Vacation vs. Staycation

Vacation vs. Staycation

by | Jul 9, 2021 | Lifestyle | 0 comments

“The idea of having a staycation instead of vacation isn’t something new. However, in the post-Covid-19 era, families might need to rethink what kind of vacation plans will be more suitable.”

The way that the Covid-19 pandemic shifted the routine dynamics of our lives is still unbelievable and sometimes even horrifying.

Take for example the case of staycation vs vacation.

While many things now are slowly and gradually advancing towards their normal routine, the post-covid-19 recovery phase is still in trial mode.

As such, if you are considering the options of having a vacation as opposed to a staycation this summer season 2021, let’s discuss the best option for you.

So, let’s begin finding out everything necessary about staycation vs vacation and help you experience the best from the one you stick to.

Staycation vs Vacation – The all-you-need-to-know guide

What is a staycation?

The word ‘Staycation’ can be broken into two words, ‘stay’ and ‘cation’ derived from the word ‘vacation’. Staycation has two slightly different definitions.

One describes it as time spent in your home country while engaging in domestic traveling.

The other description suggests staying at home but involving visits to local sightseeing and attractions.

What is a vacation?

Vacations, as opposed to staycations, usually involve visiting someplace outside of your home, state, or country.

Difference between a staycation and vacation

The following set of key factors briefly explain the main differences between a staycation and a vacation.

Staycation

  • They are comparatively much cheaper.
  • No need to formally plan everything. Plans are mostly spontaneous and depend on your mood.
  • No new kind of travel-related stress. You already know what to expect while riding towards your destination.
  • Very few chances of getting disappointed if you didn’t achieve what you had in mind initially. There is always a chance to redo everything.
  • No need to carry any luggage even if you plan to spend a night or two.
  • Freedom to carry your pets with you.

Vacation or traveling

  • Depending on how many members of your family are planning to travel and your destination, vacations remain an expensive thing no matter how basic your package is.
  • An average travel or vacation plan will at least take a month to plan and arrange everything. In some cases, more time might be needed. This is because there is much to research about especially when it’s your first visit to a destination, looking after your vacation budgets, arranging someone to look after your stuff, etc.
  • For some reason, if you didn’t find your vacation to be as good as you imagined, you may find yourself in great disappointment, especially considering the time, money, and energy spent on it.
  • Requires carrying enough luggage to last an entire trip. In some cases, you might have to even buy extra things just for the trip, which under normal circumstances you would never need.
  • You experience jet-lag issues. Some people are okay with it, but others might need a few hours to adapt.
  • Currency issues. There may be local and foreign currency carrying limits to adhere to while passing the immigration counter at an airport.

Benefits of choosing a staycation instead of a vacation in the post-Covid-19 era

While the concept of a staycation isn’t anything new, it is expected that more and more people in the early days of the post-pandemic or post-Covid-19 era, are likely to prefer it rather than going on a vacation.

Consider the following benefits of a staycation.

Start right from where you are

As soon as the clock ticks and your working hours for the last day of work before the staycation end, you have already begun. You know what to do, where to head, who to call, etc.

No time spent on planning or quarantine

Since you aren’t traveling abroad, you won’t need to spend any time in quarantine.

There isn’t any need to formally plan or ask everyone’s opinion before going out and indulging in an activity. Just start with what seems appropriate at that time and then subsequently each family member can get to decide something from their staycation bucket list.

You remain well-prepared for the unexpected

Since it isn’t somewhere new you are visiting, you already know what could ruin a perfect outing during your staycation. Therefore, you have less to worry about any unexpected events. 

You never get exhausted

One of the prime reasons for a staycation is to rest and refresh your mind and body. This isn’t normally possible during a vacation as you have limited time and a bucket load of things to do.

But while on a staycation, there isn’t any need to hurry and you can fully rest and enjoy anytime you want.

While the concept of a staycation isn’t anything new, due to health concerns, it is bound to get major traction in the post-Covid-19 era. And really, staycations shouldn’t only be preferred for avoiding exposure to any health risks.

It is a great way to help revive your country’s economy in the post-pandemic period. So, staying local and spending local should also be a priority after Covid-19.

 

Don’t miss any life hacks designed to save you time, energy, and money! Start by requesting your FREE report, “Self-Care Hacks” at https://HERLifeHacks.com!

 

The #1 Thing You Can Do to Improve Your Life

The #1 Thing You Can Do to Improve Your Life

by | Jul 1, 2021 | Lifestyle | 0 comments

“See yourself living in abundance and you will attract it. It always works, it works every time, with every person.” – Bob Proctor

You probably don’t constantly think about how your mindset affects your life. You may have always thought this way, either because of how you were raised or through your experiences. Your mindset in fact not only affects your life, but it also directs your life. Changing how you think is the single most important thing you can do to improve your life.

It’s not easy to do. I know. I’ve been working on mindset shifts to improve my life for a long time.

Abundance mindset, scarcity mindset, fear mindset, fixed mindset, growth mindset, confident mindset and many others are all different types of mindsets we have. Do any of these mindsets sound like you? Each unconscious and conscious belief affects our lives every moment.

According to the research of Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, the power of our beliefs, both conscious and unconscious, is far greater than we imagine and changing even the simplest of them can have profound impact on nearly every aspect of our lives.

The world has changed dramatically in the last few years, especially in the last year. The pandemic has affected all of us in some way and has been devastating to many. There is speculation among leading experts that many people will not make the shift to new thinking and action until COVID-19 affects us personally. The impact of the virus will not become real for us until someone we know contracts the virus or dies from it.

The world has moved into what has been described as a “new normal”. But what that means is open to discussion. What some may see as limiting and disruptive may be seen by others as an opportunity – an opportunity to emerge in ways you define. Change has occurred rapidly and definitively. Are you moving around by the winds of change or defining your own change and how you can take control of your life?

The first step is becoming aware of our mindset and consciously choosing to develop a mindset that will help us move forward with creating our intentional life. If we allow ourselves to remain stuck in the flow of things, we are abdicating our choices to circumstances. All the advice in the world about how to get the most out of life is worthless if we don’t take responsibility for the choices we make, or we allow those choices to be made for us.

For us to emerge from these experiences and thrive, not just exist, we need to think about and plan for who we are now and who we want to be in the future. We can start by practicing mindfulness and reframing our mindset.

If you are totally happy with yourself and your ability to navigate the new normal, I suggest you stop reading here. But before you go, describe your strategies for being in control of your life and what makes you feel secure in your abilities to move forward with confidence.

If you’re still reading, here are five ways changing your mindset to an abundance or growth mindset can improve your life.

  1. You aren’t afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Changing your mindset to one of growth allows you to see the many different paths available to you in whatever you are seeking, whether it is job advancement, creative outlets, or something more personal. This allows you to move forward rather than being stuck in the same place.
  2. You become comfortable sharing ideas without feeling threatened or intimidated, which leads to better choices, environments, and relationships.
  3. Changing your mindset to one of growth helps you build better personal and romantic relationships. You realize people will always have differences. You learn that a relationship involves learning about and from each other.
  4. You’ll begin to judge yourself and others less. You won’t have time to waste on judging others are saying or doing. Instead, you’ll be able to focus on making progress in your life.
  5. The change to a growth mindset allows you to accept constructive criticism for what it is and use it for personal growth. You become more confident because you won’t need validation to reassure you that you’re doing it right.

You can change your mindset. And it will improve your life. Your skills can be cultivated, learned, practiced, and grown.  You no longer worry about what will happen. Instead, you will commit to the process of taking action and learning along the way.

Changing your mindset helps you to step out of your comfort zone to go after what you want and believe you will get it.

Is your mindset helping or hindering you at this point in your life?

My new course, “Designing Your New Normal Mindset”, is a great place to start to examine your mindset and define ways to change it to benefit you. It’s easier than you think. This course provides the guidance to help you enter the next phase of your life with awareness and confidence. If you’re interested, click on the Contact Me page of HER Life Hacks and request a coupon code, and I’ll send you a 50% off coupon code just for you!

Try on “Designing Your Normal Mindset” for size! Then let me know what worked for you and how you applied the course in your life.

Here’s to the peace and joy of your new normal mindset!

9 Ways to Find Extra Time in Your Life

9 Ways to Find Extra Time in Your Life

by | Jun 7, 2021 | Lifestyle | 0 comments

We’ve all heard it again and again – everyone has the same number of hours in the day. It’s all a matter of how you manage your time. You may have tried some of these time management techniques yourself. And maybe they worked for you for a while. But if you did not make the necessary changes to keep them going, you may have slipped back into old, and perhaps destructive ways.

I am on a mission; a mission to provide the right tools for the right people to learn to live simpler by having fewer decisions to make on a daily basis. And those fewer decisions translate into making the mundane and repetitive daily tasks automated. Making daily tasks automated means you create and implement systems that work for you, on their own and with little supervision so you will have more time to live your life the way you want. That means more time to do the things that give you joy and energize you.

Here are 9 strategies that can help you find extra time in your life, so you can spend it doing things you love. Embracing and implementing just one of these strategies can make a huge difference in your life.

I’ve already mentioned what I consider to be the number one strategy to manage your life in time-saving ways – create systems.

1. Create Systems

Anything that you do regularly needs a system. Whether that’s paying bills, bookkeeping, or taking a bath, it all happens regularly.

Setting up systems that use a combination of technology, delegation, and habit creation will help you organize and automate your life.

In fact, this number one strategy is an umbrella strategy that encompasses the remaining eight strategies. If you recognize and embrace the value of creating life systems – simple life systems, that mindset will make implementing strategies two through nine much easier.

2. Set Up Your Computer Properly

Your computer can maintain itself with the right additions of software. Set up your computer so that it automatically updates, automatically checks for viruses, and keeps the computer clean.

Whether you have a Mac or a PC, there are options for you to learn about. And many of these options are free. You just need to do a little research – Google it!

And managing your online files with a system that works for you will save you tremendous time, especially as you continue to add new files. Even with the system I use for filing documents and videos, I sometimes have difficulty finding specific files.

Whatever system you choose to keep up with digital files, it is a good idea to use an intuitive system that will be easy to retrieve later. You could start file names with a date or use keywords that describe what is in the file. It needs to be a system that works for you.

3. Pay Your Bills Via Your Bank’s Bill Payment System

Most credit cards and bills let you set up automatic payment options directly through them. You can also set up payments via your bank’s system. This works well because all your information is in one place, thereby saving you time accessing the data.

You can also automate the payment process, either through websites of your credit cards and bills or through your bank’s process. This is a great way to never forget to pay a bill, which could negatively affect your credit score.

4. Automate Meal Planning with a Meal Delivery Service

If you find that meal planning and shopping take too much time, you can automate much of this by signing up for a meal delivery service. Although this can be an expensive alternative to cooking at home, setting up your subscription to deliver a few meals weekly can free up some time when you need it most.

There are so many choices of meal delivery services now that you will need to do some research to find one that meets your needs. You can usually find very good coupons for first time subscribers.

Ordering groceries online is another option to save time, and you may be able to have groceries delivered or at least pick them up quicker than shopping in the store.  If you use certain products on a regular basis and know when they will need to be replaced, online subscription services will deliver them to you regularly.

5. Go Paperless

If you have a lot of paperwork you’re always going through, try to find a way to go paperless. Paperless files are easier to find with a search than other types of files.

Simple phone scanning apps or even photos taken with your phone is a great way to save and file documents that need to be saved. Be sure to save your files on a backup drive or cloud drive so you won’t lose them in case of computer hardware failure.

Online options like Evernote or Dropbox are great for filing documents.

6. Learn to Use Your Smartphone

Learn about the features that come on your phone. Most phones will do so much more than most people could imagine. It is worth it to take a little time getting to know your phone and all it can do to save you time.

Check out the many free or inexpensive apps to help you save time. Just search your app store for the kind of help you need to see options available.

7. Make Your House Smarter

Today you can have a house that unlocks the door for you, turns on the light, preheats the oven, adjusts your thermostat and much more – all from a distance and at your command.

If you can afford to invest in this time-saving technology, it is a great way to ensure that things get done. You can even water your lawn or house plants using automation technology. e

8. Hire Household Help

Automate your household chores by hiring someone to do it for you on a regular basis. Even if you can only afford someone once a month, that can save you a lot of time. It would at least lighten your cleaning tasks in between monthly cleanings.

9. Develop Tiny Habits to Organize Your Life

Once you spend time organizing to simplify your life, you can make it feel automated if you just turn organization and cleaning into a habit. This is how most people learned to brush their teeth. It became a habit.

Throwing away your trash each time you get a fresh cup of coffee can become a habit too. Incorporate little habits into your day, and it’ll feel as if everything is happening automatically.

What’s Your Plan?

Which strategy or strategies resonated with you? You can probably think of other ways to save time that works for you.

If you need a little help setting up some systems, check out my shop of digital products at https://simplesystemsforlife.com.

If #9, “Develop Tiny Habits to Organize Your Life”, is your choice to find extra time, check out my free habit tracker, “My One Thing Daily Habit Tracker”. Just click on the title!

I’m adding new products monthly to help make your life a little simpler. You’ll find checklists, workbooks, planners, journals and much more. Keep checking back from time to time to see what has been added.

And leave a comment below to share your thoughts about finding extra time in your day. I’d love to hear what you think.

From Self-Doubt to Poise in 5 Actionable Steps

From Self-Doubt to Poise in 5 Actionable Steps

by | May 17, 2021 | Lifestyle | 0 comments

What is your opinion of yourself? No doubt (no pun intended) you, like so many others, doubt yourself. This issue affects both personal and professional lives. Self-doubt and low self-esteem can keep you from reaching your goals and dreams.

These personality traits appear to be more common among women. If self-doubt plagues you, check out these tips to boost your confidence and trust yourself more:

1. Accept Yourself

I grew up with self-doubt. And even now, I vacillate between total confidence and demeaning self-doubt. As a result, I was always an over-achiever. When I came home with straight A’s on my report card, my father would take a cursory look and reply, “Is that the best you can do?” And while I knew he said it as a joke, it cut deeply. I know he was proud of me, but he just didn’t know how to express it.

Self-doubt is part of being human. How can you turn it into a strength? When used correctly, this personality trait can help you make better decisions, instead of rushing things. Think of it as a tool that guides your actions and keeps you from making costly mistakes.

Also, affirmations repeated to yourself can make a positive difference in your life. Find a few affirmations that resonate with you. Write them down. Then repeat them to yourself in front of a mirror. Or print them on cards to display around your home as reminders of your special strengths. I start off my day with reading the card I created and placed on my beside table: “It’s gonna be a great day!”

2. Know You’re Not Alone

Even the most successful people have doubts. They often question their actions and wonder what the right thing to do is.

Focus on building your confidence by taking these actionable steps. You might never get rid of doubts, but you can stop them from taking over your life.

3. Accentuate Your Strengths

Your doubts don’t necessarily reflect the truth. They often mirror your fears and emotional struggles. Think about your achievements and how hard you worked to get where you are today.

Make a list of things you do well. Write down your skills and accomplishments. Accept praise from others gracefully and acknowledge your talent.

Celebrate your strengths every single day. Make positive affirmations and remind yourself how much you’ve done so far. Stop thinking of what you could have done better. You might be amazed at everything you’ve done!

4. Choose Your Friends Wisely

Negative people can drag you down and ruin your self-esteem. Nothing will ever be good enough for them. That’s why it’s so important to surround yourself with positive people who support you and listen to you instead of judging.

“You’re the average of the five people spend the most time with,” is a quote attributed most often to motivational speaker Jim Rohn. Take a look around at your friends. What kind of average are you exemplifying? Do they build you up or drag you down?

5. Define Your Line in the Sand

Lastly, define your values and the values you live by daily. One of the assignments in a college course for my doctorate was to define our line in the sand. What were the values that defined my life and how far would I go to protect them? That one exercise was something I came back to year after year. I found it to be just as strong in every successive year.

Focus on the things that drive your actions and are at the core of your beliefs.

Overcoming self-doubt is a lifelong process. Stop questioning your own decisions. Don’t waste time overanalyzing – trust your actions and put your plans in motion.

My FREE tips report, “Set a Life-Changing Intention” describes 9 best tips to setting your life-changing intention, and thereby replacing self-doubt with confidence. Get your FREE copy HERE!

Are You Poised for Greatness?

Are You Poised for Greatness?

by | May 10, 2021 | Lifestyle | 2 comments

Dictionary.com defines poise as a “state of balance or equilibrium”; or “a dignified, self-confident manner”.  Does that feel like you? Is it something you want for yourself?

I’ve always admired people who I consider having poise and grace. It is not a state of arrogance. It is a quality that indicates someone is comfortable with themselves. Comfortable enough to know that they are enough and can handle what happens for them – not to them. That level of confidence means they know there will be rough times in life – that’s just life. But they also know they can take whatever happens and learn from it, grow from it, and make it work to their advantage.

Maybe I’ve admired those people with poise and grace because I never quite felt I attained it. And I’ve always wanted to.

But here, and now – I feel my life is transforming. I feel that I am transforming into who I was meant to be. It may be just the understanding that comes with age. Or it may be that years of working toward being a better person, a better me is actually paying off.

What about you? If you feel like life has become predictable, unfulfilling, and boring, maybe it’s time for a fresh start. Deciding to make a change doesn’t mean you have to turn your life upside down, but it is an opportunity to stand back and revise your current way of life.

Whether it’s a lifestyle, location, or career change, there are some simple things you can do right now to climb out of that rut and get some positive energy back into your life.

Consider these five simple ways to gain or regain the poise you need to live your life with confidence, peace and joy.

1. Discover or Rediscover What Makes You Happy

Happiness is an elusive state of being for many people. They often think that the accumulation of money or things will make them happy. But when or if they get to that level of accomplishment, they find they are no happier than they were before.

Remember the quote about happiness that is attributed to Abraham Lincoln? “Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”

That quote might be a good starting point for you to think about what makes you happy? What lifts your spirits and puts a spring in your step? What makes your heart sing and your energy levels skyrocket? Some people feel happiest out in nature, while others prefer sports or reading. Maybe you love the arts or helping people. Make a list of what makes you happy and what you can do to focus on bringing more joy into your life.

2. Practice Saying Yes

You’ve probably heard it said that you should say no more. You may need to say “no” to some things other people want you to do and “yes” to things you want to do. Think about how that might change your life.

Most people are so busy with the everyday life that they don’t make time to get out of their comfort zone and do something different. When was the last time you tried something new or challenging? Be open to new experiences, start saying yes to yourself, and choose to do things that feel good.

3. Make a Stop Doing List

Once you start saying yes to the things that feel good, you need to practice saying no. You need a stop doing list! You’re probably well aware of the bad habits you’ve fallen into and the things you do that don’t bring you joy. While there are some things you have no control over, see what energy-draining tasks you can eliminate from your life. Write a list to remind yourself of the things you can choose not to do, and free up time for the things that make your heart soar.

4. Declutter

Most people have way too much stuff in their lives. Look around you right now and see what’s holding you back. Clutter includes spending hours scrolling through social media, limiting beliefs, and bad lifestyle habits as well as all that junk in the kitchen drawer. You may find there is just as much clutter in your head as in your home.

How might decluttering your mind and your home make a positive impact in your life?

5. Say No to Fear

Perhaps the single most empowering thing you can do to make the life changes you want is to walk away from fear. Fear will stop you from taking risks, big or small. It makes you too afraid to try anything new and holds you back from reaching your potential.

Which of these FEAR acronyms describes you?

  • FEAR – Forget Everything And Run

  • FEAR – False Evidence/Expectations Appearing Real

  • FEAR – Face Everything And Rise

 

 

 

 

Make a commitment to yourself to take back control of your life and leap into a fresh start. Turn your FEAR into Face Everything and Rise

None of us are completely happy with who we are. We are always wanting more – to have more – to be more. But changing things in your life that allow you to be the person you were meant to be is actually freeing. Staying stuck in habits that hold you back is what’s hard.

Need a gentle reminder of tackling FEAR. Download your free printable HERE about FEAR, like the ones above.

And join me on my journey of an intentional life. It’s free! Sign up at https://HERLifeHacks.com