Don't Let Your Calendar Cram Out the Good
A little reminder to take some time for yourself this holiday season
As we head into holiday season, I’m feeling excited (it finally feels like Fall in New York! No more 80 degree days, whew!) and also anxious. I have a big deadline coming up and time feels like it’s compressing at an uncomfortably fast clip. (The NYC DOE calendar that has gifted my son a month of four-day school weeks hasn’t helped.) The other day, apropos of nothing, I spent the hour after school pick up with a racing heart and a tightness in my chest that I can only attribute to generalized stress and anxiety making its way through my body—not a great feeling. But it was a useful message from my body that something wasn’t working. So instead of forging ahead and ignoring the warning signs, I’m trying to prioritize small acts of self-care and self-preservation. I’m going to my standing pilates class instead of cancelling it because I’m busy and on deadline. I’m keeping a long lost friend catch up on the calendar even though it’ll eat into a chunk of my already busy day. Even if it means I get a little less work done that day or have to hustle to school pick up to get there on time, these commitments are worth honoring because they are so nourishing to me. (The dental appointment and bang trim will have to wait.)
As we head into another fun (but also let’s admit it often stressful) holiday season, my wish for you is that you, too, find ways to hold onto moments of self-care big and small. Rekindle an old friendship, try something new, revisit a comfort read or favorite show, take a walk after the kids are asleep, do some journaling with your favorite cup of tea, work on something that matters to you to make the chaos of the world more manageable—whatever feels good to you. Remember to take care of yourself however you can—it’s not worth trudging through your calendar and crankily crashing later when you could be enjoying yourself in the company of loved ones.
The Life Audit in the news: CNBC featured an excerpt of The Life Audit on my concept of “Gems,” the people in our lives who help us feel our best, and Fast Company ran a piece on my wish list framework from The Life Audit. If you're intrigued by either of these pieces, you’ll probably enjoy The Life Audit book, which is now also officially available on audio, narrated by yours truly!
Rest Easy and Listen Like You Mean It are coming to LinkedIn Learning! Earlier this month, I boarded a plane to California to record a few courses with the team at LinkedIn on two topics that really matter to me: listening and rest. Post-election, I think these topics are even more important: How do we bridge the divide and listen to our neighbors, colleagues, and friends even when our political differences are stark and urgent? How can we practice self-care and get the rest we need amidst wildfires, political uncertainty, and the chaos of our day to day? I had a great time recording, thanks to the talented team at LinkedIn’s recording studio, and I can’t wait for you all to see these videos (ETA early 2025!). It was especially fun to be back on LinkedIn soil after having worked there so many years ago.
Here are some behind the scenes from the studio:
🎧 📚 What I’m reading
You are Here, from David Nicholls, the author of the mega hit and tearjerker One Day (as seen on Netflix and in the movies before that). You are Here is not nearly so tragic; you’ve got zippy chapters, alternate POV but make it third person, that jaunty British sense of humor, mini geography lessons, sloppy kisses, second chances, and plenty of heart—there’s a lot to love here. This one took me a little bit get into it at first, but the writing is neat and clean and the rhythm and pacing a total pleasure to page through, and once I was in it I really enjoyed it.
💸 Currently coveting
This porcelain mug and tray set, which is supposedly for milk and cookies but looks ideal for steeping loose leaf tea to me. (Not that I’d say no to a cookie, of course.)
💌 Thanks as always for reading along and supporting my work. If you like what you see, hit the heart button, drop a comment, or share this with someone you think will love it, too. You can order my new book or book me for a speaking event here. 💌