PTT: The 2:00 Slump

Professional Tip Tuesday

Dear Professional Tip Tuesday,

Do you have/have you heard of any solutions for fighting the afternoon slump? I always get SO TIRED around this time and sometimes either I don’t want to drink coffee/it doesn’t do it for me.  Any suggestions?

Sincerely,

Falling asleep and drooling at her desk 

Optimistically Anna happily received this question in my email inbox today, and decided this would be a great tip for today. Everyone has been there! After lunch the hours just seem to drag on and on.

So I did a little research and found a few fantastic ideas for beating the 2:00 slump!

1. Move it! 

- Whether it's to fill up your water bottle, or a trip to the bathroom - stretching your legs might just do the trick. 

- And what about Office Chair Yoga? I happened to this in a Yahoo article and had to include the link for any interested yogis out there :) 

2. Water, water, water! 

- As Falling asleep and drooling at her desk mentions, coffee doesn't seem to help her. Sometimes my dear friend coffee doesn't help me either. But WATER seems to be a secret energizer. 

- This may sound silly - but if I am feeling especially drowsy, I 'challenge' myself to drink a whole bottle of water in so many minutes. It gives me something to focus on and makes me feel wide awake!

3. Snack attack!

- Keep some almonds or dried fruit handy for that dreaded afternoon hour. They will give you a burst of energy. 

- An extra tip with that one: If you are like me, and could eat a whole container of something if it was in front of you - pack little snack bags with just enough to keep you going strong! 

What tips do you have for staying alert through the afternoon hours? Comment below! 

PTT: Save Money & Stay Healthy While Traveling

Professional Tip Tuesday
I have a confession to make. Last Thursday, I was feeling discouraged by the amount of money I have had spent on food during my recent travels. So I took it as a challenge. I decided I didn't want to spend more than $5 on dinner that night.

This challenge is how I hit an all time low. 

My only
'cooking appliance'

It was pouring rain, so my plan to run down to the cute cafe down the street was a no-go. And let me tell you, there is no way to do room service on $5. So I walked down to the hotel gift shop and saw the answer to my problems - a Cup of Noodles.

Cup of Noodles = Desperation at it's finest. But it gets even worse. 

I threw some water in the little single-cup coffee brewer in my hotel room. Following the "Cooking Directions", I filled Styrofoam cup with the hot water. ...I am not making that up. The 3-steps to making the Cup of Noodles are seriously titled 'Cooking Directions' on the package.


So here's where it gets bad: After my gourmet meal was ready, I realized I did not have a fork. Uh oh. Time to get creative...  

Those 'chopsticks' are actually coffee stirrers - not my proudest moment.

While I am partially impressed by my thriftiness, that was a one-time only ordeal. So this week's Professional Tip Tuesday is what I did differently this week and how it helped me save money and be healthier...

1. I packed a water bottle. 
- I realized I do not drink nearly enough water when I am traveling. This time, I saved room for my water bottle so I would be sure to stay hydrated. Especially when traveling, drinking plenty of water will help keep you feeling healthy.

2. I found food that travels well.

I remembered plastic silverware this time too!

- I stopped by the grocery store and got a little creative before my flight on Monday (pictured below). I almost forgot how delicious an apple and peanut butter can be - these little peanut butter cups are so convenient! Also this oatmeal with flax seed is tasty and filling!
**A grocery store near your hotel is a lifesaver.

3. I read: "Don't be tempted by the menu"
- It's inevitable. That food stash won't be enough and I will have to eat out. I loved the advice in this US News article: Order something standard, like a sandwich or a salad without even opening the menu. ..But don't forget to treat yourself every now and then! :)

So how do you stay healthy on the road? Comment below!

PTT: Load Up on the Rewards!

Professional Tip Tuesday

Here I am, back in beautiful Salt Lake City this week. On my evening flight in last night - I received an unexpected compliment. ...Well I considered it a compliment. The gentleman sitting next to me said, "Hey with all of your organization and use of gadgets, you must travel all the time." Eeek. Like I said in my last post, I am definitely still a frequent-travel-newb.

At least I give off the vibe that I know my stuff!

Morning view from the hotel!

So my latest traveling tip for this week?

Load up on rewards cards! And if you can afford it / feel comfortable - sign up for a credit card to take full advantage of the points. 

I have been debating the 'right' way to do credit cards for a while. It can be so overwhelming! You don't want too many credit cards, but you also need to establish credit too. 

One of my original credit cards is a store visa card. It was a really great idea as I was stocking up on my professional wardrobe. The rewards are great and there aren't any annual fees. But now I feel like it's time to get a credit card that I can get even more out of. 

Since I know I will be traveling quite a bit - I decided to look into airline and hotel rewards cards. After some research.. ding, ding, ding - Southwest was the winner for me.

What to consider when thinking about a rewards credit card: 

1. Be aware of annual fees and charges. 

- Make sure it is actually worth the rewards. You don't want to be surprised by any hefty fees or extreme annual charges. I wouldn't completely rule it out - Southwest does have an annual fee. But the particular rewards I am getting will outweigh that cost.

2. Understand on how your points add up. 

- How much are the points worth? And how many points do you need to even reap the rewards? For Southwest, $1 = 1 point. If I am spending it with Southwest, I get 2 points! And especially since I will be purchasing lots of flights, the actual rewards will hopefully add up quickly. So when considering a card, be sure you know how your points add up. 

3. Consider what rewards you will actually use.

- My first credit card seemed too good to be true with the awesome rewards. But I just don't use the rewards as much as I thought I would. 

What companies are you loyal to when you are traveling? Comment below!