What You Should Know Before You Join a Nonprofit Board
Whether you work in the corporate or nonprofit sphere, joining a nonprofit board of directors can be a great boost to your career. It’s a wonderful way to… Click here for more.
4 Questions to Ask Before You Plan Your Next Event
4 Questions to Ask Before You Plan Your Next Event
For the past few months, I’ve been trying to put together my organization’s schedule for 2015. The most important thing I had to do was to make sure that I knew when all of our events were happening. Click here to read more.
4 Productive Things to Do When You’re Stuck at the Office Over the Holidays
4 Productive Things to Do When You’re Stuck at the Office Over the Holidays
The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a slow time for almost every industry—even the non-stop world of nonprofits. So if you used up all your vacation time earlier in the year…. Click here to read more.
4 Ways to Keep the Peace (and Your Job) During a Work Conflict
4 Ways to Keep the Peace (and Your Job) During a Work Conflict
Nonprofits are operated by passionate people. There’s no other reason that we would bypass careers with high earning potential and generous benefit packages to work overtime for organizations that can’t even provide basic office supplies. Click here to read more.
4 Ways Partnerships Can Benefit Your Organization More Than You Even Knew
One of the things I love about working in nonprofits is the sense of camaraderie in the field. Regardless of each organization’s area of focus… Click here to read more.
5 Smart Ways to Boost Your Nonprofit Career This Fall
I’ve always loved fall. I love the changing leaves, apple picking, corduroy, and, yes, even going back to school. It’s been about a decade since I finished my master’s degree…. Click here for more.
3 Ways to Build Networking Into Your Daily Routine
There’s something about the word “networking” that just turns people off. It sounds so clinical; so cold. Click here to read more.
Why Nonprofits Fail at Social Media—and How to Do it Better
It’s a widely accepted truth that every organization, whether it’s a corporation, mom and pop shop, or nonprofit, must have social media accounts. Click here to read more.
How to Communicate Better with Other Departments
Does your workplace feel a little like Congress lately? Is everyone working for his or her own team and not for the collective betterment of the company? Are you having trouble reaching across the aisle to get the information you need to do your job well—or at all? Read more here.
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: HOW TO PLAN AN IDEAL STAYCATION
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: HOW TO PLAN AN IDEAL STAYCATION
Summer is finally here, bringing sunshine, warm weather, and opportunities to explore the world. However, if you are rich in vacation time but light in your pocketbook, don’t despair! There’s no need to languish at your desk during the summer months when you can take your vacation at home. How can you make sure that your time is truly restorative? Check out my tips below.
TURN OFF YOUR EMAIL:
Just because you are at home does NOT mean that you are on-call. Tell the office that you are on vacation and will not be reachable during that time. And then make sure that you turn off any alerts and reduce your access to any work communications.
BAN THE CHORES:
You know how you always leave your chores to the weekend? (Um, that’s not just me, right?) Your staycation shouldn’t be any different. Use the weekends to take care of what you always do—but don’t waste your break stretching out dull activities that you resent.
YOU DO YOU:
That said, if the idea of cleaning the bathroom sounds like a grand idea to you, go for it! Who cares if your friends think it’s crazy? It’s your staycation, so whatever relaxes or excites you or makes you feel like you’re leading a full life is fair game. I personally like organizing my closets and cooking big meals (which is something this single gal rarely gets to do). If you love watching movies, consider hosting your own personal film festival. If you’re a beer lover, tour a local brewery or invite some folks over for a tasting.
CHANGE YOUR SCHEDULE:
Maybe you’ve gotten into the habit of racing to that 6:30 spin class after work every Wednesday. Well, this Wednesday, make sure to miss it. Take the morning class instead, or a Friday afternoon. By shaking up your routine, you’re more likely to really get the rest and relaxation you deserve. Who knows, maybe you’ll even figure out a better way of balancing your everyday life.
PLAY TOURIST AT HOME:
I’m sure that your hometown is full of treasures that you never get a chance to appreciate. We get so caught up in the day-to-day grind that we don’t get to visit that national landmark or art museum or new restaurant that was just written up in the papers. Explore a new neighborhood. Buy a map and still get lost (just like a real tourist!).
GIVE BACK:
It wouldn’t be a GoodGal post without a reminder about the needy, would it? For my last staycation, I took just one morning to volunteer with high school girls preparing for college applications. I met two really sweet girls and got to talk to them about their hopes for the future, their part-time jobs, their hobbies, and their family lives. When I left, I was walking on air, buzzing with the excitement of having met lovely people and feeling like I truly helped them.
Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun and relax. You deserve it!