Bills, bills, bills

I am terrible with money.

There; I said it. I have always wanted to be someone who saves and sometimes I am that person..but as soon as I have a decent amount in the bank I decide to buy something ridiculous that I (or someone else) doesn't necessarily need and I blow all my savings. This year, a lot of my goals center around money ( see: http://marleekatewiseman.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/lists-lists-lists.html), however, I currently have none of it.

So I've decided to employ a few techniques from this here link: http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/save-money/ - hopefully this will lead to me at least spending my money a little wiser or perhaps even not spending money (Gasp! What an idea!)

Hopefully I can really stick with it.. at the very least I need to try out the word frugal, and employ some of the techniques.

Sabbaticals- Self imposed or otherwise

Perhaps this title is a little over dramatic, but two days is a lot of time to me ( Yes, I'm aware people would be rolling their eyes already).

Let me take a few steps back, as I have already mentioned too many times- I work a lot. So this week, as I am getting ready to sit my final exam for my summer semester subject - my boss had told me to take Monday- Wednesday off from work ( My exam is Wednesday). Three days?! I laughed, never in my life would I be committed enough to studying for three days. I would much rather work than procrastinate at home. Hell, I would much rather work than do most things, firstly- because I really enjoy my job, and secondly- earning money, being unable to spend money while I'm at work etc. Anyway, I said no no, I will just take Tuesday off and come in Wednesday after my exam- thus was my plan..until today. My boss said no no, take Wednesday off as a break as well, relax, and come back to work Thursday. WHAT? WHY? He is punishing me obviously. So there is no need to yell, but seriously- two days off, what are you doing to me man? ( In my head that sounds Jamaican.) I should use these two days to catch up on the things I am always saying I cannot do; bake cupcakes, see a film, have a facial, marathon sex and the city... the usual.. instead I will probably start all of those things and finish none of them..picture me sitting on my couch in a towel, eating cupcake batter.. this is not my prettiest self.

So I've taken my work home with me, I have emails to attend to, a few calls to make, an invitation to design and some webinars to watch. Some of these things are made easier by using my faster internet connection, and some are things I just really want to work on.
Do you find it hard to leave your work behind?
We are always complaining about our lack of personal time- but when we are given it, do we use it to its full potential?

I definitely believe three day weekends are a better and more productive way to live - a day off in the week to go to the bank and post office etc, I also think it leaves people with one day to just simply exist, no rushing around trying to do everything all in one hit, just simply existing and nothing more. The problem is, tomorrow, I can simply exist but I won't. I feel guilty doing that, guilty for not cleaning my apartment, guilty for not producing work for my boss and company, and guilty for relaxing.

How do you spend your days off?
Do you relax?

Work-Life Balance

This summer, I have been taking a semester at Griffith; just to stay on top of my classes, and avoid having to spend much longer studying before graduating. The subject I am taking this semester is called Business Communications, it is a very straight forward subject basically about how to communicate effectively, the importance of self empowerment etc.

It has led me to think about work-life balance. I have a lot of thing on my 'to-do' list this year, however, in order to get them done I need to take some time out. When I worked in retail, I worked 5 days a week ( weekends included) and went to uni 3-4 days a week. This literally lead to not one single day off in a week, and then if you remember when I mentioned in my first post on here, I worked for 3 months straight between my new and old jobs. I have always found excuses to work and work... but for no real reason.
I honestly think that I work so much so that I have an excuse if I don't achieve my goals, or to avoid making commitments.
What a terrible concept.

So this year I am making more of an effort to have a better work-life balance, I still enjoy working a lot, and I definitely want to continue working, however, I have stopped text messaging or answering my phone after a certain point of the night ( I make exceptions if it's urgent, ie. someone calling two or three times in a row). I force myself to take some time away from my phone and all social media, in order to just reflect on my week and often just to zone out and actually stop thinking for once. It's something I have trouble doing, so I have to make a conscious effort.

I am considering speaking to my boss and asking for one day a week where I can work from home, in order to use my faster internet connection to achieve work goals, but also for the health of my mind. I strongly believe that 'flexi-hours' are businesses best untapped resource. I am aware that it isn't possible for all trades, but for most, if you trust in your employee, and give these flexi-hours, they will actually end up working more (and harder). Flexi hours can even be allowing staff to start 1 hour earlier or later, and then finishing at the time corresponding ie. 7-4, 8-5, 9-6.. or allowing a 40 hour week to be completed in hours that the employee choose.
I don't think managers and bosses are creative enough anymore. It's time to revolutionise the work week.


But for now, I will do my best to take some time for me, make an effort to visit friends and continue to work hard in my regular 8-5 hours of work.

How would you change your work week?

Everybody has to know for themselves what they're capable of..

Revolution Boulevard

There are some weeks, some days, some hours... well I mean, come on, there are some minutes, some seconds some moments; where I look around, around my world, my life, my mind and I think, " Wow, my life is amazing. LIFE itself, is amazing."

That just happened to me while washing the dishes. It is pouring with rain outside, and I am tired and I have a sore back. I have feelings of guilt as I am neglecting my school work, but wow... I am so happy for this moment.

Yesterday i had a great day with my best friend Jamie at Big Day Out. We ate Mexican ( as always) and drank overpriced beers; we laughed, we danced and we laughed some more. Those are the types of days that need to happen more often, although I'm sure I wouldn't appreciate them as much if they happened all the time. Thanks to the world for making such awesome people. To the few that I have regretfully neglected in the last few days. I retreated somewhat from my phone, sorry for that- I just needed it.

Sometimes all I can muster up are short updates like these, I'm sorry ( to myself), I'm just exhausted right now. I want to write more, I love writing. I will get there again soon, I just need to set aside the time.


Anyway; off to make nachos for dinner ( What did I say about Mexican?)






Currently listening to: Mariachi El Bronx- Map of the World