to get started?
Bullet Journal: I like the Leuchtturm 1917, but any dotted journal will work.
The first step to using a bullet journal for productivity is to outline your journal.
Label these four sections:
Index: Keep track of what’s in your journal.
Open your journal and write “index” at the top of the page. Note, some journals come with an index built-in. If so use that. As you fill out your journal, add contents to this index.
2. Future Log: Items that need to happen in a particular month.
After you’ve labeled the index page. Flip to the next page and divide pages two and three into six sections, three sections on each page. Label each section with a month. If you are starting the practice in January, label January, February, March and so on. This is where you will list the major tasks, projects, appointments, goals and big events that will take place that month.
3. Monthly Log: The calendar part of the journal.
After the future log, label pages four and five future log. On the left page note calendar and add dates with the letter for the day of the week. Keep track of events and scheduled appointments on this side. on the right page write monthly task list.
4. Daily Log: Note what needs to be accomplished each day, events, and notes.
Once the monthly log is labeled, it’s time to start the daily log. Start by adding the date and day of the week at the top of the page. Next, fill in with tasks, appointments and notes for each day.
The next step is to identity symbols.
Use these symbols to track items in the daily log.
At the end of each day, review your daily log. What tasks did you complete? Which ones did you not? If you didn’t complete a task, determine if it’s worth your time. If it’s not, move on. If it’s important, add it to the next day.
Now, it’s time to make your journal your own. Get creative. Add your touch. Make the system work for you. Try new ways. Adjust accordingly.
Bonus: Here’s how I use my journal.
I use my journal to track my daily events, homework, plan workouts and meals, track habits. What I love about this journal method, is that I can keep track of everything in one place. It helps me stay organized, calm and collected.
“Track the past, order the present, design the future.”
– Ryder Carroll, author of The Bullet Journal Method
P.S. If this sparked your interest check out The Bullet Journal Method by Ryder Carroll and find even more journal ideas on Pinterest.
Gifted with Grace 