Hi Babies!
Happy New Year! How are you all feeling? As we step into this new chapter, I want to check in with all of you. How are you holding up? Personally, I am doing well in terms of productivity and intention setting but emotionally? I’m drowning. If you’re feeling the same way, you aren’t stuck out on the North Sea alone. Yo-Ho. I’m here too. And I might’ve snagged a life raft in the form of just…talking about it. 🚣♀️💙
🧩 ADHD: Embracing the Puzzle Living with ADHD can feel like a puzzle with ever-shifting pieces. I talked about my struggles with it on the most recent episode of the podcast “ADHME”. I’ve also come to the realization that my inability to focus also stems from a place of stress and anxiety. Racing thoughts leave me jumping needlessly from one task to the next and back again until eventually falling into a “freeze” response when I can’t do anything I want or need to do. Ugh. It’s exhausting. However, with careful planning I can recalibrate. If you want helpful tips on how to successfully use planning to your advantage I’m here to help. Yep, I said it. Email me if you’re interested!
💰 Navigating Financial Stress: A Common Voyage Feeling the pinch in your wallet after all those holiday season festivities? You're part of a vast club. In our little community, we discuss not just surviving but finding ways to thrive amidst financial ebbs and flows. Let's dive into practical tips and shared experiences to ease this common post-holiday stressor. 🌊💼
Budget: Those corporations really have us by the cojones. By making the shift into forcing us to “subscribe” monthly to everything, it all seems pretty cheap at first. And before we know it we’re stockpiling unnecessary subscriptions to who knows what that we completely forget to cancel cause we’ve lost track. Additionally, when it comes to bills, we’ve got little to no system in place. Sound like you? It’s time for us to take the wheel back and stop letting everything else backseat drive us. Make a list of your fixed monthly bills and reoccurring subscriptions. Cut out and cancel what needs to be cancelled. Then, start tracking your expenses. For some, a good old fashioned excel spreadsheet might be in order. But if you’re anything like me, I recommend an automated tool like ‘Mint’. You put in your secure card info for your bank and credit cards and it will give you a detailed analysis on where the rest of your money is going. Then you can use all of this to make yourself a budget and a goal. Remember to meet yourself where you are and set realistic goals. Whatever you set at first for a budget, try increasing that number by 50%. This way, you give yourself room to succeed and build momentum and discipline for the next month.
Automate your savings: Many banking apps now allow you to automatically transfer a certain amount of your reoccurring deposits from your paychecks into a savings account. Yes, investing and/or roth IRA, high-yield savings accounts and all of that exists and can be great options. But if you haven’t done your research and just wanna start putting away an emergency fund this is a great and simple way to do that. The money in your savings account? It just doesn’t exist. If you do it this way, your savings will grow before you know it.
No spend: Kick start the year with a no-spend month. That can mean a lot of things for people but all I mean is, aside from ‘necessary expenses’ like your reoccurring bills, groceries and gas in your car for example, you’re not ‘buying’ anything. None of those random Amazon purchases influenced by the latest TikTok. No random target purchases. No eating out/take out. Nothing. This will help you hopefully kick start the year with a surplus by EOM (end of month). Think about how this can help fund your travel plans and dreams!
🙏 Finding Peace in Chaos It's okay to feel overwhelmed. This week, we're focusing on finding those moments of peace amidst chaos. Whether it's through simple daily routines, mindfulness, or connecting with others, there's power in the small steps. I recommend daily meditation. Yeah, I know. Some of us just aren’t ‘good’ at meditation. I’m right here with you. What I do? I just listen to this: Alan Watts - Nothingness while doing my skincare every morning. I invite you to try it. You can listen to any little speech that motivates, inspires or calms you. You can listen to the same one everyday and as you’ll notice, the one I’ve shared is pretty short. No need to try to ‘clear your mind’. Just listen while you brush your teeth or something. I hope it helps. Give it a try and let me know how it goes! 🕊️🌿
📚 Reading Corner: Turning Pages for Peace Looking for a mental escape? Try reading! You can read whateverrr you want. And feel free to tell me what you choose! Reading can be a mental escape from the world just as much as watching a tv show or movie. Make it a daily ritual. Sit outside on your balcony, read on your commute or before bed. Whatever works. I personally love having a physical book you can hold in your hands because it really provides an even deeper escape. However, if you’re super short on time or struggle with dyslexia you can try something like audible so you can listen while doing other things. Totally recommend the physical books if you can though. That way, you can JUST read. And people don’t bother you as much when they see a book in your hands. There are a million genres and types to choose from. Books can be both a refuge and a guide. Want my recs? I've got plenty. Email me and ask. 📖💡
💌 I’m Here for You Got a story to share or need a listening ear? Reach out! Your experiences, struggles, and victories make our community stronger and more connected. Let's keep the conversation going. 🗣️❤️
📣 Stay Tuned! Don't forget to tune into this week's episode for more insights, stories, and a safe space to unwind and reflect. Together, we can navigate the deeps waves of life, finding strength and solace in our shared journey. 🎧💪
With Love & Support,
Local Neighborhood Baby
