Tag Archives: goals

Featured

I have a Million Bookmarks

Ok, well maybe it’s not quite a million but it’s a lot. You catch my drift. You see, I’m the kind of person who loves to save interesting articles, videos, and resources to revisit later. But there’s a catch — I almost never seem to remember to actually go back and check them out! It’s like an episode of Hoarders when the hoarder is trying to justify keeping something because they know they’ll use it at “some point.” However, upon assessing the situation, it appears that the item they want to hold on to has no use whatsoever. 

Let’s face it — ADHD and digital distractions go hand in hand like peanut butter and jelly. 

You can’t think of one without thinking about the other. We live in a world where information overload is the norm, and staying focused can feel like trying to herd cats. There’s so many times when I start one task and I’m reminded of something totally different that needs to be attended to as well and this cycle continues on until I remember the initial task. So, bookmarking let’s me (in theory) stay on task because I can just click on the little star in the browser line and stay with the initial task in the hopes that I’ll return to the interesting video, article, or news story at a future date. It’s very ambitious of me. 

On one hand, bookmarking is a lifesaver. It’s like having your own little library of knowledge at your fingertips, ready to be explored whenever you have a spare moment. It’s almost like the modern day version of a personal collection of sorts or a recent museum. But on the other hand, it can quickly turn into a digital graveyard of forgotten links, buried under the weight of new distractions and shiny objects vying for my attention. It’s not that I don’t have good intentions, but that’s just what they are. Intentions.

Sound familiar? Yeah, I thought so. But fear not — I’m here to share some tips and tricks that have helped me start to reclaim control over my digital habits. I’m still a work in progress so this probably counts as an instance of a visually impaired person leading someone who lost their eyesight (the blind leading the blind).

First things first, prioritize like your life depends on it

Instead of saving every interesting link you come across, be selective. Ask yourself: Is this really worth saving? Will I actually revisit it in the future? I also like to ask myself if the link will lead to a better life and/or more money in the future. If the answer is no, then it’s probably not worth cluttering up your bookmarks with. While this isn’t a a one size fits all approach, I think it’s helpful to consider the big picture and then discard those things that don’t quite align with my goals in the future.

Next up, get organized

Create folders or categories to keep your bookmarks neat and tidy. Whether it’s by topic, urgency, or relevance, having a system in place will make it much easier to find what you’re looking for when you need it. Personally, I created an email address specifically for my ideas so that it’s easy to remind myself of tasks or things I want to read. It also gives me the ability to schedule the emails so that I receive them at times when I have a moment to open up the link and read the article(s).

Now, here’s the tricky part — actually remembering to go back and check your bookmarks

Believe me, I know how hard it can be to stay focused, especially when there’s a world of distractions just a click away. But fear not — there are tools and techniques you can use to help stay on track. Firstly, set reminders on your phone to revisit your bookmarks at designated times. Use website blockers or productivity apps to limit distractions during work or study sessions. Pay attention to your impulses and tendencies to procrastinate, and make conscious choices about how you spend your time online. Personally, I’ve found it helpful to create a 3 to 4 item to-do list when I first turn on my computer.

It keeps me focused and I start with the task that I dread the most. Getting it completed is a great feeling and I’m then more ready to keep the momentum going. So, there you have it — my journey with digital distraction, and how I’ve learned better ways to manage the bookmarking beast. It’s not always easy, but with a little bit of effort and intentionality, it’s definitely possible to take control of your digital habits and make the most of your online experience. Happy browsing!

by

Scarcity and abundance

We have so many buzz words regarding mental health that are being thrown around. I saw a post on social media the other day that staying busy is a trauma response and while I immediately categorized the message as clickbait, when I thought about it, I saw some truth to the statement. Growing up, there was a lot of emphasis on being busy. If I was in the same space for too long I was admonished to do something productive. There was a schedule that we needed to follow and there was a system in place. As an adult, I’ve stayed busy and there’s never been a time where I’ve only had one job. I have no idea what that feels like but in this chapter of my life, it feels like it would be a welcome change. It would involve creating a new normal and finding hobbies but I think I could swing it. It’s time for a vacation where I don’t have to think about checking my email. At some point this year I plan to accomplish this. It’ll be a feat but I absolutely could use the recharge. Here’s to an abundance mindset. Or at least one where there’s a bit more balance.

by

Reading is fundamental

Like so many, I’ve been astonished at how fast this year is flying by. It’s already May and we are almost to the halfway point of this year. So yeah. There’s that. One thing I’ve been slacking on this year has been reading and I want to change that. There are so many books that I’ve been buying and hoping that I’ll get to but in realizing that it’s time to stop buying and start to catch up on this ever evolving and growing list of interesting books. They say that readers are leaders and I for one know that I’m more verbose and self aware if I’m reading about the experiences and perspectives of others. It’s been a valuable resource to my professional identity and growth. Which means that I absolutely have to be more consistent with it. Ideally, I’d like to have a good balance of reading for fun and reading for information. But I think I’ll have to start off with the reading for information. Moving forward I plan to start taking books on flights with me. It’s a dedicated space to learn and I’ll be less distracted with phone notifications. Considering the fact that I have a few cross country flights scheduled, I think it’ll be an easy way to start to catch up on reading. I’ll let you know how it goes.

by

Getting away for a while

Vacation stuff

I used to be a serial vacation goer. Every few weeks I would make it a point to go somewhere or anywhere new. A lot of money was spent in those endeavors. I’m not independently wealthy but I always saw the value in getting away and having a change of scenery for a bit. This past week was a flashback of my previous life when I had the opportunity to get away for a bit. The get away part was further compounded by being locked out of my work email so it ended up being a forced break of sorts. But I wasn’t too upset—although I’m dreading the make up work that awaits me when I get back. Getting away makes you think about your life differently and I can honestly say that I don’t think vacations are bad things. I’m currently tasked with a new challenge of balancing a lot of different priorities in the new year and this reset of sorts has definitely been needed. When you’re so busy living, it’s easy to forget about the importance of making a life. For me, vacationing is a missing piece of the equation. You may wonder if you can afford it but sometimes you can’t afford not to go. The amount of creativity and ingenuity that emerges from a new environment is unparalleled. It’s also worth it to have something to look forward to. So in these last few brief moments before the chaos rears it’s ugly head again, I’m taking a moment to breathe in the peace and tranquility that comes from taking an intentional break and I’m setting the intention of doing this again sometime mid-next year. Or maybe sooner.

by

Exercise chronicles

It’s officially been two years since I started working out consistently and I finally see a difference. It’s been a journey of ups and downs and while the journey continues, I’ve finally established a habit. Working out every day and lifting weights has made me so much more mindful of what I eat. I’ve started to read more labels and identify the foods that give me the best results. Prioritizing sleep and being more balanced has helped a lot. I’m looking forward to more success in the future. It’s almost time to do some shopping for a new wardrobe.

by

Month 9

It’s been crazy how fast the year has gone and like many, I’ve realized that it hasn’t gone completely according to plan. My international trips have once again been curtailed but I’ve seen more of the countryside and traveled to some of the local spots near me. I’ve confirmed I officially like sushi and I now low key regret spending 28 years being a vegetarian. However, it gave me a great foundation for healthy eating and I’m glad for that. This year I’ve also developed more discipline in taking care of myself and taking both fitness and business seriously. It’s been eye opening to discover new ways of thinking and to hear the perspectives of others. There’s so much going on in the world today that seems incredibly polarizing and I’ve seen how fragile human relationships can be when there is seemingly a conflict of values. Time flies when you’re having fun, but also when you’re just working a lot.

by

The New Year

As always, my goal for the new year is to write more consistently than I have in the past. Thankfully I got an early start last year as I got the opportunity to write some articles on mental health. However, as I’ve continued to learn and work in the field I’m seeing the value of placing my thoughts on paper or rather typing it out on my phone. I’ve bought more books, focused on growing my private practice and taken a more intentional approach on learning more about relationships. Last year took everyone by surprise and like most, I found myself having to make some significant adjustments. However, one small mercy was that I was already working from home to a large extent so it wasn’t as difficult to transition. This year I want to invest in myself and in my relationships and take the time to enjoy the present. I want to be more consistent in self care and give myself the same grace that I give others.

by

Making progress

Making a lifestyle change is hard and there can be so many barriers and challenges with remaining consistent. Last summer I was challenged to change my mindset and lose the weight I had been procrastinating on addressing. Everyone has different levels of comfort with their body image and their weight but I knew that it was time for things to change. While you can be happy, self accepting, have high self esteem and be overweight, I knew that it wasn’t working for me. I was tired of taking long airplane rides to other countries and being unable to comfortably fit into the seat while being ashamed to ask for a seat belt extender. It just wasn’t what I wanted. I was over my clothes not fitting right and only being able to wear certain select items in my closet because I had “outgrown” the majority of what I had available but didn’t want to spend more money to buy more clothes. I believe in radical self acceptance but I also believe in changing your lifestyle and being healthy if that’s a goal you have for yourself. It was a long, long road that still continues but I’ve made progress. I started with a personal trainer (aka my boyfriend), made the decision to no longer be vegetarian, I got off medication (after consulting with a doctor), started weight training, and changed my diet drastically. It wasn’t an overnight change and it didn’t happen as soon as I would have liked but I lost 45lbs and I’m still working towards my goal. Last week was the first time I could pick things from my closet to wear that I haven’t been able to fit in over 5 years. It was an amazing feeling and having a supportive partner has been great. I still have some progress to make but it’s nice to finally comfortably sit in an airplane seat without being black and blue from the armrest digging into my thigh. I’m determined to remain consistent and to continue to make progress. After all, it’s a marathon and not a sprint.

by

Changing focus

I was having a conversation the other day with a woman who was at a crossroads in her life. She had focused on her career and had finally come to the realization that she wanted to have a husband and children. The challenge is that the made the decision in her 50s. Now, I know the whole cliche about how you get wiser as you age and the fact that age isn’t anything but a number. However, the rules are different when trying to find a significant other after a certain age. Chances are that a younger woman has a better chance of getting married and having a family than someone who is middle aged. It’s not necessarily fair but it’s reality. I remember the decision I made to focus on my career and while I didn’t regret it, I also realized that it wasn’t what I wanted to focus on long term. The relationship that I’m in right now is the result of a conscious decision to grow personally so that I could be my best self in a relationship. I’m glad that my focus has shifted because it’s been valuable in defining what’s important to me and how I want my life to be moving forward. A lot of changes have occurred and I’m looking forward to what is next.