Tag: self-awareness

10 Steps To Simplify Your Home And Office

July 5, 2018 3:00 AM July 5, 2018

8485 views

As I get older it becomes more apparent how many things we purchase with no specific need in mind. Although I can see it happening, for some reason, it seems…

As I get older it becomes more apparent how many things we purchase with no specific need in mind. Although I can see it happening, for some reason, it seems impossible to stop! 🙈🙃 Today we are talking about ways to consciously simplify life at home and the office. Baby steps, if you will, towards living the minimalist lifestyle.

5 Steps to Simplify at Home

Empty out and organize your handbag or wallet.
Empty out and organize your Junk Drawer.
Thoroughly review your book/cd/dvd collection and downsize.
Minimize stacks of paper by switching to paperless billing and recycling old magazines.
Clear off ALL the horizontal surfaces in the room, one room at a time.

How Do I Decide What to Keep?

Ask yourself these 5 questions:

When was the last time I used this?
(If jt’s been more than 9 months – donate).

What is the worst thing that could happen if I donate this item?

Can life go on without this item?

Could this item be MORE useful to someone else?

Does this item bring joy to my life?

5 Steps to Simplify at The Office

Take the time to organize all the files and photographs into proper folders on your computer.
Unsubscribe from email lists that no longer interest you (or entice you to purchase more 😈).
Work to minimize the number of tabs you have open at any given time.
Create a follow-up email folder to keep you organized and on top of your tasks.
De-clutter your work desk.

These steps are only the beginning but at least we’re stepping in the right direction. 👣

How did you go Minimalist? Let me know below.

xo,

3,441 Comments

M I N D F U L N E S S

How To Invest When You Feel Like Your Broke

admin

May 24, 2018 3:00 AM May 24, 2018

13696 views

3,942 Comments

I’m at the point in my life where I know I should be saving, planning for the future – yet I’d prefer to spend my money on a new life…

I’m at the point in my life where I know I should be saving, planning for the future – yet I’d prefer to spend my money on a new life experience. Does anyone know when my adult programming will kick in and I will actively want to save for my future? Please let a girl know. 🙋🏻 For the time being, I have discovered a life hack. A way to plan for my future without affecting my present. By downloading the Acorns App and connecting it with my spending habits I have been able to continually save for the past six months.

How It Works

Acorns is an app that is easy to download in the iPhone App Store or Google Play Store. Once downloaded the app is super user-friendly and easy to navigate. Within the app, you can link your bank accounts, credit cards, and even PayPal accounts. Everywhere you spend money on the daily you can link. There is no limit to the number of accounts. Once your accounts are linked Acorns will automatically begin investing your spare change.

Spare chage or “Round Ups” (as they’re called in the app) are the cent’s left over from every purchase.

For example, if you go to Starbucks and spend $ 3.86 on your favorite hot beverage, Acorns will automatically round that transaction to the nearest dollar and invest the change ($ 0.14). Acorns will keep track of these roundups and then withdraw them when your round ups total $ 5.00.

Acorns does charge a service fee of $ 1.00/month. This fee covers the administrative cost of your account. It is also good to mention that this monthly fee does increase once your account totals more than $ 5,000.00.

Slow and Steady Growth

As someone with zero investment experience or knowledge Acorns has given me the opportunity to dip my toe in the water. I opened my account on December 1st with $ 5.00 seed money and now today my account totals over $ 300.00. Penny by penny I have built an investment/savings account. The best part is because it’s fully automated – I literally set it and forget it. So easy.

One of my favorite aspects of this app is the “Potential” tab. This tab shows you a hypothetical picture of what your account will look like in 5, 10, 30+ years if you continue to save at your current rate. In addition, you can set a goal, say $ 100,000 by the time you are 65. You can click the “Change My Future” button, plug in your goal and it will show you what you need to save to meet that goal. Now, of course, the chart displayed is not guaranteed, but it is helpful when planning for the future.

Of course, the goal of an investment account is to continually add money and then to ride the market as a way to help with long-term goals – but, if/when you need to pull from your Acorns account you can. Not only can you withdraw the money, there is no transaction fee (this service is covered in the monthly dues). 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

Investment Options

Acorns let’s you choose from five investment profile ranging from Conservative to Risky. When you open your account the app will walk you through a brief survey to identify the best investment profile for you. You can, however, chose a different profile if you disagree with the result of the survey. Once again everything is so easy. In the realm of #adulting, I’ll take alllll the easy options! 💯😂

Free Seed Money

This is the BEST part of Acorns! By clicking the link below Acorns with GIVE YOU $ 5.00 for FREE! Not only that, but by clicking below, I also get $ 5.00! That’s what I call a win-win! 💃🕺

Once you set up your account you’ll also receive a shareable link so you can share Acorns with your friends and family!

3,942 Comments

M I N D F U L N E S S

Listening To The Clues – When Timing is Everything

admin

April 26, 2018 3:00 AM April 26, 2018

12229 views

3,953 Comments

In this world, there is no opportunity without perfect timing. Whether it was the right job application at the right time, the right sponsored ad at the right time or…

In this world, there is no opportunity without perfect timing. Whether it was the right job application at the right time, the right sponsored ad at the right time or the right airline seat at the right time. Every opportunity that comes your way will come at the RIGHT TIME. Working with the universe is the best way to be ready when timing is everything.

Listening To The Clues

“What clues?”, you might ask. Clues are the subtle shifts in your world that will lead you toward (or away) from a certain opportunity. Let’s start with an everyday task like driving to work. Have you ever had a day where you missed your turn? Driven that way a million times and somehow missed it? Instead of getting upset, zoom out and look at the big picture. For some reason your universe wants you to go another way, whether it is to avoid an accident, to find a new part of town or to direct you towards another’s path. Pay attention to those moments, these are the clues.

Not buying that one? How about when you’re online shopping when you should (or should not) be spending money. 😏 Has anyone ever gotten to the check out screen, clicked “Proceed to Payment”, filled out all the required information and then received an error message. 😳 Only to reenter all the same information to get a new error message. 😳😳 This one I swear is not MY universe, but actually my husband’s universe. 🙃 🤷🏻 I can’t be the only one right?!

For me, watching, listening and feeling for those roadblocks are an important way to respond to the universe’s directions.

Being Fluid in the Moment

Every day we are placed in various situations where we can stick to our plan or adjust for current conditions. I find that the more fluid or flexible I am on a daily basis the better my overall quality of life becomes. From the inconvenient traffic jam on the way to work to the incorrect coffee order at my local coffee house.

I choose to believe I am in that moment for a reason.

Perhaps I need those extra minutes in the car before my workday begins or perhaps I should spice up my coffee routine with something new. If I am not open to suggestion I will never learn to experience all that this beautiful world has to offer.

Takeaway

As we move into the week ahead let’s all work to be present in every moment and appreciate it for what it is or isn’t. Listen for those clues, take those suggestions and be grateful for the guidance.

At the end of the day we are all just trying to get through another day – sometimes it’s good to know someone, something is looking out for us.

We are not alone.

And remember a square peg will NEVER fit in a round hole – so don’t force it. 🚫 When it’s been on the lathe long enough, it will fit, but only with perfect timing.

Enjoy your week friends!

Carolyn

PS. Anyone have any great timing (right place right time) stories they could share? I’d love to hear them!

3,953 Comments

M I N D F U L N E S S

Why Must We Always Over Analyze?

admin

January 4, 2018 8:04 PM January 4, 2018

8155 views

3,599 Comments

As I start this blogging journey it only seems fit to begin with a post on “Analysis Paralysis”. What is analysis paralysis, you ask? Analysis paralysis is the constant circle…

As I start this blogging journey it only seems fit to begin with a post on “Analysis Paralysis”.

What is analysis paralysis, you ask? Analysis paralysis is the constant circle of create and recreate, edit and analyze, begin and begin again. The strive for perfection can be paralyzing, so how do we get around it?

As an entrepreneur we have to find realistic ways to manage this condition and somehow use it to our advantage. (i.e. using it as my very first post topic *mic drop 😂.)

In a world full of beautiful Instagram feeds and hours upon hours of YouTube videos it is easy to get caught up. Taking a step back from the temptation to open yet another tab, is possibly the most difficult but most rewarding action of all. Knowing that deep down you have what it takes, you know your voice and that you have something meaningful to share with the world is why we’re here.

So break the paralysis, jump in the deep end and enjoy the ride.

“We’re not here for a long time,
We’re here for a good time” -Huey Luis

Carolyn

3,599 Comments