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Today was the first day of work in the new year. And Ill be the first to say that absolutely nothing was different today then it was last week when I clocked out. Now I know you are not completely surprised but wasn’t a small part of you hoping that something awesome would happen? You are probably thinking “where is she going with this?” Don’t worry, Ill tell you.

Currently, I work for Sherwin Williams, the paint company. I am the lead supervisor for the architectural sample department. I know, sounds super exciting but trust me it isn’t all that glamorous. I originally took a part time position to help create and manage the samples. In the last two years, I have grown the program and now handle samples for all of Las Vegas stores. I have also become a how to resource for other districts and get calls about my system, maintenance and order forms. There are still some bugs to work out but over all I have made it run fairly smoothly and have been recognized by the Division manager.

When I say it isn’t all that glamorous, I mean the ins and outs. Day in and day out, I spend entering orders, mixing paint, creating samples and filing samples. By the end of 8 hours on my feet, some days I might only get two orders done. What I do for samples doesn’t sell the paint but it allows our customers to have something concrete for their records. It is a very tedious job most days.

Unfortunately, the position I am in does not have a direct step by step plan for promotion. Realistically for me to go any higher on the corporate ladder of SW, I must take a step down to go into an assistant manager position. I do not believe management is my calling. I need something with more variety, more creative challenges than customer complaints or HR issues. Which brings me to todays distraction.

As I am working on samples I have a lot of time to think, specifically about what skills I have acquired in the last year that might look good on a resume. Yes, the dreaded resume writing. I may not be looking for a new job just yet but I can be ready if the time would come. You never know when you might be talking to someone and hear of a cant pass up opportunity.

So here is a little of what I have added to mine with the position I am in now.

• Prioritization-with so many orders received at once, I had to learn to do emergencies, pressing orders and filler orders.
• Communication- the only way to prioritize is to be clear about the deadlines and needs of your customers.
• Setting expectations and boundaries- You must be upfront with clients on the capabilities at your ready. Don’t promise to have an order done same day if there is not time.
• Supervisor skills-I have two employees that work with me, who I oversee. I am in charge of giving them orders, seeing to it that they complete the orders correctly, help them manage time and breaks.

The best thing to do for resume writing is think out everything that you do in your daily job. Anything and everything. Then you can group it into tasks or determine if it is a management skill, practical skill etc. Not everything will be a key skill to point out on your resume. You might be applying for a specific job and only want to focus on computer skills or accounting skills. Always customize your resume with what skills you believe the interviewer/company will be looking for. Don’t forget to add a blurb to build you up, to describe exactly what only you can bring to the table. No company just wants the boxes checked for a robot. Add that flare and sell your best self!!

So, its 11pm and you are lying in your bed. Thinking and planning everything you want to do in the morning. You close your eyes and drift off ready for what tomorrow brings. Then poof! Just like that its 7 am and you wake up with a major headache, sore throat and barely breathing. Yep. That was me today. Highly unmotivated to try to be human like the rest of the world.

Well with a little bit, really over an hour, of self-talk, I did kick off the sheets and drag myself to the bathroom for a hot, steamy shower. It warmed me up enough to head out to the kitchen and start with the new year’s resolutions, three for today. New Year’s Eve falling on Friday is something I can get used to. Half a day of work leading in and two full days of rest before the work week starts. It’s a good mental start for the year.

If you are like me, your resolutions include 1. diet and 2. exercise. Or maybe at least eat better and possibly throw in a workout or two. The last months have been nothing but temptations, treats on the shelves, holiday parties, candy canes. Its easy to grab that bag of cookies and a blanket and hibernate on the couch. After all, you deserve a break, right? I am a strong believer in balance when it comes to dieting and exercise as well as knowing what works for you. Strict diets and workouts that bring you to tears are not for me. What works best for me is adjusting how and what I eat and choosing the gym class over the latest episode of the Witcher (sorry Henry Cavill).

I always begin with meal prep. Knowing you have a meal ready helps to keep the McDonald’s nugget runs to a minimum. LOL. Using as few dishes as possible is huge for me so I love using a crock pot. I saw the recipe I currently have going on Instagram. It’s a great place to find people with similar food tastes or follow someone who has dietary restrictions you may have like Keto recipes. This one is Chicken Pot Pie. This most likely wouldn’t fall on any dietician’s meal plans but it sounded good to me. I tweaked it a bit to use low sodium cream of chicken soup and broth as well as light cream cheese. Once it has been completely cooked and the chicken is shredded, I can portion it out for multiple meals.

Tonight’s will be served over biscuits but going into my lunches I try to lower the unnecessary carbs. I will opt for multigrain crackers and the bell peppers/cucumber that I sliced up. I also have other healthy snacks portioned out. Raspberries and nuts and Tillamook cheddar cheese cubes. I am a chip junky so the first week of switching out the Doritos for pita or veggie chips is tough. That is when I have to remind myself that what I want it to feel better and processed chips really can’t help.

Not being able to breathe doesn’t exactly help when it comes down to a workout, so needless to say I haven’t broken a sweat yet this year. I did however make sure to get outside for a walk around the block in the fresh cold air. Here in Vegas its in the 40’s, about as fresh as it gets for us. I enjoyed the deep breathes and moving in the sunshine. You have to start somewhere. And when I am feeling better those spin classes or body pump classes will really get me going. I don’t have to be a body builder but man if I can kick butt in kickboxing, I feel like I can take on the world.

I am not new and exciting when it comes to resolutions. The first 2 are on everybody’s list and this one I would wager is on at least half of the populations. Third one is to read more. In the last few years, I have really jumped on the reading train. Self-help topics clutter my bookshelf which is no great surprise. Journaling is often a suggestion which is really why this blog is something I am working on. Your mind is just as important if not more important than your health, because how you think defines your life. So yesterday of course, I went to Barnes & Noble. I grabbed a copy of Hannah Browns God Bless This Mess. A contestant on The Bachelor/Bachelorette she shares her experience on getting thru life’s messes. I am two chapters in but as I go, I will share what stands out or what I learn and how it applies. I am reading it at the same time as my friend so we can compare out take aways.

I encourage you to find someone that will help you with your new years resolutions or someone you can share a journey with. I don’t want to fall behind reading the book so I can talk with my friend. I am completing with my sister for the number of workouts I do in a week. My boss, who is also a health journey, will help keep me out of the cookie jar, so to speak, when coworkers bring in tempting snacks. Don’t tell them your exact plans, give them enough info to keep you accountable and on your side. We have to find the strength to hit these goals. I can root for you if your root for me!! Good luck now on to day 3!!

So last year didn’t exactly go the way I started 2021 believing it would go. I didn’t have any major setbacks or anything crazy happen. But like most I have found that I am on the edge of burn out. This is an effort to relieve a bit of the nagging, stuck feeling, the covid fatigue, the empty that has seemed to set in. We all keep saying that we want to get back to normal but what does that mean for the world we live in now, post pandemic? I am going to use this as a way to get back to me, to find things I that make me happy even if I have to leave my house wearing the dreaded mask.

The page is called The Distracted Damsel. It really does describe me. Not to imply that I am in need of a hero to come rescue me but hey would it hurt? Joking. Damsel is a young unmarried woman. Well I am not exactly young (soon to be 35 years young) but I am currently unattached. I can go where I want, see what I want. Experience new, weird, exciting things. I can have any adventure. And, that being said, most days I wake up and want to be anywhere new, learning something different. Constantly distracted by Instagram post for new food, or new artists. What’s the new book to read? Etc etc.

I am hoping that there are others out there like me who don’t know exactly which country they want to visit. Currently debating between Norway and Italy. Or maybe have a big birthday coming up and cant decide between a fancy girls night out or trip to Orlando Wizarding World. Do I buy the artwork I see and like or do I get out the paint and create my own because it’s a happy fun time just for me? Do you keep the steady job or do you cash out and try something totally new?

These are all things I am using this blog to find out about me and for me. I have no specific plan or outline as to content. It will be whatever moves me that day/week. I can only share my experiences. Starting a new year off with a new blog. This is new and I will see where things lead.