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How To Strike A Balance Between Work And Personal Life

These past few days, I had the luxury to tune out all my worries and to immerse myself in a 3-day vacation. This brief retreat sent my state of mind into its reset mode. My renewed self became more efficient in the workplace. I, for one, believe in creating a balance between work and personal life.

The core of balancing these two areas is satisfying both your sense of achievement and your hunger for enjoyment. Achievement is gained through growth in the workplace while, indulgence is gained through engaging in enjoyable activities. How do you divide your time, money, and effort to these two areas? It is something that you have to discover on your own.

Meanwhile, may the following tips help you in establishing a work-life balance.

#1: DRAW A CLOCK

In a recent training conference that I attended, the speaker shared how her subordinate juggles fifty preschool students on her own. She faced the challenge head-on while maintaining a household. What is her secret? According to her, the key is time management.

An individual must carefully manage his or her time to achieve what needs to be done. Prioritize your tasks and divide your time accordingly. These are some of the categories that you may follow:

a. urgent and important,
b. important and not urgent,
c. urgent and unimportant, or
d. neither urgent nor important.

Now, let us move on to your personal clock. It is easy to bury yourself into your job when faced with a significant personal issue. However, putting said issues on hold may take a toll on your career. Personal issues (e.g., involving your relationships or health) matter in the long run.

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Image Credits: HollyEma, via Flickr

#2: CHOOSE THREE THINGS

Prioritizing is vital in creating a balance between the your personal and your professional life. The root of prioritizing depends on determining what matters to you. For instance, Randi Zuckerberg limits his priorities into three main categories. Randi chooses between work, sleep, relationships, and fitness. Yes! He is the sibling of Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.

After uncovering what matters to you the most, you can realistically define the “parameters of success” in each one. What do you have to do to achieve each of these category? Do you need to distance yourself from the activities that distract you from your priorities? Or, do you need to say “no” to some people?

#3: MANAGE YOUR FINANCES

Feeling confident about your finances will help you with both your personal and professional life. The expression “money makes the world go round” is still relevant in this day and age. The amount of cash-flow that circulates throughout your financial reservoir affects the life you lead. It is one of the biggest challenges that Singaporean households face on a daily basis. Hence, finding time to manage your finances is a must!

Track your spending by writing each expense on a piece of paper. To make your life easier, you may download accounting software or financial apps such as Spendee and AceMoney.

#4: LET GO OF PERFECTIONISM

Aside from toxic relationships and unnecessary spending, there are other things that you need to let go. Consider dialing down your “perfectionist tendencies” to maintain sanity. Aiming for perfection develops at a young age. It starts with keeping up with the demands of getting high marks. As you grow up, life gets more complicated.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

I learned the hard way that you must not be too hard on yourself. You cannot be in control all the time. When things do not go as planned, acceptance is the only option. Letting go of perfectionism can help you avoid burnout.

Sources: 1 & 2

Is Athleisure Worth Splurging On?

You may have noticed that athleisure is making a huge comeback. It is not just you – athleisure is everywhere! By definition, athleisure is a form of “casual clothing to be worn for exercising and for general use”. Its versatility and comfort paved way for major retailers and specialized companies to invest on this trend.

On that note, here are some of the reasons why you must consider purchasing athleisure clothing articles:

IT IS COMFORTABLE

It goes without saying that leaving the house in your sweatpants is comfortable. As far as most Singaporeans are concerned, comfort reigns supreme! We are drawn to athleisure not only because it looks good, but also because it feels good.

Fashion capitals such as New York and Tokyo have embraced this comfortable innovation in the streets and in the catwalks. If you are confident enough to wear your athletic clothing in and out of the gym then, go ahead! Expand your wardrobe by investing on key athleisure pieces.

IT IS VERSATILE

Mr. Deirdre Clemente, a lecturer at the University of Nevada, once dubbed athleisure as the “new casual”. He was right! While athletic wear is mainly worn for sports, athleisure’s function is way beyond that. Athleisure fuses smart casual with athletic wear. Its versatility is one of the primary reasons why consumers are drawn to it.

Gone are the days when sports gear is exclusively appropriate in the studio. Imagine wearing Jane Fonda’s bold neon suit and bright leggings to a board meeting. Who in the right mind would do that? Fortunately, it is acceptable to wear modern atheleisure (e.g., black yoga pants) without causing anyone to bat an eye!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

The successful fusion between durability, style, and comfort paved way for the social prominence of athleisure.

IT IS SPECIALIZED

Athleisure is a globally booming business. Due to its popularity, most major retailers tried to jump on the bandwagon. Notice the increasing number of sports bras and yoga pants in H&M and Cotton On. Do not get me started with Ivy Park – Topshop’s 2016 collaboration with Beyoncé!

Despite the widespread of options, athleisure is a specialized category of clothing. A savvy consumer knows how to filter out the best brands from the duds. Consider investing your money on items produced by the internationally known Lululemon Athletica or by the locally sourced Vivre Activewear.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Would you believe that my mother’s Lululemon leggings and jacket lasted for about 8 years? Favor trusted brands over cheap retailers to reap similar benefits of longevity and quality.

Sources: 1, 2, 3,4 & 5

Smart Ways To Spend Your S$2 At Daiso

#1: KITCHEN CLIPS

All of us want to maintain the freshness of food. Personally, I do not want to eat chips that lost its crunchiness. To protect your leftover food, you may seal them with Daiso’s Kitchen Clips.

#2: MAGTOOLS JAR OPENERS

When was the last time you asked someone for help to open a stubborn jar or water bottle? This experience happens frequently to me. To make my life easier, I considered buying a lid opener. Daiso houses a specific brand for its jar openers – the Magtools. This tool does not require having powerful muscles!

Image Credits: amazon.com

#3: HEAT PACKS

Nothing screams value for your money louder than Daiso’s compressed heat packs for S$2. From adjusting your temperature in cold countries to aiding in your sick child’s fever, heat packs have many uses. It works in a matter of minutes!

#4: JAPANESE CANDIES

My fondness for Japanese candies started last Christmas. I was gifted a bag filled with Japanese candies including the brand Hi-Chew. Popular locally and internationally, Hi-Chew is a soft fruity candy that you can eat during your commute. Parents may also use it as a reward for a well-behaved child.Paying S$2 is not a huge price to pay for its multiple uses.

Image Credits: hi-chew.com

#5: BATHROOM LAUNDRY HOOKS

For students who reside in dormitories, you put laundry hooks inside your bathroom to save some space. You can hung your delicate (or costly) items inside your house without having to worry about it. Besides, it only costs S$2!

#6: EGG TIMER

As soon as my beloved co-worker arrives, she sets her alarm to six minutes and boils her two eggs. It takes 6 minutes to reach the consistency that she desires. I am planning to purchase Daiso’s adorable egg timer to help her eat perfect hard-boiled in the mornings.

Image Credits: imgur.com

#7: ERASERS

I noticed that Japanese erasers are well-made. In Daiso, look for the Mono and Matomaru erasers and skip on the adorable shapes (e.g., sushi and dog erasers). The latter may look cute but, it does not provide the best performance.

Sources: 1, 2 & 3

4 Must-Have Items For A University Freshman

Going to university is a monumental step in a young adult’s life. The transition from your earlier years to university is not something to take likely as a student of life. Building a freshman’s arsenal goes beyond stocking up on pens, markers, and notebooks. You need to be prepared for the challenges ahead!

I understand the financial constraints of a student but, that does not mean that you cannot have nice and sturdy things. Buying less items of quality is better than purchasing more school supplies for less. May this list help you with your journey as a freshman.

#1: A HEAVY-DUTY LAPTOP

As I was contemplating on the essential products necessary to make a freshman’s life easier, the “laptops” instantly popped into my head. A laptop acts as a weapon to combat sleepless nights spent on take-home tasks, group projects, and research papers. Laptop has been a vital part in our generation’s education that many scholarships or grants include allowance for gadgets.

As modern technology advances each year, you may want to consider investing on a hybrid. A hybrid device combines the portability of a tablet and the functionality of a laptop. Popular hybrid models include the Microsoft Surface Pro and the Lenovo Yoga.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

The specifications of the laptop that you must buy depends on your undergraduate major. If you are majoring in computer science or graphics design, strong RAM and GPU are parts of your criteria. As a Psychology student and a freelance writer, my MacBook Pro stood the test of time. Many of my previous classmates relied heavily on this product too. I would not trade it for any hybrids just yet!

#2: A PRESENTATION OUTFIT

In the span of your undergraduate studies, you will be subjected to several presentations such as the thesis proposal. Aim to look your best to provide a positive mark! I can still recall the day when I presented my final thesis to a panel of lecturers. My classmate told me that my “beautiful dress” saved me. He may be joking but, I dressed well for the part. I chose a black cocktail dress, which I felt comfortable and confident in.

Investing on some wardrobe staples such as quality heels or leather shoes and black blazers can give you an advantage. You may also opt for flats to avoid horrible blisters after your career fair. Invest in clothing articles that you are willing to wear or stand in for a long period of time.

#3: A SET OF COMFORTABLE SHOES

Walking, without a doubt, is the best way to go around any campus. With countless hours spent roaming in the halls of your university, it is vital to equip yourself with comfortable shoes. Accomplish a considerable amount of steps in your cheap sandals (without any sole support) is not going to help you! You need to switch to sneakers or flats with thicker soles.

Keep the elements of versatility and comfort in mind when purchasing your school shoes. A family relative of mine swears by the Skechers’ slip on. While, I personally prefer the classic Birkenstock as my school and work shoes. For a trendy student, a white Superga 2750 may pass your taste.

#4: A DURABLE BACKPACK

What is the one item that students often overlook yet overuse? The backpack, of course! The backpack serves a significant role in a student’s life. It is arguably the most versatile part of the university student’s arsenal as it houses important items such as laptops and books. It can transform from an everyday wear to a getaway wear. For its functionality, you must not settle for a flimsy and cheap one.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

I cannot stress how some university students live completely out of their backpacks. Thus, you must stay on the safe side by purchasing trusted brands such as the JanSport or by purchasing bags built for hiking. Bags like these are spacious and have various pockets to carry all of your essentials at once.

Article Resources: 1 & 2

4 Creative Ways To Kill Boredom At CNY Parties

Chinese New Year 2018 is just several days away! Festivities and other family gatherings are knocking straight to our doors. While we may be accompanied by modern technology, finding meaningful activities during the idle moments is a challenge.

Let me help you kill your boredom with these ideas:

#1: CRAFT A TO-DO LIST

Whether you want to admit it or not, you have mental list of the things that you plan to accomplish at some point. Do not waste your time by merely waiting for red packets! Stay ahead of your plans by writing down a “to-do list”. Contemplate on the categories that you want to focus on such as grocery or household chore list.

#2: FIND YOUR FRIENDS

It is hard to get bored when you are surrounded by a company of people who are lighthearted and easy-going. Aim to find positive friends in a room filled with relative strangers. Spend your time catching up with these people. Laugh it out to lift your unpleasant mood.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#3: TEACH OTHERS A NEW SKILL

Nothing is more satisfying than successfully teaching someone a new skill. Consider imparting your knowledge of chopsticks to your foreign friends. Firstly, ask them to pull each end away from each other. Rub the sticks together to ensure that there are no rough edges. Secondly, you must highlight that the movement of chopsticks should mimic the tweezers. Lastly, take things slow by picking up bigger pieces such as the Orange Chicken.

#4: PLAY A GAME

As I was flipping through my Instagram Stories, I saw that my friend won a personal claw machine. It allows her to put candies or miniture toys inside. She had a brilliant idea to use it as a children’s entertainment machine during the Chinese New Year. While purchasing your own claw machine is hefty, there are other fun games out there. You may try contemporary games such as Pie Face or Speak Out or classic games such as Monopoly and Clue.

Oh! Did you know that Hasbro is planning to release a special Monopoly Cheater’s Edition board game? Family gatherings will surely be intensely entertaining.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

If all else fails, try taking a rejuvenating nap!

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