Wellness Wednesday Issue #99

The Assist Newsletter
November 19, 2024
A woman with a heart in her hands, smiling and looking up. The quote "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream" by C.S. Lewis is displayed below.

Today’s Checklist: 

  • How to stop living paycheck to paycheck
  • Thania shares how to bounce back from a bad boss
  • Recipe of the week: Nectarine Crisp with Cinnamon-Oat Topping

🤔 Trivia: The first Thanksgiving feast in 1621 was shared between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people. How many days did the original celebration last? Find out.

QUICK LINKS

💔 Don’t fall for this manipulative dating tactic.

🌞 5 things to do before work to set yourself up for a better day.

🏈 Having fantasy football FOMO? Start your own league next year.

🏋️‍♀️ What happened when I used a weighted vest on my weekly walks.

FINANCES

A man with a surprised expression is holding an empty wallet while money bills are falling around him.

Break the Cycle of Living Paycheck to Paycheck

 

1. Budget with Intention

Budgeting is your foundation for financial freedom. Track every dollar with tools like Mint or YNAB, and focus on essentials like housing, food, and transportation. Non-essentials (looking at you, subscriptions) can take a backseat—temporarily.

2. Negotiate for More

One of the quickest ways to grow your income is to ask for a raise. Research your market value, document your wins, and confidently advocate for what you’re worth. If a raise isn’t an option, explore performance bonuses or new responsibilities tied to compensation.

3. Explore Better Opportunities

Sometimes, the solution is a new job. Use tools like WonsultingAI to refresh your resume, tap into your network, and look at higher-paying industries to maximize your earning potential.

4. Cut Back Strategically

Reevaluate what’s essential. Downsizing your living space, house hacking, or selling unused items can free up funds. Ask yourself, “Do I need this to thrive, or is it a luxury?” It’s about cutting back without feeling deprived.

5. Crush High-Interest Debt

High-interest debt is the ultimate budget-killer. Use methods like the avalanche or snowball strategies to aggressively pay it down. Every extra payment helps you save on interest and shorten the debt cycle.

6. Build Your Safety Net

Once you’ve freed up funds, start building an emergency fund. Begin with $1,000 and work toward covering 3–6 months of expenses. This cushion can be a game-changer for unexpected costs.

7. Invest in Yourself

Your skills are your most valuable asset. Look into certifications, online courses like Upskill, or free resources like podcasts and industry books to grow your earning potential.

Breaking the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle takes both small, immediate actions and big-picture planning. The peace of mind that comes with financial stability is worth every effort. Start small, build momentum, and lean into tools and communities that support your growth.

TRAVEL MANAGEMENT

A retro-style illustration of a woman lounging on a striped beach chair by the ocean. She is wearing a red swimsuit, red cat-eye sunglasses, and pearl earrings, smiling as she holds a tropical drink with a small umbrella. The sun shines brightly in the background, casting rays across the sky. Text in a bold, comic-style font reads: "Manage work travel with ease and earn 500!" A beach scene with palm trees and other people in the distance completes the setting.

Business Travel’s a Mess. Navan’s Here to Fix It—And Hand You $500 💸

 

Flights get overbooked, budgets mysteriously disappear, and last-minute itinerary changes are the cherry on top of the chaos sundae.
But with Navan, the all-in-one travel management platform, you can finally bring calm to the madness.

Here’s how it works: Your team books their own flights, hotels, and cars while you oversee the budget like the boss you are. No more chasing receipts or decoding “Can I expense this minibar?” emails. It’s simple, streamlined, and dare we say…fun?

🔥 The best part? The first time your company books a hotel through Navan, you’ll earn $500 toward your next getaway.

Why you’ll love it:

  • Real-time budget tracking keeps spending under control.
  • Easy approvals mean fewer fire drills.
  • Your team handles their bookings—while you stay blissfully unbothered.

Companies like Canva, Shopify, and Zoom trust Navan to make travel easier, smarter, and way less stressful.

Why juggle travel headaches when you can manage it all with ease and earn $500 for yourself?

Start using Navan—and start planning your well-earned getaway while you’re at it 🙌.

PERSONAL GROWTH

A stressed-looking person stands behind a desk holding a stack of papers, while another person hides under the desk hugging their knees, capturing feelings of workplace anxiety or overwhelm.

Bouncing Back From a Bad Boss

 

I’ve had the privilege of working under many great leaders throughout my career, but I’ve also encountered a couple of bad bosses. In fact, I’m not alone—71% of US workers have experienced at least one toxic boss during their careers. And those experiences can leave deep scars.

When you’re stuck under a bad boss, it’s way too easy to start thinking maybe it’s you. A competent boss nurtures your strengths, helps you address your weaknesses, and respects your autonomy.

However, a terrible boss can make you feel inadequate and fuel impostor syndrome, even if you’re an experienced professional.

Take, for example, a late-career incident I had. I was brought on board to whip a marketing department into shape. Unfortunately, I found myself reporting to a CEO who epitomized micromanagement. Not only was I barred from making essential updates to our website—a basic task within my scope—but I was also reprimanded for scheduling necessary personal appointments, despite the promise of flexible working hours and unlimited PTO.

The situation reached a breaking point with a confrontational email from my CEO following a last-minute meeting he had added to my calendar. He criticized my preparation and accused me of laziness in adjusting project scopes—changes we had agreed upon during our 1:1 meeting to optimize our resources. This level of gaslighting and amnesia from a leader was both shocking and demoralizing.

I wish I could tell you there’s an easy fix for this kind of mess—a simple heart-to-heart with your boss to set things straight. But if we’re being honest, when you’re dealing with this level of toxic, it’s like hitting a dead end on a scenic route. You can try all sorts of detours, but ultimately, that roadblock is still there.

Sometimes, you just gotta hit reverse, turn the car around, and find a new path.

Sticking it out with a boss who makes you second-guess your worth, who doesn’t champion your growth, or show any semblance of leadership skills? Nope, that’s a hard pass. It’s better to cut your losses, jump ship, and find a place that values you and your skills.

To salvage your self-esteem from such wreckage, it’s crucial to engage in self-affirmation. Take time to list your achievements and the skills you’ve honed, even under such dire leadership. Each positive point you write down is a testament to your resilience and capability.

Everyone experiences this in their career, so don’t feel like it’s just you.

Your worth is not defined by one job or one boss. You have the power to redefine your narrative and thrive elsewhere, and you deserve it.

circle image of Thania (TA Content Mgr)

Thania (TA Content Mgr)

OFFICE SNACKS

A colorful collage showcasing a variety of healthy snack options. The image features products like oatmeal bars, lentil chips, pita chips, nuts, and cookie bars.

Make Break Time Something to Look Forward To

 

Let’s face it—stale vending machine chips and leftover birthday cake aren’t exactly inspiring.

That’s where Simpalo Snacks comes in. Think of it as the MVP of office snacks, delivering boxes of healthy, crave-worthy treats that your team will actually want to eat.

Productivity? Boosted. Morale? Through the roof. Snack envy? Officially over.

From old favorites to exciting new finds, Simpalo’s customizable snack boxes cover all the cravings. Plus, they deliver quickly, let you brand your packages, and make it way easier to keep your team happy and energized.

Don’t just take our word for it:

“We received our snack packages yesterday at the corporate office and everyone loved them!” – Claire, Coast Dental

“Thank you for making this happen so fast for our team! We’ve received rave reviews, and the mix of snacks is perfect!” – Tiffany, Joye Law Firm

“The snacks are a big win for our wellness initiative—bringing departments together and keeping everyone energized!” – MDC

Still on the fence? Picture a break room stocked with options that satisfy everyone—from the health nut to the sweet-tooth fanatic. No more frantic grocery trips or sad snack shelves. Just delicious, easy options to keep your team fueled and happy.

Build your custom snack box today and claim your title as the office snack hero.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

A close-up photo of a golden-brown Nectarine Crisp with a Cinnamon-Oat topping. The crisp is in a white bowl and looks warm and inviting. The text "Nectarine Crisp with Cinnamon-Oat Topping" is displayed above the image, along with a button that says "Get recipe here".

🫶🏻 Shout out to one of our readers, Tori M., for sharing this recipe with us.

Have a recipe you love? Share it here.

STAFF PICKS

Stuff We’re Loving This Week

 

🧘‍♀️ Stay active with this Yoga Ball for added stability and fun during your workouts.

🌿 Keep your space fresh with Azuna Air Freshener & Odor Eliminator that naturally eliminates odors.

🛠️ BambooHR simplifies hiring, onboarding, and payroll—making life easier for HR teams everywhere.

💻 Protect your device with this sleek laptop computer case that comes in a variety of fun colors.

JUST FOR FUN

A meme featuring a screenshot of a man slumped in a stairwell looking defeated, with the text "Waking up to go to the job I prayed for:" on a bright yellow background with wavy accents.

SPILL THE TEA

🚨 Open Jobs: Visit our job board here.

P.S. Want more inspiration and positivity to kick off your week? Sign up for our Motivational Monday texts (U.S. only).

👀 Want to see if your company is a good fit for our 100k+ ambitious readers? Join our Sponsor Waitlist here.

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