Author: tracydee

Educator and entrepreneur. Millennial living life to its fullest. Growing, learning, and sharing.
Posted in Goal, Manifestation

Blogging in 2021 – Sharing My Blog Stats 6 Months In

Posted on by tracydee

Here is a post of my 6- month blog stats.

Well, I know blogging is not a get rich quick method and it takes time, patience, and strategy to truly develop a quality blog that people trust and go to for tips and advice. I’ve also researched the importance of developing a niche that helps Google give you domain authority over that niche. However, my blog is more of an opportunity to share my voice and things I’ve learned with others. It also gives me an outlet to write about the things on my mind and almost use it as a journal of sorts.

I wanted to share some of the stats I have had since February 2021 when I first started publishing posts on this blog. Although I have been working on learning Search Engine Optimization (SEO), I still have so far to go. I know many bloggers get exceptional returns through the wonderful world of Pinterest marketing, but I have not mastered that yet either. I am proud of how far I have come in this process considering I was finishing grad school and working 2 part-time jobs when I started. In the last 6 weeks, I have been working at least full time in one job and consulting still with the other.

Now that I have an upcoming new adventure with a ten day quarantine, I feel like this is the perfect time to reflect on what is working and try to amp up the posts and marketing even more. I can use the time for self care and get one step closer to reaching my ultimate goals. Also, consider this an encouragement for any of you out there still blogging away waiting for those page views to go up.

Blog stats: page view and visitor insights:

blog stats

As you can see from the green shading in the chart, May and June were the months with the most page views. I even hit 1,000 in May, which was amazing. At that time, I was gaining steam in posting consistently about 10 times a month or so. As you can see in August, the posts took a dip as did the page views. At the time of this current blog post, I have 210 people following my blog (THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH ME!).

In theory, that means if I posted 10 times a month now, and every person clicked on each post (not just in the reader view, but actually click on my blog post), then I should be reaching 2,000 views for the month. And that doesn’t include all the people who may find the post and then not subscribe to the blog itself.

Now, onto the money side of things with Word Ads. I do have that enabled, but you don’t actually get paid from WordPress until you earn $100. Additionally, I can’t apply for other ad programs like MediaVine until I have many more page views. It’s a goal, so I will report back when I do reach that milestone.

Blog stats: income

So far, my total earnings from blogging in 2021through August are $6.67. My best month was June, when my average CPM was $0.54. This is great for me now, but once I’m able to partner with bigger advertisers, that will be in the $7-$30 range hopefully.

I’m still going to continue to develop and find my niche, but for now, I enjoy what I’m learning and sharing it with you all in the process!

Posted in Travel

One Way or Another: It Will All Get Done … Or It Won’t.

Posted on by tracydee

Things that have pressing deadlines typically get done even when sometimes we have no idea how to make that happen. Even with procrastination, there comes a point where the panic monster sets in due to an upcoming deadline. You may not like the process of staying up all night or feeling rushed, but eventually, it gets done.

However, for me, I have found that method to be extremely stressful and anxiety-producing. I prefer to plan in advance and know my schedule using time management techniques and blocking my calendar. But sometimes, things just sneak up on you.

I moved in May 2020 into my parent’s house with the anticipation of leaving the country in several months. At that time, there were limited options for me to drop off donated items because many places in PA were still closed.

So, I boxed everything up and then brought it with me. Now, many of my items are still in boxes, and I have been meaning to go through them this past year. However, it wasn’t a priority and I didn’t have a deadline to get it done. I was more focused on finishing up my dissertation and working to pay the bills.

Now, I finally got the green light to move to Norway and I’m searching through boxes to find my winter clothes. I cannot find my heavy winter jacket anywhere. So, maybe that’s a sign that I just need to get one once I get there and not weigh down my luggage anymore.

In order to make sure that the things get done that you need to or want to, it’s important to prioritize early and often. Setting weekly or quarterly goals with a detailed action plan can help get you to the finish line.

The reality is, that we figure it out when it comes to the important things. The question is, how do we feel along the way? Are we stressed, frustrated, or focused? Only you can answer that question. For me, it truly depends on the task and type of goal I am trying to accomplish.

Posted in Travel

Preparing for an International Move: What I’m Doing Now

Posted on by tracydee

*Note: I will update this post with advice I’m receiving!

I’m preparing for an international move. Wow, it’s finally happening. I’m moving to Norway in less than a month. Even though I’ve been waiting for the official approval, I thought I would have more time to prepare. So now, it’s time to buckle down and think through my list of to-do items. I think I’m going to start with a brain dump of all the things I can think of and then prioritize what has to happen first.

preparing for an international move
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

As I think through my list, I know that I need to get my car cleaned and ready to store temporarily. I have to get a 2 piece luggage set that is durable for international travel. Here is the set I’m thinking of buying:

In the time of covid, I don’t just have to worry about residency permits and passports, but also proof of vaccination and any quarantine requirements. I’m waiting to hear from the agency on some guidance about what to expect once I arrive.

Preparing for an international move: As I’m sitting here thinking, this is what I’ve come up with to do so far:

  1. Buy flights and look into luggage costs
  2. Buy luggage set
  3. Clean out car and set up park insurance
  4. Decide whether to cancel expensive U.S. health insurance plan while I’m gone (benefit of going to a country with universal healthcare)
  5. Make a list of all essential items to pack
  6. Make a list of items I’d like to pack if there is space
  7. Purchase bulk of anything that would be easier to get here like contacts, medicines, toiletries that are cheaper here
  8. Look into international purchases – set up banking there and autopay for bills here

I am sure there is so much more that I’m not thinking of at the moment as I’m preparing for an international move. Thankfully, the organization provided an arrival guide to help upon entry to the country. I just want to make sure I tie up my loose ends here as best as I can.

While I have been waiting to leave for 14 months, life has continued to happen around me and I’ve thankfully had time to reflect and spend with family.

Any advice is appreciated and I’ll be sure to share any helpful travel tips I learn along the way!

Advice for International Travel

Collapsible water bottle – travels well and takes up less space in your luggage

Undercover travel bra pouch to keep important IDs and cash

Travel pouches to help with packing

woman sitting in front of macbook
Posted in Uncategorized

Dealing With Anxiety in the Workplace: Advice?

Posted on by tracydee

Do you struggle with anxiety in the workplace?

Well, I write this post almost three weeks into my new job. It’s full-time and something I have never done before. I enjoy talking to people and it’s very much customer service related, so I thought it wouldn’t be so bad.

However, what makes it challenging is the lack of staff and training to be successful at what we do. Everyone is truly doing their best, but we are still behind in tasks and not getting to serve people in the way that I wish we could all the time.

So, this blog post is more of a reflection on my part seeking advice from readers who may have experienced similar situations. I do struggle with anxiety and one of the benefits of working from home was that I could manage it much easier.

I could take a break or engage in mindfulness when I needed to rather than working on my feet for 8 hours in a high stress environment with low pay. I think that is part of it, too. My mindset is such that this is a means to an end so I just need to suck it up.

I am truly trying to see this as an opportunity for growth and learning because it is always humbling and helpful to be in new situations and experiences that you may never have had before. When I had previous bouts with anxiety in the workplace I sought the advice of mentors, took time away, and focused on my goals and priorities to help see me through.

In this environment, the workplace dynamic is completely different. And it’s hard for me to take any time off because I just started and I need the incentive pay being offered at the moment. Furthermore, the schedule is always changing and I don’t have control over when I can take a break or step away. I do have nice coworkers who are patient with me and help by answering questions I have about the job or circumstance.

anxiety in the workplace
Photo by Yan Krukov on Pexels.com

At the same time, I’m not able to step away always when needed, so I have to develop other coping mechanisms for the moment. Breathing is helpful and getting outside for fresh air if possible. But I’m curious … what do you do? How do you take time for yourself in a busy workday to make sure you are properly taking care of yourself for the long run? How do you handle anxiety in the workplace?

I do know that when I take the time to complete my daily affirmations, my days go much smoother and my mind is more at ease. Share in the comments, any advice you have – it would be much appreciated by not just me, but many other readers!

smiling ethnic woman with smartphone working in nature
Posted in Uncategorized

3 Helpful Communication Tips and Suggestions for Virtual and Remote Teams

Posted on by tracydee

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, many teams had to switch to a virtual work setting with little to no time to prepare. Helpful communication tips are a must. What have we learned since then? How can teams communicate effectively when they are not in the same place?

Truthfully, I believe that the future of work is hybrid with CHOICE. Some people work better in an office. Some work better at home. Some, like myself, need to mix it up. I enjoy being in the office for the socialization piece of getting to know my colleagues. However, I do enjoy the freedom and flexibility of working from home and getting to dictate my own schedule and work without interruptions I choose to do so.

As I’ve worked with several organizations over the last several years, here are my top 3 tips for positive communication within virtual teams:

Helpful Communication Tips:
Set clear guidelines and expectations

It is important to know how frequently you should hear back from a colleague and when it is necessary to send reminders. Sharing calendars can be a great way to know when others are free or busy. You don’t have to share all of the details of your calendar with colleagues. It is even helpful to block out specific quiet work time on your calendar and then others will see that you are busy.

If people take personal time, respect that. I think now more than ever, we are understanding the value of family and health taking priority over the work, work, work culture. However, also be sure to know when it is appropriate to email, phone, or text. Cell phones have become part of the workplace culture, but unless it belongs to the company, I try to keep mine primarily for personal use whenever possible.

Think about as a team the problems you may run into if someone doesn’t respond. How will you get a hold of them? How long should it take for a response? Can you set up away messages on Slack or email when you’ve stepped aside for some time? These are all things that your team can discuss and come to common expectations.

helpful communication tips
Photo by Jack Sparrow on Pexels.com

Helpful communication tips:
Leverage technology to automate and collaborate

Many organizations use virtual communication tools such as Slack or Microsoft Teams. It is an easy way to send messages and let people know when you are away from your computer. I work strange hours to get my stuff done, but I don’t always want people to know I’m working late at night.

So, I will often use the schedule send feature of Gmail to send emails out around 8:00 am in the morning. If someone sees I’m on and working at 9:00 pm, they may start to message me or expect a quick email response. I personally am trying to establish clear work and personal boundaries by automating what I can.

Other great ways to utilize technology would be to share project management systems like Trello or Monday.com. These platforms offer a space to visualize shared projects and create deadlines and notes.

Helpful communication tips:
Keep running meeting notes in Google Docs or Microsoft Sharepoint

One strategy that my team used this past year and a half was to keep running notes on a Google Doc for our weekly check-in meeting. We would go over the agenda items from the previous week, see what was new on our to-do list, and use the assign task feature to automate emails to the team on who was going to do what. We then had a recurring Google Calendar invite that included the Zoom link and Google Docs notes that we could all access.

It was clear and kept us all organized and on the same page as we prepared for events and programs.

Now, every team and group has its own dynamics and energy. It is important to listen to one another’s ideas, try new things, and be mindful of what just is not working. Perhaps the team leader can even put together an anonymous suggestion line where staff could come up with some solutions to communication issues that the team is having.

*Affiliate link* Check out Speechelo to turn text into voice overs!

woman coding on computer
Posted in Uncategorized

Important Strategies for Scheduling Meetings In and Out of Your Organization

Posted on by tracydee

Strategies for scheduling meetings: Are you tasked with scheduling a lot of meetings or scheduling meetings with large groups of people with busy schedules? I’ve had to do both so I’ll share some of the strategies that I have used to simplify this process if possible.

I generally view these in 2 different categories. Scheduling within an organization can be a bit easier because you can utilize technology tools and systems to standardize meeting expectations.

However, this works best when everyone in the group is well-versed in the technology of the organization. Scheduling outside organizations requires clear directions so others can utilize the method you have set forth for that meeting.

Strategies for Scheduling meetings Within the organization

One of the easiest methods to schedule meetings within an organization is to share calendars through Gmail or Outlook. When I’m scheduling a meeting in Google Calendar in my organization, I can type in the guests’ names I need to meet with and view their available blocks of time to find a common time. You can change the settings to share as many or as few details as possible.

Doodle – This works for both inside and outside the organization. With Doodle, you can create a bookable calendar so people have to look at it when you’re available. You can also create events and list out dates and times so people can tell you when they’re available.

strategies for scheduling meetings
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Strategies for Scheduling meetings Outside the organization

When trying to schedule outside the organization, it is also possible to utilize Google and Outlook calendars if those people use them as well. I often get Google Calendar invites from many people not in my organization.

Another strategy is to use When2Meet, which allows potential meeting attendees to shade in all the blocks of time they are available. It then gets darker the more people are available at a given time indicating a better fit for a meeting. You can share the link with potential attendees and then choose the time when most people are available.

One of my colleagues just creates a Google Sheet with available times and has people put their names when they are available. It’s a similar process as When2Meet.

These are the main methods that I have used which I can personally recommend. However, there are so many other digital programs that you can use to manage your calendars and schedule meetings. This article shares the breakdown of 23 different programs you can use.

Ultimately, you want to choose the most time-efficient and user-friendly option available to you!

people working in a call center
Posted in Uncategorized

3 Tips To Provide Excellent Customer Service

Posted on by tracydee

We all want to receive excellent customer service.

Is the customer always right? This has been the advice I’ve heard the majority of my life when getting trained to work with people in retail or service. Even if they aren’t right, how can we make them happy? Granted, there are some people who will never be happy no matter what you do to help them.

Despite those hopefully few and far between individuals, there are several things we can do to provide excellent customer service that will leave the individual(s) content and hopefully coming back for more.

man with headphones facing computer monitor. excellent customer service.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Tips for providing excellent customer service

1. Prioritize active listening and communication

Whenever possible, try not to multi-task when helping customers. Focus on the person you are trying to serve and problem solve before you go on to the next one. It’s easy to get distracted if there is a big line or multiple things are occurring at once.

However, people want to feel as though they are being listened to and that they have your full attention. It’s also a lot easier to make mistakes if your attention is divided among multiple things.

2. Ask clarifying questions or repeat to confirm information

Do not pretend to know everything if you truly do not understand what they are asking. Be prepared to ask follow up questions or seek clarifying information. You do not want to get to the end of a transaction only to have missed a vital piece of knowledge that would have changed how you handled the situation completely.

If needed, have the individuals write down or spell names if you are not sure because getting people’s names correct is the bare minimum of excellent customer service.

man standing beside man holding gray club. excellent customer service
Photo by Jopwell on Pexels.com
3. Follow-up and Follow Through

If you say you are going to do something, then do it to the best of your abilities. I recently took a phone call at work, but was too busy to truly answer the person’s questions. I asked for their phone number and said I would call them when I had a free moment that day. I actually called them back several hours later when I had time to process their questions and give them the attention they deserved.

They were so appreciative that I remembered their name and the information they told me (I had written it all down!). Additionally, it is important to follow through. Place a call to the proper people or connect them to whatever they are asking for. I have found that even if you don’t have the answer, the effort taken to find it out for them does not go unappreciated.

And then, simply be a kind and empathetic person. Try to put yourself in the customer’s shoes and think about what type of service and assistance you would want if you were in that situation.

It’s easy to become jaded by repetitive questions or complaining customers. However, if you choose to work in customer service, try to change your mindset and focus on the primary objective: how you can help them reach their goals.

fashion woman notebook pen
Posted in Manifestation

Journaling for Self-Reflection and Personal Growth: 30 Prompts to Start Now

Posted on by tracydee

Self-reflection is necessary to understand yourself and grow as a person.

One of the things I’ve truly been focusing on the past two years has been getting to know myself better. And not only figuring out who I am, but owning every part of myself. It’s not an easy process, but one that is worth it. There have been ups and downs, but I’m weathering the storms by trying to remain grounded and focused on my why.

Why am I trying to reach these goals? What purpose will it serve? Who can I help if I’m able to reach my dreams and goals?

Affirmations have been a huge part of my growth, but I’ve also been journaling to get some of my thoughts down on paper. Or I might think of a prompt in my head and talk myself through a scenario or action steps to help me get to the next goal or milestone.

I wanted to share 30 days worth of journal prompts for self-reflection here in this post. I also created a Google Doc copy that you can have to start writing your own responses down. When you click the link above it will prompt you to make your own copy of the document that you can type on.

a person sitting on wooden planks across the lake scenery. self-reflection
Photo by S Migaj on Pexels.com

But for now, here are the 30 days worth of prompts you can use for self-reflection and personal growth:

Day 1 – What are three things I am thankful for today?

Day 2 – What am I most proud of accomplishing this year?

Day 3 – Who is someone I can always count on and why?

Day 4 – What is the thing that I like about myself the most and why?

Day 5 – What is one area of my life in which I would like to make improvements and how can I do that?

Day 6 – When did I face a challenge in my life and how did I overcome it?

Day 7 – If I could achieve only one personal goal this year, which one would it be and why?

Day 8 – If I could achieve only one professional goal this year, which one would it be and why?

Day 9 – Who is someone I admire and what do I admire most about them?

Day 10 – What is a happy memory from childhood that influenced who I am today?

body of water during golden hour
Photo by Sebastian Voortman on Pexels.com

Day 11 – What is my favorite book or movie, and what do I like about it?

Day 12 – When my friends call me, they know that I always …

Day 13 – Finish this statement. The most important thing for me to focus on each day is …

Day 14 – In difficult situations, do I look at the glass as half empty or half full?

Day 15 – In five years, my ideal living situation would be ….

Day 16 – hat is one small change that I could make in my life today to get closer to reaching my goals?

Day 17 – What is my favorite quote and why does it inspire me?

Day 18 – What is one thing I could repeat to myself every morning that would improve self-confidence?

Day 19 – What makes me unhappy and is there anything I can do to change it?

Day 20 – Am I reaching my full potential in my career?

orange mason jar in body of water
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Day 21 – Choose 3 positive affirmations to write down today.

Day 22 – If I were going to be stranded on an island alone, what 3 things would I need?

Day 23 – If I won a million dollars, what would be the first thing I would buy?

Day 24 – List 5 people I can say positive things to today, write what it is, and go do it.

Day 25 – Write a letter to your high school self sharing 3 things you wish you had known then.

Day 26 – What is one thing you can do today to take care of yourself?

Day 27 – What food brings you great joy when you eat it?

Day 28 – What is your favorite physical feature about yourself?

Day 29 – What is one thing you wish to improve about yourself?

Day 30 – By the end of this year, what do you wish to be different in your life?

I hope these self-reflection prompts help you on your journey of self-discovery and improvement!

woman holding guitar controller
Posted in Manifestation

You Are Enough: Don’t Ever Forget The Importance of Your Worth

Posted on by tracydee

You are enough! Keep saying it and believe it.

Building up self-confidence for many people is a lifelong endeavor. I used to equate academics and being smart to my self-worth. For some, that comes in the form of beauty that is only skin deep. The reality is to truly be happy you have to love yourself from the inside out, flaws and all.

And trust me, it is not an easy task, at least for me. But it’s one that I’m willing to take on to become the version of myself that doesn’t care what other people think or is completely content with where I’m at, even if I do want to make improvements or changes. And accept that I’m a work in progress, but I can never be truly content if I’m constantly criticizing myself.

One way that I continuously remind myself that I am enough is through daily affirmations. Yesterday, 8/8, was a powerful manifestation day for wealth and abundance. I focused on those affirmations because I am also on a debt-free journey. I even hosted a Tik Tok live for 30 minutes reading affirmations together. I found the experience to be really empowering and I actually can’t wait to do it again. The power of believing in yourself does come from within, but there is something to be said about building an encouraging community.

Reminder: You are enough!

After I graduated this past spring, I rewarded myself with my first tattoo. I have been wanting to get this for quite some time, but I finally had the courage to do it. I did pass out when I got my nose pierced years ago, and I was afraid the same might happen with a tattoo. It almost did, but the tattoo was small, so I managed to hold on.

I designed it myself and I specifically wanted the word “enough” to be in my personal handwriting. It serves as a constant reminder even when I’m feeling low or lacking self-confidence.

you are enough

So, if you’re reading this post, take this as a reminder that you are enough. You are capable and strong enough to face challenges, master your motivation, and reach your goals.

As an optimistic realist, I’m constantly looking for ways to improve. I undervalue my worth, and it’s time to start reaching the full potential I have.

Posted in Uncategorized

Using SkillShare to Learn How to Make a Digital Planner

Posted on by tracydee

FREE PDF DOWNLOAD BELOW!

One of the things I really wanted to learn how to do this year with my iPad was to create a digital planner. I am very much a paper and pen kind of person, but I am trying to minimize the amount of paper items that I utilize.

I follow K Digital Studio on YouTube and Kirstin does an amazing job providing step by step instructions switching to digital note-taking. I actually watched her class on how to make a digital planner on SkillShare, which you can try for 30 days free through my referral link here.

She teaches you how to build a digital planner using Keynote on both the iPad and MacBook. It was a pretty easy process overall with the most time-consuming piece of linking the slides back to the month and week calendars.

I created a blank cover for my planner and linked monthly calendars with the tabs on the sides. For example, here is my August 2021 monthly view of the calendar.

In Kirstin’s class, she teaches you how to make an undated planner, but I went ahead and dated mine for July 2021 – June 2022 in my own handwriting. Here are my daily pages:

I then exported the Keynote file to PDF and downloaded it to my GoodNotes app to use for the rest of the year!

My goal is to continue using SkillShare to learn how to make other digital products that I can sell online through my website and through Etsy.

Because this is my first attempt and I’m planning to use this version myself, I am providing a FREE download of the digital planner here:

2021-2022-Digital-Planner-PDFDownload

Let me know what you think about it!