Whether you are starting a business or are looking for a job, one of the primary keys to your success will be the first impression you make when meeting new potential partners, clients, bosses, and colleagues.

Making a good first impression involves your appearance, your body language, your attitude, as well as both what you say and how you say it.

Exams can be stressful for any student, no matter their level. Taking a big picture view of test preparation by organizing your study approach throughout the year (not just during exam week) can make a big difference. This article provides tips for parents, teachers, and students to help make school go a bit smoother. I've written the tips as if talking directly to the student, but know that you can adapt these to help your kids or pupils.

Creating an organized approach to studying means dedicating both space and time. Create a good study space at home (see here) where you feel comfortable and focused. That means far away from distractions. Hang a whiteboard or calendar so that you can post a schedule for studying. For example, if you are going to study right after school, or after dinner, write that down on a weekly calendar. You can also write down what you're going to study, such as reviewing notes from classes that day. You'll also want to have a calendar where you can mark down assignment due dates and test dates.

There are many different ways to learn, and many of us don't learn best by reading textbooks and taking notes. Try to pinpoint what part of the learning process you're struggling with, and then make a plan. Reading assigned chapters BEFORE you go to class means you've already seen the material that will be presented to you orally. Instead of hearing that information for the first time, you'll be able to synthesize the presentation with what you read prior. Take notes or record the lecture, and review it later that day while it's still fresh. When you're preparing for exams, think about how your teacher has quizzed or tested you in the past. What sort of questions do they posit during class? Create flashcards with quiz questions or read through your notes out loud rather than just copying and highlighting your notes all over again. You can even create your own worksheets to learn more.

It's never a bad idea to reach out to a teacher or counselor and let them know you'd like some help. It's even better if you're proactive about it. The teacher may offer office hours or tutoring outside of school hours that can help with tough topics. If the teacher doesn't offer tutoring, you can look online to connect with one individually. One of the benefits of working with a good tutor is the one-on-one time and the dedication to help you learn the information in a way that makes sense to you.

If you have test anxiety, there are ways you can 'practice' taking the test to help. Test anxiety can manifest as "blanking out" on test day. Try to simulate the testing environment at home - create an answer sheet and practice exam (ask your teacher for one), and "take" the test just like you would at school. If the test is on the computer, or is an essay test, then mimic that environment. Practice breathing exercises to help calm you down.

If you've started your own business, then you're used to learning on the fly. But if you're ready to keep growing your business, then you should consider taking at least one of these courses.

I'm at the precipice of rebranding my side business, and as I research how to rebrand successfully I thought I'd share my research here with you.

The tips I share can be applied to coming up with a brand (brand identity) or rebranding. Additionally, you can think of these tips in terms of branding a business or yourself. The key concepts of intent, consistency, and experience apply to individual branding and business branding. 

While many argue that a job or career shouldn't define you, you do spend a significant chunk of your week at that job. Do you want to enjoy it, or just get that 9 to 5 over with?

Would you prefer to do something you are passionate about or is it all about money? A career can start out as a means to an end, but you may learn to love what you do. On the other hand, you may choose to take a lower-paying job because it's something you're passionate about. Lastly, keep in mind that sometimes you need to work in various entry-level positions to gain the experience needed for some more senior roles.

Stress comes from all directions in life, but sometimes you just need someone to tell you to sit down and take stock of where you are. This post will talk about some different types of stressors and provide a little push to get you back on track to taking care of yourself.

Many of us have been working from home for almost a year now due to the COVID-19 productivity. 

In this post I'll share 3 tips to boost your productivity while working from home.

How does virtual learning compare to going to school at a brick-and-mortar location? Advantages and disadvantages certainly differ depending on level. In 2020, schools of all levels closed, and for the first time, large portions of our younger population were schooling at home, from preschoolers to college students.

While many parents have chosen to homeschool, with school closures many parents now working full-time from home were faced with the challenges of teaching their kids at home (with no prior experience in education), or managing their online learning schedule. The lack of socialization for young students meant a key part of their behavioral learning was lost. Middle and high school students likely adapted better to the switch to virtual learning than younger students, but they no longer had club or sport activities. 

Whether pursuing a Master's or doctoral degree, making ends meet during your graduate education can seem daunting. In addition to reaching out to your department and school student service staff to find out about fellowships, tuition reductions, and other ways to reduce education expenses, check out these tips.

Staying focused is one of the biggest challenges we face when working from home. It's tough enough to manage your own schedule and can be difficult to stay productive without others working around you. Creating a dedicated working area where you can get away from distractions is important.

When you do lose focus, however, it can go one of two ways. You may be able to refocus quickly (the goal) and stay productive, or it can spiral into procrastination. In this blog post I'll talk about 4 ways you can refocus your mind to stay productive.

Some people can't imagine a life without travel. The breathtaking views, the variety of people, the tasty and maybe strange foods - it's the experiences you can't live without. If you're forever struck with wanderlust and can't imagine your life without globetrotting, a future where travel and work are balanced can seem impossible.

A job that has you traveling often may or may not satisfy your travel desires, so today I'll be talking about other ways to start with your passion - travel - and develop it into a career where you are truly doing what you love. 

You don't have to choose between travelling and a career. Thanks to the internet and to jobs that leverage your expertise and love of travel, you can do both.

Whether you've joined the land of freelancing as a side gig, as a way to have more freedom in your career, or you're just looking for a way to revitalize your online presence, it's important to take a strategic approach to marketing yourself as a freelance professional.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have transitioned to working remotely or have even lost our jobs. Family commitments may have increased, and you may be looking for a source of income that is flexible. Advantages of freelance work include independence, the ability to control your workload and your exposure. Freelance work can open up posiibilities not possible when you are working for someone else. 

On the other hand, you don't have a dedicated marketing department or social media coordinator to market your work and abilities. The burden is on you to find clients and convince them you are the person to hire. Just as freelance work is attractive to you, its attractive to mnany others, making freelance bids competative.

​ Your freelance marketing approach should focus on 2 things: publicity and visibility. Let's dive in.

Your mind is like a muscle, and benefits from regular training and exercise. Your brain has plasticity, which means it can improve in function as you age - mental decline is not inevitable. If you're overwhelmed by the number of apps available, you can start with these 5 simple strategies.

For those of us already in school or working, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we learn and work - now we do it from home.

But what if you were planning on making a career change when COVID-19 hit? You wanted to develop your current skillset or take courses to jump fields. 

With the increase in online learning as we continue to stay at home, it's the perfect opportunity for you to conquer some of those tasks you've set out for yourself through online learning. You can engage on your town terms, find low cost alternatives, and learn to manage yourself.

The past few weeks with the COVID-19 pandemic have been stressful in nearly every area of our lives - work, home, physical health, and mental health. Social distancing may make you feel isolated. You may feel less productive when working from home. You may be worried about your own health, or those of your loved ones. 

Today, I'll share some tips on adapting your day-to-day work style from the office to working from home. I'll guide you through how to create a routine, how to avoid distractions, and provide an overview of useful communication tools to keep you connected and productive.

With the major changes occurring in every part of life during the COVID-19 pandemic, most if not all of us have transitioned to working remotely (or working from home, #WFH). 

I've put all my productivity posts, especially those focused on working from home, here in a single post for your convenience. 

What do you find most helpful when adapting to new situations?

If you're like me and have started a small business in line with your passion, accounting probably isn't your forte (or passion, for that matter!) So how can you make sure that this key financial part of your business is not only efficient but done correctly?

Minimizing the effort it takes to manage your finances - as a small business owner or as an individual - is key. Why? So that you spend time on your passion and not the logistics.

Read on to learn about 3 ways to manage your finances in your small business

1. Manage it yourself
2. Outsource your accounting
3. Use cloud-based accounting software

As we launch headfirst into a new semester, take advantage of the slow first week of classes to make a strategic plan for this term. Think about how you studied for your exams last semester - what worked, what didn't? 

​Today I share 3 tips to consider when revamping your study strategy.

Having an idea of what you want to do after college is key in making sure you graduate with the necessary knowledge and skills. 

Some careers require a 2-year degree, others a 4-year degree, others post-graduate education like a masters, doctorate, or professional degree.

It's common for students to change majors partway through school, or go back to school to complete necessary requirements - full time, part time, or through online courses. With this need has flourished a new industry aimed at helping adults of all ages acquire the skills they need for the career they want. 

Graduate school is often a time of both professional and personal challenges, namely because you're now in adulthood. But why am I writing about end-of-life planning on a grad school lifestyle blog? Because you may have a sick parent, and experience the importance of having an advance directive, power of attorney, and updated will on hand. 

Tragedies, like unexpected illness and accidents, can strike any time. Having your documents ready and documented means you get to decide the details of your health journey, while also saving your family from extra stress and arguments.

The infographic below guides you through end-of-life planning and advanced directives.

Happy New Year! If you're like me, you spent your winter holidays on a soft and cold diet after getting your tonsils out. 

Chances are, you're not like me in this department, but maybe you've clicked to this page because you're thinking about getting a tonsillectomy.

Your doctor, the Internet, or friends and family may have told you that getting your tonsils out as an adult is a harder recovery than having them removed as a child. Many of us grew up with friends or siblings who had their tonsils out. It used to be routine to remove children's tonsils, however recent research revealed that children who get their tonsils removed before the age of 9 or 10 may be at increased risk of upper respiratory issues as an adult, like asthma. 

Tonsils are part of your immune system, and your immune system isn't fully developed until late adolescence or early adulthood. Researchers think that children having their tonsils removed at an early age can impact their immune system, affecting future disease risk.

However, when adults get their tonsils removed (typically for chronic sore throats, less so for sleeping issues), research shows that the benefit of reduced sick days and better quality of life means the 2 weeks of recovery is worth the pain.

Read on to learn about my experience getting my tonsils removed at age 28, on grad school holiday break.

With an arctic blast dropping temps to 100-year record lows across the US, it truly feels like winter is here! 

When we think about our winter health we often think of cold, flu, and mental health. Being indoors more often means we're more likely to catch a bug from our cubicle neighbor, and less time spent outdoors and/or less sun exposure can contribute to feelings of isolation and depression.

Photo by Brigitte Tohm from Pexels

College is a unique life experience - independence from family members and high school teachers comes with new responsibility over your time and self-care. 

Peer pressure to socialize at the expense of your school work can lead to you falling behind, or the abrupt change in classroom style may lead you to struggle with your material. Being away from home can be lonely, and the added stress of school can make you shy away from meeting new people.

Some quick tips? Pay attention at orientation to what resources your school has available for you, from tutoring to counseling, to interest groups to help meet new friends. Tutoring can help you learn how you learn, overcoming difficulties in new coursework, while counseling can help you identify negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. You can also learn positive self-care coping strategies. Finally, develop your time management skills by utilizing assignment and quiz dates to stay up on your materials, blocking your time around classes to be efficient while on campus. 

​Read on for more tips.

Writing a literature review is daunting (hey, writing a dissertation is daunting!)

While dissertation formats vary between universities and disciplines, most (if not all) require a literature review.  

In this post I'll walk you through my process in developing an organization system that helped me write my dissertation literature review. It's a long post, but I wanted it all to be in one place for you so it's not broken up into different articles. 

First, I'll walk you through my back story in the dissertation literature review process, and describe my overall system of organization.

Then, I'll describe 2 methods to take you from reading articles to taking notes to organizing your notes into themes.

Lastly, I'll wrap up with thoughts on how to continue your literature review in a cohesive and transparent way.

All external links open in a new window.

Background photo by freddie marriage on Unsplash