BLOG - Audrey JoAnn

NASHVILLE TRAVEL GUIDE: WHERE TO STAY, EAT, PLAY & MORE

December 13, 2019

Probably my favorite place I’ve ever lived is Nashville, TN. It’s just SO FUN. That’s all. I love the friendly, artistic culture and the fact that it’s small for a city, so it’s fairly easy to get around (as long as you miss rush hour, but even that isn’t as bad as other places I’ve lived… *cough cough Austin*).

I love that there’s so much to do, from professional sports and live music (of course) and great food to adorable pockets of town with their own little scenes and vibes.

I love that you get all four seasons, but it’s not too unbearable in the winter months like some states just north of Tennessee. I love the charming old architecture, the Southern hospitality energy, and that there’s hiking and water and easy roadtrips all nearby.

The people are neighborly, the food is insane, and the coffee shops are Instagram goals. There are breweries aplenty, and really the only thing missing (and the reason we don’t live there now) is an abundance of wine/wineries for John to work at. But hey, there is ONE, and it’s good — Arrington Vineyards, if you’re looking for a sales or business analyst, call us.

Kidding. Kind of. It’s also just as fun a place to visit as it is to live, and I’ve had so many friends going on bachelorette parties or taking girls trips or heading to a festival in Nashville that text me asking: What do we NEED to do?!

I TURNED DOWN 3 AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES IN 1 DAY + IT WAS THE BEST MOVE EVER

December 9, 2019

Last week I had a bit of a moment. I always send out my client invoices the first Monday of every month for the previous month’s work, and last week I sent all of them out in a bit of a rush because I had a lot on deck for work that I needed to jump in to.

Actually, I’ve had a lot on deck for the last couple months. It’s definitely a good problem to have and a far cry from my regularly short to-do list that I maintained at the beginning of this year. But as I’ve grown and taken on more opportunities and long-term clients, I’ve started to realize more doesn’t always equal better.

So last week, I shot off invoices and then just kept chugging along. I barely had time to register that November was my highest performing month of all time, like since I started to freelance full-time a year-and-a-half ago.

THERAPY UPDATE: HOW I FOUND MY THERAPIST + WHAT I’VE LEARNED SO FAR

October 10, 2019

I wrote a story a couple months ago about how I found a woman’s shirt in our laundry and proceeded to absolutely melt down. I assumed the worst and panicked and figured my marriage was over. Lo and behold, the shirt belonged to one of MY friends… It was a low point.

I decided on that day that I could probably use a little professional feedback on my mental health. It was embarrassing and scary that I went straight from unknown shirt to MY HUSBAND IS CHEATING in 3 seconds flat, and I didn’t want to feel that way ever again. Well, not without legitimate warrant.

So I popped on to Psychology Today’s website and searched my area for a therapist. Did you know they have an entire database with detailed filters so you can find a therapist who focuses on specific issues you might be dealing with? It’s the most wonderful resource and how I’ve always found therapists in the past.

I knew I would feel more comfortable with a female therapist, so I found one nearby who helps with anxiety, codependency, self esteem, and HSP (highly sensitive people — because THAT didn’t resonate totally and completely…).

HOW I STAY MOTIVATED WORKING FROM HOME

September 24, 2019

I am probably the world’s most inconsistent person. Does it freak you out for me to admit that? It is a little strange… Some days I love having a morning routine, other days I ditch it to just make my coffee and sit down at my desk first thing (ahem, that was today). Sometimes I live and die by my to-do list, and other times I just start hammering away at what I know needs to be done first, and then next, and next, no plan in mind.

It’s the beauty and blessing and also the curse of working for yourself. I’ve read all the things about time blocking, creating structure for your day, and managing time strategically. Heck, I’ve even written some content surrounding time management tools and how to stay motivated for my clients.

And don’t get me wrong — I absolutely think structure and having a plan is important, especially a big-picture plan. But it’s not more important than feeling fulfillment and progress in the work I’m doing every day. So I just want to share some of what works for me, and also how differently I approach staying “motivated” than I used to even a year ago.

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