The term "side-hustle" recently became quite common as a reference to the various part-time and contractual work Millennials are force to take on to supplement their income while searching for, or while even maintaining, full-time work. The cost-of-living is so astronomical that many young workers have to take on a couple side-hustles alongside their full-time work just to keep food on their table or the lights on. Now, other generations have had to take on one or two extra jobs before, why is "side-hustle" any different? 

Past generations generally got to rely on well-paid, with benefits, full-time work which fully covered their cost-of-living and they would take on a part-time job if they wanted some extra spending money. Others would work two or three part-time jobs to make-up for the lack of a full-time job due to lacking qualifications and/or higher education. The key difference here is the Millennial job market is saturated with qualified and highly-educated workers who can't find full-time work that covers their cost-of-living. Worse yet, that's if we can even find a full-time position. These full-time jobs are so elusive, that when a posting for one does appear it often gets thousands of applications. Thus, when we realize that we have to take any work we can get, including short-term positions, the market responds accordingly.

Currently, many companies only offer contractual positions that last three to six months, from which we then have to jump ship to find another way to keep the lights on. Short-term positions allow corporations to not offer benefits or worry about paying salary level wages, this saves them money and perpetuates the idea that short-term work is good for business. Contract work is now abundant and many Millennials find themselves working on a few different contracts at once just to afford the basics. This is where the term "side-hustle" comes in. We'll generally have a contract or a job that is our main time-sink, it produces the most money so it gets the most time commitment, and then any other smaller jobs that fill in the gaps of our budgets are consider side-hustles because we have to use what little spare time we have to hustle and earn more money. With the rising cost of rent and lack of full-time work, this is the harsh reality that young job-seekers face.

I was certainly tired of my job-hunt by the time I signed the contract on my first side-hustle. While it was definitely going to make my bank account a little healthier, but I still had to continue my search for full-time work. Job-hunting feels like my eternal struggle, but I'm glad to know it's a generational problem. I'm not alone in this and I just have to fight hard to find my place. The scary part is that I'm not sure whether I'll have to hold down three contracts just to make a living.

Dana~

Then this October I was invited on a ski trip for January. A ski trip to an Olympic ski hill in a whimsical mountain village covered in snow where we would stay in cozy wooden lodge with a hot tub. Only a fool would've said no to this. Problem was I had never skied before and my athleticism was considerably lacking (see reference to failing gym class above).

I was enthusiastic though and since everyone else on the trip was going onto the slopes I didn't want to be the spoil sport. Yes, I totally agreed to jump off that bridge with all my friends. It was certainly an experience and here's my step by step guide for all you ski-newbies out there.

Step 1- Rent Equipment Ahead of Time

If you're a first time skier, you don't really know whether you're going to love or hate the sport. Heck, you don't even know if you'll be any good at it the first time. Skis alone can set you back a few hundred. Your money is better spent on a good equipment rental from a local business on the mountain. 

Most popular ski resorts have rental businesses very close to the lifts which offer packages that will usually include helmets, poles, skis and boots. You can call or go online to order ahead of time. The rental places can run out of equipment some days, so by reserving the equipment ahead of time you don't have to worry about being left out.

Step 2 - Dress Appropriately

Now, most people understand the basic concept of mountain = cold, so they'll dress warm. However, skiing requires certain type of winter wear. The last thing you want to be is both cold and wet while on the slopes so you'll want a water-proof snow jacket and a pair of water-proof snow pants. Make sure to get proper winter gloves, possibly water-proof too. A touq to keep your head and ears warm is also a good plan, make sure it's thin enough to fit into a helmet.

Another must that I learned a little too late was some type of sun-protection either heavy duty sunglasses or ski-goggles. This can be difficult if you wear only glasses like I do, but believe me...You don't want to be blind going down a mountain at top speed.

Step 3 - Practice Makes Perfect
Make sure that once you're fully outfitted in your ski-gear and winter attire that you don't just climb on to the ski-lift and head up to black-diamond runs. You need to know how to maneuver before you can actually ski. There are usually small areas at the bottom of different runs where you can shuffle around a bit to get the hang of skis. I found it much easier to go backwards than forwards for some reason, so taking the time to figure out how to move around and get your bearings is key.

If you have the money, get ski lessons. They are so worth it. You might even get to practice on these neat little conveyor belts for beginners. If you don't want to fork over the extra cash for lessons, get a friend to spend some time showing you the basics. Either way, learning the proper footwork, how to break, and how to control your speed are super important. A move my friends taught me was called the "Pizza". You move the front tips of your skis together, not crossing, to form a pizza slice or wedge shape and this will help you break and slow down.

Step 4 - Get Proper Directions
I cannot stress this one enough. Please, make sure you know exactly which run you're going to and exactly how to get there. If you're a beginner, you should not be on black diamond runs. It can be dangerous and you could get seriously hurt or worse. The signage on the mountains may not be very clear, so you should always double check your directions before riding the ski-lift.

Always be sure to thoroughly examined the ski hill map and pick out a run beforehand. Also, ask a local guide about which runs you should be doing and how to get there. jot down the information and reference your map to be safe. You can also ask a friend who knows the mountain pretty well for advice on different runs and what to avoid. This way, you should know exactly where you're going to have the best experience as a beginner.

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This list was born out of my first ski experience which ended in a spectacularly terrible way that I now look back on and laugh about. I didn't take lessons first, I didn't have goggles or sunglasses, and I only had a vague idea of what runs I should be on. So the fact that I ended up with a concussion in the hospital by midday should be no surprise.

What ended up happening was, after spending five minutes wriggling around in the snow at the bottom of the hill to get a feel for my skis, I boarded the nearest ski-lift and headed straight up the mountain. From there, I hopped off the lift and tried to find any signage for an easy run, but there wasn't any. I was fairly sure I had taken the right lift to an easier area, so I just shuffled over to the nearest slope and attempted to ski. After about 50 m, I was scared by my speed and wobbled. Some how, and even the mountain rescue workers didn't understand how what I did was possible, I managed to flip forward and land on my face with my forehead taking the brunt of the fall. The helmet saved my life, but I still had a concussion when they found me laying in the snow like beached whale. The most fun part was laying in a special stretcher and being skied down the mountain by a rescue worker.

Overall, I had a fun trip and I look back on the experience fondly. It was a good life lesson for me and it became a funny story for me to tell to other ski newbies as a way to get them to smarten up and prepare properly for their own mountain adventures.

Dana~

My December has been busier than I expected. Aside from putting together my gift gathering lists and fretting over handmade presents (why, oh why did I decide to do crafts?), I have been building up my job search. 

There are always new postings as the year comes to a close. Companies want new staff in for the new year, which means the hiring has to happen before the holidays. It was actually a pleasant surprise how many calls I got in the first week of December. Normally I'll send out 20 applications and get one or two calls if I'm lucky. This time around I had at least six calls that week, some just for phone interviews, others to arrange in-person meetings. The most promising interview will fall on the Winter Solstice, and I have high hopes for it. The work-life balance sounds fantastic and it's in a great area. The other calls all have their own merit and I look forward to whatever comes next.

 Maybe my present this year will be a shiny new career. Wouldn't that be lovely to find under the tree?

~Dana.

"Parties are...not my scene."

"I just don't do people."

"I'd rather watch Netflix at home than go out."

Yes, that sounds a lot like the me. A homebody who prefers books and chocolate milk to vodka and crowds. I've always been an introvert, and I always said extroversion was not my cup of tea. Then again, I never really had the chance to be extroverted. I was too ill as a teenager for anyone to bother being my friend. I went to a two year community college, so no frat parties were ever attended. My companions were international, people I'd met online, and even when I visited them we just stayed indoors. If I put the effort in... Sure, maybe I could've been extroverted. However, that type of outgoing life was never really offered to me.

Most people I asked said it came naturally. Friends sort of found you and there was a clicking sensation that bonded you for life. While I had a one or two close friends through out my life, I never had a true social circle. No one really found me. So I just thought that type of life, that amount of socialization wasn't for me. If it didn't happen naturally, then I probably shouldn't try too hard. I didn't belong at bars or in hobby groups.  I believed people like me weren't supposed to be social. Maybe you believe these same things but for your own reasons. I held these close to my heart for the longest time that I didn't think it was possible to be more than an introvert. Then my life took a turn and, as all 20-somethings do, I learned how to do something new. I learned how to be outgoing and enjoy it; even if I only came out of my shell-of-solitude for a sort amount of time.

1. Find Your People

It's really hard to be extroverted when you're only good at talking to people you know, especially if you don't have many friends to start with. Once you do find friends and cohorts, via the Internet, work acquaintances, school peers or random public encounters, you've really overcome the biggest hurdle. The rest of the work is all mental.

New opportunities arose in my life recently, by meeting friends of my current partner, and that's how I found my own inner extrovert. I have people to spend time with now. People in my area who like to hang out with my physical being. It was a shock really, that suddenly something that was so difficult to achieve previously, just happened almost over night. My childhood mentors were right, it did occur naturally. Although, it took 21 years...but details! Making one connection helped me meet others. People who snicker at my jokes, play strategic board games with me and invite me out to dinner in the city. It's a wonderful feeling to not sit in my house all day every day, to have real people to converse with even about the most mundane things. Now I'm able to be extroverted when I choose, rather than being completed introverted with no choice in the matter.

2. Don't Be Afraid To Be Awkward
We're all human, we all make jokes in poor taste or accidentally mock something without knowing it really matters to the person with whom we're conversing. If you make mistakes, it's okay to apologize and move forward. If you've found your people, they will forgive and forget these minor muck ups. You'll laugh things off and eventually, make a few smooth comebacks or witty quips that captivate the room once you're more comfortable.

3. Just Jump In
The most important part to this is to try to say "Yes" as often as possible when you're invited to do something.

• An invite to a dinner party?
  Absolutely! Yeah, you may hate fancy party food, but the conversation and goofy party games while tipsy will be totally worth it.
• Asked to join in with a challenging activity?
  Sure! Yes, you may suck at it, but your people will laugh with you, not at you.
• Called over to dance in front of a crowd?
  Definitely! Okay, maybe your moves are outdated or clumsy, but the point of dancing with friends is to have a good time and burn off some excess energy.

Everything you agree to opens up more opportunities and brings your friends closer. Saying no all the time just isn't the way to go. (Though, don't say yes to everything as that can put you in sticky situations. Don't do drugs, don't drink and don't engage in sexual activity if it makes you uncomfortable.) Once you've established a strong rapport with your friends, it's okay to back out of certain festivities if you would like to have a few introverted nights to yourself. If they're your people, they will understand and continue to invite you to things regardless.

Since making new friends, it feels like my whole life has changed. My proverbial table has been flipped! I was invited to my first house party, even better, my first Halloween party. We had to find costumes and act ghoulish to get in. I was both terrified and ecstatic. I had never done this before, but it was something I felt I had missed out on for years. My costume was haphazard, but so were a lot of peoples' outfits. The first thing I did when I arrived was play beer pong. Albeit, very poorly, but play I did! It was something I was always concerned about doing, but everyone there was so kind and funny so I had no reason to worry. Then there was mingling and dancing, I am uncoordinated as hell but I had a grand time wiggling my hips to the beat and I made a new friend while doing it! We both laughed at our silly moves and tried to keep up with the rapid songs. Even better, I was never forced to drink at the party, which was great since that was my biggest fear and probably what prevented me from attending other parties. When the night was over, I had met lots of people and danced until I couldn't breathe. My heart pounded in my chest and I laughed heartily. It was so much fun.

So if someone asks me about my social life, I can finally say I have one. Even better, I believe I can continue to have a social life now that I feel like I have the choice to be extroverted or introverted and that feels awesome.You can be more social and outgoing too if you feel like expanding your own horizons. All it takes is a couple leaps of faith and a lot of laughter. 

Dana~