A Busy Week/Changing Paths

I'm sorry for hardly posting this week but it was a crazy week at work with a very important project being due today. I was working late every night this week and had very little time to write when I got home. It makes me think about the pressure I put on myself to write everyday and how difficult it can be. And this, like, anything else is a new learning experience and I think I was a bit ambitious trying to write a post everyday of the week. So once again I think I'm going to change the format of my blog to help me deliver better content. The big change is I'm not going to be posting everyday but instead like 3 times a week. The categories will stay roughly the same but not related to a particular day of the week. Writing fewer posts will help me create better, more informed posts.

That being said I wanted to just talk about something I realized the other day. For a  while I had this original plan that I was going to apply to graduate school this February, get in for the coming fall semester and then spend the next two years getting my masters degree in global governance. But as of today I still haven't done application and I had a serious case of procrastination. Or I thought it was procrastination.

It wasn't. It was me trying too convince myself that this was the right path for me, the next step. I realized last week that its not the right step for me for a few reasons. First, the program just wasn't right for me. It didn't fit what I thought my career path was and I was just doing it because it was what my parents wanted and the tuition was cheap.

Skip The Gym Membership This Year

So this is a quick little post on staying fit this year without the gym membership. I'm sure for many of you out there getting into shape was one of your new year's resolutions, I know it was one for me. Now I might sound a bit weird telling you to skip the gym this year when I'm talking about getting in shape. Here's the reason. For most of us were not trying to lose 150 pounds or get ripped like Rocky were just trying to tuck the stomach in a bit or lose 5-10 pounds. And for that you don't need that expensive gym membership. While many gyms offer nice introductory rates those rates usually end after 3 months or so and then you're stuck paying the higher membership fees.

In college we were all used to having free access to a gym to do our workouts but you don't need a gym to get in shape. If you are looking for a cardio workout you don't need a tred mill or an eliptical to get a good sweat on. Go for a run outside! The fresh air is great for your body and running on soft grass is better for your knees and ankles than running on a tredmill. And if for me when I run on a tredmill I feel like I'm never getting anywhere so I prefer running outside.

And you don't need expensive weights from a gym to do your weight lifting at home. You can find simple and cheap resistance bands at most sporting goods stores and they work just as good as free weights. And if you don't need that much weight skip the bands and fill some empty water bottles with water or sand. They work just as good. And you don't need those machines at the gym to get a work out in. Do a quick search on the web and you'll find plenty of excellent workouts. I check out Men's Health Magazine's website for good workouts.

Along the same line, check out the web for some great ab workouts. If you're feeling like you need a little more guidance try a workout video before you look for that personal trainer. Personal trainers are expensive and again unless you are looking for a serious workout regiment a simple exercise tape can make your workout more effective.

Now a nutrition plan can enhance any work out but no need to shell out big bucks for a dietician or a meal plan. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, cutting out fried foods, and eating carbs and red meat in moderation will help you get fit. And again there is plenty of great resources out there on the web. And remember the best thing you can do to help get more fit is to create a workout schedule, find ways to stay motivated, and eat right. Good luck to all of you on your new year's resolutions.

Cities of Power

My apalogies to everyone for not posting at all this weekend or yesterday but I was very sick over the weekend and the post probably would have reflected how bad I felt. And to make things even better I was in Washington D.C. with my girlfriend for the weekend and unfortunately  had to end our trip a bit earlier than we would have liked because of how sick I was.

Anyway, being in D.C. got me thinking about cities of power. Places where you go and you feel the power and the grandeur within the city. There's something special about being in those kinds of cities. They make you dream of big ideas and adventures and leave you with a longing for greatness. For me, Washington D.C. is the most powerful city and not just because its our nations capital. I've been to a number of capital cities, Rome, Athens, and Madrid for example. None of those cities give off the same powerful vibes.

Making Time For Each Other

I didn't post last night because I was having an impromptu date night with my girlfriend, which sparked a thought to write about the importance of taking time out for the important people in your life. I think in today's fast paced world of "there's an app for that" we have a tendency to get bogged down in work, chores, or errands, and we forget about spending time with each other. Sometimes we forget that the reason we work so hard is so we have the ability to do the things we enjoy with the people we care about. Relationships, whether they are with a girlfriend, a boyfriend, a best friend, or a family member, require time and effort and if you don't put in the time and effort your might find yourself losing that relationship. Even though me and my girlfriend live together we still put aside some special time to do things together. Everyone should do this, and its very simple. It doesn't have to be a big extravagant event that costs a fortune. It can be as simple as taking a walk together, renting a movie and ordering takeout, or even taking time to do your grocery shopping together. Regardless of what it is the important thing is you are spending time together. And I'm not trying to preach or suggest I'm perfect, I'm not. I recognize that I could put a little more effort into the relationships I have with some of my friends. But the important thing is that I realize I need to work on it and that I put forth a little extra effort. Because the best experience you can have is one you can share with someone else.  There's my little piece of advice for today. Let me know what you think.

Moving Back In With Your Parents: The Silver Lining

Before I graduated college I had always told my friends, "no way am I moving back in with my parent, I'm on my own now." I would scoff at my friends who had made plans to move back into their childhood homes. And then it happened. I graduated college, had no permanent job lined up and very little money saved to rent an apartment. I was forced to move back in with my parents. And my girlfriend decided to come along too since she was in the same situation I was. An article posted earlier this year on the Huffington Post website describes why so many graduates are forced to move back in with their parents. But fear not those of you who are facing the same future, there is a silver lining, in fact there are a few.

1. Free or low rent and utilities: Unless your parents are total hard cases they will charge you little or no rent. This is great when you are just starting out since rent and mortgages are the biggest chuck of your living expenses.


2. Home cooked meals: If you can't cook then this is a huge benefit and if you can cook is always nice to have a nostalgic home cooked meal.

3. Start saving money: When you are first starting out it can be difficult to save money with all of your other expenses, especially if you are in a low paying job. Living at home means little or no rent, but instead of spending that extra money to put a portion of it each moth into a high-yield savings account, as if you were paying rent.

4. Parental advice: If you are like me, you have little know how when it comes to real people things like purchasing car insurance, understanding health insurance, saving for retirement, credit cards. This list goes on. Having someone who has done it all before right there at your disposal is a life saver.

5. Breathing room: If you have no concrete plan for where you wanna go next in your life its nice to have some breathing room to figure things out. Moving home helps keep your expenses down and assures you have place to stay, food to eat, and people who care about you and this is so helpful when your trying to figure things out. Plus parents want whats best for you and can help you achieve your goals

And there you have it. A few reasons to look forward to moving back in with your parents.