Hey Guys!

We’re about to enter the second quarter of the year and it’s time to LEVEL UP! That’s if you haven’t been doing so already; but hey more opportunities never hurt. I know we’re currently in an unpredictable time due to the ongoing pandemic, and as much as I hate to be pushing the rhetoric that “you now have more time to do xyz”, it’s kinda true. Not to say that you can’t rest and enjoy the downtime but who knows? Plus, I started drafting this post way before we were being encouraged to social distance.

As customary we all set new year’s resolutions or goals and while I’m not here to ‘check in’ with you on those tasks I’m here to encourage more. Today I’ll be sharing a few ways you can level up your life whether it be personally or professionally.

1/ Online Learning

In case you didn’t know there are COUNTLESS sites online where you can learn just about anything from. There are free and paid courses where you have the opportunity of earning a certificate. I’m not even talking about online degrees, but short-term courses where you can gain skills that will help you to level up your life. I’m currently enrolled in three online courses, one for work and the other two on my accord.

What I like about these courses (excluding the one for work) is that they are self-paced. If you ever wanted to learn about a particular topic, this is your chance to level up and learn something new. Course offerings range from Business, I.T., Marketing to even lifestyle and personal development. In addition to receiving a certificate, you can add these achievements to your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Suggested sites for online learning:

Udemy	edX
Coursera	LinkedInLearning

2/ Read More

If you aren’t a casual reader, this may be a bit difficult to get into however it won’t hurt to dive into something new. That’s what we’re here for right? For me, reading a book is like a gateway to a new place; at least that’s what it used to be when my interests were novels. Lately, I’ve become more invested in books catered to personal development. I’ll share a few on my reading list if  you’re interested in reading more or starting a new habit.

3/ Find a Mentor

I wish this was an option in high school or I wish more people made this “a thing”. Mentoring can help you a great deal with leveling up in life. For a brief period in 2018/19, I was a part of a mentorship program where I spoke with someone online through emails (which was my choice of communication). It was a pretty cool experience, I got the push I needed to do a few things and she also helped me in my thought process. Not sure why it ended (I think things became hectic through emails), however if you really need some insight or a push in a certain direction a mentor may be suitable for you.

Unfortunately, I’m not sure how you’d go about seeking a mentor but my best bet may be to approach someone you look up to and simply ask.

4/ Start Therapy

This is a more taboo topic among the black community. Nonetheless, it should be known that your mental health is just as important as your physical health. There are ways you can manage your mental health at home, but there are some cases where you’d really need help from a professional. Behavioural therapy can help to treat a wide range of issues from stress/anxiety, depression, grief, relationship challenges, work issues and more. Being more aware of yourself and taking care of your mental health can surely help you to level up.

5/ Join a Club

This could be a professional or recreational club. Finding people with the same interest as you can definitely help you level up your life as it opens you to a new network with lots of opportunities. Of course, in this period we have to practice social distancing but many clubs have also implemented a virtual meeting space.

Shameless plug – Check out a Rotaract Club! We’re worldwide, but if you’re local visit Rotaract Club of Antigua on Instagram or Facebook for more information.

6/ Evaluate Your Friendships

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

Jim John

 I believe the quote above speaks for itself. If your friends aren’t encouraging you to level up and do your best, are they really your friends? (Hopefully, you’re doing the same.) To be honest, levelling up doesn’t have to be any big advancement, it can be anything you deem as a progression in life. For instance, if your friend knows that you’re trying to save money to invest in yourself but they keep inviting you out every weekend to turn up at a club, do they really have your best interest at heart? Although there’s nothing wrong with going out with your friends once in a while, a true friend may be more considerate. While setting some boundaries, its beneficial to have friends who act as ‘accountability partners’ sis. Do you wanna level up or not?

7/ Self-Evaluation

How are you going to level up if you don’t know what you want? This is your time to be honest with yourself. Take some time out of your schedule and simply do some inward reflection. Ask yourself questions like: what are your likes and dislikes, where do you want to be in x amount of years, what do you want to do with your life, what would you like to be known for? and more. After you’ve gone through this process, you’ll be more aligned with knowing what exactly YOU need to do in order to level up.

Related Post: Let’s Make a Vision Board

8/ Expand Your Mind aka Travel

Okay, okay I know that travel is not an option right now in light of the ongoing, global events. However, not only was this post drafted before the current pandemic BUT it must come to an end sometime, right?

Travelling is a great way to level up in life, not to just say “Hey, I’ve been to x number of countries.” but to honestly learn something new and as corny as it may be, discover yourself. So after we’re done social distancing, think about where you want to go and how you’re going to get there.

Related Post: 30 Countries before 30 Bucket List

9/ Attend Conferences/Workshops

If you have a 9-5 and these are offered, use them as opportunities. Not only to learn something new or in depth but to NETWORK. Networking at conferences/workshops can open so many doors. Even if it’s outside of the corporate world, brands have workshops and conferences for lots of reasons and you’d meet more people in your field. My suggestion is to search the internet or ask around for a better chance at exploring these options.

10/ Bonus for my Content Creators

One good thing about this COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing is that a lot of our favourite influencers are offering up content for FREE! From webinars, IG lives, heavily discounted offers and online courses, this is your time to cash in. Check their websites or social media pages for offers, also if you’re subscribed to their mailing lists check your emails! Here are a few I try to keep up with during the week:

• Mattie James is going live on Instagram every Wednesday
• Life is Content has free courses in brand partnerships, building a platform etc. Check out her ‘Office Hours’ series as well
• The Digital Jamaican has Thursday Night Live (Instagram)