#Freberg17..It’s a ‘See You Later’

Posted on by Hannah Jett

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The time has finally (unfortunately) come to compose my last blog post for #Freberg17. Woah. Where has this semester gone?

This semester has been a whirlwind to say the least. I have grown as a student under Dr. Freberg’s wing. Comm 333 has taught me SO much and has undoubtedly solidified the direction in which I want my future to go. I have had numerous sleepless nights and countless days that have lasted an eternity in order to put my best work forward for this class. In meeting with Dr. Freberg in her office on the first day of the semester in January to gain approval to be included in this class, I immediately knew that this would be a course that I would be so passionate about.

This class is so imperative for students who are looking to work hard and get their hands dirty with a ‘real world’ client experience. You get to work side by side with a client looking for students to takeover their social media for a day and gain insights to everything that goes into running the big show. As a student in this class you will also be able to add onto your resume credentials by becoming certified on Hootsuite! FOR FREE! This is a great opportunity to one-up other applicants looking for the same jobs as you post-grad.

Dr. Freberg exudes so much enthusiasm, passion, and all around joy when teaching her students. Take it from me, I’ve had the pleasure of being her pupil three times now ;). Because of this, all of her classes – especially comm 333, are exciting, engaging, and I look forward to learning from her every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning!

All in all, Dr. Freberg’s social media course has been my favorite, and most rewarding class I have ever taken at the University of Louisville. I could not be more thankful to have had a professor as truly caring and wonderful as Dr. Freberg. Her unwavering support for her students and her devotion to their success outside of the classroom is awe inspiring and she should be looked up to by her colleagues. She has patiently helped me get through one of the toughest semesters I have ever had and my gratitude can not be expressed in a blog post.

So, thank you Dr. Freberg, #Freberg17, and all of my readers for showing me love this semester and interacting with me on Twitter. Because of you all, this class was so fulfilling.

It’s not a ‘goodbye’, it’s a ‘see you later’.

See you soon,

Hannah

PS: Huge shoutout to Dr. Karen Freberg for getting her tenure at the University of Louisville. I can not think of a more deserving professor! Congratulations!!

What is ‘Sleep Hygiene’?

Posted on by Hannah Jett

WWS-Insomnia

A basic sleep hygiene list might look something like this:

  • Limit your caffeine intake, and don’t have any after 3 or so in the afternoon
  • Set times to go to sleep and wake up
  • No naps, not even 20 minute power naps
  • Don’t be in or near your bed for anything except sleeping
  • Try meditation, yoga, or breathing techniques
  • Try harder to relax, but don’t try too hard to sleep

Sleep hygiene is a set of rules you’re supposed to follow in order to get good sleep. Most people have the luxury of not caring too much about it, because when their brain and body get tired they can go to bed and recharge. Following these rules is important even for perfectly healthy individuals, but mandatory for those of us who suffer from sleep disorders.

There are different kinds of insomnia: not being able to fall asleep, not being able to stay asleep, and not being able to have restful sleep. I’m unlucky enough to have all three. I’m not going to lie, insomnia is incredibly difficult to live with. I almost never wake up feeling rested, which can make it difficult to start my day with a positive outlook. I get incredibly sleepy at inopportune times, and I’ve spent too many hours of my life staring at a dark ceiling. I’ve fallen into bed, completely worn out, only to find myself unable to get any of the rest I so desperately need.

One of the more frustrating things, however, is that people don’t seem to understand insomnia. Sure, most people have had a sleepless night or two at least once in their lives, but I’ve run into a lot of people who don’t understand what it means to suffer from it in the long term. Inevitably, when someone asks how I am, tired will be a part of that. People joke about how being tired is just part of their personality now, and I get it, a lot of people are sleep deprived in college. But for me, the problem isn’t temporary – I’ve been sleep deprived for as long as I can remember.

A lot of people think that not being able to sleep is somehow glamorous, like it’s my hidden superpower. While it is easier for me to pull an all-nighter, this isn’t by choice, and it isn’t a good thing – no one should be awake for more than a day. Going without sleep has huge negative impacts on your brain, and I am not immune to these – I’m just more accustomed to them.

As far as doing work, that thing that most people spend most of their day on, whether it’s academic work or their job, when you’re sleep deprived it can be near impossible to read, much less create anything decent. Yet somehow people think that because I spend less of my time asleep, then I must spend that time being productive. In reality, a lot of that time is spent just trying to wish myself to sleep. Some days, completing my work is like trying to run a marathon, except once I’ve reached the end, there’s no reward or rest.

The constant bags under my eyes are unpleasant. It’s incredibly difficult to wade through a fog of lethargy and exhaustion day after day. But honestly, what tires me out the most is the lack of sympathy. Whether it’s because of finals or an involuntary mental blockade, if your friends are tired be kind to them. Get the rest you need, and if you need some tips on how to sleep better, I’ve got you covered.

See you soon,

Hannah

[Picture Link: http://bit.ly/2o34uG8]

Funny Thing About Instincts..

Posted on by Hannah Jett

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..they’re always right

For a long time I thought being able to read people and pick up on their vibes early on was a curse, but the older I’ve gotten, I have learned it is one of my biggest blessings. When it comes to making new friends, surrounding myself with a new crowd, or meeting a new guy, I know almost right away which ones are good for me and which ones I should let walk right out of my life. Maybe it is a gut feeling and my strong intuition, but whenever I try to convince myself that these negative feelings will fade and maybe they deserve the benefit of the doubt, I am utterly disappointed because my intuition should always be trusted.

I’m rather lucky because I have a small crowd I surround myself with since I choose to have people in my life who are genuine and loving and caring. I only surround myself with people who are real to their core and have a soft light in them; the people I love are absolutely amazing and I choose to have quality relationships instead of an overabundance of friendships that are mediocre at best and forced.

I know who I am, and I continue to grow with each experience, but with those lessons, I am getting even better at picking up on people’s essences right away. I don’t consider it judging a book by it’s cover, but someone’s energy is undeniable. It either meshes with yours or it doesn’t, and life is too short to force something that isn’t there. It’s also too short to run from something that feels right.

Trust your gut, even if it’s not exactly what your mind or heart wants. It’ll most likely end with some sort of heartbreak if your core is telling you to RUN. For so long, I knew something was wrong–that this feeling was not going to go away. The questioning was going to stay because my intuition begged me to let them go and I needed to value myself and only let solid and loyal people in my life.

This could always go another way, so let me say it again, trust your own intuition– don’t let other people’s thoughts or rumors about someone, influence you. You should let your gut, heart, and mind come up with it’s own opinion based on your interactions and the way you feel around them. Don’t belittle what your feeling because it isn’t what everyone else would want for you; it’s your life and who you let in it is always your choice. So let people in who are going to lift you up just a little bit higher and who will ensure your happiness.

See you soon,

Hannah

[Picture Link: http://bit.ly/2n9iL5u]

Click on Me!

Posted on by Hannah Jett

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Greetings, reader. This is clickbait. Thanks for clicking. I really appreciate it, and so do the advertising companies. I do, because I like feeling heard, and when you read my articles, that’s how you make me feel. Thanks for that. The advertising companies do because your click is worth way more than you think it is.

Soon, an ad will appear in the middle of this article, interrupting your reading and breaking your focus. Or maybe it just did. This has probably happened to you more than once if you’ve ever read any kind of article on the internet before. Odds are, it hasn’t been the same ad. But it’s probably always been something that kind of has to do with your life. For me, this happens all the time, probably because I read a lot of articles on my phone. I am constantly having to close popup windows and ignore flashing billboards in the margins of the article I’m reading about the wastefulness of capitalism.

This is the world in which we live, but the thing I find most confusing is that the ad which is shown to me most often is an ad for the college which I already attend. People I know personally jump onto my computer screen, trying to get me to come to a school I live at right now. To me, this seems like a waste of an advertisement. Isn’t the whole point to try and attract people who don’t already have what you’re promoting?

The idea of advertising something is to spread the word to people who may be interested in the product, service, or idea you are marketing. With the creation of the internet, the world of advertising exploded. Suddenly there was never before seen access to consumers all across the globe, from all age groups, ethnicities, and walks of life. But how does a company ensure that its products or services are being seen by the right people? The answer is cookies. Cookies are small bits of data gathered by some websites which contain information on every person who visits them. They are sent to advertising agencies, which use them to promote products they think each individual would be interested in based on their internet browsing patterns. Because of cookies, my frequent visits to the website of my own college ensures that 70% of the ads I see are for that college. This happens with purchasing patterns on Amazon, videos watched on Youtube, and countless other websites.

Companies get paid based on how many people click on their ad, so it is very important that they target the right people, those most likely to click. The websites on which the ads appear get paid to put the ads on the page being viewed. Therefore, it is a phenomenal success for several parties when you click on literally anything on the internet. Everything is clickbait. This article is clickbait. Be mindful where you click, because it could come back to haunt you.

PS: When you browse the internet, there are thousands of unseen tracking technologies that connect you and your browsing data to companies across the world so that they can target you with ads and communications, analyze your browsing behavior, and integrate their own third-party web technologies. These trackers slow down page load time as they transmit and download data, increase clutter on websites with ads and pop-ups, and put your information at risk as they share your browsing behavior with other companies. https://www.ghostery.com/ is an enlightening Google Chrome extension tool! Ghostery offers a free browser extension that makes browsing the internet cleaner, faster, and safer. This tool detects and blocks tracking technologies on the websites you visit to speed up page loads, eliminate clutter, and protect your data and privacy. It also keeps you informed on what companies are tracking you and gives you the tools you need to determine what to block and when!

See you soon,

Hannah

[Picture Link: http://bit.ly/2mMCbvD]

Come Alive in the Nighttime

Posted on by Hannah Jett

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I’ve been a “night owl” my whole life. What does this mean? It means I perform better at night, and would rather stay up late doing work than wake up early. In college, the night owl route is a popular one, but many adults would argue that the real world doesn’t look kindly upon those of us that like to stay up late. Here’s an argument in favor of all you night owls.

First of all, just because someone works better at night doesn’t mean that they are unable to wake up early. I still like to get up at a decent time every day and get work done. I would much rather sleep at 2 and wake up at 8 or 9 than sleep at 11 and wake up at 6, though. Going to bed late and getting up early aren’t mutually exclusive.

Second, night owls will usually stay up late until a project is done. I won’t go to bed sometimes until I’ve finished an assignment, whereas some people I know will convince themselves that they’ll get up early in the morning and work on an assignment and will then forget, sleep in, or run out of time. I theoretically have endless hours of the night to get my work done!

Third, nighttime is a very peaceful time to get work done. The world is mostly asleep, and there’s a serene sort of feeling in working alone when it’s dark. I always think my best when I’m in a quiet place and I’ve had time all day to think and process what’s going on around me. In the mornings, I haven’t had time to wake up or really do anything, so it’s hard to get my brain moving amidst the hustle and bustle of a new day.

How, you might ask, do night owls stay up so late? I don’t prefer drinking coffee at night so my go-to strategy is turning up the brightness on my computer until my eyes are shocked into staying open. I wish I were kidding. Normally, though, night owls thrive on caffeine and will often sleep in to accommodate staying up.

Even though morning people are admirable, being a night owl has its perks. Need someone to talk to you late at night when you’re lying in bed thinking about the world’s problems? We’re awake! Interested in seeing all the bunnies and other creatures that are nocturnal? We are awake to see them! Like going on late night food runs? We believe in midnight snacks! There’s a good side to everything, right?

See you soon,

Hannah

[Picture Link: http://bit.ly/2nf1arF]

Practice Makes Perfect

Posted on by Hannah Jett

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At the end of the day, all we really have are the relationships that we’ve established.

Whenever people hear the phrase “networking,” fears of socialization with high executives who control the future run rampant. And who can blame them… For many, social interaction in that setting can be incredibly difficult as it is, and with such opportunities relying upon making a good first impression, nerves are more than likely going to hinder already weak social skills.

“Practice makes perfect” has surely been etched into our heads since childhood, and yet many of us continue to not follow that same advice. The biggest trick to improving one’s skills are, as previously mentioned, practice practice practice. And how does somebody practice social skills?

One cannot be afraid to throw themselves to the sharks if they wish to grow. Yes, it may seem intimidating, and yes, it may cause all sorts of panic or other panic-induced issues. But at the end of the day, practice makes perfect, and the more you throw yourself to the sharks, the less you’ll be affected by the situation.

And what about the specifics of networking? The handshakes, the eye contact, the conversations which help tout your strengths to convince people what you’re made of? ONCE AGAIN, it’s all about throwing yourself into the fire and hoping for the best. Nobody ever expects an archetypal person to come up and woo them without flaw, and as soon as that fact becomes established, then that is when the key to success is truly achieved.

See you soon,

Hannah

[Picture Link: http://bit.ly/2mfVCxO]

When Life Gives You Lemons..

Posted on by Hannah Jett

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One thing we have always learned is that, “every problem has a solution.”

In the face of adversity, it’s tough to be convinced that there is always going to be a solution. Adversity is one of those things that we have to learn not to hold on to. It’s something that we should, by no means, dwell on. It may be scary, discouraging, brutal, and unforgiving but it’s also very minor.

Sometimes, you just lose the game. Sometimes, you just make mistakes. Sometimes, people just leave. Sometimes, you just miss the plane. Sometimes, you just fall short one dollar. Sometimes, you just can’t sleep. Sometimes, you screw up really bad. Would you like to know why? It’s because you’re human.

A very important way to make the most of a situation is by staying optimistic. It’s not only a much more attractive quality; but optimistic people are much more enjoyable to be around. Don’t be a complaint department. Nobody likes those.

It’s okay to vent every once in a while, but when your entire life becomes a negative array of events, it not only ruins your mood but everyone else’s as well. Wouldn’t you rather be annoyingly positive and optimistic then deviously negative and unpleasant? Negative people need to complain like they need oxygen. If you pay close attention you will notice that one of our greatest addictions, is talking about our problems. Teach your mind how to see the good in everything, you will benefit greatly from it. Our country is far from perfect; it’s full of hate, judgment and cruelty. In a world where we can be absolutely anything, be positive, be kind, and be happy.

Some people live their whole lives unhappy and never do a single thing to try and change it. This could also just be because they ignore it. They aren’t sure if what their feeling is unhappiness or simply just self doubt. It’s so important to not ignore it and to persevere toward a more positive, optimistic you. In my opinion, happiness is the most important feeling. Happiness is a mindset that takes certain people a very long time to achieve. It can be accomplished through positivity and surrounding yourself with people and activities that you love. There’s no better cure for sadness than a smile. Smiling is highly contagious so spread the happiness.

Life is full of lemon trees. Some big, some small, and some that ripen quicker than others. The fact of the matter is, that life does hand us some lemons every once in a while. It’s important to remember that every lemon decomposes, just like our problems.

Nothing’s permanent, even when we think it is. Life always goes on.

See you soon,
Hannah
[Picture Link: http://bit.ly/2ljonw1]

Influencing: New Dream Job?

Posted on by Hannah Jett

influencers

A new job is on the rise for millennials. If you spend any time scrolling on Instagram, then you know what I am talking about.

Instagram influencers are aspirational fashionistas, photographers, makeup artists, travelers, athletes, foodies and other experts in their field who collaborate with brands to reach and engage with consumers who spend hours a day on social media platforms. You may not even realize it, but these Instagrammers influence you to make purchasing decisions every day.

This sounds like a pretty nice gig, almost too good to be true. So I can just go about my daily life, posting pictures of whatever, and get paid for it? That’s not exactly how it works, though; your favorite Instagram influencer has a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes.

According to Mashable, influencers on Instagram can earn from $100 to $11,006 for content they post in collaboration with a brand. Someone with over one million followers can expect to earn between $6,104 and $24,406 per post. Not too shabby for a little square picture! A lot of this also comes in the form of exchange, where the influencer might get free product if they post a certain number of pictures each month.

So is it time to start building a social media following?

Influencer Marketing Agency (IMA) helps brands connect with the world’s top influencers to develop and manage creative influencer marketing strategies to effectively spread out a brand’s story. This makes the product more tangible and real to the consumer.

A lot plays into how much a blogger or influencer gets paid. They need to have a strong relationship with their followers, be likeable and credible. This works because what we see on Instagram often reflects everyday life; the makeup, clothes and products that are frequently posted are not ads on TV — they are real people really using the products.

This shows that people are choosing to listen to each other over brands. We believe that influencers know what they are talking about; they have tight-knit communities and can reach many people. It at least feels more authentic when we are seeing the product being used by people we admire or trust.

The popularity of influencers has caused some backlash, especially in the fashion industry. Alessandra Codinha, a Vogue Fashion News Editor doesn’t believe that influencers will last: “I have to think that soon people will wise up to how particularly gross the whole practice of paid appearances and borrowed outfits looks.” She believes instead of celebrating actual style, the influencers today seem to be more concerned with getting followers rather than being a true fashion enthusiast.

When you think about how profit plays into being an Instagram influencer, is it really sincerity the Vogue team is worried about? Or competition?

For an influencer, being concerned about your followers isn’t vanity, it’s business. Reaching the Instagram community is a central marketing strategy because social currency is capital. Labels aren’t just looking for help reaching niche Instagram communities; they also want assistance creating effective marketing strategies. Corporate brands aren’t interfering with the Instagrammer’s creative process; they are merely using people already involved in the community to present their products in a very homegrown sort of way.

So if you are already doing something you love, why not try and make a little cash on the side?

See you soon,

Hannah

[Picture Link: http://bit.ly/2mI3rv6]

To Coffee: A Love Letter

Posted on by Hannah Jett

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Dear beautiful,

I’m at a loss for words when it comes to describing my feelings for you. There truly are not enough words in the English language. You make me feel like no other; you give me warmth, you give me life, and you wake up my tired eyes each morning. Your kiss is the driving factor behind getting out of bed.

If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know where I would be. My personality would be bitter, my mood would be sour, and my sarcasm would be ruthless. Without you, my days would be long and my breaks would be a bore. Without you, not a soul would dare speak to me or even look my way. You bring out the better side of me; you are my better half.

My favorite moments in life are the simple ones. My favorite moments in life are with you. The endless mornings spent hanging around the kitchen counter, waiting for you to be perfectly brewed. The number of mornings spent looking out the window, enjoying each and every sunrise with you. I cannot think of a single better way to start my day.

The winters are a special time for us; a time of true bonding. There is nothing I crave more than your warm embrace; to hold a warm cup on a cold winter’s day. There’s nothing quite like staring into your beautiful, dark abyss. There’s nothing quite like seeing the steam ripple off into the air. There’s something to be said about a steaming cup of coffee on a bitterly cold day. With each degree lower, my love for you rises.

You always surprise me; switching up your blends. Each day brings a new taste, be it Sumatran, Colombian or an Italian roast. You keep me on my feet. Will today be a french press day? A pour over day? Whatever it be, you always come looking your best. If you looked up the word “dashing,” you’d find a spitting image of you.

I can remember our first embrace like it was yesterday. I was only 15 years old and admired the inherent look of sophistication you provided. You gave me exactly what I needed–a way to grow up as fast as possible. A way to blend in with the adults sipping their drinks. A way to be the person I wanted to be.

With all that you do for me, I spend hours thinking of what I could do for you. But, there is simply no way to repay you for all of the selflessness you show me. I am forever indebted to you. You bring me everything I could possibly need to get through the mornings, and most importantly, you make life bearable.

Love,

Hannah

This was way too fun to write! See you soon.

Why Blog?

Posted on by Hannah Jett

Blog

Whether you call yourself a blogger or a content creator; whatever you label yourself, there is one constantly remaining question. Who genuinely cares what you have to say? In this modern age, most people have access to a computer. That being said everyone has deemed themselves a writer or a performer of some sort; searching for celebrity or counting their opinion as one that should be valued more than the next guy sitting at his computer.

Blogging can be used as an online expressive journal, as a way to vent helpful information or as a “how-to” for onlookers. With so many creative ideas and so many outlets to express those ideas, who has time to read? As time goes on and technology enhances, true writers are losing appreciation.

In my experience I’m finding that no one (except those who blog for the love of writing) really wants to read blogs anymore. No one wants to read anymore. Kind of like how, “Video killed the radio star,” maybe vlogging killed the blogger? There are several different types of content creators. You have your podcasters, your vloggers and your bloggers. So many different types of creative content. With all that being said, maybe people are somewhat being overloaded with information and opinions. So just how likely is it for someone to sit down, open a blog and just read?

Naturally, bloggers are in constant tough competition with each other to have their blogs noticed and read. With so many distractions and so much information just a click away, are we blogging in vain? With all the additions to technology over the years, it makes the possibility of someone else seeing or reading your blog extremely rare. So not only are we competing for the best content but now we are also competing with the variety of outlets.

So like I said earlier, who really cares what you have to say? Many would venture to ask what qualifies you?

Blogging is a complicated and ever changing “sport” due to the fact that the audience and their views change with time. Like with everything in life, there are the people who blog with the intent to gain from it financially in some way and then there are those who do it for the love of writing. Making money in what you love to do is without a doubt the best of both worlds. If you don’t love what you do and you’re only in this for money, blogging can feel like an extra job and a lot of stress.

From one (beginner)writer to another, my suggestion to you is if you’re in this for money, save yourself the time and stress, and just get out. Writing because you love it, and because you have a strong interest and passion for what you have to say is much more fulfilling.

See you soon,

Hannah

[Picture Link: http://bit.ly/2klO795]

Here is also a set of lifestyle blogs that I really enjoy:

http://www.caseyholmesblog.com/

http://www.smaggle.com/

https://www.theskinnyconfidential.com/