Knowing what is on your plate is crucial. The word "plate" in this context refers to everything you think about, are responsible for, and do regularly. We all have a lot that we are taking care of simultaneously, and sometimes it feels overwhelming.
In this blog post, we will explore how to ensure that your plate is well cared for and not overflowing. #1: Evaluate all that you have on your plate On any given day, you have a lot on your plate that requires your attention and taps your energy. Taking stock of what is on your plate is very important. You will feel more in control when you know everything that is on your plate. This increases your awareness and helps you see things you did not think you were taking on. Questions to consider
#2: Take some things off your plate To avoid overfilling your plate, it is crucial to know and set your boundaries. There are things on your plate that do not belong there. We tend to say yes to too many things, and they end up making us feel overwhelmed. It is essential to de-clutter your plate regularly. Questions to consider
#3: Add some things that are important to you After you have evaluated what is on your plate and removed the things that should not be on there, it is the perfect time to add things that are important to you. After I did this exercise, I noticed that I was not doing anything fun, and we decided as a family to explore new things. Questions to consider
#4: Guard your plate You or other people might be tempted to add things to your plate that should not be there. It is your responsibility to ensure that nothing gets added to your plate if you do not want it to. If you are not intentional about guarding your plate, it will continue getting crowded, and you will be overwhelmed. This is a critical life lesson that I have learned. Questions to consider
#5: Be kind to yourself The truth is that you are a hero for doing everything that you are doing. Show yourself some grace and be kind to yourself. Seeing how far you have come and how amazing you are doing will motivate you for the journey ahead. Questions to consider
Final Thoughts: MC's Story Over the past months, I realized that I had too much on my plate. My initial response was to think that I needed to plan better, and everything would work out. That strategy had worked in the past, but it was not working this time because the things on my plate increased substantially. I had to try something new and respect my "plate" better. Great resources How to Deal with Constantly Feeling Overwhelmed Your To-Do List Is, in Fact, Too Long How to Avoid Burnout and Improve Your Well-Being 7 Tips To Manage Attention and Avoid Overwhelm 11 Things To Do When You Have Too Much On Your Plate Time for Reflection When last did you feel like you had control of your life? What were you doing differently then? What are new things that you want to start doing to help you enjoy your life?
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As we grow and advance in our careers, there will be situations where we will need to ask for something we need. This might be asking for a promotion, a bigger project, or even a new role. It is interesting that we were never taught how to ask for things we really want in our careers. Asking for what we want is crucial to accomplish our professional goals.
In this blog post, I will share the process that I go through when I need to ask for something at work. #1: Prepare your mind Asking for what you want is very important. Often, if you don't speak up, people will think you are content with where you are today. Before you make any requests, it helps to take time to reflect and prepare yourself. Reflect on where you have been and where you want to go professionally. This is the perfect time to check in on your professional goals, update them and evaluate what you need to progress. Strategies to consider
#2: Seek advice and feedback Especially when you are about to ask for something big, it is helpful to share your thoughts with someone you trust. This is where having mentors, sponsors or trusted colleagues is very valuable. The objective of having these conversations is to practice vocalizing your thoughts and to get their advice on what you are thinking about. It is best to have these conversations early to help provide more clarity and give you input for your next steps. Strategies to consider
#3: Create an action plan It is crucial to have a plan and document your planned action. Write down what you are asking for, your qualifications, potential growth areas, and the path to get to where you want to go. Having a plan will make your request and path forward clearer. Strategies to consider
#4: Ask for what you want If you have been thinking about a promotion, a bigger project, or a new role, now is the perfect time to ask for it. Present your plan to the decision-makers and make your ask known to them. It is important to know what you want and ask for it. However, it is crucial to go in with an open mind. The conversations will provide you with more information to refine your plan and path forward. Strategies to consider
#5: Execute your plan and learn Now it is time to start taking the steps towards the goals you set. You can only make progress towards your professional goals if you are doing something. It takes one small step at a time to get to where you want to be. As you embark on your journey, keep learning and trying new things. Strategies to consider
Final Thoughts: MC's Journey Recently, I have come to a juncture in my career where I know that I need to do something new to stay excited about work. To make it even more complicated, the work that I want to be doing is a mixture of different roles and does not yet exist. If you know anything about me, I like a challenge ;) Personally, I know that I need some element of change every two years at the minimum to feel like I am making progress. I like to take on new professional paths or responsibilities that help me continue learning. I embarked on the journey of designing my ideal role a few months ago. I'm on a learning journey, and I am excited to share my experience. Time for Reflection What is the next step in your career? What do you need to do to get there? Who is in your professional support group? As I was reflecting on the progress I have made so far in 2021, and I realized that there are some things that I planned to do but have been procrastinating. I know that if I accomplish these things by the end of the year, I would be immensely proud. If you also have a list of things you have been putting off, this post is for you.
In this blog post, we will explore steps to unfreeze and complete a task or goal that we have been procrastinating. Setting the foundation Let's start with the definition of procrastinate; it is to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done. #1: Re-evaluate how and why the task or goal is important to you When you added this task or goal to your list, you had a good reason why. Now that a few months have gone by, it is crucial to remind yourself of the reasons. Take the time to re-evaluate why you wanted to work on it in the first place. Ask yourself what the positive impact will be after you have completed the task. Write what you learned down so that you can remind yourself of the importance when you feel like dropping it again. Why is this important?
#2: Think about what has been holding you back You might have good reasons for procrastinating. It could be that you have had too much on your plate, the timing was not right, you didn't have the resources, or you did not know how to do it. To do this exercise well, you have to be really honest with yourself to uncover all the reasons and move on. Why is this important?
#3: Plan and break the tasks into smaller chunks One of the biggest reasons we procrastinate is that we do not know precisely what needs to be done or how to complete a task. Take the time to write down the smaller parts of the task or goals. Your objective is to be able to see what it would take for you to accomplish your goal. Now that you know the tasks, create a plan to complete them. Why is this important?
#4: Set a due date and commit to doing it Now that you know what needs to be done. Set milestones and dates by when you want to complete the task or goal. Be realistic with setting the due date. You want to avoid being discouraged when you miss an unrealistic deadline. Why is this important?
#5: Have an accountability partner and get support There is something powerful about having people who are your companions on your journey to achieving greatness. You want people who could serve as cheerleaders, accountability partners, advisors, or mentors. Surround yourself with people who make you want to accomplish your goals. Why is this important?
Final Thoughts: MC's journey I have been procrastinating creating videos for my YouTube channel. My goal at the beginning of the year was to restart creating videos in March. Looking back, the timeline I set was unrealistic because I had just gone back to work while caring for my little baby, restarting my weekly blogs, and trying to find time for myself. Although it was and still is an important goal for me, there was no way I could have accomplished it in the first months of this year. Now that things are beginning to settle down and we have a better routine, this is the perfect time for me to get back to refreshing my YouTube channel. I am committed to restarting my planning process this month and releasing videos before the end of September, which would mark a year from when I took my break to focus on my baby. Look out for my videos coming up this quarter. Time for Reflection What goals or tasks have you been procrastinating? What were some of the barriers, and how can you unblock yourself? When are you committed to completing it? How will you celebrate when you complete the task or goal? Continuing my celebration of 20 years living abroad with another part of my story, comparing the third year of my journey living in the US vs. life in Germany. I am reflecting on my life in 2003 versus where I was in 2017. These were vastly different years; one filled with struggles and the other was reaping the benefits of my hard work.
In this blog post, I will share the factors that made my experiences different and the lessons that I learned. Check out my other Her Relocation blog posts about my experiences living in Nigeria, Germany, and the US. Having family around After almost two years alone, it was a blessing to have family in Germany finally. I can still remember when I heard my sister arrived and I could not wait to see her. Sadly, I was struggling and did not have a stable place to live when she moved. We quickly had to find a place to stay and start making a living. Having her there with me made me happy, but it also put a lot of responsibility on me for taking care of both of us. On the other hand, when I moved to the US, I started life immediately with my husband and had a companion throughout my life here. What did I learn?
A place I call home After my sister joined me in Germany, we started living in a tiny room on the University campus. It was in a hostel where we shared some common spaces with about 20 people. I remember watching TV shows in the TV room with other residents in the hostel. Compared to my life in the US, I got to move into a very comfortable home from Day 1. Interestingly when I think about how important a home is to me, it is because I have not always had a place to call home. What did I learn?
The people who contributed to my life when I was in need Telling my story would not be complete without me mentioning the amazing people who contributed to my life. In 2003, my sister and I were surviving on my small earnings from a part-time job that I was doing. We were incredibly good with our money and only got what we needed to live. We could not afford any luxuries, and we accepted that. So, you can imagine how special it was when one of our friends gave us a significant gift. She gave us a five-kilo bag of basmati rice. It might sound small, but at that phase of our lives, it was a lot. I will never forget how excited we were to enjoy a different type of rice. Living in the US, I luckily was not in need, but I got to give to others. What did I learn?
Living a good life and excelling at work In my third year in the US, I was living a life that I could never have imagined in my third year in Germany. I had settled into my new life and had the opportunity to take on a new role at work. The new position allowed me to travel more and do great work. I got to see other countries like Italy, India and visit other cities in the US. I was in a place in my life that I never thought I will ever be in my private life and my career. Living through some of the struggles in my third year in Germany prepared me for the amazing life that I got to live. What did I learn?
Preparing for the next phase Both 2003 and 2017 were transition years for me. In 2003, I was transitioning to standing on my feet in Germany. I had to make a lot of decisions on how I would earn money while I advanced my studies towards my first degree. 2017, on the other hand, was a year when I decided it was time for me to leave my job at a company that I had worked at for almost eight years of my life. Strangely, I was planning the transition at one of the peaks of my experience. My motto was to leave while I was at the top. What did I learn?
MC's Moment of Reflection The first picture is of me in 2003 in Germany, and the other picture was in 2017. The person that I was in 2003 was vastly different than who I was in 2017. I was really struggling in 2003, but my mindset was that I would do whatever I could to improve my life. My fighter spirit was activated and defined how I approached life. And in 2017, I had to learn when it is time to leave my comfort zone and do something greater. |
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