Wellness Wednesday Issue #75

The Assist Newsletter
June 4, 2024
Every day may not be perfect, but there’s always something positive to find. - Alice Morse Earle

Today’s checklist: 

  • Strategies beyond budgeting
  • Juggling full time work & a side hustle
  • TA reader Amanda reminds us to look out for each other

🤔 Trivia: What is the longest word in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order? Find out.

QUICK LINKS

💄 Beauty: What’s worth buying in this Amazon summer beauty haul.

🕵🏽‍♀️ Job Searching: 19 good ways to answer why you left your last job.

🗣️ Communication: How to tell an employee they didn’t get a promotion.

🌟 Resilience: How to deal with divorce without totally failing at work.

🍏 Nutrition: 10 high-fiber breakfast ideas you’ll look forward to every morning.

FINANCIAL WELLNESS

A woman with long black hair scrolls through her mobile phone, surrounded by icons representing various financial wellness apps and concepts in bubbles. The illustration is vibrant and engaging, with the woman focused on her phone.

Beyond Budgeting

 

Elevate your financial health with these strategies that go beyond traditional budgeting.

Whether you’re looking to maximize your disposable income, save for future goals, or simply make smarter financial decisions, this guide has you covered.

Embrace the Power of Financial Automation

Automate your savings, investments, and bill payments to ensure you’re consistently working towards your financial goals without the hassle.

  1. Automated Savings: Set up automatic transfers to your savings account each month. Apps like Qapital and Chime can help you save effortlessly by rounding up your purchases or setting rules-based transfers.
  2. Investment Automation: Use robo-advisors like Betterment or Wealthfront to manage your investments with minimal effort. They can help you build and maintain a diversified portfolio that aligns with your risk tolerance and goals.
  3. Bill Payments: Avoid late fees and improve your credit score by automating your bill payments. Most banks and service providers offer automatic payment options that can be easily set up online.

Maximize Your Income with Side Hustles

Turn your passions and skills into additional income streams.

Here are some popular side hustle ideas:

  1. Freelancing: Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr allow you to offer your skills in writing, design, marketing, and more to a global audience.
  2. E-commerce: Start an online store with Shopify or Etsy to sell handmade crafts, vintage items, or digital products.
  3. Gig Economy: Leverage apps like TaskRabbit or Rover to find gigs in your area, from pet sitting to home repairs.

Smart Spending: Get More for Your Money

Learn how to make the most of your spending with these smart shopping strategies:

  1. Cashback and Rewards: Use credit cards that offer cashback or rewards points on everyday purchases. Look for cards with no annual fees and high rewards rates for categories you spend the most in. Check out this guide to the best cashback cards to find the right one for you.
  2. Deal Hunting: Apps like Honey and Rakuten can help you find discounts and cashback offers when shopping online. Always check for promo codes and special offers before making a purchase.
  3. Subscription Management: Keep track of your subscriptions with services like Trim or Rocket Money to avoid paying for things you no longer use. They can help you cancel unwanted subscriptions and negotiate lower bills.

Financial Wellness Apps to Try

Boost your financial literacy and management with these top-rated apps:

  1. YNAB (You Need A Budget): A powerful budgeting tool that helps you give every dollar a job and stick to your financial plan.
  2. Ellevest: A financial platform designed for women, offering investment management, financial planning, and career coaching.
  3. Acorns: An easy way to start investing is by rounding up your everyday purchases and investing the spare change.

Future-Proof Your Finances

Prepare for the unexpected and plan for the future with these essential tips:

  1. Emergency Fund: Aim to save three to six months’ worth of expenses in a high-yield savings account to cover unforeseen costs like medical bills or car repairs. Here’s why an emergency fund is crucial.
  2. Retirement Planning: Contribute to your employer’s 401(k) plan or open an IRA to take advantage of tax benefits and compound growth. Use retirement calculators to estimate how much you’ll need to save.
  3. Insurance: Ensure you have adequate coverage for health, life, disability, and property insurance to protect yourself and your loved ones from financial hardship.

By implementing these strategies, you’ll be well on your way to achieving financial wellness and creating a more secure and prosperous future.

Remember, the key to financial success is consistent, informed, and proactive management of your resources.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

a gif showing off Bonusly’s easy to use employee recognition platform.

Celebrate to Motivate

 

At the last company I worked at, we used Bonusly — it was a simple platform, but it got everyone pumped.

People felt a sense of pride whenever they got points and recognition, so they went above and beyond.

Using Bonusly in a nutshell: You get a set amount of points each month that you can award to anyone in the company accompanied with a message.

What I loved about Bonusly:

  • Your points don’t roll over so it encourages you to use them before they expire; you celebrate your team’s wins, big and small
  • The feed is public so everyone (including C-suite) can see how awesome you are
  • Points can be redeemed for rewards (I always redeemed mine for cash and bought flights to Cabo once!)
  • Set up is a breeze & easily scalable; our company grew to 1,000+ employees, and the plans were easy to switch as we grew.

Plus — Bonusly just started offering free trial so you can try it out yourself with all the bells & whistles for 14 days.

Joanna (Co-Founder of TA)

SIDE HUSTLE

A professional woman, juggling her corporate job and side hustle, lounges on her couch with a laptop, embracing the multitasking life while enjoying a cozy evening of TV.

FT Work + A Side Hustle Doesn’t Have to Equal Burnout

 

At the peak of my career, I was simultaneously nurturing a side business as an online fitness coach for a well-known networking company.

In this dual role, I managed my own clients and mentored my team, juggling these responsibilities alongside a demanding corporate job as a VP of Marketing at a fast-growing startup.

My days were tightly scheduled.

I’d start by waking up early to workout and update my social media before heading to my day job, where I oversaw three direct reports and handled a myriad of responsibilities.

During lunch breaks, I’d catch up on messages and check in with my fitness clients.

Evenings were reserved for outreach, team updates, and managing online bootcamps, typically spending one to two hours on these tasks daily.

Amid all this, in what might have been a questionable move, I decided to squeeze in Bible school and kick off a podcast too.

And somehow, I still kept up with an active social life, enjoying weekends out and the occasional happy hour.

Despite the brimming calendar, I miraculously never hit burnout—sure, I was often tired, but never to the point of feeling completely overwhelmed.

Here’s how I managed to keep burnout at bay:

  1. Follow Your Passion: Both my corporate role and side hustle were more than just jobs; they were sources of joy. This passion transformed potential stress into positive energy, making even challenging days feel rewarding.
  2. Maintain a Strict Schedule: I kept a meticulous calendar and checklist for daily tasks. This structured approach allowed my brain to operate in a “flow” state, minimizing the mental bandwidth needed to decide what to tackle next. The repetitive nature of my routine boosted my productivity by reducing decision fatigue.
  3. Prioritize Health: Integrating workouts into my daily routine was crucial—not only for my physical health but for mental clarity. Regular exercise and a balanced diet kept my energy levels stable and enhanced my focus, allowing me to manage my responsibilities effectively.
  4. Cultivate a Supportive Network: Surrounding myself with like-minded individuals, particularly other women who were also juggling multiple roles, provided a constant source of motivation and practical advice. This community was a bulwark against imposter syndrome and a sounding board for navigating challenges.
  5. Engage in Daily Personal Development: I dedicated time each day to personal growth, whether it was listening to a podcast, reading a book, or enjoying motivational content. This habit ensured I was continually learning from others’ experiences, helping me avoid common pitfalls and stay inspired.
  6. Practice Self-Compassion: I learned to not take setbacks too seriously. Mistakes were opportunities for learning, not reflections of my worth. This mindset helped me view my journey as a series of experiences rather than a final destination, alleviating the pressure that often leads to burnout.

Juggling a side hustle with a full-time gig is no joke, but it’s totally doable with the right tricks up your sleeve.

Dive into work that lights you up, keep your schedule tight, stay on top of your health, lean on your peeps, keep learning, and go easy on yourself.

This way, you keep your energy buzzing and your spirits high for the long haul.

Just remember, dodging burnout isn’t about doing less—it’s all about working smarter.

Thania (TA Content Mgr)

TIME MANAGEMENT TOOL

monday.com

Bounce Back From A Sucky Work Week 

 

If your organization this week has been anything but stellar, turn it around with monday.com.

It’s perfect for anyone who is struggling to…

  • Prioritize tasks
  • Fight overwhelm due to the amount of projects flying around
  • Keep teammates on the same page
  • Manage time throughout the workday

You can customize your space, color code, set deadlines, collaborate with teammates, and more.

Like any tool, we suggest you try it out for yourself to see if it covers all the bases.

💡Get started here for free.

SUBSCRIBER SPOTLIGHT

Good Lookin’ Out

 

In my early 20s, first job, our HR/bookkeeper sent me several reminders to set up my 401K.

I was intimidated by it, and very busy learning my new job, so told her I would skip it and set it up the following year.

She came to my office, sat down, smiled, and said she wasn’t leaving until I set it up.

I’m very grateful to her now, many years later, both financially, and also for demonstrating how to care about colleagues both personally and professionally — something we all need in our first jobs as we learn ‘office norms’.

Amanda, Executive Assistant

💬 Get featured in TA — share your wisdom with our community here.

STAFF PICKS

Stuff We’re Loving This Week

 

🌶️ Try this highly addictive chili oil — an all-natural blend of fresh fried shallots, garlic, and three chili peppers.|

🎶 Feel like you’re at a paradise party with the Latin Party 2024 Playlist featuring Reggaeton, Latin Pop, and Latin EDM remixes.

💋 Beat those lingering chapped lips with this overnight lip mask that smells amazing.

👀 The Shiseido Eyelash Curler is the only eyelash curler you’ll ever need or want.

JUST FOR FUN

A tweet from Janelle Draper (@janellejokes) that humorously says, "My coworker wants to do an Escape the Room. How do I explain that's my every day with her?"

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

🚨 Job Alerts

 

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