Prepare The Others

Hello Spring & Subscribers! I've been off the LinkedIn grid for a few weeks, as I tend to exhaust a lot of creative energy during the month of FebYOUary. I can't wait to share what I've been working on, but in the meantime, let's catch you up!

• I was blessed to attend my eighth Super Bowl in Las Vegas. I'm still deciding if I was more eager to visit Allegiant Stadium or Aria Spa the day after the Big Game.
• I knocked out a self-care day on President's Day, so two down and at least ten more to go. If you're new here, we're aiming for one mental health day a month this year.
• I've added some mindful elements to any upcoming travel preparation:1. I don't arrange any appointments the day before I leave, so I have the entire day to pack.2. I got rid of the "I'll sleep on the plane" mentality and make a solid effort to be in bed by 10 PM the night before.3. I added a pre-trip spa appointment. GAME CHANGER.?It's no secret that beauty upkeep is typically not relaxing. Yes, I know I'm adding to my list of expenses, but I was more obsessed with making sure my outer appearance was travel-ready when, on the inside, I was anxious and frazzled.?
• I am proud to announce that I officially joined the Peerspace Ambassador program last month! As an experience and event strategist, I've always felt aligned with this brand (it's basically Airbnb for venue rental spaces). If you have Instagram, please give?this link?a view, or two, or three! I'm eligible to earn coins based on the total views of that particular video this month, so I would appreciate the support.

Now that you're all caught up, let's revisit my day "off."?

I spent most of my time curating content for a Peerspace creator challenge. In hindsight, I was actually clocked in as a well-being influencer. In the days following, I just felt restless, with every morning temporarily powered by a coffee shop run. That same week, WalletHub published an article listing Washington, D.C. (my current residence) as the hardest-working city, and I was immediately triggered. That was the sign I needed.

Admittedly, I have always admired the East Coast grind, but at what cost? Washingtonians won't automatically see a pay raise as an outcome of this study. However, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the blatant factors contributing to the nation's capital taking the overworked crown, such as the cost of living and many residents in the political profession. But to quote the lyricist Drake in his 2014 song Trophies:

"And they don't have no award for that."

There are zero prizes for having the highest share of workers who leave vacation time unused, at a whopping 64 percent. The truest scorekeeper is our one bodily vessel that each of us has been entrusted to care for properly. More realistically, a job well done is usually rewarded with MORE WORK. D.C., let's tone it down a notch.?

So, you don't feel refreshed after a mental health day? What happens next?

You?prepare the others. That's what PTO stands for in my personal glossary, not paid time off. If one day off doesn't charge you up, it is time to check out for a few consecutive days in a row. Yep, we call that a vacation! But if taking extended days off isn't feasible for you right now, I have some alternative actions you can implement immediately:?

• Search for inspiration. Typically, a change of scenery helps a ton. Try working from a new spot or a place you know you love but only sometimes visit.
• Surround yourself with people who broaden your perspective. Whenever I'm in a rut, I challenge my imagination by spending time with children, or I gravitate toward anyone who has lived longer than me for more profound insight into this thing called life.
• Schedule a therapy appointment. It had been over a month since I chatted with my therapist, and experiencing burn-out was a reminder for my next professional check-in.

Our society yearns for upgrades. We constantly want the latest cell phone or premium airplane seating, so consider upgrading to a mental health week and start planning your next vacay. It's never too early.?

Oh, one last update. I'm working on a spa directory for this community, so look out for a spa tracker at the bottom of every newsletter moving forward. Don't hesitate to share with me if you visit a good one, no matter the location.?

Be Well