October 22, 2015

"Keeping Your Chill" 101: Hacks To A Simpler Life


I believe we've graduated from our unspoken communal aspiration of being on MTV cribs and are now on to bigger and better things with our goals in life. Once you get to be in your late teens, you want less social acclamation and more order. Just take a look at all the tweets on your timeline that say something along the lines of "my life is a mess" and realize that we're all chasing after this goal of "keeping our chill". No one likes being stressed or feeling like they have too much going on.

I've devised a few tactics that help me to feel like I have two solid feet on the ground and have no need for chill pills. Since most of ya'll are in high school and college and it's that crazy, my-teachers-think-I-have-nothing-better-to-do-than-TONS-of-work time of the year, I thought this would be helpful for your Thursday.

Here we go, ya'll -

Reply to emails right away
I am one of those people that checks their email very often, and I also reply back pretty quickly. If it's a business-related email, I don't reply back right away (because I like to think about my response and formulate a good message), but I do begin drafting a response to review later. I'll just make a sticky note that says "reply to ____" and come back to it.

Don't "read receipt" people
I also reply to texts right away - unless someone texts me after I fall asleep, which is often because I go to bed probably 2-3 hours before most people. In that case, you'll get a reply from me early in the morning when I wake up.

I really don't understand the whole "read receipt" generation and why you would want to "read receipt" someone. I guess I understand someone saying something nasty, and in that case: yeah, don't respond. But when someone is texting you asking if you have the notes for lecture, it's polite to get back to them promptly. For a simple and stress-free life, don't leave anything hanging over you head...and by "anything" I mean emails and texts. 

It's ok to say no
It's no fun to have too much on your plate; that will definitely drive you crazy. Another thing besides read receipting people that I don't believe in is this whole "FOMO" thing. (Fear Of Missing Out).

If you have two meetings, a test, and an endless laundry list of things to do, it may not be the best idea to accept your friend's extra ticket to the concert that's coming to town the night before said test/meetings/etc. Forget about FOMO! I guess I'm just someone who suffers more from FOLMGPAD (Fear Of Letting My GPA Drop). Just say: "No thanks, I have a lot of homework" and pretend you don't see your friend's cute Instagram pics.

Don't procrastinate (this doesn't just go for school work)
I was so scared that when I came to college I would have to spend all-nighters in the library with loads of textbooks and empty coffee cups scattered around me. This has never happened. When I'm given an assignment, I write it down in my planner and vow to complete it as soon as possible. I get most work done in the first couple hours when I'm home from class; I've yet to work past 7 pm this semester.

I've realized it's helpful to avoid procrastination in all areas of life. Need to go grocery shopping? Better now than later since you don't want to walk down to the pantry and find you have absolutely no food. Need to go get scantrons for a test next week? Might as well get them now since you pass the bookstore on the way to class. See what I mean? Cool.

Sweating the small stuff clogs pores
Did any of ya'll see Bridge of Spies? (SO GOOD - you don't have to be a history buff or a Tom Hanks fan to enjoy it.)

In the movie, the (accused) Russian spy, Rudolf Abel, is to be tried for espionage and Tom Hanks' character, insurance lawyer James Donovan, has been recommended to defend him. He visits him in jail and offers his services to him, warning him that this is going to be a very hard case to win, and if they don't come out on the side of victory, Rudolf will face the electric chair. Rudolf simply gives him a slow nod and says something along the lines of "Ok, let's get started."

Now, Donovan is puzzled by his coolness and asks, "Are you not worried?"

Rudolph Abel looks at him and says, "Would it help?"

What really helps me to not go insane/keep my chill/balance everything is knowing that worrying doesn't solve anything. In the case of Rudolph Abel, I might have been sweating a little bit, but I haven't ever been accused of espionage during the Cold War, so I can't say I can relate. However, I do have random worries throughout the day, and if I paid attention to all of them, it would drive me nuts. What if I fail this test? What if I don't make this deadline? What if no one comes to this meeting? Worrying about any of these things won't make a difference, good or bad. I'll just feel miserable and nervous. Let go of those little worries. And go see Bridge of Spies because I'm not telling you here how it ends.




How do you keep from going crazy with all life's busy-ness? Hope you found this post to be a little bit inspiring and a whole lot informative regarding Cold-War international relations :) Talk to you soon!

X,

Cristina


25 comments:

  1. I can completely relate! Not getting a text back is the most annoying thing ever! Like can you seriously not take a minute out of your life to respond to my text?!

    ♥, Brooke
    https://livethepreplife.blogspot.com

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  2. I so agree with the whole read receipt generation-- making mountains out of molehills. Great tips!

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  3. Read receipts are the bane of my existence and the majority of my friends have them on their phones.
    Like thanks for publicly announcing to me when you're ignoring me.

    xoxo, Jenny || Breakfast at Lillys

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    1. I know, I just can't seem to get over how bizarre it is! Oh well, at least you know when someone got your text and just isn't responding, ha ha.

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  4. Great tips! I don't understand read receipts either, but very few people in my life have them on. I guess I'm outside of that age group! (#old). I am a list-oriented person and do well when I have all of my important tasks in front of me so I can prioritize.

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    1. Yes, yes LOVE making lists! Thanks for reading :)

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  5. Read receipts are very hurtful sometimes and I've never used them! i love the idea of replying to the email straight away. I normally just forget...

    Nicole // Chronicling Home

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  6. These are such a great tips, I never use read receipts I think they're super weird actually. I try to reply to emails as soon as possible...I want to be better at responding ASAP though.

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    1. I know I'm thinking of turning mine off, ha ha! Thanks for reading

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  7. I love this! I'm so bad at saying no and spreading myself thin!
    www.kayleighskloset.com

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  8. I am not a fan of read receipts! Whenever I read a text or email, I usually need a minute or two to think and formulate a response.

    Awesome tips, girlfriend!

    XO, SS || Seersucker Sass

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  9. This is so great! Love theset tips, and they're so true! Me personally? I really need to work on not procrastinaitng or sweating the small stuff!

    Courtney//As We Stumble Along

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    1. Not sweating the small stuff is definitely a good one! Thanks for reading :)

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  10. not to procrastinate is key... so is saying no! great tips!

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  11. Haha I love this post! Totally needed this. I am terrible at replying to emails!

    xo // www.thematerialgirl.co

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  12. I'm totally guilty of having my read receipts on! I love that you said sweating the small stuff clogs pores because it totally does!

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    1. I have my read receipts on, too, but I guess it's more to give people the notice that I got their text ok and I saw it. Thanks for reading! :)

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  13. I love love love this!

    - Ruth S. | www.reallytrulyruth.com

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