There are two things I heard recently that seemed interesting to consider. Cal Newport mentioned the benefits of scheduling 30 minutes after a meeting. In this time, we can review our notes and handle actions that can be done quickly. The second was a comment from...
I’m continuing updates on my yearlong project to spend 15-minues a day tackling projects. Over 20 years in the house and there are many little (and big) things that need addressed. Progress was captured in the January intention and the Q1 & Q2 summary posts. While...
There was a podcast listened to at least a year ago where I captured a note on my phone. This was the note: Tasks Done People Met Ideas Generated and Acted On I think this might have been an interview with Dorie Clark discussing her book The Long Game. However,...
I read a blog post from Cal Newport that referenced an article by Dan Kois in Slate. The article discussed how Gen X and Boomers remember a time when there weren’t laptops, cell phones, and readily available internet enabling us to take our work home with us. In the...
A podcast the other day mentioned a James Clear quote from his book Atomic Habits. “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fail to the level of your systems.” James Clear This got me thinking about all the systems we use each day to get our work done. ...
Sometimes mashing ideas together creates a technique that works. I think I’ve found one of those. Lisa Woodruff of Organize 365 talks about “pink” folders in her organization system. She describes these folders as the place to keep ideas before they become projects....
The workplace these days has a lot of challenges. Reports suggest that people feel underappreciated. Team members are unengaged. Everyone seems overwhelmed. And the debates about hybrid work continue. Today might be perfect the perfect day to focus on something...
When we push past overwhelm, our lives become sustainable. Yet, moving toward a sustainable life isn’t easy. Overwhelm can emerge for many different reasons. There are barriers to face as we work to release overwhelm. Understanding and recognizing the barriers is the...
The definition of a habit is something that we do often and regularly. Sometimes these activities are completed without us even realizing it. Our lives are full of these daily decisions that are repeated over and over. Sometimes habits are positive and...
In late May, Seth Godin had a blog post titled "Stevie and Marvin”. The lesson of the post was that Mavin Gaye’s charisma “was a skill and not something he was born with”. This was an interesting statement to me. I always felt that charisma was something some people...
When a new project comes up, the natural response is to dive right in and start to get things done. However, taking a little time to plan the activity can save time and lead to greater success. There are several reasons why planning sets us on a better path:...
There is a podcast I listen to called Optimal Living Daily that reads blog posts with permission from the authors each morning. Today’s reading was from a Cal Newport post titled “Do What Works, Not What’s Satisfying: Pseudo-Striving and our Fear of...
Advice often given by time management experts is to put space in your calendar for unexpected events. A project has gone off track. A team conflict to resolve. A quick turn client request. A sick child that needs to be picked up at school. The list could go on....
It’s the end of Q2 and the halfway point of the year. In January, my project to spend 15 minutes a day cleaning the basement began. At the end of Q1, I wrote a post summarizing progress. The projects expanded from the basement to two closets upstairs. Second...
Most focus on social media these days are the downsides. We mindlessly scroll losing hours of our day. We feel depressed comparing ourselves to others “perfect” social lives. We can become more isolated and shut off from the real world. The list can go on. What we...
Yes. There really is a day for everything. National Handshake Day got me thinking about the practice and how the pandemic changed everything. Ever since I can remember, handshakes have been a greeting – especially in the workplace. They are comfortable. A routine that...
Journaling is a great way to get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper. There are many ways to journal and many purposes. Below are the ones I’ve tried in the last 5 years. The GLAD Structure This form of journaling uses the acronym GLAD to remind you to...
When routines are discussed, they are often personal and focus on areas like morning, night, exercise, mealtime, and self-care. We don’t usually think about building strong routines at work. Which means our routines and habits are built over time. ...
Our routines are the sets of actions that done over time add structure to our days and weeks. There are endless possibilities for routines: Morning Routines. Exercise Routines. eMail Routines. Cleaning Routines. Exercise Routines. And the list could go on. Having...
This week, I heard the phrase “doing vs. being” brought up a couple of times and the topic seemed a fitting way to end the week that started with a review of Gretchen Rubin’s new book Life in Five Senses. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in the...
In an earlier post, we talked about a pairing tied to how you might approach an hour of free time. Today, we will look at another word pair as it relates to how we balance our professional work and the work we do to run our homes. This concept covers all home...