For All You Health Nuts

If your desk job is taking a toll on your health goals, this one's for you.

I've worked in the corporate world for 7 years and before that, I was a NCAA Division I athlete. Coming from a life of activity all day and transitioning to the dreaded wheel we all know as wake up tired, commute, sit at a desk, 2pm sugar or caffeine fix, commute, maybe gym/maybe cook/most likely Netflix, fall asleep too late... Repeat.

In collaboration with Nuts.com, today I'm sharing my favorite workplace health hacks to get the most out of your long hours in the office making that money. 

Work on your Feet

I've been shouting about the benefits standing at work for years. It helps with your posture, your flexibility, your core strength and your overall mobility. I don't mind that most introductions begin with a handshake and 'yeah, you're the girl who never sits down'. It's how I work happier and healthier. I don't stand all day and I'm not a sitting snob, but I am thankful that my office provides adjustable desks and encourages workplace ergonomics. 

Jam to a Feel-Good Playlist

I know that some of you don't have the opportunity to be tuned out with music all day, but bring your headphones to work and find the moments where you can sneak in some feel-good tunes. You know, to dance to while you're standing at your desk. I've recently been streaming my favorite Portland radio station to give me some lovely memories of home, even with the commercials included. If that's not your game, find me on Spotify then get started with your own curated playlist for a feel-good workday. 

Smile

Want an instant mood changer? Follow these very wild and extreme steps:

1. Smile.

Good, that's it! How do you feel? My guess is that you feel a little lighter, stress wiped away from your face and you just made the people around you feel your radiating good vibes as well. It's amazing that something this obvious could be considered a 'hack', but don't you agree that happy-you makes better choices for your health and happiness?

Stay Hydrated

One of my personal checklist items for every day is 120oz of water. If I don't meet my goal I owe $2 to our 'adventure fund' that's used for the fun things we do as a couple. Start with baby steps if this is out of your range, but my best advice to get more water into your body is to always have some by your side. If it takes a cute water bottle to get it done, do that. If it takes setting timers on your phone for benchmark goals, do that too.

What won't work? Saving it all for the end of the day. You'll feel terrible and you'll lose out on a lot of sleep with all the times nature will call in the middle of the night.

Take a Walk

An easy way to cure the office blues and quell the stress of your day is to get outside for a walk in the sunlight. With the weather about to turn, it's going to be a daily requirement to take a walk around the office and to get out into the fresh air to refresh my mind and gain some perspective. Try to schedule your next meeting as a "walk and talk" to see if you can find your walking buddies around the workplace. 

Keep Healthy Snacks Handy

I'm giving IIFYM a try and it's been essential for me to space out my day with smaller meals and protein packed snacks. This means having nutritious options that won't fail me when the hunger pangs hit, saving me from giving in at the vending machine or the sweets that co-workers bring into the office all year round. Have you checked out the Healthy Snacks for Work on Nuts.com? Trail mixes, dried fruits and energy squares are the top picks from their registered dieticians. See if you can find something you like!

Take the Stairs

I work on the highest floor of my office, which is only the 2nd floor, but if I were on the 5th I'd be taking the stairs too. If you work in a place where the elevator is your go-to, try to get out a few floors earlier and opt for the stairs the rest of the way. You could always make friends with someone on another floor or just start to use the restrooms on other floors and pretend like you're the new girl (or guy) in the building.

Get your free printable checklist here and tell me how you make your own workplace a healthier environment!

*I was compensated with social media karma for this post, these healthy hacks and opinions are my own.

Employed

I've been drafting a post all about how it's been a little discouraging to apply for any and every job yet only get a real interview to a company that does the equivalent of the Vitamix and Shamwow presentations at Costco. Yes, I interviewed for that and laughed my way through the entire 45 minutes considering that I stressed over my outfit that had to be business professional. If you google "business professional female for interview" that's not exactly what you want to be wearing in Memphis in July, right?

After that I was digging as low as the 'gig' section on Craigslist just to find an extra dollar to spend on produce at Sprouts, but turned away each time I saw something that wasn't meant to be there. I even opened an Etsy shop thinking I could and should be selling my braided bead bracelets. This may eventually become a thing, ladies. 

While I hoped to share a little more time in Funemployment la-la land with Alyssa, I'm here to share that I accepted a job Friday last week and have my first day back at the corporate world today. It's not as scary nor as crazy as you think. I'm jumping into a very familiar world with the company I worked for in Portland, just on the other side of the business from where I used to be. Some things will come quick, others will be brand new ah-ha moments I could have used in the past six years of employment. Gone are the days my guy could count on a hot meal cooked and ready as he walked through the door, goodbye counting the hours for him to get home (since now all I have to do from 8-5 is look across the room to see him!) but hello to some incredible couples teamwork in our meal prep game for the week.

Last night we spent a quick 75 minutes in the kitchen as the greatest meal-prepping team I've ever seen get to work. 

: 8 Smoothie Bags (banana, strawberries, pineapple, spinach - just add milk & protein powder!)
: Italian Seasoned Chicken
: Sausage
: Taco Night Meat
: Bacon
: Sweet Potato Fries
: Zucchini noodles
: Carrot coins
: Freekeh
: Chopped Peppers
: Chopped Onion
: Peach Slices
: Chopped lettuce

What will all of this Tupperware goodness ultimately turn into?

It turns into easier evenings, more time together, healthy food, extra time for the gym, less stress, more love. Thumbs up from me and mine.

Cheers to new beginnings and incredible teamwork!

By the Seat of My Pants

Dear fellow writers of blogs, have you ever been so caught up in the flurry of work, holidays and happiness that you actually forgot that you have a blog? 

This phenomenon called "oh-my-goodness-I'm-way-too-busy" otherwise known as "hey-look-my-job-rules-my-life" has been creeping up on me pretty hard lately that I'm having a tough time keeping it all together. 

Maybe it's time to take back the reins and be a little more methodical about things like meal prep, my workout schedule, pre-writing blog content and assembling outfits with accessories rather than throw on the same boots, skinny jeans & sweater combination I've been living in lately. 

Organize, plan, take notes and live by the pages of a trusty Moleskine planner in the new year. Keep commitments with friends. Read. Wash my face at night. Make my bed every morning. Do laundry start to finish rather than the 1 week cycle time I'm currently in the middle of. Simple things like that would make my days a little easier right?

Oh, but friends! Don't you know how good it feels to live by the seat of your pants? 

From jet-setting across the country for an "everything makes sense now" weekend with my guy, a random public transportation adventure downtown or an impromptu Sunday coffee date with Brooke - there's a lot to be said about not having everything figured out and not knowing what the plan is. 

Like everything, it will take patience and baby steps to get my world in order.

In the meantime I'm going to try to remember that I have a blog and make sure that I'm keeping some balance in my world. Oh, I'm also going to do my Christmas shopping - likely online and likely in my pajamas.

What are you going to work on this week to make yourself a little better? 

The Birthday Week

Once a week seems to be all that I'm good for these days, but it comes with good reason. 

Last week I truly considered what it would look like if I decided to just live at work. 

Seriously and honestly looked into getting a blow-up twin-sized mattress to shove into my office, considered what would it would look like to actually plan my wardrobe a week in advance, how much more I would work out because the gym would also be the place I'd take my shower, and how much time would be saved by not making the 90-120 minute daily back and forth commute. I'd probably drink more water, I'd be crazy accountable / productive and maybe, just maybe - I could climb atop the mountain of work that's ahead of me over the next few months. What do you think?

I mean, look at where I work!

MORE importantly - hey hey it's birthday week! I usually make a huge deal about "Birthday Month", but this time I'm cool with isolating it to seven days only because it's a little scary to me to think that soon I'll be twenty-seven. 

"Eek, that's old!" says the blogging community - you young ladies who are just starting to explore the world after college, but trust me - some days I still feel like I'm eighteen and have so many more lessons to learn and so many more dreams to reach for. I'm not past my prime, I feel like I'm just getting started. 

I never really have much on my birthday or Christmas wish list, but this year I don't know how to politely ask for money that could be spent on airfare to go see my guy. Along with the money I'd need some time to travel and maybe some kind of technology that would allow me to stop time while I'm there - that would be ideal. 

I guess this is my ask. Airfare, plz? 

Wait, airfare could also go toward making the trip down to see miss Mack or do a destination bachelorette + destination wedding for one of my dearest high school friends. Or for somewhere with palm trees - can't I just combine them all?

Anyway, today's also a day to welcome mom back to blogging with an on-point post about "mondays". Have a great week! 

My Day Job

The last three days at work have been a test of my time management skills and a little bit of my patience - but we made it to Thursday and hopefully the downhill slope of my busy week! 

Many of you don’t know what I do for a job and sometimes I’m okay with that. Because if you knew you’d think I’m a nerd and maybe a little crazy. 

I work for a sports and fitness company in Portland, OR any guesses? and my title is “business analyst”. 

Simply put, that means that each and every day I’m living in Excel spreadsheets. I run reports, I look at numbers, I use complex formulas, I create macros to manipulate data with the ultimate goal of making the numbers to pop off of the page as a “story”. A “story” I can share with cross-functional business partners to help propose business decisions and drive a conversation. 

Hate me yet for how geeky I am? Even that paragraph annoys me. 

The thing is that I love this kind of stuff. Sure I go cross-eyed over spreadsheets just like the rest of you do, but I’ve got a bit of a knack for making numbers mean something to anyone. Fortunately it’s natural to me and I happen to enjoy the work I do. I get the “flow” when I’ve got my headphones over both ears and my fingers are flying across the keyboard with pivots, calculations and “storytelling”. 

The first three business days of every month are the most challenging as my primary reporting responsibility is to set the shipping goal forecast for how many shoes I expect to ship in the upcoming calendar month for the entire country. It’s a science to put together the math projection (in millions) for units and dollars I’m expecting over the next 30 days, but the really fun part is my opportunity to sit in front of some important people and share the “story” I’ve come up with. 

I feel valued, I feel trusted, I feel like an expert, I feel respected, I feel intelligent and I feel confident when I’m given this opportunity and I know that I’m kind of a nerd because of it. 

Wait, then what do I do for the rest of the month? 

I track my progress against this goal and get involved in other high-visibility, high-fun projects that keep me pretty busy! 

Be jealous, I dare you!

Confessions of a Procrastinator

Procrastination Level: Expert

This is how I've been living my week and it's only solidified that I need to get better on my focus-game. 

See, I've had some "studying" to do recently for work where I needed the comfort of my own home to really pay attention. The problem happens to be that when I'm at home surrounded by bright and shiny laptops, workout DVDs and iPhones - I don't always consider the work to be the most important thing. 

So it's time to confess how I procrastinate!

Here are real-life things that happened this weekend to put off studying:

- Emptied the dishwasher (it had been clean for 5 days)

- Ran a load of towels in the washing machine... I have plenty of clean towels (read: single)

- Cooked and photographed Cinco de Mayo dinner in "good lighting"

- Re-organized my iPhone apps

- Studied my face pores / tweezed stray eyebrow hairs

- Recorded a push-up video for my fitness group on Facebook (several re-takes, arms are sore)

- Followed tons of TIU (Tone It Up) Challengers on Instagram, just because I love sweaty selfies

- Curled 3rd day hair just to see how it'd look

- Stayed out "late" on Saturday to play Cards Against Humanity

- Watched a recording of the fitness class I took last week... just watched, didn't work out along with it

- Scrolled Netflix for something new to watch as background noise

- Scrolled Spotify for a good "study" playlist - got distracted by music instead

- Took selfies

These facts and many more solidify my thoughts that I'll never be able to go back to get my Master's degree. I just can't keep focused long enough on studying without thinking instantly that it's break time!

I think next time I need to run off to a coffee shop and turn my phone on silent.

I must know - what are the ways that you win the procrastination award and what are the situations where you do it?

Linking up with kick-ass Kathy

Why Don't We All Work From Home?

Isn't 2014 starting off with a bang? 

I mean we've made it through a week and I'm still going strong and have yet to make the mistake of dating something as 2013 or dating anything, amIright?. It's a real achievement, be proud of me guys!

This week I've been sending all kinds of Snaps about how awesome it is to still be laying in bed, with puppies, with pajamas on - until like 4pm. I started to think of all the reasons why working from home was amazing and thus a blog post was born. If I'm not lucky enough to be a stay at home mother someday, my next dream would be to work from home for all of the following reasons. 

J

:: Wake up at the same time you would normally arrive to work

:: Zero commute (this saves me close to 2 hours) and no fighting for parking

:: Music SO loud, all day, zero interruptions

:: Working in the kitchen = easy access to the pantry

:: Pajamas all day if I want in my well-worn flannels

:: Workout any time of the day - today I'm doing 100 jumps with a jump rope after every 5 emails I respond to. I'll keep a count!

:: I take an actual lunch break!

:: The fact that I just blogged in the morning before firing up the work computer

:: Multi-tasking to the max

:: Weekend chores during the daytime (laundry, dishes, vacuuming!)

:: Last but not least, these two girls have been giving me sympathy snuggles all week long.

Two more days of this bliss! Happy Thursday!

TED Tuesday: How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over

Okay. Seriously - I know that you all can't always watch the entire TED video but I really want you to watch this one.

Last night I found it and started it - I was passively listening, scrolling instagram and starting to take down notes for you. A few minutes in, I couldn't ignore the passion and conviction in the voice of Mel Robbins and needed to start the video back at the beginning to give it the attention it deserved. It's worth your time.

Mel is a radio host, reality show host, relationship expert and a woman who boasts having the ability to help you get anything and anywhere you want. Would you believe that she can help you ?

Let's begin there ... What do you want?

Want a hot body, or double your income, retire 5 years earlier, take a year off and travel, settle down and start a family?

What is it that you're after? What's standing in your way?

We live in an age where everyone has access to  any information that they want to acquire - via books, blogs, videos - you have everything you need, so why don't you have what you want?

I think Mel has a point when she says that first thing you'll have to do before getting after your dreams is to drop this 4 letter F-Bomb from your vocabulary because it's cheap, dirty and it's ruining your life. 

You read that right - "Fine". It's a disgusting word that you need to stop using immediately.

Of course "fine" is the perfect word because it alleviates you of having to do anything to change your situation. But that's not going to get you to your goals, dreams and ambitions.

When you use the word "fine", you're not only using it to mask your emotions to others, you're using it to hide your feelings from yourself too. And the saddest part is that you believe it.

It's simple to get what you want, but not easy!

You need to stop hitting your snooze button; metaphorically and literally (#DirtyhairDontCare).

As Mel suggests, try these three things:

• Force yourself out of your head - don't listen to that jerk in your head, you wouldn't be friends with someone who spoke to you that way.
• Force yourself past your feelings - If you listen to how you feel, you will never get what you want.
• Force yourself outside of your comfort zone - outside this bubble of yours is where you greet the challenge and the magic takes place. 

TEDx conferences are the best, thanks for watching!

September's Eight Great Goals

Oh my it feels nice to be back in the blogging groove.

I still feel a bit sidelined as I'm not as available to read / comment or reply to your lovely comments. That means if you get a response you know you've made it big time or just caught me in a free moment - lucky you! Also don't be alarmed if my responses and online presence is all on the weekend. A girl does what a girl has to do.

This post is a little belated as I'm normally slinging this at you on the first blog-day of the month, so hopefully that's not a sign of what's to come in the upcoming 26 days.

I am so jealous that my mom and dad are heading to Luxembourg today to get two weeks with brother and meet his wonderful girlfriend who I've seen a few times over Skype. I usually get to make a trip to Europe in the summer - especially since he's lived there - and am missing that flight across the pond to see my brother.

Look at what I'm missing!

Enough moping about a trip I don't get to take as I've been travelling enough lately - It's time for goal setting!

September's Eight Great Goals

1. Go Get My Diploma's

Did you know that I graduated from Portland State in the Spring of 2009 and still haven't picked up my three pieces of paperwork? I'm not sure what I'm planning to do with it when I have it - but enough is enough, Jessi!

2. Celebrate our 1 Year Anniversary

We missed celebrating last month and I'm not going to let it happen this month. I don't care where you take me honey just make me feel like I'm the most important thing in your world. No phone, no distractions, just us.

3. Watch an entire Chicago Bears NFL Game

Dan has challenged me to watching an entire game with no phone and no laptop. I don't believe I can be that extreme but I can at least make sure I don't choose to go running (conveniently) while the kickoff happens. Plus, day drinking.

4. Appreciate Myself

Sometimes when you feel like you're not getting what you need from others, you have to find ways to give what you need to yourself. Right now I feel like that's appreciation, support and care - so why can't I offer that up to myself? ... I can!

5. Spread Out the Running

100 Miles again - it never changes. Let's do myself a favor this month and not make excuses when I could be getting ahead of my mileage and not piling it all on myself for the weekend - especially if an unplanned Toronto trip comes my way!

6. Sister Time

Since mom and dad will be having a blast in Europe, Dan and I will be watching the blonde Golden Retriever sisters for a week. I want to make sure that I get some time with them as well since we don't get them very often - and especially since Dan has taken a week off from work to play!

7. Insert and Be Assertive

I've been unlike myself at work lately. I'm such a servant and will do what I'm asked/told -  but I'm also cocky and proud of the work I do. I hope to use this month to own up to the great work I'm doing, speak up when I am the expert on something and really turn this project around when it comes to the way we are handling the hundreds of issues coming our way. Own up to my greatness and stand tall because I know I deserve to feel proud.

8. Use My Lovely Camera

I adore my camera but haven't had much use out of it since I'm not home during normal daylight hours. Weekends are my opportunity to get back in the swing and enjoy the last few short weeks of evening sunlight before the skies turn dark and the weather is gloom. Maybe even an outfit post....?

Thanks everyone for loyally coming back and reading after I took a pause in August - you mean the world to me!

Jessi

The Month that Never Was

Typically around here at the end of the month I do a recap of all the wonderful things that happened to me over the past 30 days.

So August?

August had a lot of great. A lot of tough. A lot of hard. A lot of fun. And little to no blogging #oops.

Let's get right to the g o o d:

+ I had an amazing blate (Blogger Date) with Marisa who was in town to surprise her dad for his birthday! I was so thrilled we were able to connect and just as happy that we met up at Por Que No for some drinks and appetizers. #nom

+ I somehow completed my 100 mile feat for the month and it wasn't easy. While my guy was running Hood to Coast - I spent a weekend running as much as I felt was possible for my weary legs and logged 36 miles over a span of 38 hours. Ka-ching!

I still had 9 miles remaining when I returned home on Saturday the 31st, but made quick work of that in the mid summer evening and did a celebration dance as I hurried past my driveway for the last triumphant steps.

+ Made it to one year with this guy - even though we still haven't celebrated (see below for frowny faces):

+ I met some awesome people at work through my travels to Canada and wish I had more peers to play with who were as dedicated to work as I am. Geeking-out with people who are impressed my my Excel mastery is a wonderful thing. They also knew how to get me to come out of my shell a little bit. Beer in a Bag, anyone?

Work and work travel caused me to miss several wonderful things this month that I would have loved to be a part of. 

• Hood to Coast


• Intramural Softball


• My Cousin's Beautiful Barn Wedding


• My Own 1 Year Anniversary Celebration (are we still going to celebrate, Dan?)


• Thirst Thursdays

Doesn't my Hood to Coast family look like FUN!?

Hopefully a new month will bring winds of change - for the better!

Welcome Back, JumpingJE

Good morning friends and family! It's great to be back.

I returned from another week in Toronto on Saturday to the sight of this handsome man who loves me with all his heart. Melt (not just from the summer heat!)

Flowers, treats and a sign (not pictured) made me feel like a special lady at the end of a difficult week - he's the greatest.

Okay, so I'm not the first one to have this question in blog land but can all Mondays be like yesterday? It was amazing.

Dan and I went to mom and dad's house to enjoy breakfast, play with puppies and give me additional excuses to stay away from my laptop for a few more hours. Just a few.

My mom has been religiously paleo for the past 4 months and looks amazing - she's my inspiration to get back on the serious wagon because these travel weeks have been rough on the physique (ahem - pizza, sandwiches, beer, greek food). First step is getting all of the right foods back in the house to support my clean eating aspirations so I'm not trapped in my own home with a pantry full of vices. My guy loves carbs, sugars, salt and snacks. There was not a vegetable to be found when I returned home Saturday.

Okay maybe some old carrots. Those don't count.

The ultimate best thing this week brings is my boss. It's been 5 weeks since he was last in the office and I'm thrilled he enjoyed a wonderful sabbatical, but seriously have missed his support and him being the 'shield' for our strong and resilient team. It'll be another busy month, but I'm happy to take it on - Jessi style.

Get here soon Friday - I need some more of these good sleeps that only a weekend can provide!

Jessi

Guess What Today Is?

Guess what today is!

The camel's favorite day!

I for one haven't been feeling the benefits of hump day because I have lost track of time lately. Really it's only Wednesday? {sigh}

I am in early (5am conference call from home) and I can't remember the last time I was at the office for less than 12 hours - but this post isn't a complaint, it's a share of all the fun I get to have when I'm burning the candle at both ends.

Now let me assure you, all of these photos are from night time. No morning drinking has occurred (yet).

Most evenings right around 6:30pm when everyone is long gone for the day I've been known to strut around the corner to my boss's beer fridge (that I filled) and grab a cold one to enjoy while I work in peace and quiet. Nothing but the best. 

In addition, I have a back up meal in the fridge ready for when I may just have to eat at the desk for the third time in the day - paleo approved.

There should be no reason that I should be leaving work in the summer when it's DARK outside as you'll see above- but it happened... and I can see it happening again.

Simply put - now you understand why I've been a little quiet here on the blog and having WAY delayed comments to back-logged blogs out there that I haven't had a chance to read yet. I will have time again someday for all of the fun, but right now 80% of my day you can find me at work or pounding the pavement to get the remaining 50 miles in for the month ... By August 25th!

Cheers to work beer and hump day! 

Jessi

And Somehow He Still Loves Me

Normally on Thursdays we throw it back and I talk about something that's going on in my world today (usually work) that sounds a lot like little Jessi and I include a cute photo from the 90's.

Today we're not going down memory lane, but instead we're going to talk about my guy.

...Actually, before we talk about him I'd like to paint the picture of what the past 4 months has looked like for 'us'.

Starting in April, my job got really serious really quickly. Like, knock me on my face and sit me in front of a computer for 12 hours a day serious. From training new co-workers to taking on more responsibilities that anyone would ever entrust in a 25 year old, my "life" outside of work is really just repairing from all of the hard work I'm putting in and churning out.

We 'used to'...

We used to carpool, we used to run together, we used to head to the coast for the weekend and we used to actually have conversations with each other. We even used to show affection toward one another rather than a kiss on the forehead in passing.

Nowadays, I get home from a 12-14 hour work day (plus up to 2 hours total commute) and can't think to do a single thing.

I don't have the energy to feed the cat, to do laundry, dishes, not even cut an avocado for the smallest portion of our dinners (the dinners that he's prepped over the weekend).

My guy does it all, doesn't complain about it and only asks me for help when he really needs it, because he knows how much I've been through day in and day out and wants to help me... just because he cares.

After all he does for me, I still somehow find it necessary to gripe every single weekend about the amount of time he spends playing golf and working his second job at a golf course. Forgetting about all the time I'm away from him either working or running.

I throw a toddler fit for two reasons: 1. I love spending time with him. 2. I miss laughing every day with my best friend.

Our relationship has had setbacks at the hand of my career this spring and summer - and he has been the most supportive, caring, wonderful guy through all of it.

Tuesday night this week I finally cracked.

Since last week's trip to Canada, I've been low on sleep, developed a twitchy eye (don't lie and tell me it's not noticeable, please tell it how it is and say I look like shit), and was at work with back and forth emails and reports until 9pm Tuesday.

I drove home exhausted - which is probably the equivalent of buzzed - and walked in the door to flowers and candles on the table, a dinner that never happened and shoe boxes stacked up on the side table.

As if the tears I shed on the drive home weren't enough, I dramatically dropped all of my bags onto the floor, wrapped my arms around him and did my worst best ugly cry for 15 minutes straight,  repeating between shuffled breaths how much I love him.

Wouldn't you love him too?

For a guy who does everything and asks for absolutely nothing in return - I can't believe he's still in love with me too.

Dan, you're my everything. Let's have more fun together, please? 

TED Tuesday: Where Real Work Happens

How many of you think that your place of work is where you feel the most creative and productive?

Nobody? Yeah me either.

The conversation today is about why we can't get real work done at work.

This is something that plagues me daily. If I was in a closed room, a music playlist already set for me, unlimited bottled water and some amazing fresh and healthy snacks - I truly think I'd be the most productive human being alive.

Reality? I work in an open-space environment and share about 60 square feet with 12 people and NO walls. Is a wall too much to ask for?

But seriously, people in the corporate world know the two most common killers of productivity very well. They're M&M's... Managers and Meetings. Thankfully for me, I have an amazing manager that isn't a helicopter dad and let's me and my co-workers run our own show. But meetings, interruptions and being accountable for any and every conversation in earshot can get incredibly exhausting.

Everyday (including yesterday) I'm at the office from 6am to 6pm and honestly my most productive hours are 6-8am and 4-6pm. This shouldn't be the case.

Those hours are my best and brightest because I'm able to have my headphones completely over my ears, emails aren't bouncing back and forth yet and there's so much more concentration to knock out the daily work. Once other people start showing up, I have to either take my headphones all the way off or can only have them over one ear when just in case somebody has a question or needs something.

Also in the past two years I've been told to pick up the phone when I need someone to do something for me but I agree with Jason Fried in the TED Talk below - a phone call in the middle of some serious brain waves can completely derail productivity. For me, a phone ringing makes me instantly sigh and worry about how long I'm going to be tied up on the line. Send me an email or an instant message and allow me to respond on my own time, I promise I'll get back to you!

Where I work, we have a beautiful campus complete with cafeterias, fitness centers, a hair and nail salon, a daycare and a beautiful running track where us employees can truly stay the entire day and love every minute of it. Those amenities are amazing and I need to take more advantage of them, but feel like my entire day is shot the minute the first person (after me) walks into the office.

What do you think, how can you make your place of work more productive and allow you to get actual work done during your assigned work hours?

And p.s. I don't have much time for it in my day job but I agree with Jason Fried that interacting with today's modern forms of Social Media at work IS equivalent to a smoke break you've never been able to take advantage of. 

Enjoy today's TED Talk!

[ted id=1014]

Rant-astic Friday

First let me start this post with a #Humblebrag:

It's the 19th and I'm still 100% successful with my no ice cream in July goal!! Even in the sweltering muggy heat of Toronto in July.

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Before we get into the rest of this post, please let me warn you of the sarcasm and ranting you're going to experience through the next few scrolls on your laptop.

Enjoy.

I only ran ONE measly mile this week. One. And it was muggy. Aspirations of the hotel gym, running, swimming, hot tubbing and relaxing turned into late late nights and early mornings. So late and so early that I left a light on in the bathroom to avoid falling into a deep sleep. I've run 41 miles this month and have a lot to catch up on.

Frustrated much?

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Next - hotel refrigerator. You had ONE Job. Why on earth, hotel, would you have a refrigerator in the room that is not *Actually* a refrigerator at all and says that 'perishable items will spoil'. That would have been a wonderful thing to realize before I got a week's worth of groceries on Monday and have had to keep everything constantly on melting ice all week. 

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Hey Subway guy, why did you have so much attitude last night? It was 10pm, I just did a 1 mile run, I was hungry, you were grouchy, you berated me for not telling you I only had an American Express card and you didn't even offer me the sandwich that I walked out of the restaurant without. It just sat there in the bag at the cash register. I hope you ate it, and in hindsight it was okay anyway because you were really cheap on the lunch meats. I wasn't happy.

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Today I'll be carrying a 40 pound bag home that I barely utilized because I WAY overpacked with the rumor that I was going to stay two weeks, but now I have that endless dilemma of what to wear to the airport. Maxi Dress and flats or compression tights and sneakers? Either way I'm going to get crampy on the plane and probably going to spill coffee all over it so what's the point?

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One final note before I board the plane - not getting an aisle seat on any flight longer than 1 hour then the person in the aisle seat doesn't need to get up once is just bad luck. Forrest says it all.

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Ok done complaining - gotta go!

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TED Tuesday: The Power of Introverts

Hi, my name is Jessi and I'm proud to admit that I've been living my life as an introvert.

Say it with me, Liz!

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My life as an introvert hasn't been a secret to my friends and family, but always shocks people who know me as a friend, as an athlete and people in my work environment. Because I enjoy attention, engaging people in conversation and have no fear speaking up and speaking confidently there's a facade that I'm 'outgoing'. Truth is, you can be all of those things and still be an introvert at your core. Introversion speaks to how you respond to social stimulation.

As an introvert, I know that my most creative and powerful moments are when I'm alone in my own head. Runs {alone} are where I find my inner peace and going out for a dinner party of 10 isn't exactly on my must do for summer list. I respond much better to a night in my pajamas and a weekend with no plans.

Introverts often get a bad reputation for standing back, observing and thinking as these characteristics are interpreted as shy, quiet, unfit for leadership and anti-social. 

The truth of the matter is, we enjoy taking time to ourselves to think and recharge - like this handsomely introverted sloth I got for you:

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I've shared this video before my TED Tuesday series began and it deserves a deeper look.

Susan Cain goes from personal experiences to real world examples of the way we live today that stifles the creativity of the 33-50% of introverts walking among us.

Open Environment work spaces (like the 12 people all staring at each other in mine) and desks facing each other in pods rather than rows in the school systems are geared toward extroverts. What this does is teaches us to believe introverts are doing it wrong, and it also doesn't teach the extroverts how to think before speaking, think independently or appreciate a good night of down-time.

Susan's Calls to Action at the end of the talk include:

1. Stop already with all this awful think inside the box group work


2. Go to the wilderness (or at least disconnect every once in a while)


3. Show the world your energy preference and stop trying so hard to work against it.

Once you've watched and you're hungry for more, Rachel's post last week reviews the book by Susan Cain titled "Quiet" and her own feelings living life as a beautiful introvert - it's worth a read!

PS: Susan Cain is also an introvert and see what you think of her as a public speaker!

[ted id=1377]

Power Move Monday

This was one of the most productive weekends of all time.

I cracked down with black coffee and slippers to write and schedule all five blog posts for the next 5 days.

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I don't usually have my life so put together, you guys. Why so on top of things, Jessi? Business travel this week!

The job is sending me East and across the border to Toronto for a week and I couldn't be more excited to be called up to the big leagues.

Other than more grinding that I do even at home, I'll be swiping my shiny new corporate American Express Card, responsible for a rental car and asked to really step out of my comfort zone to drive some action with our wonderful and friendly partners across the border. 

This weekend other than knocking out 20 running miles and watching Holly and her brother wrestle non-stop (we're cat sitting), I looked up some helpful travel tips that will get me through my week away.

|| Simple hacks to make flying suck less.

|| 10 workouts to do on vacation + Running along the waterfront

 || 5 Ways to make a killer first impression

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|| HealthyBizTravel Tips

Wish me luck, confidence and nothing but good hair days!

Throwback Thursday: She Works Hard for the Money

So, what did you have for breakfast today?

Just kidding, I know that you chose something healthy, that you had a lots of protein, and you have water like it was your day job. Or like it was healthy or something?

No, today's not about breakfast. Today is about working hard for the money, so hard for the money.

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and for some reason I thought this song was about a certain profession? Wrong.

I've been hard at work since I can remember, even when earning green and stock options weren't part of the equation.

School, Little League fundraisers, softball, getting my brother in trouble - you name it!

Never though has my tenacity been more of an asset for me than it has in the last seven months of my job.

I wouldn't have any success without the support and encouragement from so many wonderful people around me, but I also wouldn't be able to put up with half of what comes my way if I wasn't a bit greedy when it comes to accepting a challenge.

Some may call it type A they're right while others admire my no-pain no-gain attitude.

Every day the bar gets set a little higher, the grind gets a little thicker...and I secretly love it.

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The thrill comes from the confidence people have in my work, the opportunity to flex my creative muscles and the exposure to people who know how to shake things up. 

The difficult part is 12 hour work days, pressure to maximize my free time and less social time with real life friends and family who I adore.

But remember, it's all about reframing your point of view isn't it?

Today's Throwback Thursday has been brought to you by a little girl who knows what it means to work hard and keeps her head down to do the job right.