

The Best Career Bucket List Ideas For Your Blessed, Booked, And Busy Era
Bucket lists are popular and provide us the opportunity to not only put our dreams to paper but to set up an intention to take action and live the lives of our dreams. You could be in that "soft girl era," where your bucket list is all about ease and self-reflection, or in a glow-up era, where it's all about bucket-list activities that lay the building blocks of financial freedom by getting to the bag in all the ways you can. (And y'all know we love a good travel bucket list. A recent study shows that 95% of Americans have bucket lists for places they want to see and things they want to do before they die.)
Well, what about a career bucket list? We spend the most time at work, put our passions and efforts into our careers, and our jobs pay the bills, so they are a significant part of our life's journey. Here are a few career bucket list ideas to help you find fulfillment, fun, adventure, and advancement in whatever you professionally choose to pursue.
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1. Take a month, quarter, or year off for funemployment.
Funemployment is basically similar to a sabbatical (if you want to keep your job but put it on pause), or it can be a total I-quit-and-I'm-not-going-to-work-anywhere-for-a-while moment.
Save up that lump sum (or create a plan for funding your journey while being a full-time unemployed bae, on purpose) and do all the things you'd do if you "only had the time." It could be traveling America's West Coast or trekking through the cities of Ghana. It could be investing in a small business. It could be starting one. It could be doing absolutely nothing at all and taking the time for silence, self-reflection, and self-care.
This period can help you rejuvenate, appreciate the job you have (if it's indeed a sabbatical), or enlighten you to new ideas for other career passions and goals you want to pursue.
2. Invest in a coach, certification or masterclass.
It's always a good idea to be a lifelong learner, especially with the fast pace of change across industries. Plus, this is a great opportunity to widen your network, learn something new that you can get paid more to use at your current job, or serve others via a cause you're passionate about.
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3. Speak at or host an event of empowerment or career development.
And no, this isn't about creating yet another superficial "networking" event where everyone just shows up dressed to the nines but does little to no connecting whatsoever. Get your name out there, volunteer, or market yourself to be paid to speak at or host events that actually build impact, that talk about subjects you're actually an expert on, or that you can add your very-much-needed two cents to when it comes to your work and life experiences.
4. Negotiate for double the salary you're making right now.
I know, I know. Depending on how much you make, your level of experience or education, or the industry you're in, this might seem ludicrous, but at the very least, this will provide a lesson in confidence, communication, and knowledge of your worth. When was the last time you checked the market value of what you actually offer to a company? Yeah, if it's been years, you need to strategically go to the powers that be, put together a proposal, practice what you'll say with a trusted mentor or colleague (at another company within your industry), and make this power move.
If you can't do this, per se, find other ways to fill the gap in your take-home pay, such as a side hustle or even a search for a completely different position at a totally different company.
5. Work remote twice per month or more.
Whether you have to request this or you just have the power to do it. See what it's like and find ways to maximize systems and technology to save time and make doing your job a bit easier. There are even nurses and doctors who hardly ever step foot in a lab, hospital room, or office, so think about your options and try this out.
For some of us, constantly fighting with traffic, being in cold offices all day, or dealing with face-to-face interactions that make you question your sanity is just not a good fit, so remote work might be the name of the self-care game when it comes to your career longevity and advancement.
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6. Learn a foreign language and speak it fluently.
There's all this talk about being a digital nomad and working out of Thailand, France, or Mexico, but that language barrier can be a stressful---but avoidable---crook in the back of your dreams of working abroad. Learn that language, sis (or at least get the basics down) and start really getting engrossed in the culture. If you're working for a corporation that has overseas locations and you want that transfer, this can add a lot to your resume.
If you want to transition to a different aspect of your industry, such as education, PR, or financial services, this is essential because while many of us lean on the fact that in many countries, when business is being handled, English is an option, you're truly a boss when you can speak Mandarin to close that deal in China.
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Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
'I Want To Be The Color In My Home': Jackie Aina Gives Tour Of Her Posh Neutral Tone Pad
Jackie Aina is the embodiment of Black girl luxury, and her crib is no exception. Located in a ritzy area in Los Angeles, CA, Jackie’s home is equipped with all the things every fancy girl needs: an upscale kitchen, elevator, and fabulous pool. Luckily for us, the YouTuber opened up her home with the ultimate house tour. In a video on Tayo Aina’s (no relation) YouTube channel, Jackie goes from room to room, showing us her interior design style while also dishing on her life and career.
Jackie began making beauty content on YouTube in 2009, and from there, she’s grown her empire through collaborations with makeup brands like Too Faced. Now, she is the co-founder of the candle company FORVR Mood. The former Army reservist is known for her colorful personality, but her home is the opposite, which is on purpose. “Personally, because I have such a big, bold, colorful personality, I like to dress big and bold, I want to be the color in my home,” she said. “I don’t want my home to be the color. I want you to see me.”
She continued, “I want the house to be calming, and I want the house to blend in. I don’t want it to attract too much attention.” Her home may not be screaming look at me, but it’s definitely giving quiet luxury. Check it out below:
Breakfast Nook
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
Jackie revealed that she and her fiancé, Denis Asamoah, eat their meals at their breakfast nook daily.
Kitchen
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
“When my fiancé and I bought this house, I really wanted a double island kitchen, and the irony is like I don’t cook at all,” she said. Jackie explained that because she’s Black, African, and a woman, she’s expected to cook, and she doesn’t like doing what’s expected. “Why can’t I be good at other things? Like that doesn’t make me a woman if I don’t cook in the [kitchen].
Family Room
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
The star of the family room is the big, L-shaped white couch, and according to the YouTube star, her couch is so comfy you can melt into it.
Office
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
Jackie’s office houses the trophies and plagues that she received from YouTube and Shopify.
Backyard
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
The entrepreneur’s backyard has the same feel as the inside of the house. It has a gigantic pool and comfortable seating. “I’m very big on enjoy it while you have it,” she said.
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Feature image by Tayo Aina/ YouTube