Everyone’s got their off days.
If anyone’s been around me or known me long enough, they know that I am the one that will leave things to the ultimate last minute but miraculously, I pull through (most of the time 
). I work incredibly well under pressure; I thrive under the adrenaline rush of trying to get something done well and in no time. Don’t know what it is, but I don’t get off my butt and moving until I feel that burning agony in me. It’s probably not the healthiest way I could be living my life, but I’m starting to think that’s just the way I am.
More than ever, finding ways to balance my time between juggling my commitments is becoming so important for my sanity. When I had recently attended the York Marketing Association Conference at Schulich, I had met a career counsellor and asked her if she had any advice for soon-to-be grads when trying to figure out what path we want to take, following graduation from university. She asked me a couple of questions that are now always at the back of my mind. “When do you feel that you are at your best, and in your element? What is it that gets you juiced?” She shared with me that for her, she felt at her best when she spent one on one time with her girlfriends, catching up over a nice glass of wine, enjoying good company and good conversation. And only after having spent 13 years working in a large corporation, did she realize that it was not making her happy, and thus switched over to being a mentor to students to help them find their way. She now considers this her dream job. Funny how life works out, isn’t it?
So now I ask myself the same questions, when do I feel at my best? How do I take a step back from the grind and enjoy the moments in life?
1. Learning – Challenging myself always gets me going. Opportunities are always springing up left and right and every one of them presents itself with a chance to learn something new. Current project on my mind is how can I better improve my personal brand online and to spend more time on my website. I have big dreams on how far I can take this!
2. Sharing my thoughts – Whether it’s through my blog, social networks or catching up with friends/family in person, I love sharing my thoughts, feelings, updates. Twitter has literally been a god-send. Who knew it would be perfectly acceptable and hundreds of people would be interested in my daily ramblings? It’s been the perfect place for me to be able to share my random thoughts, rants & raves, quickly and efficiently.
3. Cooking & eating yummy food – There is nothing more rewarding than cooking your own food, and enjoying it afterwards. As a budget-conscious student, I try to restrict myself from eating out too often, but rather spend my time stocking up my fridge and cooking up a storm in the kitchen. I also love hosting guests whenever I can! A must-have criteria for my future house = big bright kitchen.
4. Taking a long, hot shower – I truly think that there is no better alone time than in the shower. This is where some of my best ideas come from, where I have many of my “A HA!” moments, and a great chance for me to reflect upon what I’ve done that day or what I need to do.
5. Listening to music – Music can speak to the soul like nothing else can. Forever loyal fan to backky & loserboi’s r&b site. If you like R&B or hiphop, that should definitely be bookmarked!
6. Quality time - It’s not hard to get caught up in your daily grind with never-ending to-do lists, but I always feel a little off if it’s been too long since I’ve spent some quality time with friends or family. At the end of the day, life is short. Make the most of it with the ones you love.
What are the things that help you wind down and relax after a long day?
