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First + foremost – let me just preface this post by saying that this is what works for me. I was contemplating writing a post on “how to achieve work/life balance”, but I feel like the definition of it varies for everyone. How I feel balanced may actually feel like chaos for you, and visa versa. But all of that is okay – I’ve personally set a 6 rules for myself to ensure that I have some level of work/life balance in my life everyday. 1. One free weekday evening and one free weekend day. This rule ensures that I have time to recoup and relax in my space. I love spending time doing a whole bunch of nothing in my Harlem studio apartment. During this time, I try my best to stay off of my computer, unless I am journalling, and zone out with a good cup of tea… and occasionally some takeout. I read, I nap, I watch movies or catch up on TV shows that I missed, and I just enjoy the time to myself. Sure, sometimes I bring out the bleach and start giving my space a deep cleaning, but I kind of like the feeling of relaxing in your space after you’ve cleaned everything and feel like there is nothing else to do. 2. Limit cell phone use from 10pm – 7:30am. This is a hard one, but it makes me feel SO good to be disconnected from everyone and everything. I have a few numbers that are set as “priority” so I will receive an alert if those folks call – but everyone else goes unanswered until the morning commute to work. I do find myself grabbing my phone to check when I’m still up past my bedtime, but because I have this rule, it makes me much more conscious and I tend to feel a bit guilty. 3. Turn off all social media notifications. Being a blogger can make you a slave to social media. Seriously?! If I kept all of my alerts on, I would always be distracted and feel like I need to be tweeting, hash-tagging, chatting, liking, or snapping something. Sure, I enjoy it somedays, but that forces me to take in and expend a bunch of energy outward. Sometimes, I need to be able to think and concentrate on a task without having a notification disrupt my thoughts. I especially love that my phone, the LG G3, only has a little light that flashes for notifications vs having the entire screen flash. Therefore, if I am not looking at my phone, then I won’t see anything. Hell, I even put it face down on my desk at work so I can concentrate. 4. In reference to my 9-5… work happens at work, not at home. I know some people may not have this luxury, but when I leave the office. I leave the office. Do not call me unless it’s an emergency, delayed opening, snow day, or something like that. 99.999999% of everything can be done between the hours of 9am-5pm. While I sync my calendar to my phone so I can see what I have planned, I turned off notifications for my work email. I would delete it all together since my job doesn’t pay for my phone, but it’s easier to send an email out when I have to call in sick, and I hate having to do the whole verification process every time I delete it or get a new phone. Additionally, I believe that this sets expectations for my clients and coworkers. If I am sending out emails on Saturdays and after 5pm on a regular basis, people start to expect it! My clients and coworkers know, when I’m off, I’m off. If you need me, you need to text me or call – and it should be an emergency. 5. In reference to blogging + coaching. Since I’m still working a 9-5 job, I try my best to batch my schedule so I can have time away from blogging and coaching clients. I take client coaching calls on 2-3 nights per week, and the other 2-3 days I work on developing more content. I also bring my iPad to work so I can type out blog posts on my lunch break and keep a running list of ideas in case I have writer’s block. I also give myself a break when needed. I used to struggle and beat myself up when I missed a day of blogging, but not I try not to sweat it. Sure, if it’s paid work… I’ve got to get it done someway, somehow. But for everything else, I try to take my time and plan ahead. I also LOVE the EPIC BLOG: One-Year Editorial Planner – planning ahead gives me time to prepare and enjoy blogging a bit more. 6. I give myself permission to have fun and let anything go that doesn’t feel good. Sometimes you have to let go of what stresses you out to achieve balance {and sanity!}. This could be relationships, work commitments, meetings, projects – anything extra that is stressing me out can go/be postponed, ect. The key here is extra though – cause if I let it all go, I’ll be homeless. lol HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE WORK/LIFE BALANCE?BIOGRAPHY Kimberly Brown serves as the Assistant Director of Alumni Career Programming and Employer Development at a university in NYC and as the Founder and Editor of Manifest Yourself, a lifestyle and wellness blog. Through all of her experiences, she has become skilled in goal setting, coaching, developing effective partnerships, personal development, and social media content creation.
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Spring is finally here! It’s time to pack away winter clothes, clean your house, throw out old stuff that is cluttering your space and refresh your style. Don’t forget to add an Energy Cleanse to your Spring Cleaning List. If you aren’t familiar with it, an Energy Cleanse removes negative energy vibrations that you may have picked up from others or even manifested yourself. It’s a spiritual detox that allows you to center your energy and emotions and direct them away from negativity and towards positive and prosperous thoughts and emotions. My experience with energy cleansing leaves me feeling peaceful, focused, and more connected. Whatever troubles I may be dealing with seem to be smaller and I feel better prepared to deal with whatever comes my way. Negative energy comes from worry, dealing with difficult situation, and being around negative people. You know when you walk into a place and just get a bad vibe -it’s from bad energy in that place. Have you ever spent time around someone who was negative and afterward you felt angry or uneasy for no reason – you absorbed some of their negative energy. Ever felt like a relationship or work issue sucked the life out of you…it’s time for an energy cleanse. Purifying energy with sage goes back to ancient times and is used in many cultures in spiritual purification rituals and as a way to rid oneself of bad energy that has attached itself to that person. You can cleanse your energy whenever you feel the need. I personally cleanse every 3 months or so. I used Loose Leaf sage, a white candle, and crystals as part of a recent energy cleanse I used Loose Leaf sage, a white candle, and crystals as part of a recent energy cleanse Here’s what you will need for the cleansing • White Sage, get either loose leafs or a smudge stick. This is not the sage that you cook with • A Heat Resistant bowl or a shell (traditionally used during sage cleanings). Caution, sage can burn very hot • Something to spread the smoke with (optional) you can use your hand, a hand fan, or a large feather • Inspiring fragrance such as essential oils (Frankincense or Bergamot are good for purification), scented candles (white candles purify energy), or incenses Sage Cleaning Steps Before you begin, spend a little time thinking about what you want to release during the cleansing. Then crack a window for the smoke to escape. Sage is very smoky and has a potent smell. Let the sage catch fire and burn for a few seconds. The flames should die down leaving a thick blanket of smoke, if they don’t, gently blow the flames out. You cleanse with the smoke not the fire. Start at your feet and slowly move your way up to the very top of your head. Move the dish or bundle around your body fanning the smoke towards you. The bowl or smudge stick shouldn’t be physically touching your body. Take your time. While you are moving the sage around your body, take deep breaths to calm yourself. Then verbally release the things you need to let go of – speaking them out loud strengthens your power to let go. You can also visualize the negative energy leaving you - being carried away by the smoke, up and away from you. At the end, either let the sage burn out or extinguish it with sand or a little bit of water. Now, it’s time to replace the negative energy you released with some god vibes. Light you scented candle, incense or essential oils and spend a few moments focusing on the specific positive energy or actions you want to attract into your life. You can follow it up with meditation or a prayer. After this you should feel calm, refreshed and even a little lighter. Cleanse Your Home or Space with Sage You can do this for your home or personal space by walking around the space and fanning the spoke into every corner, crevice and even up towards the ceilings so that the room has a nice amount of smoke in it. Another option is to set the sage in a container and let it burn until it burns itself out. Verbally release the negative energy and light a fragrance after to reestablish good vibrations in the room. Carmen Mayes is the creator of Written in the Stars, a website that uses modern astrology, spirituality, and conscious wisdom to fuel your journey of personal discovery into personal greatness. Read more insights and personal experiences at writtennthestars.com Photo: Orli Meiri   The Eagles Landing Dance Center (ELDC) recently announced plans to celebrate their 10 year anniversary with a host of creative arts events in 2015. Founder Vanessa Gibson, has worked with talent of all facets, including LL Cool J, Tamia, NAS, Timbaland, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, and more. Known as one of the most acclaimed dancers and instructors in the country, her dance resume includes stage tours, movies and now 10 years of success at her dance facility which is located south of Atlanta.
ELDC, services ages three through adulthood and focuses on ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and more to ensure its students gather the training needed to thrive in the world of dance. ELDC also offers many advancement opportunities for its students, one of which includes an upcoming summer intensive with the world-renowned Director & Choreographer Debbie Allen June 15-27 at the Dekalb School of the Arts. ELDC will also host a 10th Anniversary Spring Recital on Sunday, June 7th at the Henry County Performing Arts Center in McDonough, GA as well as an 10th Year Celebration later this year. Vanessa Gibson will continue using her passion and gifts to give back to the dance community at ELDC throughout this 10th year and beyond. http://www.eagleslandingdancecenter.org/ |
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January 2022
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