tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34976474983952071262024-03-05T15:10:10.458+01:00Merely MotivatedGemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-33989885000930725322021-03-14T12:16:00.005+01:002021-03-14T18:25:42.319+01:0023 Entrepreneurial spirit quotes to inspire your journey<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL8XWJzlYt40HHnkG2SsXvc9wS9_FCHqhgY16_IBqKTJYdj4YeIn5SnHovE80NHG0FhslSMnOWKERzKp_eUsjGDluzf9qkPNqRylxQxNpyUcrpfOdWtNbXNE97REA6k6axxi8XxWteKk/s2048/Entrepreneurial+spirit+quotes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1307" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL8XWJzlYt40HHnkG2SsXvc9wS9_FCHqhgY16_IBqKTJYdj4YeIn5SnHovE80NHG0FhslSMnOWKERzKp_eUsjGDluzf9qkPNqRylxQxNpyUcrpfOdWtNbXNE97REA6k6axxi8XxWteKk/s320/Entrepreneurial+spirit+quotes.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If your dream is to start your own business, you might be in need of some smart tips and inspiring quotes to help you achieve your goals and not give up. Although in previous blog posts I already gathered some </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/04/17-motivational-quotes-for-success.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">motivational quotes for a fruitful career</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, in this post I want to focus on giving positive energy to </span><b>aspiring entrepreneur</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">s and </span><b>young CEOs</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> who just started their business. Therefore, I have compiled the best </span><b>entrepreneurial spirit quotes</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that will put you in the right mindset to start your project, choose the right attitude to conquer difficulties, and trust your own personal journey.</span></p>
<h2><b>Mindset Entrepreneur Quotes:</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mindset is essential for success. Most people would agree that out of all the qualities you need to achieve your goal and become a successful entrepreneur, having the right mindset is the most important one. So, </span><b>psychological preparation is a must when starting your own business</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, because you might have all the tools and skills to succeed, but the wrong thoughts and lack of preparation will hold you back in times of difficulties. The following are some of my favourite quotes for an entrepreneur mindset to help you build a positive mentality.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was” - Muhammad Ali, professional boxer and activist</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“All great things have small beginnings.” - Peter Senge, founder of the Society for Organizational </span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Chase the vision, not the money, the money will end up following you.” - Tony Hsieh, former CEO of Zappos</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“High expectations are the key to everything.” - Sam Walton, Walmart founder</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” - Zig Ziglar, American author, salesman, and motivational speaker</span></span></p>
<h2><b>Entrepreneur Attitude Quotes: </b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even if you come in with the right mindset and are convinced you can manage adversities, every aspiring entrepreneur knows they are going to fail at least once, if not twice. Therefore, it is going to be a deciding factor how you </span><b>learn from your mistakes to end up running a prosperous business</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Attitude is so important, this is why in this entrepreneurial spirit quotes list there had to be quotes that remind you that a strong work ethic, flexibility and passion are the key to success.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Read the following quotes of encouragement for entrepreneurs to acquire the right attitude in times of doubt and hardship.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I suck at 99 percent of stuff, but I go all out on that 1 percent I’m good at.” - Gary Vaynerchuk, co-founder of Resy and Empathy Wines</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” - John C. Maxwell, author, speaker, and pastor</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Tough times never last, but tough people do.” - Robert H. Schuller, motivational speaker and author</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” - Thomas A. Edison, America's greatest inventor</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” - Aristotle, Greek philosopher</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Spending time perfecting things and ‘getting ready’ always keeps you at the gate. You need to get in the race.” - Barbara Corcoran, founder of The Corcoran Group</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If you do things that are easier first, then you can actually make a lot of progress.” - Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook</span></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0J3JMXIUPtkcOtcku2CQrWY8aGijlrb4j9t5B4hHaLtJpgM2py082z76vkEZfRSnjf-I8xKo28ceMp7d72XEOmvXOCWS3AqvxhRtQFsoUX_N00PeQldaua5lxMFttVrNsTIbKRunsI0g/s2048/david-kiriakidis-bP0q3tTTHS4-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0J3JMXIUPtkcOtcku2CQrWY8aGijlrb4j9t5B4hHaLtJpgM2py082z76vkEZfRSnjf-I8xKo28ceMp7d72XEOmvXOCWS3AqvxhRtQFsoUX_N00PeQldaua5lxMFttVrNsTIbKRunsI0g/s320/david-kiriakidis-bP0q3tTTHS4-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span><p></p>
<h2><b>Entrepreneur Journey Quotes - Trust the Process:</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’ve also tossed around the idea of quitting your 9 to 5 job to start your very own business, you might be skeptical to do so because the journey from start to succeeding is not easy. And more often than not, there is no shortcut to success, and you have to </span><b>trust the process and methodology of your business</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to get to where you want to be. To remember that each business has its own path and that consistency is key, I’ve gathered the following quotes about entrepreneurship spirit that will help you value your journey. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Excellence is not a destination; it is a continuous journey that never ends.” - Brian Tracy, motivational public speaker and self-development author</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Perseverance is failing nineteen times and succeeding the twentieth.” - Julie Andrews, actress, singer, and author</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” - Bill Gates, Microsoft founder and former CEO</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Quality is more important than quantity. One home run is much better than two doubles.” - Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” - Mark Twain, “the father of American literature”</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.” - Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company</span></span></p>
<h2><b>Motivational quotes for young entrepreneurs:</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To round up this long list of entrepreneurial spirit quotes, I want to include some aimed specifically at young and hopeful entrepreneurs that have a big idea they want to launch. The truth is that launching a business is hard, especially for young entrepreneurs who most likely just started their journey and might </span><b>lack the experience to overcome problems or make the best choices</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re a young entrepreneur like myself trying to bring a project to life, jot down these aspiring entrepreneur quotes to give you motivation.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Everything started as nothing.” - Ben Weissenstein, CEO of Grand Slam Garage Sales</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.” - Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder and venture capitalist</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“People will stereotype all day long. But if you forget your own age, you’ll get so focused on the business that you become ultra-confident and people will forget to question how old you are.” - Gurbaksh Chahal, founder of RadiumOne</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Don’t start a company unless it’s an obsession and something you love. If you have an exit strategy, it’s not an obsession.” - Mark Cuban, American billionaire entrepreneur</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Don’t be threatened by people smarter than you.“ - Howard Schultz, former chairman and CEO of Starbucks Coffee Company</span></span></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-28001624876302884252021-03-07T13:08:00.010+01:002024-01-05T16:39:20.453+01:00Career advice for young adults: tips from a 25 y/o<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoGjWdr8SAiYyPYRhHGfbV5Kh6Xp2_KzsEndUqIheIR2Qby9O9XPjQmjW7z4kMKynaZdacnzLCKyASJMkNwpA0Y2vs6TrVDY1LcO71Poy0N5j4UM8uW_o-pCy4p-WJXfubYvnetTJR3k/s2048/christina-wocintechchat-com-LDap559l-MU-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoGjWdr8SAiYyPYRhHGfbV5Kh6Xp2_KzsEndUqIheIR2Qby9O9XPjQmjW7z4kMKynaZdacnzLCKyASJMkNwpA0Y2vs6TrVDY1LcO71Poy0N5j4UM8uW_o-pCy4p-WJXfubYvnetTJR3k/w640-h428/christina-wocintechchat-com-LDap559l-MU-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When I’m 50 I’ll probably look back at this article and think how naive and young I was to think I had so much figured out in life. And it’s true, because the older we get, the more experience we gain and the more we know about everything. However, I recently turned 25 just a few days ago and the experiences I’ve gone through like working abroad, </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/09/tips-for-interns-dos-and-donts.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">being an intern</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, working full-time jobs, balancing work and a long-distance relationship, amongst other things, have taught me a lot. Therefore, I have some </span><b>career advice for young adults</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and people starting their career that I would like to share in this post.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Most of us who are close to being 30 years old are kind-of-possibly-most-definitely gone through or going through the </span><a href="https://news.linkedin.com/2017/11/new-linkedin-research-shows-75-percent-of-25-33-year-olds-have-e" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">infamous quarter-life crisis</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> wondering if we’re on the right path in life and living up to our younger self’s expectations. And even if I’ve only been in a </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">grown-up job</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for a few years, I feel like I can give the career tips for college students I wish I had gotten when I started my first internship and had no clue what I was doing.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are 10 of many tips I’ve been given since I started my career: <br /></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>1. </b><b><b>Don’t obsess over money</b></b> <br /></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first piece of career advice for young adults worth mentioning is to not be fixated on money. Whilst the whole purpose of working is to make a living, when you’re in your early 20s and starting out y</span><b>ou should be focused on getting experience, rather than a good paycheck</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. So don’t choose your starting jobs based on how much you can make, but rather based on what skills and competences that job position can provide you to grow your level of expertise and land your dream job in the future.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><b>2. </b><b><b>Ask 3 important questions at the end of every interview</b></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During interviews, we are usually so focused on trying to impress the employer, that we often leave without knowing anything about the company or if we </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">want</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to take the position we’re interviewing at all. And because I’ve done my fair amount of interviews and thus my fair amount of research to ace them, one tip that has stuck to with me since day one is to ask the following 3 key questions to see the </span><b>values of the company</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, what you’re going to get yourself into and a </span><b>clear insight of the office culture and environment</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. The questions are:</span> <br /></p><ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What Will Be the Biggest Challenge for the Person Filling This Position?</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why Is This Position Available?</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What Would Other Employees Say Is the Best Part About Working Here? </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HeaKq5agM2Ke6lS2nLIdMBMOoNlnDsxTz_kKo927htqLLcLFZzz7NB6Wb-EjE-w4m6GOVsdbTmu4zLjvRs3pKHqjPigmCeX5LoooxNhSWyuGNmQ-SD9pHUe4RXS0pdv2ZO47Ts1thFc/s2048/linkedin-sales-navigator-W3Jl3jREpDY-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HeaKq5agM2Ke6lS2nLIdMBMOoNlnDsxTz_kKo927htqLLcLFZzz7NB6Wb-EjE-w4m6GOVsdbTmu4zLjvRs3pKHqjPigmCeX5LoooxNhSWyuGNmQ-SD9pHUe4RXS0pdv2ZO47Ts1thFc/w400-h266/linkedin-sales-navigator-W3Jl3jREpDY-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b>3.</b> </span><b><b>Don’t wait to be motivated. Motivate yourself</b></b></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is probably one of the most valuable tips for young professionals I can give you. Have you heard of the quote ‘If you start when you’re ready, you will be waiting for the rest of your life’? This quote is basically saying that you shouldn’t wait to be motivated to start, but rather seek motivation because it only comes within oneself. Our goal should be to be driven by </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/increase-intrinsic-motivation.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">intrinsic motivation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><b>take opportunities to learn</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and to feel good with ourselves rather than to gain external rewards like money, prices or praises from your boss.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>4. </b><b><b>A degree doesn’t assure you a job</b></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This piece of career advice is for young adults and for anyone that does not have a degree in their field or a degree at all. I'm definitely one of those, and I am currently about to reach my 2-year mark at a marketing agency where I enjoy my job a lot. What has gotten me this job is the various internships I’ve done in the field, my passion for writing and my </span><b>dedication to pursue opportunities</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. And yes, I have gotten hired over people with marketing degrees and masters. Titles that ~sadly~ I don’t have but that I compensate with other very valuable skills and accomplishments.</span>
</p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>5. </b><b><b>Don’t stop learning</b></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As a young professional, you should continuously be checking job offers in your industry to see what companies are asking for. That is because your goal should be to keep building your CV with skills like languages, personal projects and specialized courses to have more to offer to future companies and become more competent.</span>
</p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>6. Take care of your mind the same way you take care of your body</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An article giving career advice for young adults would not be complete without the number one thing I’ve learned how to do since starting my full time job. And that is </span><b>acknowledging and managing anxiety and stress</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. More times than not, and because we spend the majority of the day at work, stress comes from something related to our job. So the same way we go to the gym to keep a fit and healthy body, we should also </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/why-journaling-is-good-and.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">journal</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, meditate and even see a therapist to cope with our emotions and ensure we are dealing with them properly and change whatever we have to change to live a happier life.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCFIN3zv_x4_6hyg0zv1huyOzvk098BDTK0QQI22qN8Wrv9Fcx8DHpK38FKTFuR58SP0xh7nrDIDilN_4jE6tGV3weVq73L6Tsm8k0gPXLeFeghOf1F7fqRp5KwL_UOV_eTDG8s1e8YE/s2048/madison-lavern-4gcqRf3-f2I-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCFIN3zv_x4_6hyg0zv1huyOzvk098BDTK0QQI22qN8Wrv9Fcx8DHpK38FKTFuR58SP0xh7nrDIDilN_4jE6tGV3weVq73L6Tsm8k0gPXLeFeghOf1F7fqRp5KwL_UOV_eTDG8s1e8YE/w320-h320/madison-lavern-4gcqRf3-f2I-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><b>7. Learn that your career is not always linear</b></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Graduating at 22 and finding a full time job right after college doesn’t always equal success. Your career is not always linear, meaning that </span><b>there will be lots of ups and downs </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">until you get where you want to be. One of the best career tips for college students I can give you is to not compare yourselves to other people and learn from your mistakes. If you are consistent and hard-working you will eventually land your dream job, even if you encounter some setbacks and fail along the way.</span>
</p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>8. </b><b><b>Work abroad if you get the chance</b></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Speaking from experience, I have to say employers like it a lot when they see you have spent some time abroad. After working in Scotland for a year, in every interview I had back home I would get asked TONS of questions about my experience. </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/working-abroad-benefits-CV.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Working abroad benefits your CV</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> immensely because it not only shows personal growth and your ability to appreciate a new culture, it also gives you the possibility to stand out from other candidates in interviews!</span>
</p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>9. </b><b><b>Say Thank you!</b></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">‘When it comes to succeeding as a young professional, it really does take a village, and you’re not getting there on your own’. A huge piece of career advice for young adults that cannot go unnoticed but usually does is </span><b>how important it is to be grateful</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. If someone is taking their time to help you, teach you, helps you get an internship, etc., you should always thank them because they could give you job references in the future even if you’ve lost touch with them. Having connections and friends in the field is something that we young professionals don’t appreciate, but that is extremely important and valuable.</span>
</p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>10. </b><b><b>Only take advice from people who have what you want</b></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some people love to give their opinion on how you’re living your life and unless it’s your parents, your partner or your boss, you shouldn’t listen to them because most of them speak out of jealousy. Trust me, the amount of times I’ve had to deal with comments from close family members saying that I should study this to get here and there and that speaking languages won’t get me far without a degree in the field I want to work in… These comments sometimes get to me, but mind you they're no Steve Jobs or are nowhere near close to where I want to be in life! </span>
</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So one of the most valuable tips for young professionals is to</span><b> take advice from people who are where you want to be</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, that work in the same industry as you and that can help you grow and better yourself.</span></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-17275980061462724492021-01-31T13:49:00.004+01:002024-01-05T16:35:45.705+01:00The 5 TV shows you need to watch for career inspiration<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtrIvt5Jdr9-JMCZ0enZwSSYes60vFY3kl2DtyxWnKp-mJ-v_lZfr1FK96-uI18jGDt6cBJVaNksyL7sVldAx9652pIjDmeAQUI6dq-UXdd04C72Ul-obFuWX2XVYjH4xqHyGfgpWJW8/s2048/mollie-sivaram-yubCnXAA3H8-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtrIvt5Jdr9-JMCZ0enZwSSYes60vFY3kl2DtyxWnKp-mJ-v_lZfr1FK96-uI18jGDt6cBJVaNksyL7sVldAx9652pIjDmeAQUI6dq-UXdd04C72Ul-obFuWX2XVYjH4xqHyGfgpWJW8/w640-h426/mollie-sivaram-yubCnXAA3H8-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re anything like me, then you’ll probably enjoy watching shows that unfold the story of a normal guy that ends up becoming a successful businessperson after hard work and dedication (and a few relationships and breakups somewhere in between). You might enjoy </span><b>workplace TV shows</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> because you feel represented by the main character, or they might give you motivation and hope to work hard and also </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/04/habits-of-successful-people.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">become a successful person</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">! (Because, hey, if the girl next door became a millionaire in only two seasons so can we, right?)</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this article I suggest 5 TV shows that talk about the strange dynamics every workplace has as well as give you inspiration and encouragement to work hard and </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/finding-job-during-lockdown.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">get your dream job</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Younger</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Pamela Redmond Satran, ‘Younger’ follows the life of Liza Miller, a 40 year-old divorcee that wants to get back to the professional world after a decade-long hiatus. She then pretends to be 20 years younger in a job interview and </span><b>lands a job in a book publisher</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. The whole plot revolves around her navigating the competitive world of publishing, getting promoted, keeping her biggest secret and falling in love. Starring the brilliant </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutton_Foster"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sutton Foster</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and the talented </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilary_Duff"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hilary Duff</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, this is without a doubt one of the best TV shows about careers I’ve ever watched.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bLoZUu4OlP9wF1qmoB-_46T6l87zhS31QtoSnUIbR5EjNT5-dzXcwK0FyYkkcbOItF49_HMowGPAqHyJFKwgkoCMlcekDQJvRx035WmIimZwDtou8W01LsUaNALu8RUJL4rxqdzBBjk/s1000/younger-tv-show-tv-land.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bLoZUu4OlP9wF1qmoB-_46T6l87zhS31QtoSnUIbR5EjNT5-dzXcwK0FyYkkcbOItF49_HMowGPAqHyJFKwgkoCMlcekDQJvRx035WmIimZwDtou8W01LsUaNALu8RUJL4rxqdzBBjk/w640-h360/younger-tv-show-tv-land.webp" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span> </span> </span><b><span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>(Photo credits: variety.com)</i></span></span></b><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Start-up</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Probably featuring in the top 3 of my favourite TV shows of all time, Start-up (스타트업) is a Korean drama that tells the story of young growing entrepreneurs and how they try to jump-start their business by getting into the </span><b>fictional Silicon Valley of Korea, Sandbox.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> The story does not only revolve around the struggles and failures one faces when starting a company, but it also focuses on their personal lives showing the characters handle a truly devastating love triangle and going through grief. The dynamic of their business and the journey they go through categorise it as a workplace tv show that you will for sure be able to relate to and love!</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe53_rN2JL20jfwlppF0Zy_ozU7QE3RAR4t-xCrSBkBEX4aRMM4ShC-hUd5ZJFao-Q6nuoCK8GlJ9mb6ckfCIv1WJwMT2AaCOq4TZUfNOOB568mYBqtW0UKg3Szjb_nf9kYloyBn0Rx6Q/s800/https+_hypebeast.com_wp-content_blogs.dir_6_files_2020_05_best-k-dramas-2020-start-up-samsan-tech-dalmi-dosan-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe53_rN2JL20jfwlppF0Zy_ozU7QE3RAR4t-xCrSBkBEX4aRMM4ShC-hUd5ZJFao-Q6nuoCK8GlJ9mb6ckfCIv1WJwMT2AaCOq4TZUfNOOB568mYBqtW0UKg3Szjb_nf9kYloyBn0Rx6Q/w640-h426/https+_hypebeast.com_wp-content_blogs.dir_6_files_2020_05_best-k-dramas-2020-start-up-samsan-tech-dalmi-dosan-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span> </span><span> </span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b><span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>(Photo credits: </i></span></span></b></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b><span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>Studio Dragon/Netflix)</i></span></span></b></span> </span><span> </span> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Workin’ Moms</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Canadian series premiered in 2017, and since then has offered their fans a total of 4 seasons. The show revolves around <b>4 friends who are trying to balance their jobs with taking care of their kids</b>. It perfectly captures the struggle of new moms trying to grow professionally, get a promotion and focus on their passion but also having to take care of their family. With friendship betrayal, infidelity and sacrifice being recurring themes, this sitcom is one of the best TV shows about jobs to watch and enjoy.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUcI7p6jTfCJkXeamcrUHKSiEACXywiqIKov5gMzqayn-n8UvFZFlwb6J-RB3lMbYH0_rLt3SF_svpO667w5UEp7OCcjOaRmS_mjdQRAwULI-XgKWb28ZXBLk7IfzDJnQBNFq3Aat3k8/s768/workin-moms-isnt-working-for-me1280x960-768x432-1554304659.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUcI7p6jTfCJkXeamcrUHKSiEACXywiqIKov5gMzqayn-n8UvFZFlwb6J-RB3lMbYH0_rLt3SF_svpO667w5UEp7OCcjOaRmS_mjdQRAwULI-XgKWb28ZXBLk7IfzDJnQBNFq3Aat3k8/w640-h360/workin-moms-isnt-working-for-me1280x960-768x432-1554304659.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span> <i><span> </span></i></span><i>(Photo credits: cbc.ca)</i></span><br /><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Silicon Valley</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since its debut in 2014, Silicon Valley has been claimed to be one of the best comedy shows off all time. Not only is it hilarious and witty, but it really manages to portray the <b>ins and outs of Silicon Valley, which is considered the tech heaven on Earth</b>. You get to see what happens behind the apps and smartphones we use on the daily and get to laugh whilst learning which, in my opinion, is why it makes the show such a sensation. If you enjoy workplace TV shows you’ll enjoy the story of these 4 programmers who’re friends and decide to create an app with little to no idea on how the business world works. There’s comedy, suspense and there are unexpected scenarios that keep coming up which definitely keeps you on your toes!</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL25DMLX1763NKvqEo2_LoHDovnSX7i65y8sfP7oM0r7THpe7qV2_-BBOWDIxxVoHdud4lIWB_WjqyZRj1o6YdhW1z4a6iBFeICjIv7dYOR2WvGrm_EFYYRLqmYtANbqpvDHcO3JAxS3Y/s1200/Silicon-Valley-Cover.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL25DMLX1763NKvqEo2_LoHDovnSX7i65y8sfP7oM0r7THpe7qV2_-BBOWDIxxVoHdud4lIWB_WjqyZRj1o6YdhW1z4a6iBFeICjIv7dYOR2WvGrm_EFYYRLqmYtANbqpvDHcO3JAxS3Y/w640-h426/Silicon-Valley-Cover.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span> </span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>(Photo credits: scoopbyte.com)</i></span></span><br /> </span><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>5. Romance is a Bonus Book</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">‘Romance is a Bonus Book’ focuses on </span><a href="https://www.catalyst.org/2017/01/19/10-big-issues-women-face-at-work-and-what-leaders-can-do-to-help/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">gender-related issues women have to deal with at work</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> such as discrimination, the stigma behind being divorced/unmarried woman, etc. And whilst I personally am not a divorcee or have a young daughter to take care of, I did relate to main character Kang Dan-i when struggling to find a job, adapting to her new office and colleagues, handling her not-so-nice boss and trying to prove to the company what she's worth. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b>The workplace where most of the story takes place is a book publishing company</b>, which is fantastic and captivating if you’re a bookworm like myself who’ll enjoy seeing how books are made. However, if you’re the type of person that enjoys suspense and a fast-paced show, this workplace TV show might not be for you. ‘Romance is a bonus book’ does not have a set story and rather focuses on the character’s real-life issues and day to day lives.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7uTEbKk0fnG-_qQgOW63zA3UJv-w5TNTh8kV1y9La4XCHdnG-rl0LVUoQWj7GOiUfgKYHZ6tLF0sRWWICvKrOqhoX6dN5Fkypw8yA1LalhoQvsWulnclvfCPBwd3uBk0IPX2t_8jxnY/s850/romance-is-a-bonus-book-featured-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="850" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7uTEbKk0fnG-_qQgOW63zA3UJv-w5TNTh8kV1y9La4XCHdnG-rl0LVUoQWj7GOiUfgKYHZ6tLF0sRWWICvKrOqhoX6dN5Fkypw8yA1LalhoQvsWulnclvfCPBwd3uBk0IPX2t_8jxnY/w640-h338/romance-is-a-bonus-book-featured-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span> </span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>(Photo credits: lovecode.com.br)</i></span></span></span></span></span><p></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-37461013957454681582021-01-04T12:38:00.014+01:002021-03-20T11:16:11.139+01:00Journaling For Manifestation And The Law Of Attraction<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFTEVeLm2hq7hycw_0OR2Grk3cxCdxoEZ_TjMkTUZFp-YgUGupKjJHdgT4GZWPYLK3Phk3ryM5cQtPn6M0zOgu_XjQZfuIw0fUL4Pjhl3eGM1VQkCCgnYuUwQJTFBHytTxFnGfmieStE/s2048/noemi-macavei-katocz-Af1TEGN2H9Q-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFTEVeLm2hq7hycw_0OR2Grk3cxCdxoEZ_TjMkTUZFp-YgUGupKjJHdgT4GZWPYLK3Phk3ryM5cQtPn6M0zOgu_XjQZfuIw0fUL4Pjhl3eGM1VQkCCgnYuUwQJTFBHytTxFnGfmieStE/w640-h480/noemi-macavei-katocz-Af1TEGN2H9Q-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With manifestation, you can make your thoughts become a reality. And contrary to popular belief, it is usually not enough to just speak them into existence and hope for the best. That is why it is encouraged to use </span><b>journaling for manifestation</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> as this practice will draw consistent attention to your goals in a way that is relaxing, organized and effective. It is also really helpful and highly practical if you </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/06/how-to-do-a-moodboard.html" target=""><span style="font-weight: 400;">create a mood board</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that acts as the visual side to your journal. So, if you want to make your dreams and projects come true this year, </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/how-to-start-journaling.html" target=""><span style="font-weight: 400;">start a journal</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and use my following tips to exercise the law of attraction.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>What is the Law of Attraction?</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Do you fully understand what the </span><a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-and-using-the-law-of-attraction-3144808" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Law of Attraction</b></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or </span><b>manifestation</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is and why many people swear by it? The Law of Attraction is basically the ability to use the power of the mind to materialise our dreams and whatever we focus on. So if we aim for something big and think positively about it, we’ll end up achieving it. It basically feeds off the concept that if we implement Gratitude, Affirmation and Conceptualization in our daily lives, we will attract the things that we want. <br /></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>How do I implement the Law of Attraction?</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">By knowing and thinking that you can do something you will motivate yourself to do it. It kind of follows the ‘fake it ‘till you make it’ concept. However, simply thinking about the things we want to achieve isn’t enough and, in my opinion, and the LoA becomes more effective if we </span><b>keep a Law of Attraction diary</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This is essentially a journal thought for writing down your goals and dreams and helping you get through the process of achieving them.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZL9CDaPSgHeUAjekphQeLoAgS-3T7UOjjvxezSu_vWdzK_9lDeuH2WI0EudV6A7ebzRscaYaewkob-OhWRhyIHUQWU3w3egXLRZm-EPRW02FojFC2ZDaCbdciO5gTcqKn_16j9Q0iEQ/s2048/ava-sol-RdE-KwXFLMA-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZL9CDaPSgHeUAjekphQeLoAgS-3T7UOjjvxezSu_vWdzK_9lDeuH2WI0EudV6A7ebzRscaYaewkob-OhWRhyIHUQWU3w3egXLRZm-EPRW02FojFC2ZDaCbdciO5gTcqKn_16j9Q0iEQ/w400-h266/ava-sol-RdE-KwXFLMA-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Why You Should start a Law of Attraction Diary</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When journaling you automatically engage your subconscious mind. It helps you with clarity and to stay focused and productive. Journaling for manifestation is, therefore, the best practice to turn your thoughts into reality because it keeps you accountable, helps you stay on track and helps you realise what exactly you want to achieve.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Manifesting through journaling is easy if you </span><b>think of what you want</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and make a list of objects and experiences that you wish to attract into your life in the future. Then, </span><b>jot down each step</b> <b>and a short description</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of how you’re going to get it and keep a record of your attempts to do so. You can also go more in depth and write from the following journal prompts and make it a daily habit, so you ensure you are really putting the LoA to practice.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Journal prompts for manifestation</b></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">1. Explore your goal thoroughly</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The idea behind this prompt is to </span><b>answer as many questions about your dreams</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and expectations as possible. Ask yourself ‘why do you want this?’ ‘Why is it so important to you?’ ‘What will you do when you have it?’ and ‘How will you feel when you finally accomplish it or get it?’ </span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">2. Gratitude</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Journaling for manifestation shouldn’t only be about asking. It should also imply </span><b>being grateful for everything that you already have</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Gratitude prompts come in many shapes and forms: you can write a line a day about people and things you’re grateful for, you can write a list of 10 ways you can share your gratitude with others, or a list of 10 things you take for granted, for example.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">3. ‘You are what you think’</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another excellent journal prompt for manifestation is to </span><b>talk to yourself as if you already had achieved your goal</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. For example, if you want to attract the job of your dreams, you can write a journal entry pretending to be in that job. What does your day-to-day consist of? Talk as if you were already the person you want to become, and you will most definitely attract the aura and vibes and see change in no time.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7EuKRewVxsbiPWNVpKtG248DQY14Mw3SxFnZlBZ-cwtiZ9nEERoJS8diTplUGoZw34yUKum6hT3LCfurndIhIrMx6Mx2o50PrgCpTEtxIAt2gBMk_ZcSg7e3eNEKJJ_DQ4jtNUVQIK8/s2048/thought-catalog-zhgj7ZEUf1w-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7EuKRewVxsbiPWNVpKtG248DQY14Mw3SxFnZlBZ-cwtiZ9nEERoJS8diTplUGoZw34yUKum6hT3LCfurndIhIrMx6Mx2o50PrgCpTEtxIAt2gBMk_ZcSg7e3eNEKJJ_DQ4jtNUVQIK8/w400-h266/thought-catalog-zhgj7ZEUf1w-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Journaling for Manifestation tips</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The following are just a few tips that I personally follow to make my manifestation journey more powerful and profitable. After taking a look at them and now that you know how to bring your LoA journal to life, don’t hesitate to start and make all your dreams come true!</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Make it a daily habit!:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Set 5 minutes every day to manifest your desires, and you’ll unconsciously have them in your head at all times. Thus, you’ll constantly want to work towards achieving them and speed the progress.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Begin your manifestation entry with a date:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> It is important you do that so you can look back and see how far you’ve come. And, for future manifestations, seeing the time it took for you to accomplish something can help you estimate future goals.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Create a mood board: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Manifesting through journaling should also be accompanied by manifesting through a vision board. </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/06/vision-boards-effective-career-and-life.html" target=""><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vision boards are effective</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for any types of goals as they help us to better visualise them.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Set realistic goals:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> You have to be able to believe it, for the universe to also believe it. My best piece of advice when journaling for manifestation is to set smart and attainable dreams. This way the universe will work alongside you to bring them to life!</span></li>
</ul>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-8189814377323118232020-12-29T13:48:00.002+01:002020-12-30T23:23:20.804+01:00How to Make a Resume With No Work Experience<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vNGwU4NutKqIz656uV3HdlvkZVxjyU3QLfx0EtjA_cXmWFZqG9yUogo8AwL4qaUErpmK_rSY_w8ptwYwQozZrp5U3NPBKTtygO3fzOSGrIHuejPFsr5NlllfIzArHmqgknvY1x9_YOc/s2048/pexels-cottonbro-5989943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vNGwU4NutKqIz656uV3HdlvkZVxjyU3QLfx0EtjA_cXmWFZqG9yUogo8AwL4qaUErpmK_rSY_w8ptwYwQozZrp5U3NPBKTtygO3fzOSGrIHuejPFsr5NlllfIzArHmqgknvY1x9_YOc/w640-h426/pexels-cottonbro-5989943.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whether you’re applying for an </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/09/tips-for-interns-dos-and-donts.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">internship</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or your first real job, writing your first resume can be tricky if you don’t have any relevant work experience or none at all. But considering your experience is the ‘meat’ of your CV, employers know everyone has to start somewhere. So the objective behind writing your first ever resume should be to </span><b>highlight your skills and motivations</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and create an effective enough CV, so you </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/finding-job-during-lockdown.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">find a job</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> with no previous experience. With this being said, keep reading to learn how to make a resume with no work experience.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Write an impressive RESUME SUMMARY</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is very tricky to know what to put on a resume for your first job so that it stands out when you don’t have any work experience. And a key section that has to appear on your CV is a </span><b>brief introduction about yourself</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, also called a resume summary. Thankfully, you can write a resume summary even if you don’t have any experience as the idea is to highlight your skills and education and link them to the job position you are applying to. The following is an example of a resume summary for a marketing job.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Digital Marketing recent graduate of a highly ranked university, passionate about promoting brands and marketing products to businesses and consumers. Highly-capable leader having led multiple class projects and therefore gained knowledge in sales and marketing integrated skills such as Website Analytics tools, SEO tools and Content Creation tools.</span></i></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this example you’re highlighting accomplishments as well as the relevant skills for the job. You’re also showing you’re a motivated candidate. Most importantly, you’re including </span><b>digital marketing keywords</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> such as ‘Website Analytics’ tools that will help you enormously when trying to catch your employer’s attention and passing an automated application system that the company might use to select relevant CVs. This leads me onto the next crucial aspect to consider if you’re wondering how to make a resume with no work experience and that stands out.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Include Resume KEYWORDS</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Including resume keywords is important when you write a resume for your first job. As previously mentioned, some hiring managers use </span><b>an Applicant Tracking System to scan resumes</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and get rid of the irrelevant ones. It is important that, in order for your CV to get through this system, you look for the main keywords that suit the position you’re applying for and include them all throughout your resume. It is as simple as googling a list of these keywords and strategically inserting them in every section of your CV. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrJHeszRkShi-8wV9oS5MJ4Gy_LfjDD0fhuDrkXIE_uAtXtOOMIyiHILdbPoRAY3aEnCvtA2fn9aS4qOYd5QV1SlQgyQ8EHDBSwuEAYugwpBrHjUNoM8LvqiQoUANPe8IrAc5r6IbeoA/s2048/markus-winkler-7iSEHWsxPLw-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrJHeszRkShi-8wV9oS5MJ4Gy_LfjDD0fhuDrkXIE_uAtXtOOMIyiHILdbPoRAY3aEnCvtA2fn9aS4qOYd5QV1SlQgyQ8EHDBSwuEAYugwpBrHjUNoM8LvqiQoUANPe8IrAc5r6IbeoA/w640-h426/markus-winkler-7iSEHWsxPLw-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Show your relevant SKILLS</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">How to make a resume with no work experience and fill a whole blank page is the top question first-time job seekers ask. Thankfully, companies are looking for much more than work experience. They want to hire someone that shows they are a perfect fit for the job with not only work experience, but also an </span><b>exceptional educational background</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><b>a proven relevant skill set</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. The skills, tools and essential qualities that you’ve learned when taking a course or completing a degree can help you demonstrate to your employer what you have to offer if hired. A good tip is to tie your skills to your education and evidence you’ve practiced them, for example, in a project at school.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here is an example of how you could show your skills:</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Content Creation: Created 10 SEO-optimized articles for a potential Clothing website as a project in my last year of college.</span></i></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">STRUCTURE your CV correctly</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A recruiter will spend only a few seconds scanning your CV. Hence, why your goal should be to create a resume that’s easy to read and that highlights the most important and relevant skills for the job opening. Your </span><b>contact information should be at the very top</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> followed by a strong summary statement, that would be your resume summary, that grabs the reader’s attention.<br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let </span><b>each section consist of up to 5 bullet points</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> describing your skills and achievements. A good piece of advice is to </span><b>create an impact by adding numbers</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to as many bullet points as possible. Finally, </span><b>make it chronological</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> as it is more likely to pass the ATS scan. Read more in depth on how to structure your resume </span><a href="https://zety.com/blog/resume-structure" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">here</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yes, you do have EXPERIENCE...</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Volunteering experience, </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/08/4-key-networking-hacks-for-introverts.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">attending networking events</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, extracurricular activities and academic achievements all count as some sort of experience. The same way your skills will help you land your first job, <b>your accomplishments can help you stand out </b>from the rest of the candidates and grab the company’s attention. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hopefully this article has answered ‘how to make a resume with no work experience’ in detail so you can put my advice into practice in your next job search. Remember everyone has to start somewhere, so it is not out of the ordinary or strange at all to submit a CV with no previous experience. Of course, it is up to you to make your resume as professional and as eye-catching as possible to amaze your employer and get called in for an interview!</span></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-6027888884121345092020-12-08T13:07:00.014+01:002024-01-05T16:31:02.296+01:00The 80 20 Theory (a.k.a The Pareto Principle) Can Change Your Life<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYyY38miRuSNHVGSDFjDAzg5F-AKaI9Tq5Vj110cmmabOAboPNLBUQjH-5Ggjti6Xy2MTokzDPD1AMoebcQcn49wt6b2d8G_WFCQqwl3mihaG6RV4CBmAC8mSYfzCnETNWo8jITE2td0/s2048/austin-distel-WtXcbWXK_ww-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="2048" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYyY38miRuSNHVGSDFjDAzg5F-AKaI9Tq5Vj110cmmabOAboPNLBUQjH-5Ggjti6Xy2MTokzDPD1AMoebcQcn49wt6b2d8G_WFCQqwl3mihaG6RV4CBmAC8mSYfzCnETNWo8jITE2td0/w640-h372/austin-distel-WtXcbWXK_ww-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Entrepreneurs, diligent employees and </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#"><span style="font-weight: 400;">successful people</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> usually have their hands full trying to get a number of different tasks done in their day. And with so many things coming their way it is sometimes hard to label priorities and know what to dedicate more time to so that they are not wasting their time. This is where the </span><b>80 20 theory</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (or </span><b>the Pareto Principle</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">) comes in.</span></p>
<h2>Where does the 80 20 theory come from?</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Pareto concept was discovered by an Italian economist and philosopher, Vilfredo Pareto. The Italian native, when analysing wealth and income distribution trends, one day found out that </span><b>80% of the land in his country was owned by only 20% of the population</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This made him study other countries and other industries and realize that in the majority of the cases, 80% of results came from only 20% of the efforts.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Pareto Principle can be applied to various situations, and business owners, workers and students can benefit from it to become more aware of how they spend their time and help them </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#"><span style="font-weight: 400;">be more productive</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. <br /></span></p>
<h2><b>The Pareto principle explained</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We understand the Pareto principle, but, how does it impact productivity? Well, the idea of the 80 20 theory is to </span><b>get more done with less effort</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This means that when you find out that the majority of your results are being generated by a small percentage of your efforts, you can pinpoint what they are and focus all your attention on them instead of wasting time and resources on things that don’t really give you any results.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I think we could all agree that, at least up to now, we thought that the effort we put into something correlates in a straight line to the results we get. That is simply not true. This distribution is rarely ever balanced and to prove it, the following are some day to day examples of how the eighty twenty rule takes place.</span></p>
<h2><b>80 20 rule examples</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When it comes to business, usually, 20% of employees are responsible for 80% of the productivity, 20% of the clients account for 80% of the profits and, when you take a look at your marketing strategy, you’ll see that only 20% of your efforts assist 80% of your customer’s purchase decisions. Other 80 20 theory examples not related to business are the fact that 20% of drivers cause 80% of all traffic accidents, and that 80% of pollution originates from 20% of all factories.</span></p>
<h2><b>Tips on how to work with the Pareto Rule</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once we determine which tasks are majorly contributing to our final results, it’s time to learn how to prioritize them. My first tip is to </span><b>identify if a task is urgent and important</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. If it’s both do it first! If it’s only important or only urgent, delegate it to someone else, leave it for last and spend only a few minutes on it. If it’s neither, then forget about it!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My second tip is to use the Pareto Principle to </span><b>discover common characteristics</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of those tasks or employees that bring you the overall results. What is that 20% doing differently and can we apply it to the rest? <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For example, if you are a blogger you might notice that 80% of the traffic comes from only 20% of your posts. Why are those posts succeeding? Is it their structure or what they talk about? The idea is to optimize the 80% of </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-weight: 400;">blog posts that aren’t doing so well</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> by looking at the posts that are attracting visitors to your site.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And my third and final tip is to </span><b>know when you’re most productive</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. For me, it is bright and early so this means I’ll tackle the most important tasks (aka the tasks that bring me the most results) early in the morning when I’m full of energy and focused. So on top of prioritizing what I have to do once I've taken into account the 80 20 theory, I’m also making sure I’m focusing on the key tasks in my prime time, so I give them my 100%.</span></p>
<p><br /><b>Keep reading:</b> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#"><span style="font-weight: 400;">8 Weekly Journal Ideas For Winter</span></a></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-28048548834423069922020-10-26T13:05:00.001+01:002024-01-05T16:29:40.113+01:008 Weekly Journal Ideas For Winter<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSaU66z7dDn1LEBuXNAHAFviAJOtLAq4SiBSHgC2AdkCUXSxeWXh9uKbakRrpuMu8ZaUYgmF3mERCL9PxPzkKNj1ub2coQD_7qK7TvCWYxTiiKXwwoko_F4eAzYMlQ1T6l-j4asRx4gE/s2048/jessica-delp-P0xAm5jFknk-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSaU66z7dDn1LEBuXNAHAFviAJOtLAq4SiBSHgC2AdkCUXSxeWXh9uKbakRrpuMu8ZaUYgmF3mERCL9PxPzkKNj1ub2coQD_7qK7TvCWYxTiiKXwwoko_F4eAzYMlQ1T6l-j4asRx4gE/w426-h640/jessica-delp-P0xAm5jFknk-unsplash.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’re at the very start of the coldest and final months of the year, which means finding something cosy and indoors to do is a great idea! And since we are approaching the end of the year, what better activity to take part in than </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/how-to-start-journaling.html" target="_blank"><b>journaling</b></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and putting into words how we feel, reminisce old times and think about what we are going to do to make next year even better. So, in this article, I’ve compiled a series of fun and motivational </span><b>weekly journal ideas</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for you to write about during winter.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Weekly journal ideas for Winter days:</b></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Describe your perfect winter day</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you could spend one day in winter in any way, what would you do? Would you choose to spend it in another country? Maybe trying a winter sport you have never tried before? The idea behind this weekly journal prompt is to let your imagination fly! Go ahead and describe from the second you open your eyes to the moment you go to sleep, your perfect winter day and be as creative and extraordinary as you want!</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Describe your favourite childhood winter memory</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Personally and as a child, Christmas holidays were my absolute favourite! So from time to time, writing about the activities we enjoyed as a family and just trying to remember every single detail gets me in an incredibly good mood. This is why as </span><b>a</b> <b>soothing and relaxing weekly journal idea</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> I suggest you put your memory to the test! What was your favourite family activity? What traditions and festivities did you partake in? Do you remember waking up to a </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">White Christmas</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">?</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Recall your dreams</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the best ideas to journal about is jotting down your dreams! Many people keep a dream journal on their nightstand so that whenever they have a crazy dream they can write it down the minute they wake up. <b>Writing down what you dream about</b> is fascinating especially if you like analyzing your dreams and finding meanings to them. It is also a quick and easy journal prompt as you don’t have to put much thought into it other than noting what you have dreamt!</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Write a book review</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Have you recently read a book that has caused an impact on you? One of the best weekly journal ideas that I use is writing book reviews. And, if you’re like me and love reading you can <b>write a summary of your favourite book</b> or the book you’ve just read as a journal entry. I love going back to these entries, especially when I re-read books, to compare my initial thoughts on a story and character to my thoughts now!</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>5. Create a ‘wish list’ of movies, books and activities to do this season</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another engaging journal idea to write about is to create a list of movies, books and activities to do during winter. Kind of like <b>a bucket list but for winter</b>! Are there any movies you’ve wanted to watch this year that you haven’t? Well, the coldest months of the year are perfect to finally watch them as the weather makes the perfect excuse to stay indoors. There are also plenty of activities you can only do during winter like going ice skating, visiting the Christmas markets, etc. So create your ‘wish list’, share it with your friends and start ticking it off!</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSAHk85nSu2yawT34WqRdIjkBmmljLw2g_R2hyKW_A-3iUaBZawAH2mqNTPCj1jQRlv4W28nfTi7nPtkdQpAkLtj_9Stryg7J4AsSJOdH2rNfbLhhe0bIc6ADMCTuxUDRdAoXsw5FAhc/s2048/toa-heftiba-yz4VF6x0W3M-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1509" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSAHk85nSu2yawT34WqRdIjkBmmljLw2g_R2hyKW_A-3iUaBZawAH2mqNTPCj1jQRlv4W28nfTi7nPtkdQpAkLtj_9Stryg7J4AsSJOdH2rNfbLhhe0bIc6ADMCTuxUDRdAoXsw5FAhc/w472-h640/toa-heftiba-yz4VF6x0W3M-unsplash.jpg" width="472" /></a></span></div><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Motivational Writing prompts:</b></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>6. Write a letter to your future self</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What better season than winter to reflect on yourself and think about what you want to improve in the coming year. For that reason, as a great weekly journal idea, I recommend reflecting and <b>writing about your present in the form of a letter</b> to your future self! This is a great way to talk about your state of mind at the moment, any mistakes you’ve made that you want to avoid and any goals you want to achieve in the future.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>7. Jot down one thing you can do to be more sustainable</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our goals for the new year should include some to <b>take care of our environment</b> and leave a nicer and cleaner planet for the future generations. For this reason, I encourage you to write a motivational writing prompt on 1 thing you can change before the year ends to be more sustainable. It doesn’t have to be a big change, but a big enough one to help you start a more sustainable lifestyle. What about taking a reusable water bottle to the gym from now on? Or maybe even pack your snack for work in a reusable bag instead of disposable tin foil? The ideas are endless!</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>8. Write down 3 goals you’ve achieved this year</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, one of my favourite weekly journal ideas to write about and that <b>will make you appreciate how far you’ve come</b> and how hard you’ve worked is to simply note 3 goals you’ve achieved this year. It can be anything from fitness goals to self-care goals to work related goals. Make it a habit to regularly reflect on everything you’ve achieved as this will help you push through any hard and difficult times that come your way.</span></p>
<p><br /><br /><b>Keep reading: </b><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/06/how-to-do-a-moodboard.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How to Create The Perfect Vision Board or Mood Board</span></a></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-45788769700707116332020-09-20T13:19:00.004+02:002021-02-25T10:23:26.616+01:00Tips For Interns: Dos and Don’ts<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgGNbN6y7LOvPJVXFdDNYWkCODuraU5Ex7KcJ-QJTHIKoqR7IWJgOEKyMrpgT6YOdxit6sguENWacZnHO20vgfCn02uF-Zf90_o5BaePra6fI-RsRIVeFDrEOL01nOJxEpGjc7QFdMII/s2048/brooke-cagle-g1Kr4Ozfoac-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgGNbN6y7LOvPJVXFdDNYWkCODuraU5Ex7KcJ-QJTHIKoqR7IWJgOEKyMrpgT6YOdxit6sguENWacZnHO20vgfCn02uF-Zf90_o5BaePra6fI-RsRIVeFDrEOL01nOJxEpGjc7QFdMII/w640-h426/brooke-cagle-g1Kr4Ozfoac-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">September marks the beginning of the school year and also peak season for internship applications. For many companies, it is the perfect time to look for college students who are willing to balance their studies with some work experience and get a taste of what joining the labour market is really like. And the truth is that internships are the best way to gain experience, see what interests you and what doesn’t and a great opportunity to make connections for the future. So, following are some </span><b>tips for interns that are looking for their first ever internship</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s what to do and what not to do in an internship:</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Advice for future interns: when looking for an internship...</b></h2>
<p><b>DON’T expect to get paid</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Look at your work experience as a learning opportunity and as a tool to help you discover what you like, what is the career path you want to explore after you graduate, etc. Few companies will pay their interns, and whilst that shouldn’t be the case at all, if you are not paid consider yourself lucky and blessed to be surrounded by working professionals. Because by interning you will be gaining knowledge of your field and also how to act in a professional meeting, in the office, work in a team, etc. Something college can’t teach you.</span></p>
<p><b>DO write an exceptional motivation letter</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This is truly one of the be</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">st tips for interns I can </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">give you. Because you most likely won’t be able to fill your CV with a lot of experience, the most important part of your application will be how you present yourself in your cover letter. Employers already expect college applicants to not have any work experience, so they look for the applicant that wants the position the most and stands out amongst others. So be creative, charming and make sure you </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/master-your-remote-interview.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">‘wow’ your employer in your interview</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">!</span></p>
<p><b>DON’T lie on your application</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. For example, don’t say you know how to use Photoshop when you don’t, or don’t say you are fluent in German when you’re really not. It can be very tempting to boost your CV because we </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">want</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to be the number one applicant for that position and the more things we know the better, right? Well, yes. But if you lie, sooner or later your employer will find out, so it’s better to find a position that fits better with what you know and can do.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttF_AbX846ZOzTQAZYX6nb3TnpwqALKm2AXCXVEADGIUUqvb4vd49BpuLkLPfawxdnmwjt7hpMyDoMAX8iiKf5tghrBcLnC3925LKK_1P53RwtIt1FQqty_5EO2M5BbAYp35Z4eJiRp8/s2048/kobu-agency-7okkFhxrxNw-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttF_AbX846ZOzTQAZYX6nb3TnpwqALKm2AXCXVEADGIUUqvb4vd49BpuLkLPfawxdnmwjt7hpMyDoMAX8iiKf5tghrBcLnC3925LKK_1P53RwtIt1FQqty_5EO2M5BbAYp35Z4eJiRp8/w640-h426/kobu-agency-7okkFhxrxNw-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>When you land the job… make the most of your internship!</b></h2>
<p><b>DO expect to be treated like a professional</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Even if it is not a ‘real job’, when you’re interning for a company you’re still working for them and you’re still part of the team. So no matter what your job is or how many hours a day you’re in the office, make sure to dress appropriately and be on time. Also, being young and inexperienced does not give you the right to go on social media in the middle of your shift! So a piece of internship advice for students is to avoid going into your internship with the wrong mindset. After all, it is still a job and you still have a whole team counting on you.</span></p>
<p><b>DON’T be scared to ask questions</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Believe it or not, your employer knows you’re an intern and that you won’t know everything right off the bat! At the end of the day, you’re an intern and you’re there to learn and expand your knowledge, so no one expects you to carry out your task perfectly, or expect you to know how to use a program, tool, etc. Therefore, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Actually, one of the best tips for interns that I can give you is to ask as many questions as you can. After all, you’re at that moment of your life where you’re not expected to know everything and it’s </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">ok</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to mess things up.</span></p>
<p><b>DO seek feedback</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. A huge piece of advice for interns is to </span><a href="https://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/how-to-get-feedback-at-work/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ask for feedback</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and get someone to review your work. Moreover, it is even a good idea to ask for feedback before sending out a formal email or before giving a presentation, to make sure you’re coming across as professional as you can. I’m most cases, college won’t teach you these things, and the only way to learn and get better is by asking for help in a work environment.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbasTSHxWEOWrv4OmN7tDmVghEkASJIxiqiTz8fPXQ5fD3kOoPkGkP2Qh90C2dx3m8GFxGZP1Gkcydy6UlRuSYoVKhtfxAJPZIlRJ6cPZolAEgD8rMl9utnEFpYbL0LkSmLPMSjOGo2Vw/s2048/you-x-ventures-Oalh2MojUuk-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbasTSHxWEOWrv4OmN7tDmVghEkASJIxiqiTz8fPXQ5fD3kOoPkGkP2Qh90C2dx3m8GFxGZP1Gkcydy6UlRuSYoVKhtfxAJPZIlRJ6cPZolAEgD8rMl9utnEFpYbL0LkSmLPMSjOGo2Vw/w640-h426/you-x-ventures-Oalh2MojUuk-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Tips for interns after the internship</b></h2>
<p><b>DO try and keep in touch with your co-workers</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. One of the most fruitful networking tip for interns is to reach out to former co-workers and employers because they might be able to offer you a recommendation or a job position. So add them on LinkedIn and Facebook and stay in touch with them by sharing milestones, work projects, interesting articles with them.</span></p>
<p><b>DON'T burn bridges after your internship ends</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Even if your internship wasn’t what you expected or your employer wasn’t the nicest person to be around, end your internship on good terms. Like I previously mentioned, the people you’ve worked with can help you land your next job. Either by giving you a reference or by recommending you to another company. So be polite and let them know you’re thankful you got the opportunity to intern in the company.</span><br /><br /></p>
<p><b>Keep reading:</b> <a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/08/4-key-networking-hacks-for-introverts.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">4 Key Networking Hacks for Introverts</span></a></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-56090336084658019992020-09-06T21:10:00.004+02:002024-01-05T16:27:13.413+01:007 Productive Things to Do on a Plane When You Don’t Have Wi-Fi<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCfvmKsbyctbz8PG6ezkuCGP72pEp1kfx_tuCiuJ5a9kR8WASmYKA_1hpmzBfXvMjEJfuCfD_zYNnLtwQmwY7UpWwRtOqfAE-s1czi-uN7UdJ-i35pdqW9FxMhn4p5-s-85ncic5Z8dQ/s2048/stephen-leonardi-XWTo3Jwx-eE-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCfvmKsbyctbz8PG6ezkuCGP72pEp1kfx_tuCiuJ5a9kR8WASmYKA_1hpmzBfXvMjEJfuCfD_zYNnLtwQmwY7UpWwRtOqfAE-s1czi-uN7UdJ-i35pdqW9FxMhn4p5-s-85ncic5Z8dQ/w512-h640/stephen-leonardi-XWTo3Jwx-eE-unsplash.jpg" width="512" /></a></span></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you fly low cost, aren’t really bothered about paying extra for inflight Wi-Fi or have discovered that airplane internet connection is pretty unreliable, then this article is for you! Even if Wi-Fi is becoming increasingly popular in a lot of airlines, some of them don’t offer this perk, so we have to find ways to entertain ourselves that don't require the Internet. So if you regularly fly for business or personal reasons and, like me, would rather spend your time wisely rather than just sleep (which is also a good alternative!), here are </span><b>7 productive things to do on a plane without Wi-Fi</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>1. </b><b><b>Use the Notes App on your phone to do work</b></b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I personally come up with my most creative ideas when I’m relaxed. And that happens to be when I’m on a flight. But at 3000 feet above the ground I don’t have any Internet connection to do research, so I jot down any ideas I have on the Notes app on my phone. What I also do is I’ll write my notes up neat from this marketing course I’m taking at work. From my notebook to my Notes App, and then copy and paste them to my Google Drive when I'm home. <br /></span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>2. </b><b><b>Organize your phone</b></b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Have you also gotten that dreaded storage notification that tells you you don’t have any space left? Organizing your apps, photos, etc., is one of the very productive things to do on a plane without Wi-Fi. Avoid running out of space by deleting all the unnecessary apps you don’t use anymore.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Also, if you struggle to find what you’re looking for and your phone gets too overwhelming sometimes, maybe it’s time you sort your apps into folders so you find what you’re looking for right away! A neat and efficient home screen can help you be more productive when working from your phone. So here’s an </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-iphone-apps-organization-home-screen-2018-7?r=US&IR=T" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">article</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> on a creative and smart system to organize your home screen.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>3. </b><b><b>Draft emails you need to send</b></b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Replying to emails is one of the most tedious admin tasks there is to be done. But it’s a daily task we all have to do to keep on top of things at work. So if you’re looking for things to do without Internet on your flight and want to speed up work: reply to emails, save them as drafts, and hit send as soon as you land!</span>
</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>4. </b><b><b>Read a newspaper to catch up on current events</b></b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Being productive doesn’t mean only doing work stuff. Productivity (for me) is not wasting my time and spending it on something that will help me grow. Therefore, my next tip and one of the more chill things to do on a plane without Wi-Fi is to read the newspaper! Because being aware of current events provides you with general knowledge, and moreover, is a source of inspiration, helps you expand your storytelling techniques and improve your language skills. It’s hard to develop reading the newspaper as a habit, but what better place to do it in than a quiet plane with nothing else to do?</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0MrauNboFLuudwWqAVNjvf2NvbZ6lASN6sWNyG15RY44oaUx5MHproGqkIMvAx3pmVft7TtHveJvJaAekBTpOnZdMAXKaQlEEBclp1MHujh7xJkOUZHqPW6VYJbYNam50Q3I7BSL0rU/s2048/marten-bjork-FVtG38Cjc_k-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0MrauNboFLuudwWqAVNjvf2NvbZ6lASN6sWNyG15RY44oaUx5MHproGqkIMvAx3pmVft7TtHveJvJaAekBTpOnZdMAXKaQlEEBclp1MHujh7xJkOUZHqPW6VYJbYNam50Q3I7BSL0rU/w426-h640/marten-bjork-FVtG38Cjc_k-unsplash.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span>
<p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>5. </b><b><b>Catch up on articles you’ve been meaning to read</b></b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I more than often find myself saving articles I see on Social Media on </span><a href="https://getpocket.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pocket</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> so I can read them when I have time. And being stuck on an internet-less airplane is the best excuse to catch up on them and entertain myself! That long list of BuzzFeed articles you have saved for ages? Now is the time to tackle it!</span>
</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>6. </b><b><b>Learn something new!</b></b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another thing to do on a plane without Wi-Fi is learning something new. You can learn a new language on an App as most of them don’t require Internet connection. But if you don’t fancy learning a new language, there’s plenty of cool Apps that will teach you History, Geography, etc. On my flights, I have been finding really entertaining this app that teaches you the 50 US states and their capitals, so I’m trying to learn them by hard (before you come for me, please note that I’m not North-American or live in the US!).</span>
</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>7. </b><b><b>Meditate</b></b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lastly, a productive yet one of the most effortless and relaxing things to do on a plane without Wi-Fi is to meditate and take care of your mental health. Flying back and forth for business or for any other reason can be exhausting and draining. So it’s highly recommended you take some time to meditate and calm your anxiety by doing some breathing exercises. Although I don’t meditate per se, I tend to journal a lot on planes, and that is a great way to organize my thoughts and calm me down when I’m overthinking and going through a lot of stress. I find the peace and dim atmosphere of planes a comforting place to do so.</span>
</p><p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Keep reading:</b> </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/best-way-learn-language.html" target="_blank">The Best Way to Learn a Language (and how I got a bilingual certification)</a></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-39633501963612473762020-08-23T12:10:00.000+02:002020-08-23T12:10:42.253+02:004 Key Networking Hacks for Introverts<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8V56IucjaaDDl-mbWfDOcZy2h51-y-gYiPnrPbjDdpdQhgkM1q5va-hMbTUd8xM2zp9Jby484Lg-I9dDjbFX3_5Wj1ZmjZHIUS1hwSVfk9rh6m6_9TUs0v4p7AQVo7xAbc7PjTUKOEE/s2048/hivan-arvizu-soyhivan-MAnhvw0nDDY-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8V56IucjaaDDl-mbWfDOcZy2h51-y-gYiPnrPbjDdpdQhgkM1q5va-hMbTUd8xM2zp9Jby484Lg-I9dDjbFX3_5Wj1ZmjZHIUS1hwSVfk9rh6m6_9TUs0v4p7AQVo7xAbc7PjTUKOEE/s640/hivan-arvizu-soyhivan-MAnhvw0nDDY-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I used to think that being shy and being an introvert were synonyms, the same way that being outgoing and chatty meant you were an extrovert. Well, someone recently told me that is not the case. Whilst introversion and extroversion refer to where we get our energy from, being shy and out-going are merely a personality trait. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So it is said that extroverts recharge their batteries and get energy from interacting with people whereas<b> introverts get energy by spending time alone</b>. Therefore, a big social event like a networking situation is mentally draining for them and that is why they can only participate in numerable social events before this drains them mentally and need to get back to their safe and quiet environment.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, networking nowadays is essential, and as times goes by it is a crucial social situation to take part in to grow your career and get a job. Online you can find plenty of articles giving you tips on how to make the most and thrive at networking events and </span><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2017/04/11/nine-networking-tips-for-very-shy-people/#7262af4a7979" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">how to get through networking events if you’re shy</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, but in this one you’ll learn <b>4 key networking tips for introverts</b>, which is not the same.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>1. </b><b><b>Plan ahead</b></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Do your research! Start by googling who is going to be attending the networking event and make sure you know what they do, where they work at, etc. Knowing that will give you a pretty good idea of what you can talk to them about and thus not have to think on the spot when you meet them at the networking event. Also, do your research on the schedule of the event: what and when each conference and activity is going to be held so you can plan your breaks. Which leads me to the next tip...</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>2. </b><b><b>Take breaks</b></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the most valuable tips I can give you when it comes to networking for introverts is to take breaks during the event. And even if the convention doesn’t give you any, <b>make sure you set some alone time during the event</b> (or after if it is a day thing) away from other attendees and colleagues. This is a great way to recharge your batteries and break your day into parts so it’s not that overwhelming and challenging. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can opt to get lunch on your own or squeeze in a walk in between conferences to get your mind off things. Taking time to recharge alone will help you approach the whole event with regenerated eagerness and vitality.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbaFL_dvr_T6lTP0_ubHwxS1hm5mmMHlDz08J-WYGJTsLLLNNNFheoS41qTCJCR6ePJ0Ug7p0f7SoXjQ_siQgQRLrHKWf1wy5n6HxVArM_JkkCrJ6liag92hoRqiim7wJJZ1YJbTrfNM/s2048/allie-I3nD16F56Ko-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1320" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbaFL_dvr_T6lTP0_ubHwxS1hm5mmMHlDz08J-WYGJTsLLLNNNFheoS41qTCJCR6ePJ0Ug7p0f7SoXjQ_siQgQRLrHKWf1wy5n6HxVArM_JkkCrJ6liag92hoRqiim7wJJZ1YJbTrfNM/s640/allie-I3nD16F56Ko-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>3. </b><b><b>Make contacts, not friends</b></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Networking events are not meant for making lifelong friends, but rather for <b>making initial contact to pursue a business relationship later on</b>. This is a relief to hear if you’re an introvert like me, as this means you won’t have to spend a lot of time talking to the same person, but rather enough time to feel comfortable to email them or arrange a one-on-one meeting afterwards.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The key is to use your time at networking events strategically. Try to meet as many people as you can and connect with them by just having a quick conversation and then find another interesting person to talk to!</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>4. </b><b><b>Listen!</b></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People love to talk about themselves! For me, though, and for the rest of my fellow introverts that is not the case. So one of the best networking tips for introverts I have that works wonders in business events, parties and just social situations in general is to <b>listen to the other person and ask questions about their personal life</b> (without coming across as creepy!).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is truly the best way for introverts to save energy and make time go by quicker without missing on interesting stories and conversations.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Keep reading:</b> <a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/working-abroad-benefits-CV.html" target="_blank">Does Working Abroad Benefit Your CV?</a></span></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-62502242242813971812020-06-07T12:32:00.000+02:002020-06-07T12:32:07.108+02:00How to Create The Perfect Vision Board or Mood Board<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaojSsw0YscHeDPdasg9H3MJr8kySh8_tLA33pEEg7fmyUXiAnMCo2srFAnIVQ7AayFML-QYQzWh4c-fKR7sQogw84inO_MnPQ4Ku02IJYXEVcgmMwo4G0GBwHDhttS6E3DiT_8irKTuM/s1027/Screenshot+2020-06-07+at+12.10.28.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1027" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaojSsw0YscHeDPdasg9H3MJr8kySh8_tLA33pEEg7fmyUXiAnMCo2srFAnIVQ7AayFML-QYQzWh4c-fKR7sQogw84inO_MnPQ4Ku02IJYXEVcgmMwo4G0GBwHDhttS6E3DiT_8irKTuM/w640-h398/Screenshot+2020-06-07+at+12.10.28.png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A huge majority of the most </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/04/habits-of-successful-people.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">successful people today</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, including </span><b>Arnold Schwarzenegger</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><b>Oprah Winfrey</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><b>have used mood boards to manifest what they want in life</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. The idea behind a vision board is to place your goals and dreams in once place so it’s easier for you to visualize and manifest them in your life. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And whilst a mood board is something everyone should set time apart to do, most of us argue that we don’t have enough time, or aren’t creative enough, etc. However, making one shouldn’t be difficult, time-consuming or a tedious task if you choose the right method. So, if you’re wondering </span><b>how to do a mood board</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that will work for you, keep reading to find the right steps and platforms.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Have your vision board objective clear</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re wondering how to start a mood board and what the first step to creating the perfect one is, the answer is </span><b>deciding what goal you want to project on your vision board</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Why are you making your vision board for? Is it to accomplish a specific goal in your career? Is it to help you visualize a healthier lifestyle? Is it to manifest a trip, situation or dream? When done correctly, </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/06/vision-boards-effective-career-and-life.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vision boards are very effective in your personal life and career</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But in order for them to work and help you visualize what you want, you have to know what your objective and end goal is. Is it to buy a new house? To get a degree? To launch a startup? To be promoted? Before you start crafting and designing, decide what your biggest aspiration is!</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Determine whether you prefer a digital or a physical mood board</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once you’ve made up your mind on what your goal is and what you want to work towards every single day, the next step is to decide </span><b>what you are going to use to create your vision board</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. The creative process of cutting out images and handwriting inspiring and persuasive quotes really magnifies the power of a vision board as the thoughts in your head become tangible and more real when putting them together on paper. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, how to do a mood board when you don’t have many supplies, access to a printer or enough time to dedicate to it? Even if the long process of </span><b>creating a physical mood board</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of your objectives will generate a greater impact on you, </span><b>opting for a digital vision board is as effective</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and practical as a physical one and one that you can actually take anywhere with you.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>2.1 Physical mood board</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you have the time to put together a tangible mood board that you can touch, you’ll need a series of materials and supplies to get started. If you’re wondering </span><b>how to make moodboards without spending any money</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, you can use materials such as magazines, newspapers and standard color pencils that you already have. For the base of your vision board, you can use a foam board, cardboard, or regular paper. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once you have the base, cut out images from magazines, newspapers, old books, or print your own photos or images you’ve found online. To make it more original and artistic, you can also print out quotes and phrases, or handwrite them yourself, and even add some texture with glitter, fabrics, etc.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LXO3RsgYSU5gy-g3kqX8t8Op0beE6zHtW9qMwsb6aN-ojeGRQu9_8Evz610JaoLExiSZAs9c8WmRJUjNY_mRCgEax-lo5dfr3fv0lQjDz4c_q52zrtdr0271KYSZEQgQO7T21c4-Lfk/s6000/charles-deluvio-GXNo-OJynTQ-unsplash-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LXO3RsgYSU5gy-g3kqX8t8Op0beE6zHtW9qMwsb6aN-ojeGRQu9_8Evz610JaoLExiSZAs9c8WmRJUjNY_mRCgEax-lo5dfr3fv0lQjDz4c_q52zrtdr0271KYSZEQgQO7T21c4-Lfk/w640-h426/charles-deluvio-GXNo-OJynTQ-unsplash-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>2.2 Digital mood board</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You really don’t have to spend a lot of effort and time on your vision board. The important thing is that you put together a mood board that will help you visualize and manifest your goals. So, the following are </span><b>the best tips and tricks on how to do a mood board online</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for a quicker and simpler process.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A good and efficient platform to create a mood board is </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pinterest</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, where you can create boards by </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">pinning</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> the images that you like, and is also great to get inspiration from other people’s mood boards. Plus, you can make the board private if you rather your followers didn't see it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another good alternative to a physical mood board is to create your vision board on a free online platform meant solely for this purpose, like </span><a href="http://www.gomoodboard.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">GoMoodboard</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This platform is free and you don’t need to create an account to start creating! And if you’re wondering how to create a moodboard online in an even more simple way, you can </span><b>design one on a PowerPoint presentation</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and save it as an image! The advantage of creating a digital mood board is that you can save it on your phone, make it your lock screen, your laptop wallpaper, etc., so you can really take it anywhere with you!</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Build things up around a large picture</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lastly, once you know what you want to project on your vision board, you have your images and quotes picked out and you decided on whether you are going to create a physical or a digital mood board, it’s time to </span><b>start designing and putting everything together</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. So, how to do a mood board that does not look chaotic with so many pictures and phrases? <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Well, there’s only one </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">rule</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> when creating a vision, and that is to </span><b>build things up around a large picture</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. The way it works is that when you see a large image on your board, your brain has questions about it and will therefore quickly scan the rest of the mood board to find answers. So the idea is to </span><b>place smaller related images that give support to the larger picture</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and that will clarify the message given on it. This is a subliminal trick that not only will it help you create your board but also visualize and internalize your goal better every time you look at the vision board.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whilst the above have been a few tips on how to create an aesthetic moodboard, the final step once your board is completely finished is to </span><b>place it on a prominent spot</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, where you’ll be able to look at it even if it’s only for just a few seconds a day. A good idea is to hang it on your fridge, bathroom, closet or make it your wallpaper so you are able to view it when you do your daily morning routine or whilst you work. After all, the whole purpose of a vision board is to effortlessly remind yourself of your goals so you subconsciously work towards them regularly.</span></p>
<p><br /><br /><b>Keep reading:</b> <a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/why-journaling-is-good-and.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why Journaling is Good and Beneficial for Everyone</span></a></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-63422371304077641322020-06-01T15:29:00.002+02:002024-01-05T16:22:53.896+01:00How Are Vision Boards Effective in Your Personal Life and Career<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRg2cY2H6Sk8wfyjaBFhrBAmBdRZwgr0wqO5HQPI0bB8P8lhT_DwBbV8Cyh50jZLnrMAk2LmqyMnvJHnp5GWuaPfrdRI25mR1YL-sAUWUYdrUZhnv1DXdeNHNq1x9cn8dxEvDUxjmX17I/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1999" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRg2cY2H6Sk8wfyjaBFhrBAmBdRZwgr0wqO5HQPI0bB8P8lhT_DwBbV8Cyh50jZLnrMAk2LmqyMnvJHnp5GWuaPfrdRI25mR1YL-sAUWUYdrUZhnv1DXdeNHNq1x9cn8dxEvDUxjmX17I/w640-h360/2020+moodboard.png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A <b>vision board</b> or <b>mood board</b> is a very influential tool that can help you achieve your goals. The way it does it is by helping you select what your main and most important goals for you are in a palpable and visual way. It’s a creative process that includes </span><b>deciding what your dreams are</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><b>visualizing them to attract opportunities</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><b>working consistently on them</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to make them become a reality.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instead of writing down your goals on a notebook and looking at them a few times a year, by choosing to portray them in a </span><b>visual collage</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and looking at them regularly, you are way more prone to achieve them. Continue reading to understand what is the purpose of a mood board and know how it works!</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Vision boards help you project any type of goal in different ways</b><br /></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There’s the concept of </span><b>vision boards for students</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, <b>v</b></span><b>ision boards for business</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or a </span><b>career vision board</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, amongst others, that suit all stages of life. Vision boards can be created for any type of purpose and goal, long-term, short-term, a specific goal or a lifestyle goal. You also don’t have to be the most creative person to take part in a mood board project and can use about anything, from </span><a href="https://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design/16-great-tools-creating-mood-boards-91412793"><span style="font-weight: 400;">online tools</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to pen and paper to design the perfect one.</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">How do you want your vision board to look?</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As we’ve already mentioned, the way you put together your mood board is up to you as </span><b>there's no right or wrong way to do one</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. You might prefer to use post-it notes or only printed pictures. Some people like to go for a tangible poster-like mood board that you can hang up on your wall, whilst others prefer making their wallpaper their career vision board, like myself! (The cover photo for this article is actually a screenshot of my vision board wallpaper!).</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">What type of goals do you want to project?</span></h3>
<p><b>What is the purpose of your mood board?</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Mood boards are great for accomplishing a certain goal or to envision and manifest a lifestyle. So maybe your goal is to lose weight and get to a certain scale number or just live a healthier and more active life. Also, you don’t have to stick to only one type of goal, as the open space on vision boards allows you to project a whole year's worth of goals in every area of your life (career, health, relationships, etc.).<br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But </span><b>you can also create separate mood boards for different categories</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. For example, you can design a career vision board that only focuses on your goals related to your job and professional life. Or a vision board that only focuses on health and wellness, one that only projects travel plans or a mood board that helps you externalize a positive mindset. These are only some of the many vision board examples you can create!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdYcUXzvwFoGfeFVL4wf9TkfW1fKeAHUjUEU3qzZVFlh6enJrpsup12v3MYYPzCFMVOc4f8M4gDGy3CkxZOGjNWPsNwbbDoWwFcxqLfDeb2TqZ3JYPnT1lISiMJh9VHwFD7BDk4WPoSE/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="965" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdYcUXzvwFoGfeFVL4wf9TkfW1fKeAHUjUEU3qzZVFlh6enJrpsup12v3MYYPzCFMVOc4f8M4gDGy3CkxZOGjNWPsNwbbDoWwFcxqLfDeb2TqZ3JYPnT1lISiMJh9VHwFD7BDk4WPoSE/w640-h370/Picture+1.png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span><p></p>
<h2>Vision boards help you decide what your goals are</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before trying to tackle your life goals, step one has to be </span><b>deciding what these goals and objectives you’re going to focus on are</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. So before starting, say, your career vision board, you should start identifying your job desires and select pictures and quotes that represent them. This selection process helps you narrow down your focus and actually design your board fixating on the specific message that matters to you. This is because the small space of your vision board forces you to really put on your main goals and dreams and allows no space for non-priority goals.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqZXl4bl2qNDVet5RLf8h5buTmJ5a73koN88HUCUHZgCoWWK9FWY7i0lWsgU9_F-yuETk3t0-AH1aI_rUnP9bqAedt6e_0EsYjPGk4cqibUyasoRW464F01W_qNjBbWWCeaor-QiILBI/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqZXl4bl2qNDVet5RLf8h5buTmJ5a73koN88HUCUHZgCoWWK9FWY7i0lWsgU9_F-yuETk3t0-AH1aI_rUnP9bqAedt6e_0EsYjPGk4cqibUyasoRW464F01W_qNjBbWWCeaor-QiILBI/w640-h426/joyce-mccown-iCx-ANNHyDo-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span><p></p>
<h2>Vision boards help you accomplish your goals</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, once you have set up your vision board, the way you are going to start accomplishing your goals is by </span><b>visualization</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><b>consistency</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: normal;">Visualization</span></h3>
<p><b>Visualization is when you create images in your mind of what you want to do or what you want to have</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This practice helps achieve your goals when you repeat these images over and over every single day. The way it works is that by creating this constant image of what you want in your head, you are reminded of your dreams and thus makes you stay on track. In fact, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14998709/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">this study on strength gaining</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in fitness shows that the mental training of a physical exercise is almost as effective as the actual physical practice. And the reason why vision boards work and help with visualization is because they take the thoughts and goals in your head and convert them into something tangible and more realistic. <br /></span></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: normal;">Consistency</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When you’ve mastered the visualization technique, you need to remember to </span><b>visualize and work towards your goals consistently</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. The way consistency works is that every time we repeat an action, our neurons build a stronger connection to the point where they are able to do the action automatically (which is the reason as to why any skill can become automatic). And how do mood boards help with consistency? The answer is that they act as a daily reminder of your objectives. And if you look at your career vision board consistently you’ll work regularly and at a steady pace to complete your professional goals.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Keep reading:</b> <a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/increase-intrinsic-motivation.html">How to Increase Intrinsic Motivation</a></span></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com06780 Walnut Heights Dr, Warrenton, VA 20186, USA38.760519 -77.815657-39.699730628583652 141.559343 90 62.809343tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-58421584089662816562020-05-31T19:25:00.000+02:002020-05-31T19:25:31.295+02:00Does Working Abroad Benefit Your CV?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMnyKqbHsxoe9MQLWjV9Pg84u7-2BpnYDe12wMLBC7N_vMEF25eKRI-iE2AjpABSUhHQTHuhWJWCeAZcivdUPHqcrbnx44bLkJiwT5e_2G37GW0ETnYIvE5EzqkWam0d2rIKGodNQte0/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4288" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMnyKqbHsxoe9MQLWjV9Pg84u7-2BpnYDe12wMLBC7N_vMEF25eKRI-iE2AjpABSUhHQTHuhWJWCeAZcivdUPHqcrbnx44bLkJiwT5e_2G37GW0ETnYIvE5EzqkWam0d2rIKGodNQte0/w640-h426/ross-parmly-rf6ywHVkrlY-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are plenty of studies that show that </span><a href="https://studyabroad.ucmerced.edu/study-abroad-statistics/statistics-study-abroad"><span style="font-weight: 400;">international experience gets you hired faster</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. In fact, it is believed that graduates who have spent time studying and interning abroad have higher starting salaries than graduates that have no experience abroad and out-earn them by 17%. And approximately </span><b>85% of them feel that studying and working overseas has built valuable skills</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for the current job market.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, taking these numbers into consideration, there is no doubt that working abroad looks good in your resume and makes you stand out amongst other job candidates. So whilst you should follow these </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/finding-job-during-lockdown.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">tips for finding a new job</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> if you’re currently job hunting, make sure you add your working abroad experience if you have one as it will for sure boost your CV and also help you find a new job. Experiencing work abroad benefits your career as well as your personal life, as preparing for the experience and actually living it makes you grow and develop initiative.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The following are 5 ways working overseas benefits your CV:</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Improves your language and communication skills</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can take as many language lessons as you want, but if you don’t talk to locals and immerse yourself in a culture you will never get to learn a language properly. </span><b>Working abroad gives you the option to experience a working environment in a different language</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This is because you will be dealing with customers and communicating with your co-workers in another language, sending emails in another language, etc. What’s more, this will help you come close to becoming bilingual!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Expressing yourself to people who speak a different language will highly improve your communication skills, which marks one of the best work abroad advantages and benefits this experience can give you. After all, when you come back from your time abroad, giving a presentation and speaking with new clients will be, without a doubt, a breeze!</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Enhances culture awareness</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Experiencing work abroad benefits your </span><b>ability to take in and appreciate a new culture.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Currently, having cultural sensitivity and being able to appreciate differences and similarities without assigning them a value is something highly desirable by employers and that only working overseas can give you. And the reason why having culture awareness is so important at work is because it shows you have an appreciation for every individual and what they bring to the table. This trait makes you a good employee as you are able to recognize the importance of your colleagues and clients having different opinions, values and customs.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Boosts personal growth</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are definitely many pros and cons of moving abroad. However, when it comes to this experience, I personally think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. And a big gain from working overseas is the personal growth you experience, especially when </span><b>you embark on this journey completely alone and for the first time ever</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. <br /></span>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Working abroad boosts your personal growth as it makes you </span><b>self-sufficient</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><b>independent</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, definitely two qualities that employers look for in any job candidate. Taking on this experience also shows you are driven and have initiative because you will most likely have had to go out and seek for a job abroad as it’s difficult that a job in another country falls into your lap. Employers will see you are ambitious and okay with being pushed out of your comfort zone and adapt to any situation. Opting for work abroad benefits you immensely as it will personally give you confidence and determination to take on more tasks that you previously considered intimidating.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVfiv0AGddoj_uVuDx_zTmKW8cYsemCUzZcCrpMUcAepQAAB7Dk14flxPHngqwbl8SFUG1VrWi6qCpkLST_W9GmmP9ZdtLzJIJ-fRN7ZXSw-zJCxVBuTRjlNjUX-_qwag-x2IeD43Cag/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3150" data-original-width="4937" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVfiv0AGddoj_uVuDx_zTmKW8cYsemCUzZcCrpMUcAepQAAB7Dk14flxPHngqwbl8SFUG1VrWi6qCpkLST_W9GmmP9ZdtLzJIJ-fRN7ZXSw-zJCxVBuTRjlNjUX-_qwag-x2IeD43Cag/w640-h408/resi-kling-p2rEruJ3p0Y-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Gives you the possibility to stand out in interviews</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Writing down on your resume that you’ve worked abroad will make you stand out from the crowd. And it will not only make a recruiter consider you over other candidates, but it will also </span><b>give you something to talk about in the interview</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and something to impress the interviewer with! <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since not many people take the step to move abroad for a period of time, recruiters will most likely ask you questions about your experience, how working abroad benefits your job skills and show a lot of interest in this part of your career. It is then up to you to convince them you’ve learned and grown from it and that the skills you’ve acquired can help you and others in the company.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>5. Helps you find your dream career</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Often, when we are looking for a work abroad experience, we are open to a lot of different jobs, as one of the main purposes is to immerse ourselves in a culture, learn about ourselves and discover new places. So, by applying for different jobs, </span><b>you may get hired in a department or industry that you’ve never worked in and really like</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And by traveling and meeting new people you might get introduced to a </span><b>new interest and passion</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> which can also lead you on a path to a new career you otherwise would have never discovered. Many people opt for </span><a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/workandholiday/worldwide/76139/10-reasons-why-taking-a-working-holiday-is-a-good-idea"><span style="font-weight: 400;">holiday working visas</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which grant you access to a country for a longer period of time than a standard tourist visa. With it, you can really try out any type of job, and even go for the ones you would have never accepted back home. So, you never know, you might find the career of your dreams when working abroad!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If after reading this article you are still asking yourself ‘why should I work abroad?’, the conclusive and main answer is that </span><b>it will open the door for more jobs</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Having this experience can be the determining factor for an employer to choose you over another candidate with the same skills and education as you. This is because, from what we’ve seen above, companies want </span><b>workers that have seen the world</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><b>know about cultures</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><b>show other ways to perform</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><b>have stories to tell</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Being good at a job won’t make the cut if you don’t show determination, commitment and a clear perception and appreciation for other values.</span></p>
<p><br /><br /><b>Keep reading:</b> <a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/how-long-to-get-a-job.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s How Long it </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Really</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Takes to Get a Job</span></a></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-11603014467473795512020-05-24T13:40:00.003+02:002021-03-06T12:15:51.490+01:00How to Increase Intrinsic Motivation<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwu-wL1vu7K8Usmnn4wCtv8vA1J5gHOfgwwLmWE-vVvLlaERIq1cYTRbzyXtPGTf9UHnpZEf45OMT8FLLEXxFblTcYYWxRXt3a3tgjNJk98y6_MFtHxFIkbFvzz-gYz-1IUI4rrvDWM8/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwu-wL1vu7K8Usmnn4wCtv8vA1J5gHOfgwwLmWE-vVvLlaERIq1cYTRbzyXtPGTf9UHnpZEf45OMT8FLLEXxFblTcYYWxRXt3a3tgjNJk98y6_MFtHxFIkbFvzz-gYz-1IUI4rrvDWM8/w640-h426/gentrit-sylejmani-JjUyjE-oEbM-unsplash-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Consider for a second what is your motivation behind reading this article. Are you reading it because you are interested in learning more about psychology and how to be more motivated? If the answer is ‘yes’, then you are being driven by </span><b>intrinsic or internal motivation</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Are you, on the other hand, reading this article to gather some information for a school essay and get a good grade? If the answer to </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">this</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> question is ‘yes’, then you're being aroused by </span><b>extrinsic motivation</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Motivation is what determines what we do, how much effort we put on something and how long we do it for. It has been said that </span><b>our performance is only as great as our motivation</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, so whether it is intrinsically or extrinsically, everyone is pushed by a certain type of motivation to do something in all areas of their life. However, it is important to learn how to increase intrinsic motivation for a healthier and gratifying life. But, why?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When you carry out a task based upon intrinsic motivation, you are doing it because </span><b>the activity itself feels rewarding and the end goal is growing and challenging yourself</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. On the contrary, if you do something based upon <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/extrinsic-motivation" target="_blank">extrinsic motivation</a>, you are expecting a reward such as money, a prize, an acknowledgment from a superior, etc. You might not enjoy what you are doing but what pushes you to complete a task is an external compensation. It is important to know how to increase intrinsic motivation in order to feel more fulfilled at work, at school, etc., and to keep going when the external reward is no longer there.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Intrinsic Motivation Examples</b></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>At Work</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.business2community.com/human-resources/role-intrinsic-motivation-workplace-01975399" target="_blank">Intrinsic motivation in the workplace</a> might take place when you are </span><b>working on a project and you are motivated to perform as well as you can</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to develop your skills and feel accomplished. However, you might take on a project at work in order to prove to your superiors you’re qualified enough to be promoted, for the salary, or simply so you don’t get fired. These reasons fall into the extrinsic motivation category.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>At School</b></h3>
<p><b>Studying for an exam because you want to learn more about a subject</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> would mean you’re driven by intrinsic motivation. If you study for an exam to get good grades and get into the university you want, then you’re being driven by extrinsic motivation. Students whose teachers look into how to increase intrinsic motivation and are constantly asked what they want to learn, what method of learning they enjoy the most, and regularly change their class environment are more excited to study.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>In Sport</b></h3>
<p><b>Running because you find the activity relaxing and liberating</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or because you are trying to beat your own personal record falls into the intrinsic motivation type of action. If, however, you are running every single day to participate in a competition and win it, then the physical activity is being incited by extrinsic motivation.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>In Friendships</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When you </span><b>spend time with a friend because you enjoy their company</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is intrinsic motivation, but if you’re hanging out with them just to gain popularity and boost your social standing, that’s an external motivating factor.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwKe6v-k5nR6GRbZPkv6G1FKXr3sWSMAEo_e9szi_XL1zvJw6YpA9m-rpGUZjdtqemL_e07llML54Ggpu_JodvgfFe7onUlOCqK5wYX4DmMZhOpceIPyXFmG61pWN5NCWPd5PvRMQfSU/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwKe6v-k5nR6GRbZPkv6G1FKXr3sWSMAEo_e9szi_XL1zvJw6YpA9m-rpGUZjdtqemL_e07llML54Ggpu_JodvgfFe7onUlOCqK5wYX4DmMZhOpceIPyXFmG61pWN5NCWPd5PvRMQfSU/w640-h426/alex-samuels-bKSMXbqGN24-unsplash-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>How to Increase Intrinsic Motivation</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, we’ve seen the importance of building intrinsic motivation to make </span><b>any type of activity feel like a fun hobby rather than a chore</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Sure, we are mostly motivated by external factors, but the desire to keep trying and enjoy something when no reward is offered makes intrinsic motivation an extremely influential force. So, how do we increase intrinsic motivation?</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Make an Impact</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People who feel they are working towards something that will impact others positively have an easier time sticking to their goal. When you do something for someone else, rather than only for yourself, </span><b>you feel a greater sense of accomplishment</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, as you’re putting your skills to work for a good cause. So, try to find an activity that in addition to benefiting yourself, benefits the environment and helps others.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Follow Your Passion</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re wondering how to increase intrinsic motivation and not be a quitter, just chase your passion and work towards your goals. That means look for a job that you’ll be happy to attend every single day, rather than a job that pays well but that you don’t enjoy. By trying to promote intrinsic motivation you are also </span><b>improving your mental health</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, as there’s a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction within yourself that is greater than what others think of you.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Decrease Extrinsic Motivation</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And by that, I mean </span><b>get rid of <a href="https://smallbusiness.chron.com/employees-external-rewards-18375.html" target="_blank">external rewards</a> as much as possible</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and, from now on, go for projects that won’t be rewarded with an external factor. And if you are forced to do something for work or school, try to find the benefits that it will bring you internally. For example, if you have to learn a new language for a job, rather than complete the course mainly to get the certification and show it to your boss, take it as an opportunity to learn and see it as a new skill that can make you different and more qualified than others.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This surely is one of the best ways to increase intrinsic motivation as if you only go for jobs that fulfill you, or hobbies that </span><b>make you feel good and defy you</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and, thus, make you grow; you will have a complete and happy life. You then won’t have to worry if people praise you or not or if you have to win a competition in order to be valid and you will only focus on the happiness that comes from you.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Keep reading:</b> <a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/04/how-to-be-productive-working-from-home.html" target="_blank">How to be productive working from home (the 20-minute rule)</a><br /></span></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-33748399523294937232020-05-23T13:03:00.003+02:002020-05-23T19:05:14.044+02:00Why Journaling is Good and Beneficial for Everyone<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUH9ekrLW8HvgfJ0mUQqHR9KJP2ylpFKbrOwK-TXF8HOUgFob8itmFuUUYqq9yuSZiaeODsYn7LsqwYgdAYsT2cXRuSeax6OzNnEYRcGBubkzXLypykHHzGVeXcwaNetfh0yalE9p6UNs/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Creative journal" border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUH9ekrLW8HvgfJ0mUQqHR9KJP2ylpFKbrOwK-TXF8HOUgFob8itmFuUUYqq9yuSZiaeODsYn7LsqwYgdAYsT2cXRuSeax6OzNnEYRcGBubkzXLypykHHzGVeXcwaNetfh0yalE9p6UNs/w426-h640/alexandra-lammerink-j3xpbnaNRyE-unsplash.jpg" title="Creative journal" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A </span><a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/writing-can-help-injuries-heal-faster/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">study carried out in New Zealand</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> reveals that 76% of adults who wrote about their worries during consecutive 3 days (20 minutes each day) for two weeks were fully healed 11 days later. This is how powerful journaling is and why it is beneficial for everyone. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And although</span><b> journaling is very helpful for your mental and emotional health</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to help deal with anxiety and feelings, it is also crucial to better your physical health, as it increases the chances of fighting a disease. I know </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/how-to-start-journaling.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">starting a journal without being overwhelmed</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is difficult, but hopefully these next facts help you realize </span><b>why journaling is good for everyone</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and how, with only a few minutes of writing a day, it is favorable to you.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Relieves stress and calms anxiety</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Most of the time </span><b>stress and anxiety come from not being able to think clearly</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> about a situation and not knowing how to approach it or solve it. And whilst it is possible to organize your thoughts in your mind alone, it is way easier to write them down in a journal in bullet points or steps. Also, when we’re worried about something, we usually avoid thinking about it and procrastinate finding a solution. So, by writing it down in a journal you will have it in front of you and you won’t be able to push your worry away any longer. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Keeping an anxiety journal and writing to relieve stress is surely a </span><b>great way to assemble your thoughts and tackle them one by one</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in a healthy way. You’re not forced to write in your journal every single day. As a matter of fact, you can only write when you’re feeling overwhelmed, calm yourself down and see everything on paper with more perspective and then pick it up next time you feel the same.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Boosts creativity</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Finding your inner creativity is one of the main reasons why journaling is good for you. </span><b>Being creative is actually more important than you imagine</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and a way to develop it is by keeping a journal for expressive and imaginary writing. The truth is, everyone can be creative, but most think they can’t or don’t think it is necessary. What if I told you that creative writing is proven to strengthen your immunity, decrease your risk of illness and make you be less affected by trauma. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Doodling, brainstorming and just writing what floats your boat can </span><b>help you become a better problem solver</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and more prone to live with uncertainty as your thinking allows flow of the unknown. So, brainstorming, doodling, writing a few words that come to mind, etc., regularly, is a way to boost your creativity and one of the advantages of journaling that can help you in all the areas of your life.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcJS9PwWeIZqlXE2ey5qn_vhRyptKejCi1au0rVOKw3IAYevNRdHltfCSGjpCTY3k5vkZiKaCWDQuPWPb2oL9P00KU_h75qcQRSia6pbe0ptuThwkoIu2LYD4uPLIFwpYSB23kI34GDM/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Woman writing on a journal" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcJS9PwWeIZqlXE2ey5qn_vhRyptKejCi1au0rVOKw3IAYevNRdHltfCSGjpCTY3k5vkZiKaCWDQuPWPb2oL9P00KU_h75qcQRSia6pbe0ptuThwkoIu2LYD4uPLIFwpYSB23kI34GDM/w640-h426/green-chameleon-s9CC2SKySJM-unsplash.jpg" title="Woman writing on a journal" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Helps achieve goals</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you're still wondering why journaling is good for you, let me tell you that it can help your career and dreams on a greater scale. Writing down something has a stronger effect on you than simply letting it float on your mind. By writing your goals down on your journal you’re letting your brain register ‘this is important’ and making your </span><b>reticular activating system</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a pencil-sized piece of your brain that stores information into the conscious mind, remember it. If </span><b>your brain retains that goal and remembers it</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> you are then more inclined to work for it long-term and thus, end up accomplishing it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another one of the pros of journaling is that it </span><b>helps with self-discipline</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, as setting time aside to write each day creates a routine and a habit. And a habit formed in one area of your life has the likelihood to spread to other areas such as work or personal projects. So, if you’re disciplined enough to keep a journal, you’re disciplined enough to work periodically in order to meet your goals.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Improves self-confidence</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Journaling to enhance your self-confidence and the way you look at yourself is another reason why journaling is good to take as a habit. </span><b>Writing about positive experiences and achievements</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> will reaffirm your abilities when you’re having a bad day. Furthermore, going through pages and pages of things you’ve done will definitely help you get over a feeling of unworthiness and self-doubt when you feel like you can’t accomplish something.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There’s a thing called the ‘</span><b>writer’s high</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">’, that explains the feeling of satisfaction and self-worth one feels after writing something. When writing (and when we exercise also), there’s a </span><b>release of dopamine</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a chemical in our brain that reinforces positivity, motivation and helps us believe in ourselves since we’ve already accomplished something.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And that’s exactly how I feel right now, at the end of another long and fulfilling article, thinking ‘yeahh, that felt great’!</span></p>
<p><br /><br /><b>Keep reading:</b> <a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/4-things-unhappy-people-do.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">4 things unhappy people do according to science</span></a></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-448778399461007492020-05-17T13:52:00.007+02:002021-01-03T19:36:33.182+01:004 Things Unhappy People Do According to Science<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrB3kpTsA_DR4DsRhialdfqzYs59Uo0Lt3EOuEIXVVWSOpPHRHPVynaFx3f1vq3Y0_tuAoaHbDpFjj25qw2OkBjrwpA3cuDLpS5nAHlulHmhcNBw7ua0UOhVAnXFMB70n8RriypedaVlY/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Person counting money" border="0" data-original-height="3744" data-original-width="5616" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrB3kpTsA_DR4DsRhialdfqzYs59Uo0Lt3EOuEIXVVWSOpPHRHPVynaFx3f1vq3Y0_tuAoaHbDpFjj25qw2OkBjrwpA3cuDLpS5nAHlulHmhcNBw7ua0UOhVAnXFMB70n8RriypedaVlY/w640-h426/alexander-mils-lCPhGxs7pww-unsplash.jpg" title="Unhappy person focusing on money" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The ultimate goal in life is to be happy. And happiness should come from being content with what you have and having realistic yet challenging goals. But to some people, happiness means perfection, which is something impossible to achieve.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now, I don’t want you reading the following points and panic because </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">you definitely do these things </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">and automatically think that you fall into the category of ‘unhappy people’. We should not mistake being in a bad mood or having a bad day with being chronically unhappy. People who are unhappy with their life do a combination of all of them and drag them long-term, which is when it becomes troubling. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The following are </span><b>4 troubling things unhappy people do</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that we should avoid (with science-backed reasons):</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>1. They only value material things</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus once said: "Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for."<br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A study carried out at Baylor University showed that people who are more likely to achieve material goals are</span><b> unsatisfied with life and with lower self-esteem</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. They are also less likely to be happy and satisfied in a relationship and less involved in community events. People who try to find happiness through material things are stuck in the </span><b>Treadmill of Consumption</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. They continue to purchase more and more things but never reach happiness, they simply speed up the treadmill.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>2. They don’t exercise</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’ve heard plenty of times that exercising is good for our mental health and can make us feel way better afterward. But what is the scientific explanation for it? Well, when we work-out our heart rate raises, which promotes endorphin, dopamine and adrenaline production. These are all </span><b>brain cells that are associated with feeling happy and confident</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unhappy people have in common that they rarely exercise, so they don’t get the endorphin rush nor the feeling of accomplishment. Working-out takes willpower, so people who struggle to find time to exercise consistently can </span><b>put themselves down for the lack of motivation </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">and willpower.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7gz4v3irxEKtr5biXvLczBhGcnu2CN8k3LOup-2xuUJU4PBF7OPVVOl8s51S9NTFlKIVtnxG8JGJ5mPaiTF7adiooSeeUFuhhnzxmWexYCTomC_GAICAKmc2x9jTMFQTQf_OzCqWIbc/"><img alt="Be Happy quote" border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4288" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7gz4v3irxEKtr5biXvLczBhGcnu2CN8k3LOup-2xuUJU4PBF7OPVVOl8s51S9NTFlKIVtnxG8JGJ5mPaiTF7adiooSeeUFuhhnzxmWexYCTomC_GAICAKmc2x9jTMFQTQf_OzCqWIbc/w640-h426/alex-block-dqt_nCUrH5A-unsplash.jpg" title="Be happy quote" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span><b>3. They gossip</b></h2><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the signs of unhappy people is someone who is not happy with themselves and </span><b>projects their own insecurities to others</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. After all, someone who is happy, confident and has a lot to live for doesn’t have time to engage in negative small talk that is of no benefit at all. So, people that gossip and talk negatively about others are people who are not happy or satisfied with their life and find pleasure in bringing happy people down, because they don’t have anything better to do.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>4. They procrastinate</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even if most of us don’t think procrastination is a big deal, as long as you get the task done, it is pretty harmful. For starters, if this delay of tasks was no big deal, there would be no need for calling it ‘procrastination’ and would simply be called ‘time-management’. So, why is procrastination bad and why is it associated with unhappy people?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Well, that is because </span><b>procrastination carries the feelings of guilt</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><b> shame and anxiety</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that comes from the decision to prolong and delay things. And all these feelings sum up to become dissatisfaction and self-defeat. So chronic procrastinators basically end-up suffering more and performing worse than others and this negative feeling leads to unhappiness.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As a conclusion, people with chronic unhappiness are this way by choice. Happiness is under our control and it has very little to do with where we were born, our net worth and so own. In fact, an </span><a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4115033&page=1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">article</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> published by ABC News states that </span><b>only 10% of our overall happiness is related to our life circumstances</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> such as where we live, how much money we have, our marital status and how we look. So, the rest is really up to you!</span><br /><br /></p>
<p><b>Keep reading:</b> <a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/04/habits-of-successful-people.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">4 non-obvious habits successful people do</span></a></p><p><br /></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-52032811791699975342020-05-16T14:43:00.005+02:002020-05-23T19:04:27.795+02:00Tips for Finding a New Job During Lockdown<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0G3NGcNmcLRkjcAUs7N3e8kp-C3KQ-yNScFv9amXLkWmab0VBXx_Y7PR4xY1lViZ2VZS8RE6ZQOAkdiPhhOjKhkDmp0o3YGxH6VlUBGgWSoRuXbb4qeneUkOdAHw7vw5hK5mwG1rNXM/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Woman applying for jobs from home" border="0" data-original-height="3873" data-original-width="5810" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0G3NGcNmcLRkjcAUs7N3e8kp-C3KQ-yNScFv9amXLkWmab0VBXx_Y7PR4xY1lViZ2VZS8RE6ZQOAkdiPhhOjKhkDmp0o3YGxH6VlUBGgWSoRuXbb4qeneUkOdAHw7vw5hK5mwG1rNXM/w640-h426/bruno-cervera-azsk_6IMT3I-unsplash.jpg" title="Woman applying for jobs from home" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-weight: 400;">So you’re a <b>graduate student</b> that just finished their degree and want to start looking for jobs. <br /></span><p></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maybe you were in your job for years and <b>recently got laid off</b>. Now what? <br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Well, the bad news is that right now we have all been struck by a global pandemic that is making getting a job, amongst other things, ten times harder. The good news is that there are still plenty of companies hiring for remote positions. But in order to succeed in your remote job search you have to </span><b>know where to look</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and be smart enough to </span><b>know how to grab a recruiter’s attention</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> through an email, social media, etc. Keep reading to know some tips for finding a new job during lockdown and how to tailor your job search to meet your employer’s needs.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Learn how the job search game has changed</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During the Coronavirus pandemic, employers have had to learn how to continue with the hiring process without breaking the social distancing rules. This means that now, every single step; from the job application to the final interview, has to be done remotely. If you want to apply for jobs during lockdown, you will have to </span><b>know where to look for jobs</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (job sites, companies’ websites, social media…) and </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/master-your-remote-interview.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">how to master your remote interview</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and look like it’s not the first time you’re doing one.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One step that is known to help a lot of job hunters find a job is </span><b>networking</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. And whilst you might think that right now networking events are off the cards in your remote job search process, they’re really not! Sure, the traditional job fairs and talks have had to be canceled, but instead, companies have organized webinars and online talks that anyone can attend. Taking part in them allows you to engage with the company and </span><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/finally-5-email-templates-that-make-following-up-with-anyone-way-less-awkward" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">follow-up through email</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or social media afterward to let them know how much you enjoyed the webinar. This will most likely start a conversation and will be a great way to show how motivated you are to work for them, how much you respect their values, how skilled you are for the position, etc.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_z3Brdf-MLDtWpwK2BLRI177eZJ4f41TKGSXbHhyj2Ol4vmcWMDAiRyPq6WoaTswMTuQjkEYadxNzfTolhFI0Ent81SJuoriUUP8RLXketst7rsfonRzPsUGMoV0TQPmnk1CCktGgYM/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5760" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_z3Brdf-MLDtWpwK2BLRI177eZJ4f41TKGSXbHhyj2Ol4vmcWMDAiRyPq6WoaTswMTuQjkEYadxNzfTolhFI0Ent81SJuoriUUP8RLXketst7rsfonRzPsUGMoV0TQPmnk1CCktGgYM/w640-h426/charles-koh-px-xoEBdkII-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Learn a new skill during lockdown</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the questions that’s going to become a common one in interviews is ‘</span><b>What have you done during lockdown?’</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. The thing is, employers are looking for proactive and driven people who are actively working towards getting a job. They don't want to hire candidates who have spent their lockdown sitting on the couch watching the Harry Potter movies back to back on Netflix. They are looking for people who use opportunities —like having a month off due to a global pandemic— to grow and exercise their minds.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, in a job interview, it is likely you are going to be asked if you used your time in lockdown to learn a new skill like <b>study a language</b>,<b> take an online course</b>, etc. Make sure you develop your skills during this time off as it will help you immensely when finding a new job, not only for your knowledge and career, but also to prove to your recruiter you’re an ambitious and enterprising person.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Look for remote job positions </b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During the months following the pandemic, companies are going to be advised to continue working from home (if they have the means to do so) so </span><b>you are more likely to get an offer if you search for remote job positions</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Areas such as Marketing, Consulting, Education, and Tech are a few that are currently looking for freelancers or fixed-term employees to work from home. It also goes without saying that having previous experience in these areas will be key to finding a new job at this very moment.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In some industries, though, remote positions are not a thing as they require manual work. Job offers in the Manufacturing industry, for example, are the ones that are probably going to take the longest to fill. However, not being able to find remote jobs shouldn't set you back because there are plenty of companies that will be hiring after the pandemic. Meanwhile, you can create a website and</span><b> offer a course in your expertise in an area</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for those that want to learn about your industry!</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Send speculative applications</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">By sending speculative applications I mean getting in touch with a company you’re interested in and </span><b>asking whether they have a suitable job for you</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, in spite of not advertising a particular vacancy on their website or job sites. Doing this increases your chances of finding a new job as you’re not only applying on job postings, but in addition you’re creating job opportunities for yourself by sending your resume and a cover letter to a company. Speculative applications not only increase your chances of landing a job but also demonstrate initiative, keenness, and proactivity, all necessary traits for a successful employee.</span></p>
<p><br /><br /><b>Keep reading:</b> <a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/how-long-to-get-a-job.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s How Long It </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Really</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Takes To Get a Job</span></a></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-32795287606356958212020-05-10T11:15:00.002+02:002020-05-23T19:04:03.130+02:00How to Start Journaling Without Feeling Overwhelmed<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0R2jA5OL77g3PdZluBHD4M-_rJoVx7T41_bfVZ2Ft3XVxCmjIiv48t5bkPEfDpXRcsswM5Jo_QLr_4jOIFO4nQvVinibAbKVE4dAkfVLKCK1JR9tI7bgmHy1L493GolFaMfGe9ulfBV0/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Woman starting a journal" border="0" data-original-height="4334" data-original-width="3805" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0R2jA5OL77g3PdZluBHD4M-_rJoVx7T41_bfVZ2Ft3XVxCmjIiv48t5bkPEfDpXRcsswM5Jo_QLr_4jOIFO4nQvVinibAbKVE4dAkfVLKCK1JR9tI7bgmHy1L493GolFaMfGe9ulfBV0/w562-h640/my-life-journal-BJ8qjwk_yLs-unsplash.jpeg" title="Woman starting a journal" width="562" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Did you set a resolution this year to ‘start journaling’ but you still haven’t picked this habit up? <b>Do you feel overwhelmed and apprehensive because you don’t know how to start journaling</b> without it feeling like a chore? I feel you.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People have this concept of journaling as something you have to do every single day and write pages and pages about your feelings. And that is not the case at all. There is also a misconception of starting a journal only if you suffer from depression or anxiety to process your feelings and help you get through it. And the truth is, whilst some people who suffer from mental health issues find it very helpful to journal in order to organise their thoughts, people who don’t <b>still find journaling very useful to deal with and process any kind of tough situation</b>.</span></p>
<h2><b>Know what the purpose of your journal will be</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">How to start journaling if you don’t have anything to write about? If you thought journaling only meant writing down your thoughts and what you get up to every day, you’re wrong! Sure, this is one of the main purposes why people start journaling, but there are so many other types of journals and ways to use one that I can assure you you’ll find the one that works for you. Finding what you want to journal about is the key to starting a journal without feeling overwhelmed or pressured to do it. Take a look at the following ideas: <br /></span></p>
<h3><b>Diary</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A place where you can </span><b>write about your day</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><b> your feelings</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><b> your fears</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">... whatever crosses your mind! You want to start a diary but you’re not sure how to start a journal entry? Good news: there are no rules on how to start one! You can even write 3 lines a day and </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">that</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> will already help you get a thought out of your head and make you feel better!</span></p>
<h3><b>Bullet journal</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’ve read my article on </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/04/creative-bullet-journal-spreads.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">creative bullet journal spreads</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> you’ll know this type of journal can be used for anything! Starting a bullet journal can help you organise your life as you can </span><b>write your to-do list every day and keep a record of your habits</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><b> your expenses</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><b> the books you’re reading</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, etc.</span></p>
<h3><b>Travel journal</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This one is perfect for the avid traveller that wants to </span><b>keep track of all the memories they make around the world!</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> When </span><a href="https://www.tripsavvy.com/writing-a-travel-journal-like-a-pro-4059287"><span style="font-weight: 400;">starting a travel journal</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> you don’t have the pressure to write on it every single day and it can end up being a place full of positive memories that you can look back to at any time. You can also do like I do and combine my travel journal with my bullet journal, so I have everything in one notebook!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxh_GA681EOInOyjLHkN0at_PxuPuY46nNa3x5vZYoZw1AmARJwSaDgJcXPO5e__yFyV5AY-KzJwsWTSg6GtC0aJ9SmYfDsZa4yN9Q2V_wbaa9xhamZlAfIfxWyX4CfRVRvZNc7D_BvFM/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bullet Journal" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2992" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxh_GA681EOInOyjLHkN0at_PxuPuY46nNa3x5vZYoZw1AmARJwSaDgJcXPO5e__yFyV5AY-KzJwsWTSg6GtC0aJ9SmYfDsZa4yN9Q2V_wbaa9xhamZlAfIfxWyX4CfRVRvZNc7D_BvFM/w640-h428/estee-janssens-nAZ4awBemFs-unsplash.jpg" title="Bullet Journal" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p>
<h2><b>How to start journaling without fancy supplies</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You don’t need perfect and colourful supplies in order to start journaling. As a matter of fact, you don’t even need a notebook! Yes, most people recommend journaling on a notebook to give your mind a break from the screens and because there’s something therapeutic, rhythmic and calming about writing by hand. Starting a journal on a</span><b> journaling App </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">(or just your notes app on your phone) means not having to worry about carrying a notebook and a pen with you and just whipping out your phone when you have an extra moment in your day.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Most people find that the worry and overwhelm about starting to journal comes within the pressure of having beautiful pens and a desk full of stationary. And whilst on Instagram it might feel like this is the case, </span><b>in real life most people who journal find they can be creative with a simple black pen and a paper</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Plus, your journal should only be for you and as long as you like it, that’s all that matters. So, if you were wondering how to start journaling with cool pens and pencils, wonder no more!</span></p>
<h2><b>Don’t force it to be a habit</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Journaling should be something you enjoy. If you force yourself to make it a habit that you have to do every single day, you’ll end up making it a chore. Find the journal that works for you and your own journaling method. </span><b>Let the motivation and excitement about picking up the journal and writing on it come naturally to you! </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maybe that is once a week, once a month, or maybe every day before heading to work or before you go to bed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fun fact: the only journal that I have ever completed (filled in every single page on it) is my anxiety journal. I just write on it when there’s a situation bothering me, and I need to write it down to get it off my chest and know how I’ll approach it. </span><b>This journal has basically become a need at this point!</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> But don’t ask me to write about my day before I go to bed because I simply can’t do it. And that’s fine! Again, it is about what works for you and what you want to write about!</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Keep reading: </b><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/why-journaling-is-good-and.html" target="_blank">Why journaling is good and beneficial for everyone</a><br /></span></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-67361350950747028822020-05-09T12:56:00.000+02:002020-05-09T12:56:25.050+02:00Here's How Long It Really Takes to Get a Job<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ClAvSMFEVLdtJNiyPRUinThSbg1l9iHlLPuAkz2jmM2-qhZf0Cl06HCfbniFZzVfHKDKreTSYq8nWk-xsgDx8YGEk0MHfFjjD5JbZ4MrRuvabrk3BJqNBX-j-1bF9wg4IHumIbqN4oY/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Employees working at an office" border="0" data-original-height="5304" data-original-width="7952" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ClAvSMFEVLdtJNiyPRUinThSbg1l9iHlLPuAkz2jmM2-qhZf0Cl06HCfbniFZzVfHKDKreTSYq8nWk-xsgDx8YGEk0MHfFjjD5JbZ4MrRuvabrk3BJqNBX-j-1bF9wg4IHumIbqN4oY/w640-h426/annie-spratt-dWYU3i-mqEo-unsplash.jpg" title="Employees working at an office" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-weight: 400;">How long does it take to find a job? It’s really difficult to know how long to wait when you’re in the job search process. Should you send one more follow-up email? Should you just give up and try again in a few months time? We already know that job hunting can take from a few days for lucky applicants or, unfortunately, up to a few months for others. Even though there are many variables that impact the length of time it takes to find a job, this article talks about the exact data and percentages on </span><b>the average job search time</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> taking into account different positions and industries.</span>
<h2><b>What do studies say?</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a study carried out in August 2019, the </span><a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t12.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bureau of Labour Statistics</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> states that the average time it took people looking for jobs to land one was </span><b>22 weeks (5 months approx.)</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.randstadusa.com/jobs/career-resources/career-advice/the-art-of-the-job-hunt/631/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Randstad</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> also indicates an average of </span><b>5 months</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from the time job applicants are interviewed until they are offered a position.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When it comes to </span><b>new college graduates</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, though, it takes them an average of </span><b>23.6 days</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to get hired.</span></p>
<h2><b>How long does it take to find a job based on my position and sector?</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The higher the position you’re looking for, the longer it will take to get the job. Therefore, jobs with either ‘vice-president’ or ‘director’ in the title take longer to fill than the starting-out jobs, probably because those entering the professional world need to prove they have less-specialized skills for these types of job offers. As your CV grows and you become more experienced, the average job search time increases.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Hospitality sector has the hardest time looking for people with the right qualifications, with </span><b>43% of the job openings being unfilled after 3 months</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. People looking for jobs in the Manufacturing industry also have it hard to land a job offer: 38% of the manufacturing job vacancies are still open after 3 months of being posted online.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Right now, sectors like arts/entertainment and professional services that have had a stronger employment increase have been able to fill job positions quicker than the average job search time. The technology industry, which has shown a persistent growth over the last few years, tends to find the right applicants quicker.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDxTmX4st0Z1aa7gTv6Dy65AAgPU2LjifcCoaCAFXTW8kb3vobX7hdQhtOeHWf-wGmnQXWWA9az7A8kDbl3QRp50beq6fPZ1dQ4zoWseHCAaDpZ90ME26uizAwVebFopo2gsrNh6Fy5U/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Applying for a job offer" border="0" data-original-height="3221" data-original-width="4831" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDxTmX4st0Z1aa7gTv6Dy65AAgPU2LjifcCoaCAFXTW8kb3vobX7hdQhtOeHWf-wGmnQXWWA9az7A8kDbl3QRp50beq6fPZ1dQ4zoWseHCAaDpZ90ME26uizAwVebFopo2gsrNh6Fy5U/w640-h426/john-schnobrich-2FPjlAyMQTA-unsplash.jpg" title="Applying for a job offer" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><p></p>
<h2><b>How many people are applying for your position?</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a study carried out by Jobvite to analyze the competition for jobs, we can see that the </span><b>average of people who apply for a position is 59 applicants</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Out of them, only 12% manage to be called for a first interview whether it’s a phone call or face-to-face interview. Once you get past this first interview, your odds get a little higher, because </span><b>17% of the candidates who are interviewed are offered a job position</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. And on average, it takes companies 3 weeks to get back to the applicants, so don’t stress if you haven’t heard from your interviewee the week after the interview! The good news is, that even if you’re not successful, you could still end up getting the job as </span><b>1 in 10 people who are offered a position turn it down</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you're one of the many people looking for a job right now, be patient. Even if you work hard on your resume, have a great portfolio and have gone to plenty of networking events, there are many factors that can slow your job search process. For starters, the overall state of the economy and the economic conditions in your area are a major factor we have zero control over and notably impact the average job search time. So, make sure you’re prepared and the right job will come along, making the wait worthwhile!</span></p>
<p><br /><br /><b>Keep reading:</b> <a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/master-your-remote-interview.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How to master your first remote interview</span></a></p>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-73316690285433227672020-05-03T12:53:00.002+02:002024-01-05T16:10:30.729+01:00The Best Way to Learn a Language (and how I got a bilingual certification)<br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><img alt="Wall full fo English words" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-qRlepiDOjSvS4stPd2nkSE3ZgeX4GGVrbOpkvV26yQAYyilB6TudLuBTp4sqxkh2vW9VW_dT5NiL2oF7Nj1hanppkycKhS4HsK52OhzWCAtXM76Q0rNUtxP8VKal1pyFUIx9ioLYso/s640/questions-2110967_1920.jpg" title="Best way to learn a language" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">I’m 24 and I’m a native Spanish speaker born and raised in Barcelona, Spain.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">I also scored 110/120 points on </span></i><a href="https://www.educations.com/toefl-test-15627" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">one of the two major and most difficult English-language tests in the world</span></i></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">This article talks about what I did to become fluent in a second language and what, in my opinion, is the </span><b>most efficient and best way to learn a language</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span><br />
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<b>Study the basics of the language</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">First, let’s get the key and most obvious piece of advice out of the way.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">To be able to speak a language fluently you need to know the basic grammar and syntax rules. It has been said before that grammar shouldn’t be the top priority at the very beginning of the learning process, but the best way to learn a language is starting by memorizing the fundamental rules to be able to write correctly. Getting to know the foundations will </span><b>help you understand why a sentence is constructed that way</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and why a word is spelled the way it's spelled. And the more you understand how the language works, the more freedom and ease you’ll have to speak it!</span><br />
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<b>Set milestones</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the most important ways to learn a language is by setting milestones. And by milestones, I mean goals to prove to yourself you are, in fact, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">learning</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> the language. </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Milestones also help with </span><b>being consistent</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and not giving up on your dreams. So my recommendation is to </span><b>set yourself a series of short-term goals</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and in addition a long- term goal you should accomplish in 6 months, 12 months, or even over a couple of years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">For example, if your goal is to be fluent in German:</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Your <b>short-term goals</b> could be: </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">- Learn a new German word every day. (Look up what </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">mutterseelenallein</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> means and that can be your word for today!) </span><b>Learn new words daily</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and you’ll improve and grow your vocabulary exceedingly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">- Complete a total of 3 hours of studying German every week. (Maybe 3 hours is too much for you. Maybe you only have time to do 10 minutes a day! That’s fine as long as you’re realistic!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">- Be able to maintain a 15-minute conversation about, for example, sports (or any other topic you’re interested in) in a month's time. The best way to learn a language besides consistency is to also </span><b>make it enjoyable</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">!</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Your <b>long-term goal</b> could be:</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">- Take (and pass) a language certification exam.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">- Read a whole book in German.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">- Become friends with a native speaker and only speak German with them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Which leads me to my next tip.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtVkYieWpRqk9G7r6DhyEN54R4f-3VxT9yieenEgJ9KWfdX7IJmaUiQSlhXl4TNaes5GClSGp7iFiFi0FfsewTU3iMaiqYd1wh0qX-_Xr2yvgpOnFY7IEyzkgLRMAPJY5DWyyjId6i3A/s1600/brooke-cagle-TxSVqNgnjq4-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Woman and man talking" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtVkYieWpRqk9G7r6DhyEN54R4f-3VxT9yieenEgJ9KWfdX7IJmaUiQSlhXl4TNaes5GClSGp7iFiFi0FfsewTU3iMaiqYd1wh0qX-_Xr2yvgpOnFY7IEyzkgLRMAPJY5DWyyjId6i3A/s640/brooke-cagle-TxSVqNgnjq4-unsplash.jpg" title="Talking to a native speaker to learn a language" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Talk to native-speakers</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Even if your goal is to be able to talk with a local solely in their language, that does not mean you should wait to converse in their language until you’ve mastered it. If you’re lucky enough to know a native speaker, practice with them! You’ll also learn about their culture and ways of thinking and that’s the main and </span><b>biggest benefit of being fluent in a second language: seeing the world with a different set of eyes!</b><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">And no, you don’t have to travel to meet native speakers! There’re plenty of online platforms and </span><a href="https://www.pastemagazine.com/tech/apps/10-great-apps-for-meeting-new-friends/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">apps where you can talk to people from all over the world</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. When I lived in Scotland</span><b> I used Bumble to meet locals</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and practice my English and ended up making some really close friends! I’ve also used </span><a href="http://studentsoftheworld.info/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">this free pen pal site</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to talk and get to know people that live really far away from me (but still was able to learn a language well by sending emails and postcards!). Nowadays, I </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">use</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> my Ghanaian boyfriend (sorry, Amin) to practice and learn new words and expressions that I would never have known if I stuck to only learning from textbooks!</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">When I started engaging in conversations with native speakers is when I saw that my English was really improving. So I do think </span><b>this is truly the best way to learn a language and could be the cheapest one if you want to!</b><br />
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<b>Put yourself out there</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Like I’m doing with this blog where I only write in English! It does take some courage to order at a restaurant in a foreign language or to write an article in a language that is not your mother tongue for native speakers to read. Especially at the early stages of learning the language, when making mistakes is embarrassing and having people point them out makes it worse! But if you’re wondering how to learn a language fast, putting yourself out there and practicing is how to do it. Practice makes perfect, so go ahead and start!</span><br />
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<b>Keep reading:</b> <a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/04/how-to-be-productive-working-from-home.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How to be productive working from home (the 20-minute rule)</span></a>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-36504160522099950032020-05-01T13:07:00.003+02:002024-01-05T16:06:10.930+01:00How to Master your First Remote Interview<br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmBRP6UuoIskU321uBQx26zOuQth8IfsoOhylxSdjmslMGUPEuNKGvStlOfnKP1yPQc9vhQN0sJsjUJL-dO_7GPybOulr0ARs6gwjsi6BwnKX9htGlGUIWEIR630Pnp58rQX7tT6PX20/s1600/christin-hume-Hcfwew744z4-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Remote interview from laptop" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmBRP6UuoIskU321uBQx26zOuQth8IfsoOhylxSdjmslMGUPEuNKGvStlOfnKP1yPQc9vhQN0sJsjUJL-dO_7GPybOulr0ARs6gwjsi6BwnKX9htGlGUIWEIR630Pnp58rQX7tT6PX20/s640/christin-hume-Hcfwew744z4-unsplash.jpg" title="Remote interview from laptop" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Getting interviewed remotely through a video or phone call isn’t the same as getting interviewed in person. Employers are looking for the exact same skills and talent in their remote employees, and it is sometimes a bit trickier to express yourself with little nonverbal communication in a </span><b>remote interview</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">At 24 years old, I personally think I already have a lot of experience with both of them. Whilst I have had many face-to-face interviews for my internships and for my current Marketing job, I’ve also done close to 10</span><b> skype interviews </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">(in only a month!) when applying for jobs in Scotland. So I know my fair share of remote interview tips and just overall interview ins and outs that I want to share with you. From setting up a perfect workspace and environment to acing your interview questions, keep reading to </span><b>learn how to master your first remote interview</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">1. Know the common interview questions</span></h1>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Even if it’s impossible to know the exact questions you are going to be asked in an interview, there are basic questions that come up in every single one no matter what position you’re applying for. You will want to know </span><a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/what-is-your-greatest-weakness"><span style="font-weight: 400;">how to answer ‘what is your greatest weakness’</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and how to show that you value yourself when they ask you </span><a href="https://www.thebalancecareers.com/interview-questions-about-your-salary-expectations-2061235"><span style="font-weight: 400;">‘what are your salary expectations?’</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> My advice is to google what the basic interview questions and answers are so you feel prepared and avoid being put on the spot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Also, take notes! Firstly, because your recruiter will be giving you valuable info on how your position works, how they want to proceed after the interview, etc. Secondly, because it looks professional and like you’re taking your remote interview seriously. I personally think taking notes on a notepad is better than on your laptop, as the sound of your typing can be distracting to the person on the other end of the call. But if you are planning on taking notes from your device, let your interviewer know, so they don’t think you are being impolite or not paying attention.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqLkDwqBkCwfCqMZ0jElnRIEtdLQ56M9J-R-nCFfec_KjvdeeoZWhgDS5j1OEXfM5rl2AJhoDlvyEXrwCsz-TR_2bP8U9ebJctfo4KQWix5ZubRFa3dMPOFzjFx3CsPVrqYiysuemPIc/s1600/kelly-sikkema-xcvXS6wDCAY-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Taking notes on an interview" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqLkDwqBkCwfCqMZ0jElnRIEtdLQ56M9J-R-nCFfec_KjvdeeoZWhgDS5j1OEXfM5rl2AJhoDlvyEXrwCsz-TR_2bP8U9ebJctfo4KQWix5ZubRFa3dMPOFzjFx3CsPVrqYiysuemPIc/s640/kelly-sikkema-xcvXS6wDCAY-unsplash.jpg" title="Woman taking notes" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">2. What remote interview software and tools are you going to use?</span></h1>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">You will most likely be told what software and platform the interview is going to be carried out through. The most common platforms nowadays are </span><b>Microsoft Teams</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><b>Google Meet</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><b>Skype</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. And it’s not unusual to get a </span><b>phone interview</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> beforehand for a quick get-to-know-you interrogation. But more on precise phone interview tips later.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">My number one tip for remote candidates is to </span><b>be familiar with the above platforms and know-how to communicate digitally</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Set up your laptop and download whatever tools you’ll need at least an hour before your interview starts. Also, make sure you have a decent internet connection! There is nothing worse than candidates (and employers) having little to no Wi-Fi and you not being able to hear them properly because the video keeps cutting off mid-sentence. And, let’s face it: how are we meant to give a good impression if this happens on our first remote interview? No matter how much preparation you’ve put into the interview, if your interviewers can’t understand you, you’re cooked.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">3. Set the stage</span></h1>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Try to find a quiet space away from any loud noises. Also, executive recruiter </span><a href="https://calibrate-legal.com/tips-to-get-ready-for-a-video-interview/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jennifer Johnson</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> states that if possible, you should </span><b>position yourself so that there’s a blank wall behind you</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. One of the main tips for a successful remote interview is that your face should be the main focus on the screen and your background should not be cluttered with decor or distracting items.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Check the audio and mic</span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Do a practice call with a family member or friend to ensure the audio is high quality and that your microphone is working. </span><b>Learn how the muting and unmuting button works</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> especially if there’s going to be more than one recruiter in your video interview. You will most likely have to unmute yourself every time someone speaks to avoid any background noise.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMNltuBt70Pd8aBnGU7x6xgDIQBwCVxMVx4I8bSAehTNoBHPvgfD_iciRFQ4ljcP3JiAW8mxKTFeCWyrFu-OJhiibf8C6186MlHI6aI_jyiZ7Ib7BEbGrQ5sOKeB99f2oPzTvrOBYGS4/s1600/anete-lusina--4Wi_ii6StY-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Woman on a remote interview" border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMNltuBt70Pd8aBnGU7x6xgDIQBwCVxMVx4I8bSAehTNoBHPvgfD_iciRFQ4ljcP3JiAW8mxKTFeCWyrFu-OJhiibf8C6186MlHI6aI_jyiZ7Ib7BEbGrQ5sOKeB99f2oPzTvrOBYGS4/s640/anete-lusina--4Wi_ii6StY-unsplash.jpg" title="Woman on a remote interview" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Light from the front!</span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the best remote interview tips I can give you is to </span><b>aim for natural light!</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> If your interview is in the afternoon and it’s dark outside or if you opt for a space that doesn’t have much natural light, then </span><b>place a lamp or any sort of lighting one foot away in front of you</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. You want the recruiter to be able to see your face and expressions and not being able to see you clearly might set up a creepy and unprofessional vibe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">4. Phone interview tips</span></h1>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Whilst you should also take note of the above tips for phone interviews, there are some additional aspects to take into consideration if your remote interview is going to be done through a phone call. First, </span><b>speak clearly</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">! If on video interviews your recruiter can pay attention to your facial expressions and other nonverbal signs to evaluate your personality, on phone calls you only have your tone of voice to help you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Also, take advantage of the situation and, when preparing for a phone interview, create a </span><b>cheat sheet</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of questions and answers you can have in front of you during the call. Looking down on a sheet of paper is trickier when you’re on a video call as it can look unprofessional if done indiscreetly. But on a phone call, nobody will notice!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVj7lsP9NSYKmz1ij2B9sAxVbbqTLTPfjrFaM2VnE9sheSe92kiYdq-LYAOqeGwnU4qiYPQHYxaQJEp90jjrFGk0NMyJ9k_YReHDgIbPyBZMG475lYFzmbmr-BK_6V0xkJfIXGO_8Lsw/s1600/mia-baker-q6L8iZCZlBk-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVj7lsP9NSYKmz1ij2B9sAxVbbqTLTPfjrFaM2VnE9sheSe92kiYdq-LYAOqeGwnU4qiYPQHYxaQJEp90jjrFGk0NMyJ9k_YReHDgIbPyBZMG475lYFzmbmr-BK_6V0xkJfIXGO_8Lsw/s640/mia-baker-q6L8iZCZlBk-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">5. Send a Thank-you email after your interview</span></h1>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">A follow-up email after an interview, whether it’s in person or a remote interview, is crucial to get the job. Most people forget to follow-up or thank their interviewer for taking time off their day to chat with them and consider them for their vacancy. </span><b>These emails are also your weapon to outperform other candidates</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that probably have very similar qualities to yours and could be chosen instead of you. Make sure you </span><b>send your thank-you email within 24 hours of your interview</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and that you reiterate </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">your</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> interest in the job offer. That will definitely set you apart from the other candidates!</span><br />
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<b>Keep reading:</b> <a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/04/17-motivational-quotes-for-success.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">17 motivational quotes for a fruitful career</span></a>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-57482299230276525102020-04-26T11:45:00.005+02:002024-01-05T16:04:36.204+01:0017 Motivational Quotes for a Fruitful Career<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><img alt="Motivational quote for a successful career" border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bP4YYJ9nNXm6NkS8L39G53zHONv3Ik61TXfX5yG01Zfy9exyw8BmfWO-jllTl1Id879x1LkGBR6SOv_wpSdGY7ashpvAu2H8wh8gluofGblYU4-2QiNgFYamL510G1cgWHoYxI74xAw/s640/annie-spratt-vg8UF3dx4pw-unsplash.jpg" title="Motivational quote" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">No matter what stage you’re at in your career, whether you’re a young professional just starting out or a successful CEO of a company, <b>we all need an extra push sometimes to make it through our day</b>. That is why I’ve complied some of my favourite <a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2021/03/entrepreneurial-spirit-quotes.html" target="_blank">entrepreneurial spirit quotes</a> and <b>productivity and </b></span><b>motivation quotes</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that will encourage you to keep going and have a fruitful career.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">So if you’re a student struggling to get an internship, a young professional trying to decode your career or someone who just started their business and just hit a rough patch, keep reading to find some motivation. The following </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">positive quotes</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> will help you clear your mind and look on the bright side of things!</span><br />
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<b>Monday motivation quotes for professionals</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">For most of us, Monday is no doubt the worst day of the week because it means we’re back to waking up early and dealing with unfriendly co-workers. However, Mondays should be seen as a fresh start, another opportunity to achieve our goals and a great day to start a new habit. So if you want to <b>beat the dreaded Monday blues</b>, take a look at some success and </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">motivation quotes</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to uplift your mood.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“People with goals succeed because they know where they are going.” - Earl Nightingale, Author</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If you’re serious about changing your life, you’ll find a way. If you’re not, you’ll find an excuse.” - Jenn Sincero, writer and success coach</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Mondays are the start of the work week which offer new beginnings 52 times a year!” - David Dweck, CEO of Private Equity Funding</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The sun himself is weak when he first rises; and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on.” - Charles Dickens, writer and social critic</span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #666666;"> </span> </span></span><br />
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<b>Inspirational quotes for women at work</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The following </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">motivational quotes</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for women, from women, will <b>empower you to keep working hard</b> and fighting to get to where you want to be.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” - Eleanor Roosevelt, politician, activist and diplomat</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself. Keep fighting for your dreams!” - Gabby Douglas, Olympic medalist in Gymnastics</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” - Katharine Hepburn, actress and four-time Academy Award winner</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.” - Marie Curie, scientist and Noble Prize winner</span></span><br />
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<b>Quotes to help you manage anxiety at work</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">I have personally been struggling with social anxiety my whole life, and besides receiving </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">help from psychologists to handle anxiety and depression</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, <b>positive affirmations have helped me calm myself down</b> in certain situations. Maybe you do not suffer from social anxiety, but you do get stressed because you won’t meet your deadlines or because you don’t know how to tackle a project.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Even if takes much more than inspirational quotes to feel at ease in your workplace, the following </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">encouragement and </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">motivation quotes</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> can help you see there actually is light at the end of the tunnel.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, he turned into a butterfly.” - Proverb</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“What people in the world think of you is really none of your business.” - Martha Graham, influential dancer and choreographer</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It's not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.” - Hans Selye, endocrinologist and first to demonstrate the existence of </span><a href="https://dictionary.apa.org/biological-stress"><span style="font-weight: 400;">biological stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Trust yourself. You’ve survived a lot, and you’ll survive whatever is coming.” - Robert Tew, writer</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Life is ten percent what you experience and ninety percent how you respond to it.” - Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, CEO of Genesis Consultants and leadership coach</span></span><br />
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<b>Motivational quotes for students</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re just starting your professional career and trying to figure out what path you want to follow and what type of job you want to pursue, you can sometimes feel lost and at ease. Even if I’m not a student anymore, I’m only in my 20's and still at the very start of my career. I sometimes feel inexperienced, lost and have the need to have everything figured out and that stresses me out.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Most of the time I need </span><b>uplifting quotes</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b> and sayings that will remind me to take things slow</b>. If feel you’re on the same boat, check out the following perseverance and </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">motivation quotes</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” - Arthur Ashe, first and only African-American male tennis player to win the U.S. Open and Wimbledon singles titles</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“There are two kinds of people in this world: those who want to get things done and those who don’t want to make mistakes.” - John Maxwell, writer and pastor</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” - Michael Jordan, former professional basketball player</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” - Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Keep reading:</b> <a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/04/habits-of-successful-people.html">4 non-obvious habits of successful people</a></span>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-85731173805919330582020-04-25T12:16:00.005+02:002024-01-05T16:03:29.861+01:00Creative Bullet Journal Spreads and Ideas That Will Change your Life<br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The bullet journal method has been a popular form of planning, reflecting and organising your goals for the past years. For those of you who haven’t heard of this term before, bullet journals are basically a tailored planner and diary that you create from scratch on a simple dotted notebook. They include ‘spreads’ or really one or two-page concepts to help you track your daily habits, plan your week, your month, etc. Whilst these agenda-type </span><b>bullet journal spreads</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are the main thing people use their BUJO for, there are other super creative and mind-blowing spreads you can incorporate in your BUJO planner.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this article I’ll mention a few of the crazy and cool spreads that I’ve been including in my bullet journal since I discovered it in 2018. These bullet journal spreads have helped me be more organized, meet my short-term and long-term goals and helped me keep a record of all the cool things I’ve accomplished and done in a year. Take into account that you do not have to wait until the new year to <a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/05/how-to-start-journaling.html" target="_blank">start your journal.</a> They are 100% customizable which means you can start it whenever you feel like it!</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’ve already started yours, keep reading to </span><b>discover new bullet journal ideas to add to your planner that will change your life</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span><br />
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<b>1. Bullet journal habit tracker</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Even if this spread is </span><b>one of the traditional BUJO monthly spreads</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that pretty much everyone includes in their planner, it is a great way to hold you accountable and one I could simply not forget to mention. So despite there being plenty of useful designs to help you put together your habit tracker, my one includes a mood tracker as well as my </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">must-do</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> daily tasks that I have to tick off (or rather colour in) at the end of the day.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">It is hard to get carried away when you’ve just started out by jotting down a list of 10 daily habits you want to tick off each day. When I started my first bullet journal, I had habits such as ‘reading 30 minutes a day’, ‘working out daily’ or ‘study 1 hour a day’ that I simply didn’t have time to do every single day taking into consideration I was at university and working part-time. So now I’m more realistic and I’ve cut down to </span><b>two daily tasks that I know I can accomplish</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> when working a 9 to 5 job.</span><br />
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<b>2. Savings tracker</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">This BUJO yearly spread keeps me on track with my savings. The concept comes down to this abstract jar that I have to ‘put money into’ every month in order to fill it up when the year ends. You can use this bullet journal tracker for a specific item or trip you want to pay for or simply as a yearly saving goal like I do. This is definitely one of the bullet journal spreads that I am most excited to see accomplished by the end of the year! </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re looking for useful things to put in your bullet journal, you can’t forget your savings tracker. The way I plan and design mine is: I decide on a realistic amount of money I will for sure be able to set a side every single month for 12 months. I take into consideration my income and expenses and I then colour the jar in every time I put money in it. The key to this is to plan as realistically as possible and save the same amount of money every month to keep a balance and be able to track your goal accurately. So instead of having the mindset of ‘let’s see how much money I can save in a year’ </span><b>you are working towards saving X amount of money and making sure you reach that goal</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span><br />
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<b>3. </b><b><i>Challenges</i></b><b> for short-term goals</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">This is one of the bullet journal spreads that I include in my BUJO here and there. I only create these challenges if I want to get back on track with my exercise routine or if there’s a habit like drinking 1.5L of water each day that I can’t bring myself to do. Again, it’s all about the satisfaction of ticking off every day until you complete that challenge. Some of these challenges that I’ve set for myself are ‘reading 20 minutes every day for a week’ or ‘doing a 1-minute plank a day to get back to exercising ’. </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">It does take some time and a good mindset to </span><a href="https://www.briantracy.com/blog/personal-success/seven-steps-to-developing-a-new-habit/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">develop a new habit</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and I’ve found that </span><b>trying something out for a week helps me realise I do have the time to do that task</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> during my day. And doing it for 7 days straight makes me more prone to continue doing a task after a week and make it a habit.</span><br />
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<b>4. Travel and other memories spread</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Besides using my BUJO as my planner, I use it also as </span><b>a diary for any trips I take or any cool activities I do throughout the year</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. I don’t think having a separate diary or travel notebook would work for me as I really only stick pictures and Polaroids when I feel like it on special days or holidays. In a way I still think daily to-do tasks are sort of memories because it’s fun to look back on your bullet journal spreads and see what you were doing that day a year ago. And having everything condensed in one single notebook is just brilliant, time-saving and saves you space!</span><br />
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Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-11114573100096816602020-04-19T13:51:00.004+02:002024-01-05T15:57:54.464+01:004 Non-obvious Habits of Successful People<div><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you struggle to be productive, you are not alone. The thing is, </span><b>it is hard to stay focused and be disciplined with so much going on in our lives </b>and and some of us feel like we're falling<span style="font-weight: 400;"> off the productivity wagon really easily. The few people that don’t have are entrepreneurs and wealthy people that secretly know how to stay motivated every single day (that's why they are so successful, I guess!) But, how do they do it? What’s their secret? Well, I’ve done some research and found out there are some </span><b>non-obvious habits of successful people</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that they do every single day in order to achieve their goals.</span></div><div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Successful people state that having a morning routine is incredibly important as it sets the tone for the rest of the day. Some of their daily habits are activities we already do. However, most of them are things we </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">regular folks</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> have never even contemplated. So once we know </span><a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/04/how-to-be-productive-working-from-home.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">how to be productive and the methods and tools that help us stay on track</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, it is time we </span><b>create a daily routine to put our productive methods into practice</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and observe how successful people think (and hopefully become one of them!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">1. Wake up 3 hours before your workday begins</span></h2>
<div><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whilst the secret to being successful is indeed having a steady routine, I’ve found out that many of the successful people wake up really early. Before-6-am-early. This is reality for </span><b>Bill McNabb, former CEO of Vanguard, who wakes up every day at 5am</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. He says that “the quiet time between 6 and 7:30am is when some of my best work gets done’’ and that getting into the office early is always the prime time to develop creative projects and one of the most popular habits of successful people.</span></div><div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s possibly the peace and quiet you get before the whole world wakes up is what helps entrepreneurs focus on specific goals and not have any distractions. </span><b>Waking up 3 hours before your workday</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is one of the daily habits of successful people we should all try. This way we can dedicate the early morning energy at the start of the day to be productive!</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">2. Exercise daily</span></h2>
<div><span style="font-weight: 400;">Okay, maybe this one is a habit you expected wealthy people to do and it’s not really that </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">non-obvious</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Exercising daily is, though, a habit difficult to stick to! (Maybe that’s why some of us are successful and some of us aren’t, duh). This is how successful people think: </span><b>you have to work-out to have a strong body that will lead to a stronger mind</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Moreover, making sure you exercise early in the morning will ensure you have time for it and won’t put it off.</span></div><div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">A study carried out by researchers at the</span><a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2008/6063.html"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">University of Bristol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> found that </span><b>people who exercised every day had more energy and a more positive outlook</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which are both critical for getting things done and dealing with problems more effectively.</span><br />
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<span style="border: medium; display: inline-block; height: 267px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; overflow: hidden; width: 400px;"><img alt="One of the habits of successful people is exercising daily" height="267" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/RjuIMrulUEmVBgAU2wm7w1DmvVMLcTUOfKxFOhrLXYXwQYVeb-9IST7qPcqLiJY4g_4dYa_CYZQXz2w3-WJ7FySSwPqpE_rSwL9TaG5pVK9cek3vLG-VpP4dyN49aRsI4_p7dyHi" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" title="A successful women working out" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">3. Take a cold shower every single morning</span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Even if it sounds surprising, habits of successful people include taking a cold shower as soon as you wake up. Besides the health benefits that being exposed to cold temperatures comes with, </span><b>taking a cold shower is a way to start your day disciplined and refreshed</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Author Tony Robbins says ‘‘there is nothing that can change everything in your system like a radical change in temperature. Every organ, every nerve in your body is on fire.” Taking a cold shower every day will wake you up and ensure you start your day full of energy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">4. Review your goals TWICE a day in order to be focused on achieving them</span></h2>
<div><span style="font-weight: 400;">The reason why most people fail to achieve their goals is because they are not consistent in working towards them. They get distracted by other ideas and opportunities. So, how do we manage to be consistent, remember what we are working for and not focus on other less important things? Well, one of the hidden habits of highly successful people is </span><b>writing down their goals at least twice every day</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. <br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is how they determine exactly what they specifically want to accomplish and in what period of time. </span><b>Successful people understand that their focus and energy are limited</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and they only give their all to a certain number of things, instead of wanting everything. An example is </span><b>Scott Adams, the founder of Dilbert, who writes down his goals 10–15 times per day</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. I think this is one of the habits of successful people that we could incorporate into our lives to make sure we know what we are working towards and how we can accomplish our goals.</span></div><div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">I’ve personally been doing this since 2018 (not as a daily habit, though). And the way I do it is every six months </span><b>I write down a Master goal list with around 5 goals I want to achieve in that period of time</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. I then break down the big goals into smaller ones to make sure I follow an efficient and realistic path to complete my objectives. (Take a look at my Goal List from 2019 below).</span><br />
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<span style="border: medium; display: inline-block; height: 400px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; overflow: hidden; width: 300px;"><img alt="List of goals on a bullet journal" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xzVlbvUvHJv_7-_bI1p0XZWXIK-l1Gjx3OsyrgKbYUlJJeJWcCfakAM5vstCz3SGzjG37yrt3EWlchj2VoJG5UrQwfPvEcUv4frLKVK1aPRTWSvW5RpUkVoBbzU0KlOt-th7hsoX" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" title="Goals list" width="300" /></span></div>
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-469313d8-7fff-ec5c-b128-61ca55cf61a2" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span> </span>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497647498395207126.post-59234219396217471862020-04-18T17:21:00.004+02:002024-01-05T16:01:29.157+01:00How to be Productive Working from Home (the 20-minute rule)<span style="font-weight: 400;">Since the pandemic happened, most of us adopted the hybrid work schedule of going into the office for a few days and working from home some other days. Whilst this is great us employees, it is hard to be motivated and get things done when there’re no coworkers or bosses to keep you accountable so that is why I am going to give you a few tips that personally work for me to show you </span><b>how to be productive working from home</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re wondering how to be productive working from home, hear me out. After reading a few articles from <a href="https://www.merelymotivated.com/2020/04/habits-of-successful-people.html" target="_blank">successful entrepreneurs</a> on tips on how to increase work efficiency, I have put some into practice and discovered the ones that truly work for me. I no longer get overwhelmed when I know I have 8 hours of work to do as I now apply my </span><b>20-minute work periods</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> rule. I also use </span><b>two browser add-ons to keep me accountable</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and help boost my productivity. So if you’re interested in these methods and tools, keep reading to know how I keep myself from being distracted and tackle all my daily tasks!</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Work in a 20-minute period and then take a break</span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">I find that if I know I have all day to get something done such as write an article or send an important email I’ll keep putting it off. Sometimes, a simple task like proofreading an article or going through my emails can take me up to an hour just because I’ll get distracted and check my phone every five minutes! So </span><b>in order to avoid procrastination</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and force myself to start and finish a task as quickly and efficiently as possible, </span><b>I work in 20 minute periods</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Now, if you only take away one tip on how to be productive working from home from this article, it has to be this 20-minute work period rule.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">How I put this method into practice</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The way I do it is: I write down what I want to do (i.e.: write an article) and break down my task into 3 easier and smaller tasks. So if I want to write a blog post I’ll break this task into: 1) </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">write introduction</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> 2) </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">write body</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> 3) </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">revise it and look for pictures</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. It is then that </span><b>I’ll set a timer for 20 minutes and do as much as I can in that period of time </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">without leaving my desk or getting distracted until the alarm goes off. Even if 20 minutes is not much, you do get a lot done if you dedicate that time to one single activity and really helps you boost your work from home productivity and motivation as it gets you started.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Sometimes I find myself working over the 20-minute mark because I’ve become so focused on what I’m doing that I can’t be bothered to stop once I’m on a roll! Other times I take a 10-minute break and go again. </span><b>When I’m too lazy to start working I remind myself I only have to work for 20 minutes</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and then I can relax for a bit. This rule works specifically well to </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/research-tackle-hard-tasks-first-be-productive-2019-11?IR=T"><span style="font-weight: 400;">tackle harder tasks early in the morning</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that I find will take me longer to finish. The 20-minute rule helps me when I’m at the office and it’s a good thing to try out in order to learn how to be productive working from home and keep you motivated.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRde4PvGSnHffhy_2KfTuYG01o2JwdCCqcI7dAO166NIpV_hzWSiiFR3LMyabsxu1c2zWX0LfWNInqorkN_LkTP7yIqVx2s1G44_7MPXYffFl0xMghiASCsUOQQdVRnnvnN-5fkDdUb58/s1600/lukas-blazek-UAvYasdkzq8-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Person holding a watch" border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRde4PvGSnHffhy_2KfTuYG01o2JwdCCqcI7dAO166NIpV_hzWSiiFR3LMyabsxu1c2zWX0LfWNInqorkN_LkTP7yIqVx2s1G44_7MPXYffFl0xMghiASCsUOQQdVRnnvnN-5fkDdUb58/s640/lukas-blazek-UAvYasdkzq8-unsplash.jpg" title="Person holding a watch" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The browser add-ons I use to help me be more productive</span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">I mainly use </span><b>two Firefox extensions to keep me organized</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. And besides having the right mindset, the secret on how to be productive at home and get your work done is the tools you use. Besides Google Calendar and Google Drive, which are a quick and efficient way to find your documents, </span><b>I use </b><b><i>Sticky Notes</i></b><b> and </b><b><i>Timer</i></b><b> to help me plan and perform</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, respectively. They are really quick and easy to download and both of them stay in your address bar so you have access to them at all times. </span><br />
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<a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/es/firefox/addon/sticky_notes/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sticky notes</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> helps me jot down any tasks I need to do during the day (and it’s really satisfying to delete them once you've accomplished them!). </span><a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/es/firefox/addon/timer-webext/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Timer</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, on the other hand, helps me carry out a task by working as an alarm and countdown and notifies me when my 20-minute time is over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">As a result of putting these tips and tools into practice I noticed I am much more productive when I work from home. Even if you do not have a specific deadline or your boss next to you to keep you accountable, the above tips are what I can recommend to you in order for you to master how to be productive working from home and get things done!</span>Gemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164372340007540677noreply@blogger.com2