Posted in Goal, Manifestation

Visions & Goals: 5 Steps to Reach That Next Step

Posted on by tracydee

Visions & goals & dreams are things I think about frequently. Sometimes it’s tough to keep going on a goal that seems so far away it doesn’t even feel possible at times. I felt that way many times as I was training to run a half-marathon before I turned 30.

Also, I dream a lot. Believe me. My Pinterest vision board is filled with all of the things I desire for my life. And why not put it out into the universe?

But what is the difference between a goal and a dream? Or a vision and a dream? I’ve been thinking about what it takes to achieve something, small or big. James Clear will tell you it is atomic habits that make or break whether we get to reach our goal.

cloudy sky. visions & goals

I like this quote from John Baldoni:

Dreams are drifts of the imagination, as if one imaginary clouds in the sky. Visions are scripted efforts to effect change. They occur personally and organizationally. Dreams are nice; visions are work.

-John Baldoni

As I think through his statement that visions are scripted and designed to effect change, it reminds me of why companies and organizations have vision statements. Truly, these are their efforts to implement change toward something bigger. And it brings everyone on board to focus their individual goals toward the mission. And that is important for achieving both visions & goals.

So now I ask:

What is your vision statement for life? What is it that you ultimately aim to achieve overall? What are your visions & goals?

While I would love to enjoy the freedom to travel, it comes down to being a good friend and a kind person for me.

However, I do want to achieve these greater dreams of financial freedom to support my family. Therefore, I need to set goals and create a plan to get there.

Whenever I teach goal-setting in my courses, I have students use the SMARTER goal method. The two most important components of that to me are being specific and setting a timeline for completion. If there is no deadline, it can stretch on and on.

The method also helps with getting the ideas out onto paper or a computer. Either way, writing it down means you are 42% more likely to actually achieve that goal.

So here’s what you need to do (myself included since I’m a perpetual learner):

  1. Dream and keep dreaming – You can’t achieve something you’re not thinking about. Dream big – there is a whole world out there filled with information you probably don’t even know yet.
  2. Create a vision statement for your life – What’s your purpose? What do you want to be known for? Think of your dreams and start to narrow down a statement or mantra that will keep you going.
  3. Set SMARTER goals – Be intentional about writing down exactly what you want to achieve, when you want to achieve it by, and how you will measure your progress along the way.
  4. Create an action plan – Work backward from your end goal and create mini-goals that get you closer and closer to the big goal. Small to-do lists that can be completed that move you just that one step closer to reaching that goal.

What are you waiting for? Get out there and chase those dreams and reach those goals!

Posted in Travel

10 Amazon Must Haves for Travel, Technology, and Luggage

Posted on by tracydee

Must haves for travel: Well, I just finished my 35 hour trip from the US to Norway where I will be living until Summer of 2022. There were some bumps along the way. One bump was my luggage sent to my layover in Portugal instead of my final destination. After 2 hours of working with the gate agents, I ended up just paying again to have it sent all the way to Oslo. I will worry about contacting United later.

I wanted to share some of the travel items I used along the way. Also, some items I wish I purchased to make things a bit easier.

  1. Collapsible water bottle – This was great because I hooked it to my backpack or my purse when I wasn’t using it. I filled it up in the airport and also at the hotel on my way back to the airport for the 3rd flight.

2. Travel backpack that opens like a carry-on – Now, this was handy because I had two checked bags that I needed my hands for. However, I did fill my backpack a little too heavy and my shoulders and back were hurting pretty bad by the time I reached my final destination. This particular model had 3 mesh bags that I used for dirty laundry when I changed between flights.

3. Plug travel adapter – This was a last minute purchase thanks to my grandpa doing some research online. I knew at one point that I needed this, but it slipped my mind to order it in advance. I’m glad I had it with me and didn’t have to purchase anything at the airport.

4. Liquid travel bottles – I got the ones with labels so I would remember the difference between my face cleanser and my shampoo. This was great for the hotel between Portugal and Norway. I had no issues getting through security in any of the three airports.

5. Neck pillow and travel kit – Now, I brought just the basic plain neck pillow. I wish I had purchased this one that had eye covers and a machine washable outer part.

Must Haves for Travel: Technology Needs

6. Airpods travel case – I am always losing my Airpods case in my purse, so I wanted to get something easier for me to find. This carrying case also held my back-up headphones in case my Airpods needed to be charged.

7. iPad pro case with stand – I used this in the plane with my Kindle Unlimited to read books during my flight.

Kindle Unlimited Membership Plans

Must Haves for Travel: Items I Wish I Purchased

8. Travel makeup and jewelry organizer – I used small bags I had and split everything up. However, I am going to purchase an organizer that keeps it all together.

9. Packing cubes – I prefer these packing cubes over the compression bags. I had to be careful not to go over 50 pounds on my luggage. It’s easy to do that with compression bags because you can fit more items in your suitcase.

10. Rolling under seat bag – This is going to be my next purchase. The backpack is great, but I need to put the heavier items in something that rolls. Most places allow you a carry-on and a personal item, so I can bring both.

Posted in Goal

It’s a Productivity Puzzle! Fitting the Pieces Together

Posted on by tracydee

My productivity puzzle: Fitting the pieces of life together can be challenging at certain points. My productivity toward reaching my goals is something I have been proud of in the past. I put my mind to completing a half marathon and finishing a doctorate degree, among other goals along the way.

One goal I am excited about is now heading to Norway on a Fulbright to work with schools and continue my passion of civic education.

The last several months really put the idea of productivity into perspective for me. In fact, many times, I re-evaluated what it truly meant to be productive for me. I was so used to being busy, that it was nice to spend a little time reflecting on my hopes for this blog and getting to keep working on that goal.

productivity puzzle
Photo by Polina Zimmerman on Pexels.com

However, the time versus money internal debate came to a head when Norway was delayed yet again and I faced a huge lack of solid income. I had no choice but to take a temporary full time position that did turn out to be extremely stressful and left way less time for me to be productive toward these longer term goals.

These ebbs and flows of life are natural and it is up to us to make the most of our moments. Whether that means sitting down and trying to attain something greater for ourselves or simply taking a break to walk on the beach and get some fresh air.

Now, I face down this new opportunity to create a schedule around my commitments to my job and to myself. I think of this new journey as a productivity puzzle where I am trying to fit the pieces together. Truthfully, I am excited to arrive at my destination and spend some time working on my calendar and prioritizing my tasks.

As I continue to maintain a growth mindset, I will blog my learnings along the way and share helpful tips and advice that works for me!

Posted in Goal

Consistency in Blogging is Important: My Efforts to Improve

Posted on by tracydee

Am I the most consistent blogger? No. Would I like to be better? Absolutely. Consistency in blogging is important. Many of the blog advice gurus emphasize how important consistency is for getting your blog going and maintaining the content (by the way, the article linked here is an easy read on 4 simple ways to come up with content for your blog).

Readers expect to see articles from you on a regular basis, whether it’s several times a week, once a week, or twice a month. As the writer, you get to set the tone and precedent to manage those expectations. If you’ve subscribed with me for a few months now, you might notice that I’ll post a lot for a few weeks, then kind of disappear, and then start posting again.

Even when I’m not posting, I still use the draft mode to collect my ideas as inspiration strikes me. However, because blogging is not my primary source of income (yet!), I do sometimes have to pivot to the things that take priority in my life, such as family or paying current bills.

In the spring, it was maintaining my two part-time jobs while finishing up my dissertation. This summer, it was helping my family move halfway across the country and then working full time at a customer service job to make ends meet while I waited for the green light to leave the country.

consistency in blogging
Photo by Ivan Samkov on Pexels.com

Consistency in blogging: Monitoring statistics

I recently shared my blogging statistics for the first 6 months or so of this endeavor. When I look at the chart of views, my best months were when I was consistently posting content 2-4 times a week. There was a month or so where I did post quite a bit, but I did it all at once with a long break in between. What this tells me, is that I should utilize the schedule post feature more often.

Even if I get a bunch of ideas that strike me and I get the urge to post 2 times in one day, it seems to be better if I draft it and then schedule it to post in another day or two. That way, there is some time in between the posts.

Now, I just decided to Google how often I should post and it seems that my observations are in line with the recommendations. It is best to post 2-4 times per week, with an average of 11 posts per month in order to see the best traffic. In my own data, I can see that I need at least 10 posts per month to keep my views growing.

So, my commitment from October through December to finish out 2021 is to write at least 11 new blog posts per month. As I currently have 75 blog posts, that would put me over 100 for the year, which is an attainable and realistic goal. And would help my consistency in blogging.

I will use data and inspiration to choose content by monitoring posts that seem to do well. For instance, the blog posts with the most likes seem to be about time management, money, or technology. But, it would be very helpful if you comment below on any articles you would like to see me write more about!

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

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.

woman in red long sleeve shirt sitting on gray chair
Posted in Goal

Do you have a procrastination problem? 6 Things to Consider NOW

Posted on by tracydee

“It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end.”

― Leonardo da Vinci

Do you have a procrastination problem? This quote speaks to me deeply because there are many times I put something off so long and once I finally get going, adrenaline kicks in. Or, if it’s related to health and wellness, I start to see the fruits of my labor and then don’t want to stop. For example, I’ve been wanting to get up and walk every day for the last year. But, I didn’t do it.

I can probably think of a million excuses, but the reality is I was procrastinating on this one simple thing that is really good for me. Now, I just finished week 3 of waking up and walking first thing almost every day and today was the first day I actually woke up before my alarm and ready to go!

The word procrastinate means to put off something INTENTIONALLY.

That word intentional really gets me. It means I literally know that I should be doing something, yet I am choosing not to for whatever reason. Sometimes the reasons are good, but many times they are not. When we look deeper into the origins of the word:

“English speakers borrowed the word in the 16th century from Latin procrastinatus, which itself evolved from the prefix pro-, meaning “forward,” and crastinus, meaning “of tomorrow.” Like its synonyms “delay,” “lag,” “loiter,” “dawdle,” and “dally,” “procrastinate” means to move or act slowly so as to fall behind. It typically implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy.” – Merriam-Webster

Let’s get one thing clear. Procrastination is not the same as prioritization. Sometimes we have to say no to things in our lives because it’s not a priority for us now. However, if we say yes to something, when we really should have said no, this can cause us to increase our procrastination problem. Or, if you’re like me, you hate cleaning the bathroom so I always procrastinate on cleaning day. But once I’m done, I realize it didn’t actually take that long and it looks much nicer!

A useful Ted Talk to watch about procrastination is by Tim Urban. In this video, he describes the mental gymnastics that procrastinators go through to rationalize their behavior. He presents the information with humor and engagement and makes you realize that we all procrastinate on something. So the question is: what are the things you are procrastinating on?

I plan to make a list this week of the things I’ve been procrastinating on that probably won’t take much time to actually just do. It’s been on my mind to call a company about something I need help with and I’ve been delaying because well, you know, being on hold with those customer service lines are not always fun.

Another key point that Tim Urban makes is that there is more mental anguish when we procrastinate on things that don’t have a deadline. If there is a date by which something needs to be accomplished, we can delay starting, but eventually crunch time will come and we get it done. On the flip side, if there is no date looming in front of us, then it can cause a lot of anxiety and depression that we aren’t accomplishing the things we need or want to do. This is a huge procrastination problem.

procrastination problem
Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com

So based on my own personal experiences, here are 6 tips on things you can do to try and reduce your procrastination problem.

  1. Set a deadline
    Probably the best thing you can do for yourself is to set a deadline to complete something. Even if it’s self-imposed and not related to work or family. The hard part is sticking with it because it’s sometimes easier to let ourselves down than other people. Ohhhhhh, that’s a good line – remember that! I’ll have to write another blog post about that. There has to be a name for that dilemma.
  2. Create a routine
    Starting a new routine is challenging, but possible. Start small and build up to where you want to be. I’ve been wanting to run every morning, but I’m so out of shape now that starting with walking makes more sense. And I’m proud of today finally waking up early and feeling that sense of wanting to get out of bed and go on a walk.
  3. Say no when you need to
    I recognize that this is easier said than done. However, it is necessary to say no sometimes, especially to things we will end up procrastinating on in the long run and that will take a toll on our mental health.
  4. Ask for help
    Remember, procrastination is INTENTIONALLY delaying the completion of something. If, after a period of time, you realize that you’re not motivated or your schedule is super busy, reach out to someone. Find an accountability partner who you can check in with if you’re trying to build a new habit. This can help with your procrastination problem.
  5. Daily and weekly goal setting
    In order to minimize the likelihood of procrastinating on certain things, make it a habit to check in with your goals on a daily and weekly basis. By keeping your eye on the why you are more likely to stick with what needs to get done. And if something no longer serves you, don’t be afraid to let it go. Perhaps something you’ve been procrastinating on doesn’t actually need to happen. Let it go.
  6. Prioritize
    Choose your priorities and focus your time and energy on those things. If you’re not sure, write down everything that you have to do. Then, start rearranging it to fit your reality. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I create this unrealistic lists of things to do and then I feel guilty when I don’t get it all done. I’m literally creating those feelings in my brain because I’m choosing to say that too many things are a priority. One method to use is the Eisenhower Matrix. Other methods involve creating different types of to do lists. These are excellent ways to solve your procrastination problem.

Get out there and reach your dreams!