Tag: Personal Skills

infinity pool near beach
Posted in Manifestation, Travel

11/11 Manifestations – My Wish List for the Year

Posted on by tracydee

I recently saw a TikTok (Haleyhoffmansmith) describing a manifestation exercise of using the power of November 11th to write 111 things that you want to have happen in the year.

Her premise is that instead of having 3 to 5 big manifestations, we focus on a bunch of small wishes. We don’t always know when or how things will happen so the more we put out into the universe, the more something could come to fruition.

My 111 Wish List

I actually found it quite difficult to come up with 111 things. This past year, I really focused on contentment with myself as a person and the reality of the here and now. Sure, I definitely plan out goals and strive for new things, but the process of manifesting true wishes is a work in progress. But I can’t argue with it because I have so many amazing things going on in my life right now.

The easy part of this year’s list stems from the fact that I’m already living a previous manifestation of teaching in Norway for the year. So things like visiting an ice hotel and going ice skating are likely to happen. I even put visit 10 new countries (which up until 6 weeks ago I had only been to 3) and I know it’s a strong possibility.

Right now, I’m sitting here trying to finish my list and this blog post at the same time. I only have 43 items. I guess the question now is how big or how small should my wishes be? I love Christmas and I have no idea where I will be on Christmas because of my European travels. So I guess I can say to take a picture in front of a Christmas tree on Christmas wherever I am!

I have committed myself to the Bergen half marathon in April with the 20-week training plan I created and I the hotel and flight I booked!

Fitting in a Box

As a high-achieving student my whole life, I really want to follow all of the expectations. So some stranger told me on the Internet that I need to come up with 111 wishes for the year. Which sounds great in theory. And I’m sure I have them in my brain. But I just can’t seem to get them all out on paper right now. And part of me feels like I’m failing. But to who’s metric? It’s a guide and I can create my own reality.

And you know what? It is really okay. I make the rules for my life. I’m a little silly and goofy. Some might call me gullible. It’s something that happens when you are generally trusting that people have good intentions. I’ve been working on becoming the best version possible of me, the only me on this planet.

So I will likely fill up my 111 Wish Google Sheet with checkboxes all nice and neat. But for now, I’m still developing that list and letting opportunities come to me. Perhaps when I’m done I’ll share the whole list with the world and we can all track my progress together!

Posted in Manifestation

How Blogging and Social Media are Building my Confidence

Posted on by tracydee

I’ve struggled for years with building my confidence. I think one of the biggest fears of putting myself out there is rejection or negativity. This is only natural. To some degree, we all want to be liked and validated. Some people are better at shrugging off the negative comments. While others, like myself, take them personally.

For years, I let my anxiety hold me back from sharing publicly some of the things I wanted to talk about. What will people think? What if it’s not good enough? What if I’m not good enough? The truth is, I will never be enough if I continue seeking validation from others.

Furthermore, I have the power to change my reality and my actions. If it turns out that I could have done something differently, well, then I have the chance to improve and be better next time.

selective focus photo of smiling woman
Photo by Andre Furtado on Pexels.com

Building my Confidence Through Blogging

When I read and watched YouTube videos about starting a blog, the number one advice was to niche down. I’m just not ready for that. And it is okay. My blog allows me to share my thoughts and experiences with my friends, family, and even strangers who are interested in reading.

That is partly why I believe it is building my confidence. Despite being academically driven, I never considered myself that great of a writer. People always saw me as the numbers person, good at math, and destined to work in a math profession.

Yet, if I look back through notes and journal entries from when I was a teenager, I always enjoyed writing to express myself. I didn’t necessarily enjoy writing to appease others through an assignment or required task.

Now, I pick and choose how to manage my time and write posts of interest. The likes and comments allow me to see what content the audience is connecting with the most. But overall, the comments are overwhelmingly positive.

Building my Confidence Through Social Media

My adult students told me for years to start a YouTube channel. I was scared. Making videos intimidated me. I finally took the plunge this past year and did it. At first, I always tried to make sure my make-up looked good and everything was perfect. Then I realized that perfection is not the goal. Reality is. And the reality is that we look different and have good days and bad days.

Tik Tok also brings out the opportunity to be silly and share with others. The app gives you a chance to showcase bits of your personality and separate yourself from work if you so choose. I am still working up the courage to post more dancing videos. But, if you know me, you know I love to dance. So, I better start having some fun and being my silly self!

Now, I still have a long way to go to be the type of confident that I wish to be. But, I’m well on my way, helped by inner reflection and being brave enough to put myself out there, flaws and all. Yes, there will be mean people, but most people are supportive and encouraging! So go build that community.

Whatever it is that you have been waiting for to get started, why wait? Don’t wait for the perfect body, partner, or job to start sharing your message with others or living your dreams!

Posted in Goal

How to Be Productive After Time Off

Posted on by tracydee

How to be productive after time off is a big question. We all deserve our time to unplug, destress, and spend time with ourselves or our family. Whether that is to take a vacation or much-needed self-care time, it can be hard to get back into the swing of things.

I built a vacation into my arrival to Norway, with many months of preparation leading to this point. I felt guilty at first, but then I remembered how much time I put into getting my permit, online orientations, building out workshops, etc. So, if they said I should get my bearings before diving in, who was I to argue?

However, now that I know my way around the city a bit, I am ready to start my new job. Last Wednesday was my first day at the office picking up the iPad and phone that I will use as I travel.

I am finally somewhat adjusted to the time change, and tried my best to follow my previous morning routine with breakfast, affirmations, and planning time for the last several days.

how to be productive after time off

Now, it is Monday of a brand new week and I am going forward with getting back into “normal” work weeks. While I will occasionally have travel on the weekends, my hope is to prioritize working during the week. Then, rest on the weekends.

How to be productive: Here is what I am doing to get my productivity energy back:

  1. Get back on track with a morning routine, even if it’s just a few things. For example, today, I got up, stretched, made coffee, and wrote out my affirmations. Tomorrow, I will make my bed and spend some time in silence. I hope to add running back in to the mornings before work time.
  2. Create a healthy balance of work and personal time. I started emailing and to-do lists around 8:30am this morning. Now, I am about to break for lunch and go on a walk. I have to teach tonight from 6:30pm – 8:00pm so I don’t feel guilty about taking a long break in the middle of the day.
  3. Be forgiving with myself if I’m not on my “A” game right away. So, I did hit snooze this morning (a terrible habit I have been trying to break this whole year). I am disappointed that I reverted back, but I am not going to dwell on the mistakes of today when I can plan for success tomorrow.
  4. Re-start check-ins with my accountability partner. When I tell you that checking in weekly with someone is a game-changer, I mean it. For 2 years, I meet weekly with an accountability partner. We go over our weekly goals, our long term goals, time and scheduling challenges. Additionally, we provide much needed advice and encouragement.
  5. Sync Google calendar on all my devices. Because I picked up my new work technology, I need to sync everything so that all my calendars match up. I prefer using Google Calendar to track meetings and appointments. On my iPhone, I link my google account to the Apple calendar.

So, that is my recommended start to easing back into productivity. Most importantly, not trying to do everything all at once!

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

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.

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!