Life Accelerated

5 Tips for Taking a Great Summer Vacation

Whether you're working the 9 to 5 grind or self-employed, you need to take time away from work--extended time, like a good 10 days or more at least once each year, more often if you can. That means taking the time to renew and restore your overall well-being.  Are you ready for a great summer vacation? Try some of the tips below to get started.

1. Don't spend more money than you budget.

Taking a vacation can be as easy as sitting in the hammock in the back yard. But if you're going to be making your way to a summer resort, make sure you have all the funds you need to do what you want so you won't be stressed financially.

Wherever you are, make sure you laugh each day. Laughter truly is one of the best medicines for lightening up our lives and helping us to feel a sense of joy every day.

Do something you've never done before. A change is as good as a rest they say, and there's nothing more exhilarating than trying out an activity you've never pursued--especially while on vacation. Whether it's scuba diving, trying a new food or learning a new board game, let your imagination run with ideas about how to spend some of those lazy summer days.

Stay true to your health. Whether you're on vacation or at home or work, it's important to keep your health regime going on a consistent basis. Go ahead and indulge while you're on vacation, but do keep at least the basics of your daily health routine in place so your body and mind aren't confused or overwhelmed by a sudden change. Remember that your quality of life is important, so keeping your routine going whether day-to-day or on vacation will serve you well in the long run.

Give yourself 2 or 3 days after you come back from vacation before returning to work if you can. Going from major relaxation back to a hectic pace overnight can rev your body and mind up too soon. Having a day or two to unwind after your vacation helps the transition.

Searching For A New Career

If you are searching for a new career, it can be tricky to manage your job search with your current job duties.  First, congratulations on figuring out what type of new career you are passionate about!  For many people, that can be the most difficult part of the entire process. 

When searching for a new career, first write your resume.  Include things from your current job that are applicable to the job you want.  If there are some things that are not directly the same, take a look at the skills required for those tasks and see if any of them are applicable.

Next, begin seeing what types of job openings are currently available.  Once you find the position you are interested in, go ahead and send them your new resume and presto - you are pursuing your passion and aiming for that goal of your dream career!  Best of luck to you!

Achieving Financial Wellness

Emotional wellness and personal happiness often depend on our financial situation - even if we don't want them to.  To promote your own personal wellness as well as get your finances in order, here are three quick tips to help you take control of your financial wellness.

1.  If you have credit card debt, pay it off.  If you have so much debt that you cannot pay it off in less than a couple months, work to lower your debt systematically.  The experts advise that you call each of your credit card companies and ask for a lower rate.  A friend of mine did this and three of her four cards offered her significantly lower interest rates.  Next, pick a card and after paying your minimums on the other cards, put as much as possible on the one card you are trying to pay off. 

2.  Read your bank account statements each month.  Not only will this help you find and avoid those pesky banking fees, but it will also alert you to any spending activity that you did not authorize.  If you find discrepancies or fees you don't understand, call your bank.

3.  Start a savings account.  If you don't already have one, start a savings account for those rainy days.  If you already have one, check how much is in it and detemine what your savings goals should be.  While some advise that your savings account should cover six months of living expenses, if that seems impossible right now, try to save at least enough to cover your unexpected expenses (like the car breaking down).

Once you get your finances in order, it will free you up to pursue your dreams without as many worries.  Now, that's financial wellness!

Make The Most of Your Time

    We all have more things to do than time to do them in.  The trick to making your life manageable from a time standpoint is not learning how to multi-task, but instead learning how to prioritize.  Reclaiming your time is as simple as making the important things in your life also the top priority things in your life.  Many women, when asked, will tell you without hesitation what their priorities are.  However, how often do they act on those priorities?  How often are the things we think are important the same things that we make sure we make time for in our lives?
    Grab a piece of paper and make a short list.  Write down the top 3 priorities in your life, in order.  Then, think about how you spend your time.  Do you spend the most time and energy on your number one priority?  If not, think about how you can change your life to make sure you make time for the people and things that are important to you. 

Love Yourself

    Valentine's Day is approaching and love is in the air.  However, the most important love of your life should be yourself.  Do you love yourself?
    Loving yourself is about taking a realistic look in the mirror and accepting the person that you see there.  None of us are perfect, but we need to learn to accept and cherish who we are.  It is often our flaws that make us unique and special. 
    This Valentine's Day, regardless of what you are doing with the other loved ones in your life, take a moment and do something for yourself as well.  Do something that will make you smile.  Place a beautiful picture or flower on your desk at work.  Buy a piece of clothing or jewelery that will make you feel more beautiful.  Get a new hairstyle.  Pamper yourself and make sure that you truly appreciate who you are and what you have done in your life.