 Achieving financial independence is one of the goals that we all need to be continuously working towards. Most of us think more about what we do not want to spend money on and less about what we should be spending our money on. It is crucial to spend money on things that improve you and your life.
In this blog post, we will explore five things that we can spend our money on that will generate great returns. Check out more "Her Finances" blog posts for practical tips to help you achieve your financial goals. #1: Learning and developing skills Investing in your personal growth is one of the best things you can spend your money on. If there are new skills that you want to acquire, now is a great time to start. Every year, I set learning goals to ensure that I am growing my knowledge. Investing in myself reassures me that I am doing something good for myself and building a great future. Knowledge is absolutely something that has huge returns. Questions to consider
#2: Things that simplifies your life We all have areas of our lives where we feel like we would be more effective if we had some help. This is one area that I have decided to spend more money on. I realized that my time is too precious to be spending doing or worrying about some tasks. I had to learn the hard way, trying to do everything on my own while working full time and taking care of a baby. I am grateful to be in a place in my life where I can get help and delegate some tasks. Questions to consider
#3: Opportunities to build wealth for the future The concept of investing your money wisely and increasing your returns is a great thing. Find what you want to invest in and how much works for you. This is also an area where I have been learning a lot and taking small steps. You can start small and continue to increase your investments over time. The great news is that there are many great resources that can help you. Questions to consider
#4: Starting a business or side hustle If you have a great business idea, invest in it and enjoy the rewards. The benefits include satisfaction from living out your dreams and also financial gain when your business is profitable. We all want to look back on our lives and be proud that we invested in our dreams. My life really changed when I built my business and started working on my passion projects. Questions to consider
#5: Having fun and building memories For the longest time, I felt that spending money on experiences like vacations or other fun activities was wasting it. Especially over the last year, I have realized that the memories we create are priceless. Having fun is a great way to recharge and enjoy yourself. Questions to consider
Final Thoughts You are a great asset, and you deserve to be invested in. Investing in your development is a way of showing yourself how much you value yourself. Time for Reflection Are you investing in yourself today? What area of your self-development do you want to invest in? What steps are you going to take first towards investing in your growth?
0 Comments
 With the summer being over and fall slowly starting for most of us, it is a great time to be introspective and plan for the months ahead. Over the past years, I started a practice of planning my next year in the final quarter of the previous year. When I began my planning early, I realized that I had enough time to reflect, wrap up my current year, and get excited for the next.
In this blog post, we will explore five questions that will help us kick-off planning for a great 2022. Check out my other Her plan posts for more tips on setting and achieving your goals. #1: What have you dreamed of doing? If the last years have taught us anything, we all don't know what the future holds. It is time to stop sitting on your dreams and start living them out. Recently, I read an article that reminded me to go back and think about all the wonderful things that I wanted to accomplish in my life. Strategies to consider
#2: What are you afraid of doing? We all have things that we are afraid of doing but know that we need to do it to get where we want to go. Starting to think about what you have been afraid of doing, will make them less scary. Ask yourself what makes it scary and think about how you would celebrate finally doing it. Strategies to consider
#3: What are you planning to learn? Learning new skills and gathering knowledge is crucial to living a fulfilled life. Reflect on your personal development goals as you start thinking about what you want to accomplish next year Working on your learning goals will help you continue to grow in your life. Strategies to consider
#4: What do you want to stop doing? There are things that we are doing that don't serve us any longer. This might be a great time to commit to stop doing them. We focus on things that we want to start and often forget that we need to stop others to create space. You might be doing too many things that are distracting you from what you really should be doing. Strategies to consider
#5: How are you going to enjoy your life? When we look back on our years, we want to feel satisfied with the life that we have lived. To enjoy your life, you have to be intentional about it. Waiting for great things to fall into your lap is not a sustainable strategy. If you want an amazing life, you need to go out and do things that bring you joy. Strategies to consider
Final Thoughts When you set your goals early, you give yourself the opportunity to set up your goals more intentionally and be thoughtful. From my experience, I know that your year will be much better than you expected. Time to Reflect How have you planned your previous years? How are you celebrating how far you have come? What are you excited about for 2022?  Over this past week, I have been reflecting on how self-doubt can have a severe hold on your life. Being confident in myself and my abilities has allowed me to explore new things and thrive. Overcoming self-doubt is a continuous journey and not one and done.
In this blog post, I will be sharing five things that self-doubt stopped me from doing and tools that help me overcome self-doubt. #1: Believing in myself and feeling that I deserve to be where I am For the longest time, I underestimated my talent and abilities. Especially when I faced difficulties and failed, I did not think I had what it took to be successful. When I look back on my journey and what I have experienced, I know that I have what I need to succeed and thrive. Resources Tools that I apply
#2: Not talking about my accomplishments Growing up, I was taught that it was a bad personality trait if you like to talk about what you have accomplished. It took me many years to learn the importance of promoting myself. Especially on my professional journey, I had to start being vocal about what I have accomplished to gain respect and recognition. I now value all my accomplishments and do not take them for granted. Resources Tools that I apply
#3: Asking for a promotion or what I want at work One of the lessons that I learned that has helped my career grow exponentially is that you have to be in the driver’s seat and plan your career. Now I know that if I want to do great things at work, I need to ask for it and put myself in the right place. Resources Tools that I apply
#4: Sharing my story This goes hand in hand with not believing in myself, I did not think my story needed to be told. I could not think about the value of sharing my story with people. It took me hearing people's reactions when I shared a little of my story to believe that my experiences are a gift that could help others. Resources Tools that I apply
#5: Dreaming big and living out my passion Especially since I did not grow up around people who were doing big and bold things, I kept my dreams mostly small. There have been many passion projects that I allowed remain a dream and never lived out. I sat on the dream of creating my blog for almost seven years. I did not think that my contribution would be valuable. Once I started living out my passions, my life was transformed. Resources Tools that I apply
Final Thoughts If you have been letting self-doubt stop you from achieving greatness, it is time for you to overcome it and start making bold moves. Great resources  Over the past weeks, I have been working very hard at work and have not had time to do many of other things. This week, I finally have some time off to catch up on life. One of the things I want to do is check in with myself and make sure that I am doing well. I know there are areas in my life where I am not doing well, and I am looking forward to working on those things.
In this blog post, we will check in on how we are doing in all aspects of our lives. Physical and emotional wellbeing When your mind and body are well, you feel like you can take on the world and do great things. It is crucial to focus on taking care of your whole self. If you feel like you have been neglecting yourself, this is the perfect time to practice some self-care and make it a routine. Questions to consider
Call to Action
Tips/Resources Financial Health The state of your finances is something that can impact you in a good or bad way. In my life, I know that when my finances are in order, and I am meeting my financial goals, I feel good overall. I strongly believe that taking control of our finances should be a priority. Questions to consider
Call to Action
Tips/Resources Career and professional growth Given the amount of time that we spend at work, it makes it much more fun when we are progressing and accomplishing our professional goals. We all work for different reasons and knowing what your reason is will help you. Questions to consider
Call to Action
Tips/Resources Healthy relationships Your relationships with your family, friends, and people you care about are a crucial part of your overall wellbeing. Reviewing the health of your relationships often is great practice. That will help ensure that you are connecting with the people around you. Questions to consider
Call to Action
Tips/Resources Living out your Passions With everything that you are doing in life, you might be neglecting your passions. This has been one area that I have been working on. I know that working on my passion projects is something that I need to do to be happy. Questions to consider
Call to Action
Tips/Resources Final Thoughts One thought that has changed the way I think about how I take care of myself is - "If I don't take good care of myself, who will?". We are responsible for taking care of ourselves.  Over the past month, I have been celebrating my 20th anniversary of living abroad. Reflecting on my life has been an amazing experience. There have been many ups and downs. I am excited to wrap up this series.
In this blog post, I will share the top 10 things that I wish I did more of and want to do more of over the next years on my relocation Journey. Check out my other Her Relocation blog posts to learn more about my experiences living in Nigeria, Germany, and the US. Travel more and see the world Especially when I moved to the US, I realized that I was very far from the rest of the world. While I lived in Germany, I could have traveled more. However, primarily due to financial constraints, I was not able to. Now that I am more financially independent, I can now see more of the world. Spend more time with my loved ones For most of my journey, I have lived so far from my loved ones and have not spent much time with them. Especially going through the pandemic over the last 18 months, I have realized how much I want to spend time with my people. Celebrate my cultural identity It took me over 14 years of living abroad to accept the fact that I have different facets of my identity. I now know that I am German-Nigerian, and both cultures influence who I am. There is beauty in knowing and living in your cultural identity. Enjoy the local culture and sights After living in California for almost seven years, I feel like I have seen more in the last years than when I initially moved here. I want to enjoy where I live a little more. There is so much to see and experience wherever you find yourself. Build wealth and invest in my future Most of my first years on this journey were spent being broke and then becoming financially independent. I want to focus more on building wealth. I have learned many valuable lessons about finances and have been applying them to my life. Build new memories While I was reflecting on my journey, I realized that there is still so much that I can experience. I am excited to go out of my comfort zone and do new things. When I am reflecting on the next 20 years, I want to have so much to share. Tell my story Although I started sharing some aspects of my journey over the last three years, there is still a lot that I have not shared. One of the main reasons is that I have not yet entirely permitted myself to share all aspects of my story. I decided to start sharing more about my experiences navigating life in new countries. Do more of what I enjoy In the last year, I have been asking myself what I enjoy doing. I spent most of my journey trying to survive, and now I am in a phase when I'm thriving. I can now enjoy myself more, and I am excited to experience more food and see beautiful places. Worry less and live in the moment For a major part of my 20-year journey, I was very worried about my future. I did not know where my life was heading. Over the past years, I have learned to worry less and want to continue on that path. Enjoy the experience with our son My life abroad changed when I had our son in 2020. I now get to experience living in different countries with him. Sometimes I wonder what his cultural identity will be and how he will live his life. Final Thoughts Looking back, I can see how far I have come on my journey. I am very grateful for everything that I have experienced and excited for the amazing future ahead. This week, I will be continuing my 20th-anniversary celebration by sharing moments that changed my life forever. On my journey so far, there have been those times when I did not know how much the decisions I made will impact my life in a good way. When I reflect on my journey, I know there were many opportunities for things to go really wrong, but they did not. In this blog post, I will share the top 10 defining moments on my relocation Journey. Check out my other Her Relocation blog posts to learn more about my experiences living in Nigeria, Germany, and the US. #1: Being Evicted and living on people's couches Coming home and seeing my belonging outside the door of the house that I had lived in for almost a year in Germany is one memory that I will never forget. I feel like this was the real beginning of my journey surviving all by myself. How did my life change?
#2: When my sister moved to Germany My sister moved to Germany about 17 months after I moved there. Her arrival was at a time where I was struggling and had no home of my own. Some things happen in life that motivate you to make bold moves, and this was one of them Together, we faced all the challenges and built memories for life. How did my life change?
#3: Moving into our first apartment My sister and I shared a tiny room in a hostel on campus. Having our own space felt like the best thing ever. Interestingly this was the first place I felt at home after living in Germany for almost two years. I had stayed in places where I went to sleep but did not feel at home. The feeling of being at home is one that I really value. How did my life change?
#4: Deciding to change my University course I had spent three years struggling to complete the first degree I started, and it was not working out. In my life, quitting was one thing I had not done often. I had been trained that if you work harder, you can do everything. However, in this case, I needed to change and do something else. How did my life change?
#5: Getting my first job After I graduated and earned my Bachelor's degree, I had one year to find a job before losing my visa to stay in Germany. It was a lot of pressure because I did not want to lose everything after fighting for nine years. I still remember applying for so many jobs and getting rejections. Finally, I got invited to three job interviews and was hoping to get one. Finally, I got the call. I remember how nervous I was on my first day. How did my life change?
#6: Earning my Masters degree After struggling so much to graduate from my first degree, I never thought that less than a year after graduating, I would decide to start my Masters. I still remember finding the university and the course I wanted to study. It was important for me to continue setting myself apart by gaining more knowledge and getting the official degree. On my professional journey so far, my degree has helped open doors. How did my life change?
#7: Moving to the US When I think back to the timing of my relocation to the US, it was not perfect at all. Given where I was in my life, I knew that even though the circumstances were not optimal, it was time for me to move. My move was the beginning of many great things for me. I was moving to another country to be with my special man with a good job. It was one of the best moves I made in my life. How did my life change?
#8: Starting to tell my story In 2017, I found myself in social situations where I could share more about myself. Until this point, I did not think a lot about my journey or even talk about my life so far. Someone said something I would never forget. She told me she thought I had a unique story to tell. Not only did I start talking about my story more, but I also launched my blog in January 2018. I have taken every opportunity that I am given to tell my story. How did my life change?
#9: Finding my passion Job After working for over 18 years now, from my mini-jobs to internships through full-time positions, I now know what I want to be doing. Helping people be their best selves is something that I enjoy doing. I used to have to do a lot of fulfilling work outside of my full-time job. In the last two years, I have been able to work on programs that align more with my strengths and passion. How did my life change?
#10: Living during a global pandemic The last 18 months have been a very interesting time. My story living abroad will not be complete without mentioning this pivotal time in our lives. The pandemic limited our ability to move around and helped me build deeper roots in my current city. How did my life change?
Final Thoughts As I reflect on my journey, there are so many moments that have made it amazing. I cannot imagine how different my life would have been if I made other choices. A Snapshot of My Story After living in Germany and the US for 20 years, I experienced many things that no one warned me about. When people talk about living abroad, there is a lot that they do not share. If we shared more with each other, we would be better prepared for the good, the bad, and the ugly experiences. In this blog post, I will share ten things I wish someone told me I would experience on my relocation Journey. Check out my other Her Relocation blog posts to learn more about my experiences living in Nigeria, Germany, and the US. #1: Food will be a very important part of your life Over the years, food has become a crucial part of my experience. I find that I stay connected to Nigeria and Germany through the food I cook or crave. Over my years in Germany, I seriously sought out stores that sold Nigerian food ingredients. Back in the day, things were very expensive and scarce. However, I knew that eating some foods that I grew up with will give me some joy. Since I moved to the US over six years ago, I have been looking for bread that tastes like the amazing bread that I enjoyed in Germany. #2: Home is wherever you want it to be I wish someone would have told me that home is not a physical place or country; it is in the heart. This might sound cliché, but my life got much better when I stopped wishing I could go home. I accepted that I was already home wherever I was. I had been planning my exit from Germany for over seven years, and then I decided to start enjoying my life there. It really helped me to focus on building an amazing life there. My transition to the US was much easier because I knew I could create a home wherever I find myself. #3: You will be lonely sometimes and learn to enjoy your own company In my past posts, I shared my experience being away from all my family living in Germany. It was hard in the beginning because I had never been away from my twin sister. I had to learn to enjoy being on my own and find things that make me happy. After spending so many holidays alone, I started creating my own traditions and no longer dread them. Being alone is no longer something that I am afraid of. #4: Measurement systems differ This is very particular to living in the US, where the imperial measurement system is used compared to the metric system in all the other countries, I have lived in. I really do not understand why the US uses a different system. Even after six years living here, I still convert the temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius when I watch the weather. No one told me that measurement norms will complicate my life. #5: Financial standards differ When I moved to the US from Germany, I learned the concept of credit score. All my life in Germany and Nigeria, I never had a credit card. I had grown very scared of getting into debt. Then I moved to the US where I had to build my credit and was advised to buy everything with my credit card. It took me a long time to get used to it, and till today, I pay off my credit card very regularly because I do not want any issues. #6: Your cultural identity will change How I identify culturally has changed a lot as I have lived in different countries. When I was living in Germany, I felt very Nigerian and identified fully with how I had grown up. Then I moved to the US and noticed that I felt both Nigerian and German. It took me a while to get comfortable with my cultural identity changing. Now I can comfortably say that my food culture is Nigerian and professional culture in German. #7: You will become stronger and resilient With all the difficulties that I had faced on my journey, the good that has come from it is that I am stronger. My ability to handle stressful situations has been tested over time. I have learned to bounce back from setbacks and continue with my life. As a result of all my experiences, I am stronger and more resilient. #8: There will be many amazing people on your journey Over the past 20 years, I have met a lot of amazing people and built great relationships. The people on my journey have been one of the best parts of my journey. Although my circles are small, they have contributed to my life in many ways. #9: You will get comfortable with the unknown and get excited by new things In the past, when I was asked what my weakness was, I said I struggled with change. This is definitely not true anymore. I look forward to doing new things and exploring different opportunities. Moving to new cities and countries taught me to face unknown situations over and over again. Embracing the new with optimism is a skill that I apply in my everyday life. #10: You will have many amazing memories As I have reflected on my journey, I am reminded of so many happy moments. There has been a lot of laughter and celebrating our accomplishments. I wish I could have captured all the happy moments. My journey has been amazing and rewarding. Final Thoughts Telling my story on my blogs has enabled me to share my experiences with others. I really hope that through telling my story, I can help people anticipate what they may experience and validate people's experiences. We are all on this journey together. A Snapshot of My Story On my 20-year relocation Journey, I have experienced a lot of highs and lows. As I reflect on the negative experiences, I am reminded of how much I learned from them. In this blog post, I will share the lowlights on my relocation Journey so far. Check out my other Her Relocation blog posts to learn more about my experiences living in Nigeria, Germany, and the US. Taking longer to get my first degree When I moved to Germany, I expected to earn my Engineering degree within five years. I could never have imagined how difficult it would be for me. The first course I started studying did not fit my strengths at all. I tried everything I could to make it work, although I knew I was failing. The thought of quitting and doing something else did not seem like an option for me. It took me three years before I decided to apply to a new university and study a new course. My second course was more aligned with my strengths. However, when I faced some challenges, I knew how to pivot and make changes. I finished the third course much faster and finally graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree. And a few years later, I earned my Masters degree. What did I learn?
Working multiple odd jobs The number of different jobs I did is astonishing. I was a babysitter for multiple families, worked on Campus, at Subway and, in multiple cafes to be able to pay my way through college. Thinking back, it was difficult having to work multiple jobs at once to earn enough money. There were times when I wished I didn't have to work so much and could focus on school more. Not only was juggling multiple low-paying jobs hard, but it was also taking me away from my primary goal, which was to complete my degree. Although it wasn't always fun, I gained many skills. What did I learn?
Having Financial Issues For the longest time, I was worried about not being able to pay my bills. I still remember the only time in my life that I overdraft my bank account by eighteen euros to buy necessities and received a letter from a collection company. I had just moved to a new city and was trying to settle in. The stress I felt was immense. Having to worry about money was a theme of the first ten years of my 20-year journey. I almost left Germany because I was tired of working so hard but still lacking essential things. I promised myself that I would never let myself get back to that place after I started being more comfortable financially. What did I learn?
Feeling lonely and isolated In August 2001, when I moved to Germany, it was a very nice summer. However, the fall and winter months came very quickly, and I was stuck indoors most of the time. At this time, I could not speak German and had not yet made any friends. I can still remember how lonely I felt being away from my twin sister, mum, and friends in Nigeria. The feeling of loneliness lasted for a while until I moved to stay with a friend and then my sister moved to Germany in 2003. Every time I moved to a new city, I had to recreate my social circle and felt lonely for a while. As I moved to new cities and countries, I got better at building connections faster, which helped me feel less isolated. What did I learn?
Surviving bad relationships & friendships I moved to Germany at a very formative time in my life. My experiences with having relationships started after a few years of being in Germany. In the beginning, it was a lot of trial and error. Growing up, I did not have a lot of positive role models who were in relationships or married. As I navigated the waters of relationships, I had some bad ones that caused emotional pain. Interestingly, there were also friendships that I had to let go of because they did not bring me joy, and I felt I was giving too much of myself. What did I learn?
Missing key family milestones and celebrations Being far away from home, I missed key milestones like births, deaths, graduations, birthdays. I still remember crying when I celebrated my first birthday away from my Twin. We had never celebrated any birthday away from each other since we were born. In addition, I celebrated my first Christmas alone. I missed a lot of the holiday traditions that I grew up with. Spending Christmas with my cousins and enjoying great food was a thing of the past. What did I learn?
Having Health challenges On New Year’s Eve in 2005, I went to the Emergency Room after being in so much pain all day. I have high pain tolerance, but this time it was different. I still remember seeing the fireworks on the bus on our way to the ER. At that point, I had no idea that the pain was caused by fibroids. I had endured severe pain for the major part of my life and did not know that it was not normal. Fast forward to 2011, I had to have a myomectomy to remove the fibroids. This was the first major surgery that I had in my life, and I was going through it alone. My sister was heavily pregnant at this time, living in a different city and could not be with me physically. I had the surgery and had a 6-week recovery time at home. Interestingly during this time, my niece was born, and I finally got my German passport. What did I learn?
Feeling stuck at work With the amazing success that I had in my career especially in recent years, also came some negative experiences. In 2017, I spent a lot of time away from home, traveling for work. I was caught between enjoying the work I was doing but not feeling recognized. A year earlier, I had worked with a career coach and was more aware of my professional goals. After being passed up for a promotion that I had worked very hard for, I knew it was time for me to leave my job. It was a complex decision because my visa at that time in the US was tied to my job. This led to me feeling very stuck. What did I learn?
Facing Immigration challenges As an immigrant, your ability to stay in a country is determined by someone in the immigration office. I still remember how nervous I felt every time I had to extend my visas. I was very aware that one person could decide not to extend my visa and change the course of my life. In Germany, there were requirements that I knew I had to meet to stay there. Meeting the financial requirements was one that I struggled with. At that time, you had to show that you had 400 Euros in your account every month and will not be dependent on any financial support programs. Thankfully, I was able to make it work, and my visas were extended. Fast-forward to moving to the US where my immigration status was different, I still faced some minor challenges. Although I met all the requirements, the process was less transparent and took much longer. After going through multiple immigration status changes, I still get nervous and ensure that I meet all the requirements. What did I learn?
Feeling like I do not belong The sense of belonging has been one major lowlight of my journey so far that has been a constant throughout. I have learned to do things that help me feel like I belong when I start feeling otherwise. For the first seven years in Germany, I could not wait to leave. Random people would ask me when I was going home and that was a steady reminder that Germany was not my home. I was mentally counting down to when I will get my degree and go back to Nigeria. After realizing that it would take me a little longer, I decided to start settling in and enjoy my life in Germany. It took me a few more years of learning what makes me feel like I belong. I stopped planning my escape and started building my home. This mindset had helped me feel at home in the US when I moved here. What did I learn?
Final Thoughts The negative experiences that I went through over the past 20 years shaped my journey and taught me many valuable lessons. Although I never want to experience the hardships again, I can now see the lessons I learned in the process. A Snapshot of My Story In August 2001, I embarked on an unknown journey and boarded a flight to Germany from Nigeria. So much has happened in the 20 years since then. I have lived in about eight cities in three countries and experienced a lot. Over the month of August, I will be sharing highlights, lowlights, and lessons learned on my twenty-year relocation journey. In this blog post, I will share ten things I am proud of accomplishing on my relocation Journey so far. Check out my other Her Relocation blog posts to learn more about my experiences living in Nigeria, Germany, and the US. #1: Being brave and bold to start afresh in new cities and countries I still remember the points on my journey where I had to begin a new life in a new city or country. There were times when the move came with joy, like when I moved to the US and other times when I was sad, like when I moved to Trier. In every situation, I made it work. I found what I like about my new homes and built the life I wanted there. #2: Learning new languages, cultures, and traditions When I moved to Germany from Nigeria, I only knew a few words of German from when I was a child. I took courses and learned enough to study in Germany. Fast forward to when I moved to the US, I wasn't really learning a new language, but I was getting to know a different culture. Now I speak four and a half languages and have learned a lot about multiple cultures. This had made me understand and empathize with people from different backgrounds even more. #3: Always bouncing back up after setbacks In the 20 years of living abroad, I have experienced my fair share of challenges and setbacks. The first setback that I faced was being homeless for months in my early years in Germany. Another major setback that I bounced back from was finally getting my first degree after it took much longer than expected. Looking back at those experiences, I overcame them and built a beautiful life. #4: Becoming financially independent I still can't believe that I moved to Germany with no money in my pocket. One thing I knew back then was that I wanted to be financially independent and build wealth. Over the past twenty years, I have prioritized my financial wellbeing and still do not compromise on my financial goals for any reason. I know what it is like to be poor to living off twenty Euros a week to where I am today. Achieving financial independence has allowed me to live a good life today. #5: Creating my close circle of friends and social network The people that have been in my life over the past 20 years are very dear to me. My circle is small and very precious. We have been through a lot of life experiences together and have built very deep friendships. I am very happy to have had so many amazing people on my journey. #6: Earning my degree(s) and certificates It took me nine years of being in Germany to get my bachelor's. In that time, I learned German, went through a university preparation course, changed the course I was studying twice. And then finally, I earned my first degree and started working. Interestingly, I went on to earn my masters which was a better journey for me. Following my Masters degree, I got multiple professional certifications. I was able to apply the lessons I learned from failing for so many years towards my continued learning Journey. #7: Achieving professional success Some of the moments when I was surprised about my success had a lot to do with my professional accomplishments. Often, I wonder how I got to work on big projects, partner with senior leaders and work with global teams. I know that I have put in the work, and it is great to see the great results. #8: Traveling and seeing the World (well, part of it) Since I was living in Germany and the US, I have had the opportunity to travel to Canada, Italy, India, UK, The Bahamas, Dubai, Singapore, Denmark, Greece, France, Luxemburg, and Switzerland. Thinking back to my childhood, I would never have imagined that I would be in places where I can see more parts of the world. Experiencing different cultures and seeing the beauty has been one of my favorite parts of the past 20 years. #9: Giving back to others One of the things that makes me grateful for my journey is that I have enough, have attained success, and can give back to my community. I am a strong believer in the power of giving back and pouring into other people's lives. The opportunities to speak to first-generation immigrant students, coach women, mentor people, and financially support people gives me a lot of satisfaction. #10: Building our home and having an amazing family When I moved to Germany in 2001, I could not even imagine what my life would be like 20 years down the road. Today I have my own family with my two favorite boys - my husband and our son. Everything that I experienced has helped me see what really matters and build my amazing life. Final Thoughts Reflecting on my journey has been very therapeutic for me. I have been through a lot and have not yet shared a lot. I am excited to share my story with you. In my next blog post, I will focus on the lowlights of my journey so far. A Snapshot of My Story  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?  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.   If you feel overwhelmed and have lost parts of yourself, you are not alone. This year has been very intense. Growing up, I was taught to work hard, and self-care was not a topic often. Over the past months, I have learned that the only way I can be my best self is to take care of myself.
In this blog post, we will explore how to we can take care of ourselves. I am committing to doing these five things in July. Check-in with yourself With everything that we have to manage, it is easy to lose touch with ourselves. The most important part of you taking care of yourself is knowing how you feel mentally, emotionally, and physically. Often, we do not really know how we are doing because we do not take the time to ask ourselves. Question to reflect on
Ask for help The fact that you need help is not bad and does not mean you are lazy or incapable. It means that you are acknowledging that you have your hands full. Permitting yourself to ask for help and accepting it is a great way to take care of yourself. Question to reflect on
Do something for yourself We do a lot of things for other people around us and neglect ourselves. You are worth spending time on. It is time to prioritize yourself and do some self-care. I finally got a professional pedicure in over 18 months this weekend. It was a very small thing, but it made me feel much better. The sum of the small things that you do for yourself will make you feel better. Question to reflect on
Reconnect with people you like Having a deep connection with people is a crucial part of our lives. Plan to give them a call, grab some coffee, or a meal. When you connect with them, it is important to have deep conversations and check in with each other. Question to reflect on
Celebrate how far you have come There is so much power in celebrating the good that is happening in your life. Celebrating your milestones and accomplishments is crucial. Take a moment to remind yourself that you are doing amazing. The small and big wins are worth celebrating. Question to reflect on
Final Thoughts Committing to taking care of yourself is crucial. It needs to be something that you are intentional about and make an effort to do regularly. There is only one you, and no one can take better care of you than you can! Time for Reflection Why have you not been taking care of yourself? How do you take care of yourself? How are you going to continue taking care of yourself?  We are approaching the half-point mark of the year, and it is a great time to reflect on your goals and review your plan. I typically start these posts by wondering where all the time has gone. It is the same this time as well. I cannot believe that it is June already. 2021 has been a very fast year. We have all experienced so much in only six months.
In this blog post, we will do a six-month retrospective to see the progress we have made and identify what we will do to accomplish our goals this year. In addition, I will also share my retrospective. Review the past six months with the following steps Step #1: Take stock of where you are today compared to your plans This is the perfect time to review the goals you set for 2021 and the progress that you have made in the past six months. This step is the beginning of the process, and the objective is to help you clearly see where you are now compared to where you want to be at the end of the year. Questions to consider
Step #2: Celebrate your accomplishments In the previous step, you took stock of your progress and know what you have accomplished. It is time to celebrate the good things that you have achieved in the past months. Questions to consider
Step #3: Document your learnings from the things that did not go the way you planned There are a lot of great lessons to learn from the disappointments or setbacks you experienced this year. When you think about the things that did not go well this year, it is important that you do not let them get you down. Questions to consider
Step #4: Plan for the next six months When you reviewed your goals, you probably identified things that you want to do more of or new things that you want to do over the next months. Take the opportunity to create your plan for great impact and win in 2021. Questions to consider
Step #5: Take action Now that you have reviewed your goals and updated your plan, it is time to take action. Do the activities that will help you make progress towards your goals over the next months. Questions to consider
MC's 2021 Journey so far As I reflect on the last six months, I am proud of what I have accomplished and have learned many valuable lessons. This year has been an exciting year all around. The Highlights Reflecting on my goals for 2021, I have made some good progress:
The Lowlights With the progress that I have made, I have also experienced some setbacks
The lessons I learned
What I am looking forward to The rest of the year is going to be exciting for us. I am looking forward to a few exciting things:
Time for Reflection What was one surprising thing you learned or noticed during your review? When is your next review planned?  With everything that we have been managing over the past year, it is understandable if you feel that you are not enjoying work right now. We spend a lot of time doing work and deserve to be happy while we do it. If you want to rekindle your passion for work, this is for you.
In this blog post, we will explore five concrete things you can do to find your joy at work again. #1: Look back on what you have accomplished It is easy to get so caught up and not see the progress you have made over the past year. Looking back on your work results can remind you of what you like the most about your work. All your professional accomplishments, even the small ones, matter a lot. Even if you don't see it, you have made progress and are doing well. Strategies to consider
#2: Refresh your professional goals and update your career plan Most of us have been in survival mode over the past year. As a result, you may not have had the opportunity to define or check on your professional goals. Having an updated Career advancement plan helps give you a view of the future. Knowing that there are great things ahead builds excitement and rekindles your passion for your work. Do not let another year go by without you checking in on your professional goals. Strategies to consider
#3: Make a bold career move, start working on a new project or job After you review your career plan, you might discover that it is time to do something new or make even bigger career changes. Finding work that is satisfying and meets your development needs is crucial. If you know that the only way you can be happy at work is to change your job, plan, and make it happen. It could also be time to go up for a promotion. Asking for an overdue promotion is an emotional thing to do. However, making bold career moves has great rewards. Strategies to consider
#4: Revive your professional network Especially if you have been working virtually over the last year, you may have lost touch with your coworkers and industry connections. Most of us have been working from home, unable to attend conferences or professional meetups. The people in our professional lives have a positive impact on how we enjoy our work. It is crucial to be intentional about reconnecting with people professionally. Strategies to consider
#5: Find a passion project The truth is that work is only one part of your life. Focusing solely on your job and investing most of your time will not make you happy. Sharing our focus on multiple things will help us be at our best at work. Working on my blog posts and coaching sessions provides me a vital outlet. I find that I am better at work when I am working on projects that I care about. Strategies to consider
Final Thoughts: Is it time to take a break? If you read the strategies above and felt overwhelmed, it might be time to take a break. One of the first things that I did when I got back to work from maternity leave was plan days and weeks when I would take time off work. It was a necessary strategy for me to enjoy work and thrive. Planning time off work will help energize you. Great resources  When the world started shutting down in March 2020, no one imagined that we will still be in this state sixteen months later. With everything we have all experienced, we have many different feelings. Especially with things slowly reopening or going back to normal, we are facing new emotions, decisions, and thoughts. If you are excited and ready to go fantastic, and if you are like me and need more time to get used to the change, that is perfectly fine too.
In this blog post, I will share the things I am working through that are helping me adjust to the new normal. Hopefully, these will also help you on your journey. Acknowledge and accept how you are feeling No matter how you are feeling, it is ok to feel whatever you are feeling. It is normal to feel apprehensive or worried about the changes after living a different life for the past sixteen months. You might be experiencing mixed feelings, including excitement for some things and sadness for others. It is crucial to accept the way you are feeling and not judge yourself. Questions to consider
Ask yourself what you are concerned about If you feel concerned or worried, there are typically some underlying topics that you may not have explored. Identifying what exactly you are worried about is crucial. It will help you start working through it. I did some soul searching and realized that my main concerns were around adapting to a new post-pandemic life with our son. So many things that would have been easy to organize, such as childcare, are a little more complicated. Questions to consider
Identify what you do not want to change Over the past sixteen months, our lives have changed in many ways. We have reshaped our lives and started new routines. There might be some healthy and good things that you started doing over the past months that you want to continue. It is ok to hold on to those routines or new ways of living over the next months. For me, the quality time I spend with my husband and my son is now a major priority in my life, and I do not want to give it up. Questions to consider
Start thinking about the future and create "warm-up" plans There must be something that you have not done in a while that you are looking forward to. Just because you are anxious when you think about all the changes coming your way, it does not mean there are not a few things that excite you. Thinking about those exciting things that you want to do will help you prepare for the change ahead. They could be as simple as getting a pedicure or coffee with a friend. Questions to consider
Take care of yourself To thrive on the new journey ahead, you need to be physically and mentally healthy. If you feel like you need support with your mental health as you transition to your new normal, please get the help you need. Prioritize self-care and make sure you check in with yourself over the next months. You have got this! Questions to consider
MC's story This post is one that I am writing for myself as well. I have been struggling with thinking about the months ahead. As someone who likes to plan, I have been learning to do things a little differently. I am accepting the fact that there are still a lot of unknowns, and we will need to learn as we go. My approach to warming up towards our new normal is to take small steps. Over this past weekend, I got my first professional haircut since February 2020. It was one of my first steps back into the world. Time for Reflection What are you feeling? What are your top three fears or concerns? How are you going to make sure you are doing well through the transition? I am continuing my celebration of 20 years living abroad with another part of my story, comparing the second year of my journey living in the US vs. life in Germany. Reflecting on my life in 2002 versus where I was in 2016, reminds me of how vastly different my life was. In this blog post, I will share the factors that made my experiences different and what I learned. Check out my other Her Relocation blog posts about my experiences living in Nigeria, Germany, and the US. Having a stable home One part of my journey that I never talk about is that I did not have a stable place to live in my second year in Germany due to some situations. I stayed on people's couches for about eight months. I am incredibly grateful to the people that gave me a place to live during those times. Interestingly, while I went through that experience, I did not think about it too much. I focused more on studying German and working as a babysitter to save up for my own place. Compared to my life in the US, I have been living in an amazing home since I moved here. The stability I had in my second year in the US, I would have wished I had in the early days of my life in Germany as well. What did I learn?
Politics influencing my life When I moved to the US in 2015, I had no idea how politics and the government will influence my life. The 2016 elections in the US affected me more than I would have ever expected. As an immigrant living in the US, I worried about the policies that will affect my stay here. Also, the rhetoric against immigrants made me wonder if I had made the right decision moving here. While I lived in Germany, I had the privilege of not worrying a lot about who was in government, as most of the policies were fair or did not negatively affect me. What did I learn?
Thoughts about my future Especially in year two in Germany, I felt slightly hopeless when I thought about the future. I found myself struggling to build a stable foundation and had no idea what my future in Germany would look like. I was naïve before I moved and expected things to fall into place quite quickly. I did not consider that I was moving to a country where I did not speak the language, knew nothing about the culture, and did not have a social network. When I moved to the US, I was more hopeful and had better prospects for my future. What did I learn?
Making Unexpected connections During my second year in Germany, I met people who supported me through difficult times on a train, bus, or at the station. These included the woman who gave me my first babysitting job and the people whose couches I slept on for a few months. It is strange when I think about the importance of the people I met at very unconventional places. Compared to when I moved to the US, I hardly made connections with people in that way. I had to go to professional and social events to meet new people. What did I learn?
Financial Stability When I moved to Germany, I did not have a financial plan or resources. I still remember the first time I got paid ten Euros for a babysitting job. Having a source of income meant freedom for me. I was now able to buy little things for myself and eventually move to my own place. Fast-forward to when I moved to the US; I was more financially stable. I had learned valuable financial lessons and promised myself that I would never rely on anyone financially. What did I learn?
MC's Moment of Reflection The first picture is of me in 2002 in Germany, and the other picture was in 2016. Although I am smiling in the picture from 2002, I was going through a lot of tumult in my life. It was taken a few weeks before I became displaced from the home where I was staying when I first moved to Germany. The 2016 picture shows me settled into my work routine in San Francisco. My state of mind in the two pictures was really different. In the latter, I had a solid foundation and was not worried about my future. Reflecting on these two years reminded me of how much my life is better now.   Our time is a very precious and limited resource. When you are feeling overwhelmed, one of the tools that can help is -managing your time. I like knowing that there are things that I can do to get back up. Let us have a conversation about some strategies that I leverage to make time for things that matter to me.
In this blog post, we will explore five things you can do to manage your time. #1: Reclaim your time What we spend our time on will determine how happy or unhappy we are. As with everything that impacts your life significantly, you need to be in control of how you spend your time. Remember that your time is precious. Realizing that I needed to own how I spent my time changed my life for the better. I am now very intentional about what I invest my time in and know that I need to reevaluate and adjust when I am overwhelmed. I want to be able to look back and say that I spent my time on things that mattered to me. Strategies to consider
#2: Set and communicate your boundaries We guard things that we care about. This principle should also apply to your time. Especially as I have progressed to a new phase in my life, I know how important it is to set boundaries around my time. Letting people know how much time you are willing to spend on a particular commitment is crucial. Communicate your boundaries at work, with your family and friends. Strategies to consider
#3: Start new habits and have a routine Applying measures that save your time or increase the impact of how you spend your time is life changing. Two things that have helped me accomplish the things, I care about are, having good habits and a routine. Having a process by which you do things routinely will save you time and make time for you to focus on what really matters. My morning and evening routines are consistent, and they help me save time. Strategies to consider
#4: Have a plan and set priorities As we progress in our lives, multiple things are competing for our time. To ensure we are spending time on the important things we need to set priorities. Once you know your top priorities, you want to create a plan and carve out time for them. As your priorities might change more often, it is crucial to get into a planning routine to revisit your priorities and make time for them. Strategies to consider
#5: Track how you are spending your time Knowing how you spend one of the most valuable resources - your time - is essential to managing your time. Use tools such as calendars to plan and track how you are spending your time. This will help you identify what is wasting your time and make changes to help you have more time for your priorities. Strategies to consider
Great Resources Check out some of my previous blog posts with more helpful tips and resources to help you take charge of your time and accomplish more.
Time for Reflection How are you spending your time? What would you like to do if you could find some time to? How could you make time for what you really want to do?  Taking care of your mental health is extremely crucial. We are all dealing with a lot as we work towards accomplishing our goals and living in the world today. There are so many things that impact our mental health. I strongly believe that we have to be intentional and actively maintain our mental health. Your happiness, health, and overall well-being are strongly dependent on how your mind is doing.
In this blog post, I will share the five things I am doing to prioritize my mental health. These are things that I strive to do daily for my well-being. #1: Sharing when I am struggling For some reason, I thought telling people I was having a bad day or struggling with something was a sign of weakness. It has a lot to with my upbringing, where we always had to say we were doing well and show strength. I ended up bottling in all my worries and not sharing them with anyone, not even the people closest to me. Unlearning this took me a long time. I still catch myself wanting to say I am doing fine when I am not. We need to start speaking honestly about our mental health. Questions to consider
#2: Shutting out the news and negative things Last year, I was obsessing over the news because I was following the political events in the US. I found myself watching a lot of news. I noticed that what I saw on the news was having a bigger impact on my mental health than I thought. After I went back to work, I realized that I could no longer dedicate brain space to all the bad news. I decided to reduce the amount of news that I read or listen to daily. Guarding my mind has had a positive effect on my overall well-being. Questions to consider
#3: Limiting my circle to have only people who uplift me The people you surround yourself with will influence your happiness and mental health. One thing that I have learned about myself is that I get impacted by the things that others around me are going through. On my quest for mental well-being, I have decided to keep my circle of friends very small. I make sure that people around me influence me positively, that I have a positive impact on their lives, and that we are there for one another through all life experiences. Questions to consider
#4: Saying "No" and setting boundaries Over the past years, I have realized that it is essential for me to set boundaries. The more I have grown, I know that my time and resources are limited. Considering that, I have to say no to things that I do not want to do and things that don't add value to my life. Letting people in my life and at work know what my boundaries are, has improved the quality of my life a lot. If I am spending my time doing something, it is because I want to do it. Questions to consider
#5: Reduce the pressure that I'm putting on myself One thing that impacts my mental health negatively is feeling overwhelmed. After searching for the most frequent cause, I realized that I was putting a lot of pressure on myself. I found myself striving for perfection in all areas of my life, which is impossible. Evaluating and resetting the standards that I hold myself to have been a game-changer for me. Sometimes I have to accept that getting something done is good enough, even if it is not perfect. I am also learning that it is ok to rest even when my to-do list is long. Questions to consider
Final Thoughts May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the US. It serves as a good reminder for us to prioritize our mental health. We need to take care of our mental health every single day to do all the amazing things we want to do in life. Time for Reflection
|
AuthorMarie-Christin Anthony Categories
All
Archives
September 2021
|
RSS Feed