FAQ: My Career History // Part 1

New video for you today. Throughout the time I've had this blog, I've had many people ask me about what I used to do for employment. I thought it'd be a good topic for a quick video. I ran out of space on my phone before I finished adding in everything about my freelance years (2012 - present), so I figured I'd have a part 2 another day.

Here's my career history from graduating college in 2005 through November 2011.


The short of it is that I've done several marketing-related jobs. Then I worked in libraries. I actually worked at the Ithaca College library most of the years I was in college (including full time my freshman summer through graduation!). I love books and information, so I could see myself returning to that area someday.

I'm now in a place where I am happy working from home. I feel very fortunate to have the background that allows me to do it, but I'll get to the unique challenges in my next post. Working from home with just one child was relatively easy. Especially in recent years. Adding another baby to the mix has been interesting with regard to finding time without possibly hiring someone to babysit on occasion.

What do you do? I realized that I have "known" so many of you guys for ages, but I don't know what you spend much of your time doing for a job. Stay at home mom is certainly a job, too. (Boy, is it!) So, don't shy for sharing anything. Or maybe what would be more interesting is to share what you would love to do more than anything.

Happy Tuesday! And if you like this video, be sure to check out more on my YouTube channel. I'm hoping to start uploading one per week. It's a modest goal, right?

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Time for a Turnaround

You're right.

It's beyond wanting to lose weight, eat less sugar, or be happier.
To exercise more and attain some major fitness goal.
It's beyond food and babies and bigger houses.
Beyond, beyond, beyond.

I hesitate getting too personal when it comes to mental health on this space. I get a variety of reactions, good and bad and also amateur psychologist, when I delve deep. But I figure enough of you are here for the good that I'll forge ahead with what my mind + heart really wants me to focus on for a while. It's time for a turnaround. Not some quick fix, 7-day plan or other gimmick.

I find myself physically running in almost all my spare time, criticizing my diet when at rest, and continually searching for different houses, different towns, different jobs -- basically anything different that would snap me out of whatever it is.

I'm in a constant state of searching. I've always been this way. Part of it, honestly, is just a hobby (obsessed with real estate and architecture, always love imagining what it's like to live in another gal's shoes, etc.) but it's gotten a little overboard lately.

Which is when I realized that I'm not actually searching for any of these things specifically. I'm seeking -- instead -- internal change and some fundamental lifestyle shifts that go far beyond diet and exercise. From the inside versus the outside. A spark, too.

I took some time to allow myself to have a long internal conversation. I took a piece of paper and wrote down the things about my life that leave me uninspired or frustrated or those areas where I'd like to focus on growth and development.

I limited myself to the top 10 and then decided I'll start small with just five.

In no particular order:

+  +  +  +  + 

#1: Re-examination of my diet. I have been a vegetarian for as long as I can remember. But I haven't always given my body all the things, especially protein, that it needs. If I want to continue to be meat-free, I need to take the effort and energy to eat the foods that best feed my body and brain. 

Plan: I am going to approach this one through my love for cooking. It's easy to fall into a rut when it comes to making food. In my case, I've not been prioritizing it enough -- leaving dinner until the later hours and sort of snacking through my day. Through reconnecting with my love for cooking (and hopefully learning some new techniques and  recipes along the way), I hope to more naturally fall into a groove of healthier eating versus saying NO sugar, NO alcohol, NO this or that. Food is fun, no?

+  +  +  +  + 

#2: Rejuvenation of my social life. In many ways, being a mom is great socially. I have some nice mom-friends. When I left my full-time job, however, I sort of became a hermit. I often turn down opportunities to connect with other people or take the effort it takes to go out and seek new friendships. Part of this is my own long-standing introvert status. Part of it is falling out of habit.

Plan: Start saying YES when it comes to invitations. Start making the effort to drive more and connect with my friends who might not live in my city. Make more phone calls instead of emails. I may even quit Facebook for a while and see if that helps me go from virtual staying-in-touch to actual getting together, etc. This is particularly difficult for me, but whenever I do see my friends, I am infinitely happier.

+  +  +  +  + 

#3: Cultivation of my professional life. I have some great gigs going, but at the end of the day I'm often left wondering where I'm headed career-wise. I would love to make freelancing a real THING. I mean it is already, but I could be doing more and learning more. In addition, I have also wanted to explore some different careers for when our children are in school and I might want to do something outside the home.

Plan: Start a list of books and resources for freelancing and READ them. Reach out to my friends who are already successful and getting published online or elsewhere. I'm interested in writing about food, but I have a degree in writing and am excited to see what other avenues I could explore with it. In addition to all of this, I want need to carve out a proper office space for myself. Even if it's a corner of a room.

+  +  +  +  +  

#4: Action toward more financial freedom. I think my biggest source of stress on a daily basis has to do with money. Whether I'm making enough money. Or if we're spending too much money. We have our good times and bad times. We don't have credit card debt, but our student loans are heftier than most and things that sounds interesting + cute like a $50 grocery budget should really be happening more practically than just in theory. We are still in good shape with our savings, but after a few home projects this summer, I feel like we're slipping down the slope.

Plan: I'd like to revisit our budget and track our expenses again for a couple months. I'd like to see if there are any areas where we could modify our current spending habits. Including the possibility of downsizing our home to save $$$ each month without much effort (though this might not be possible because we recently refinanced, hmmm). In addition, I'd like to be more mindful of the money we spend on weekends and stop using "good months" as an excuses to spend more money when we should be saving instead.

+  +  +  +  + 

#5: Giving in and trying something new. (Oops, broke parallel structure there!) So, yeah. I am always searching, but never actually doing. Marveling at the things other people do. Saying "I could do that" or "I WANT to do that." I would like to stop sitting on the sidelines and explore my interests. I know I have limited time and resources, but there are plenty of opportunities for personal growth and enjoyment all around me. I just need to seize the day, I guess.

Plan: Find one new activity or class or group or something else to try out and stick with it for a while. This one's the biggest open-ended of the items I wanted to tackle on my list. So, I haven't given specifics except I need to figure it out before Stephen returns to work in September.

+  +  +  +  +  

What I realized through all of this "work" is that I'm not a sad person. In fact, I am happy with my life in so many ways. It's more of a unfulfilled feeling. I think with having a child, deciding to work from home, and not having an easy transition with it all, I've done OK, but I'm ready to start thriving again.

Still, I cycle between stress and then avoidance, leading eventually to more + more stress and very little progress. I'm not investing a lot of time into myself and the areas where I am investing (mostly exercise and work), I'm reaping little reward when it comes to how I feel.

Except for being a mom to this awesome girl. But I know it's more than healthy to want to be more than a mom at this stage in life. Healthy for me. Healthy for our whole family.

And so much of health is mental, isn't it?


I'm sure you were expecting some type of post like this since I turned 30 on Sunday. It actually wasn't that big a deal. It just got me thinking about time and my role in my own life. Though I am always looking for outside change, ultimately I will need to either go and MAKE those changes or see if whatever it is could be solved inside my head.

And that's how I'd like to spend my next decade.  

How about you?

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Good Question: Fitness While Working 9-to-5

Maggie writes: "I'm a pretty casual runner. I jog for fun, usually with my dog, and take my time. Ideally, I run about two miles three or four times per week with an additional warmup and cooldown. This casual running (in combination with yoga and lifting) seems to keep me healthy, happy, and in shape."

"As a newbie to the 9-to-5 scene, I've found that I don't have the time I need to get my workouts in. Would it be as healthy and effective to run every weekday (Mon-Fri) for a shorter distance in order to maintain my sanity?"

The question Maggie poses is an important one. And it gets at a deeper issue close to my heart. Working a full-time job is difficult and, at times, disheartening when there's the desire to keep up life outside the office. Even more difficult is maintaining good nutrition and exercise habits -- as well as good mental health -- when logging long hours in a cubical. E.s.p.e.c.i.a.l.l.y when it's a first "real" job. (I wrote a bit about this balancing act in Staying Healthy While Working Full Time.)

But back to Maggie's specific question. Is it effective to run a shorter distance every day of the week versus running a slightly longer distance fewer days? My initial answer begins with a bit of a question. What are you looking to accomplish with your running?

Say you run 10 miles per week. As we see it, it doesn't matter exactly when you run those miles. You're still getting the overall benefit of the total.


So, if your running routine is more for the mental health benefits, do whatever you can to get out there more often and reap those stess-relieving rewards. To vary the routine a bit, consider taking some days slow, some days fast, and others with some brief intervals (30 seconds fast, 30 seconds slow, for example).

However, if you are running for your sanity and looking to enhance your fitness level, I'd suggest another approach.


Say your goal is to eventually run a 5K race. Or improve your time at the distance. It'd be a good idea to slate 3 or 4 days of the week as training days. Concentrate your running efforts on those days -- varying your routine as suggested above, or by following a training plan. Boost your mood on the "off" days by taking walks during your breaks or at lunchtime. Walking can be just as freeing as running.

Sometimes putting yourself on a plan will help you find a way to carve out more time for training. Or it'll motivate you on days when the stress of work is all-consuming.

Does anyone else have suggestions for Maggie? Ultimately, I have found that experimentation with different routines helps me find my stride -- quite literally. So keep at it, Maggie!


And if you have a question, check out our FAQ page. You can ask us anything!

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Sit Down, Stand Up: Office Survival Guide

In our last work-related post, I learned that many of you love when I got all office on you. Well, you're in luck because I have a confession to make: I get incredibly, ridiculously, INSANELY jealous of people who don't work desk jobs. Jealous of people who don't have to sit all day. Jealous of people who don't have to wait for their 15-minute breaks or half-hour lunches to move around a bit. Five. Days. A. Week. Every week.

Oh-so very, very jealous. Green with envy, in fact.


Before I throw a full-on tantrum (because I just realized the other day I've worked behind a desk for nearly 5 years now!), I'll get on with my point. There are indeed things we office workers can do to stay healthy and sane while keeping butt-bound all day.

(And disclaimer: I realize that people who stand all day also have major issues, too. I've worked trade shows and other events for long stretches. To the point where I couldn't move my legs from standing. Ick!)


1.) Develop Habits. If you get breaks, which I believe are required by law if you work full-time, TAKE them. It's so easy to forget them when you're busy. That time just slides by. And once that time is gone, you can't get it back! Set reminders in Outlook or another scheduling program. Something that will pop up, sound an audible alarm. Write a sticky-note and put it on your monitor. Or use those electronic sticky notes on your desktop. Set your cell phone alarm. ANYTHING to remind you to take a stroll around your cube. Or, if you're lucky, outside.

Moving your legs is good for circulation, your muscles, and your mind. If you have an office, you may even want to close your door briefly. Do some yoga poses. Push-ups. (Yeah, I do them. In a skirt. Almost every day.) Dance, if that's what you're into!


2.) Make Friends. You don't have to love your coworkers, but sometimes an office pal can be a great daytime buddy. When I worked one of my first desk jobs, I was fortunate to work with friends. For example, my friend Lindsey (the pretty blond pictured above) and I would take walk breaks like clockwork no matter the weather. Outside if nice. Loops around the office if not-so nice (and that was the case more often than not).

Likewise, we'd often get out of the office and have lunch with Sarah (the gorgeous auburn). Good times.

Not only is making a buddy good for getting out. It's also great for your soul. A laugh. Support. Just taking your mind off stress, too! So, just as in "regular" life, the office life is made better by personal connections. Get some! It's easier than you might think. And even if your office is full of Dwights, Creeds, and Andys -- there's bound to be a Jim or Pam in the mix somewhere!


3.) Drink Water. Take Potty Breaks. Repeat. (Coconut water works, too!) There are entire days when I don't drink any H20. Or others when I don't get up to use the bathroom. At all. I somehow find myself glued to a project on my computer screen. Crazy with a specific task with an ASAP deadline. I could sit for hours cranking out assignments. Or if I'm in meetings, I just simply have no time.

But water is essential to life. If you don't have a water cooler, bring some from home or find a "safe" water fountain (I know they can be gross). You'll feel better. Have fewer headaches. It will promote brief walk breaks. Just keep everything, well, flowing, if you get my drift.

And I've been there. Tied to my desk. Ignoring my needs because I'm preoccupied. Take bathrooms breaks, please. There's no reason to live in discomfort. You know who you are!


4.) Take Advantage of Lunch. I know. Sometimes you can hardly get time to eat let alone have an uninterrupted lunch break. But if you can, carve out that time. I often eat little snacks and not a true "meal" . . . I eat while I'm working . . . throughout the day. So, when lunch rolls around, I can use those scads of free time (SARCASM ALERT) for other purposes.

I walk. I run errands (but park as far away as I can from wherever I'm going to -- yup -- walk some more!). Sometimes I even do yoga in my office. My coworkers will be surprised at that one, I'm sure. If I'm not feeling well, I occasionally nap or read. Or if the weather is awful, I try to get lunch with friends (there's that often-forgotten aspect of health: the MENTAL/SOUL part . . . and seasonal depression runs high in these parts!).

It's hard for me to get off campus, so I make the most of what I have. But I try my very best to not skip lunch. That time is really mine. I even stay late occasionally if I have to. I just require a break mid-day . . . or I get in a terrible mood.


5.) Go Old-School. Get up and TALK to your fellow coworkers. Email is just lazy sometimes if your office is literally next to the person you're writing to. Or get some face time in instead of picking up the phone. It's a way to sneak in some extra steps.

Occasionally I meet with one of my coworkers in a "walking meeting" where we go get coffee and chat about work-related stuff along the way. It beats just sitting in a conference room staring at each other! The fresh air helps more than you can imagine. Plus, I can think more clearly when I'm on the move.


6.) Inspire Yourself. Getting through the day goes beyond time at work. Sometimes you can be so drained and stressed, your workouts and after-hours life suffers. I've created a solution: Make an inspiration board. I stick a couple photos of myself running, some race finish certificates, photos of the outdoors, etc. on my board. Anything to remind me that there's life outside my office door. There's natural sunlight above these fluorescent bulbs.

Bring in some of your race metals, too! They make great conversations pieces. Maybe even help with tip #2 (making friends)!

And even if my legs are restless all day, I remind myself that I CAN and DO make good use of them whenever I am off the clock. Staying motivated for my runs after work isn't just good for my physical health . . . it also helps me mentally cope knowing that I sit for hours on end. I'm planning to update my inspiration board sometime soon, so I'll be sure to snap a photo and share.


So, though I'm incredibly jealous of my non-office-strapped friends. Bloggers. Family members. Etc. There are things I've been able to do to make my situation more bearable. I've found that when I get up and move as much as possible, I have fewer aches and pains. I don't need as much caffeine to power through my work. I avoid that "wall" that hits around 3PM . . . when all energy is zapped.

I take it all one day at a time.

Office workers out there. How do you cope?! Do you have an tricks for staying active during the day? For avoiding the energy suck that creeps into the night? Now the the evening darkness is starting earlier and earlier, it's getting more difficult. We'd love to hear your advice! Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

And be sure to check out our advice on Staying Healthy While Working Full-Time.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Staying Healthy While Working Full Time

Stephen is going to roll his eyes when he reads this, and I have no problem admitting that I, well, have a problem. Stephen is a teacher. He doesn't work during the summers. Even during the school year, his work schedule isn't a 9 to 5, it's a 7 to 3. And I remind him of these facts more than I should. But I'm sure many of you out there work a "normal" schedule and deal with the same issues that I deal with.

I'm tired . . . a lot.
I never feel caught up.
My work weeks speed by at a frightening pace.
My weekends speed even faster.

What it all boils down to is: I don't feel like I have enough time in the day. I can't just decide on a whim I'd like to go running. When I actually feel like running, it's usually mid to late morning. I can't just easily whip up an amazingly healthy lunch because I don't have all my ingredients and tools at work. It definitely sounds like I'm whining. Really, I am. Because it's true: Working and being healthy are difficult to do.

But these activities need not be mutually exclusive. Here are some tips that work for me:

NUTRITION:


Eat Breakfast: Sound familiar? Yeah. This to-do is everywhere. When you're working full time and trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it's more important than ever. But if you don't have time to cook in the morning, you need to plan ahead. Make a list of easy go-to breakfasts. Maybe for you it's cereal with sliced banana and tea. Oatmeal is another good option. If you're constantly hungry, like me, you might want to carve out a little more time in the AM to fill your gut.

Just a couple extra minutes gives you enough time to cook up a couple eggs, toast a bagel or English muffin, slice some cheese and tomato. Pile it into a sandwich and wrap in foil, and you have a powerfully healthy sandwich that will keep you full till lunch! (Vegans might enjoy this Banana Scramble sandwich as a substitute.)


Pack Lunch: You know you have to eat. But you can make it fun. If you're a foodie like me, the difference between a happy and sad work day is food. There are days I simply don't take the time to pack my lunch, and I find myself scrounging around trying to find something somewhat healthy. I almost always fail. Then I'm hungry again with nothing stellar to eat.

Pack a variety of goods. Even store some dry foods at work as options for when you're in a pinch. I have a jar of peanut butter, oats, and dried cranberries for emergencies. Just add hot water . . . and you have a delicious oatmeal. Packing my lunch (and snacks!!!) ensures that I have enough fuel to keep me going. And I always make time to eat (even if I have to work through) -- keeping my blood sugar consistent just makes me feel good. Plus, I'd much rather munch on yogurt and peach slices than stuff a Snickers bar down my throat.


Stay Hydrated. Again. This is no surprise -- our bodies are more than 50% water. Staying hydrated is critically important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. But did you know that hydration is also the key to honed concentration, efficient digestion and weight maintenance, good skin, and more (Source)?


Your office may not have a water cooler, but regular tap water (water fountain, etc.) in most areas does the job. Just bring a cup or BPA-free water bottle (I snagged this set at TJ Max for under $10!) to keep at your desk. I like to boost my intake by mixing in half coconut water, which has added potassium. In the cooler months, I get my fill with herbal teas. Staying hydrated helps keep headaches at bay, too. So, if you're prone to headaches, your cure may be just a sip away!

EXERCISE:


Get Our of Your Chair. Phones are great. Email is wonderful. But with more convenient ways to communicate, there's little need to leave our posts during the day. We've all read about the health hazards desk jobs present. Fight back.

Take time at least once every hour or two hours to get up and stretch. Walk around a bit. Take your eyes off your computer. Use lunch as an opportunity to get out and about -- I often walk with friends for half an hour. That way, if my day becomes so busy that working out is impossible, I've squeezed in a mini workout.


Bike to Work. Or find some way to get there that's active. Some days, fitting in an actual workout isn't possible. With deadlines and pressure looming, it may be the last thing on your mind to lace up your sneakers. But if you make it part of your routine (maybe walk your bills to the post office, walk a couple extra laps around the grocery store), you'll be sure to fit in at least a little activity.


Exercise in the Morning. One of my workout downfalls is being totally tired, de-motivated, and stressed after work. I feel enthused on the drive home, but once I park in my driveway, the lure of the couch is too strong. When I exercise in the morning, it's tough, but I get it out of the way. When I return home after work, my time is mine! It's fantastic.


What may also help (if you have this afternoon excuse issue) is taking a group exercise class. Having some structure -- a time and place you must head to -- may be all you need. Plus, if you do it with friends, it's even better. One of the things I miss most about my old job/old city is when my friend Lindsey (above -- remember her from the Nutella Ice Cream post?) and I would leave work together and head to yoga three times a week. Kept me on track, and I got to spend some quality time with my best friend!

SOUL:


Take a Break. I'm notorious for not taking breaks while at work. I get really absorbed into my projects . . . and then it's lunch time. So, even if you're like me -- USE that lunch time to your advantage. Read. Write. Knit. Blog. Do yoga. The list of what you can do with that hour or half hour is endless. (OK. Not really, but you get my point.) If you're lucky enough to have showers and gym facilities, you may want to sneak in a quick workout.

Whatever you do, try your best to disconnect from what's causing your blood pressure to rise (may be as easy as turning down the volume on your phone or closing your email client -- just don't forget to get them up and running when you return from your break!).


Relax. Work days can be stressful, right? How you deal with that stress makes all the difference. You need to find what works for you, but for me -- a walk around the block, whipping up a few recipes, or singing some tunes helps me unwind. Keeping your de-stressing activities healthy is half the battle (and I've been there, stuffing cookies into my mouth all night, believe me!).

But when your treat yourself right -- you reap the rewards. You may even choose to make a post-work ritual (like half an hour of yoga when you return home) to get into a calm rhythm.


Alone time is also important. Even alone time from your partner. Take time to do something for you and just you. For me, running gives me solitude. Time to think. Usually when I've finished a good run (and distance can range from 1 mile to 20!), my worries melt away. Even if only temporarily.


Take a Day Off. I definitely don't have this problem -- I take vacation days like crazy (probably because Stephen is off so much). But I know people who save and save and save those glorious vacation days . . . but never end up using them. Even if it's just one day -- a break from the grind is helpful for your mental (and physical, if you spend it hiking, biking, etc) health.

I often grapple with the whole meaning of life thing. Like, why are we here if we just work our lives away? Even if you can't jet off to some exotic location, take time off to enjoy life. To see what it's like to walk around your neighborhood on a Tuesday morning. To bake cookies at 2PM on a Thursday. To sleep in on a Monday! Even if you don't go anywhere, taking a vacation day to get away from the office is a good way to keep your soul happy. You'll return to work at least semi-refreshed and ready for what your coworkers bring your way.


So, these are just a couple ways I try to stay healthy while also working full time. I'd love to hear your methods and suggestions. Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!!

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