Final Friday's Finds for October 2020

In the United States, we are approximately 4 days from the polls closing in the 2020 Elections, and, y'all, many of us are truly struggling to focus on anything else. However, there are so many priorities still happening for home, work, community and self-care. For this final Friday's fab finds, here are a handful of what's currently helping me focus on what matters most and pursue my many passions.

For years, I've been a coffee drinker; yet, when Berri of The Flo Academy started teaching me about why I needed to be drinking organic raspberry leaf tea, I started giving tea more of a chance. I have been thoroughly impressed with Black Momma Teas, having enjoyed every sip of spearmint, peach apricot & fruit, white peach, caramel peach with coconut, English breakfast, mango and detox flavors. Better yet, as Black Momma also offers vodkas, my purchases support Vanessa Braxton, the first African-American, female owner and operator of a Nationally Distributed Vodka in the United States. I love a purchase with a purpose. 

Everyday Neutral Mask Lanyards from Courtney Frye of The Painted Pearl have been the answer to the issue we never imagined before 2020. If you worry about laying your mask down somewhere unsanitary when you take a sip to drink or stop for a snack, these handmade creations are the perfect way to have that mask easily accessible and safe while hanging from your neck. Since studies have shown slipping your mask down to your neck is highly unsafe, this offers an alternative to keep you healthy and productive. Each well-made strand measures roughly 30" in length and features light-weight wooden beads with hints of matte gold and neutral blush tones, making it sure to compliment anything in your wardrobe. Plus, easy-to-use lobster claws are used to secure your mask, ensuring this lanyard can have a life after the pandemic as a necklace.

I am a huge fan of containing similar items together in bags. For example, in my purse, there's a smaller bag for writing utensils, there's a smaller bag for medical items, like Band-aids, a travel size NEOSPORIN as well as a small bottle of Tylenol, and there's a smaller bag for tech tools, like charging cords, plugs and earbuds. During this time of protecting ourselves from COVID-19, I stumbled upon The Pure Bag's ZipPockets, finding a quality layer of added protection. Made of marine-grade, healthcare-quality vinyl, they offer durable, antibacterial protection and are available in a plethora of fun colors, like Jungle Leaf, Pool and Tangerine. An embedded silver component provides a natural, environmentally-friendly barrier against odor and stain-causing bacteria. Moreover, both the exterior and interior look good while feeling great.

As the letters on certain keys for my MacBook Pro had started disappearing from my keyboard, I think it's safe to deduce that I'm using my computer too much these days, but that doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Thus, I ordered a MOSISO Keyboard Cover, and I've been super pleased with its look as well as its feel. After opening the packaging, all I had to do was lay the cover across my existing keyboard, and, voila, my keys were restored. Made with premium, engineering-grade, durable, non-toxic silicone, the keyboard cover is ultra thin and makes typing surprising easy while still be simple to remove or reapply as needed. It protects my MacBook keyboard against dust, liquid spills, key wear, contaminates and more.

The acne caused by regularly wearing a mask or holding your chin while on a Zoom call is truly tough to battle, but I'm getting help from ZitSticka's KILLA kit. First, you wipe the area with a CLEANA swab that's soaked in exfoliating, de-stressing ingredients; then, you affix the KILLA zit patch, which is powered by tiny microdarts that self-dissolve overnight to flood the epicenter of an early-stage zit with targeted ingredients, clearing the acne before it gets real bad. These little circles move my face toward clarity so much more quickly than anything else I've ever found. It's like magic but fueled by scientific advancements.

I’d love to know what you’re currently using, loving and finding can bring you a little comfort amidst the stress and hectivity of life. Add a comment here or email me, and maybe I’ll give your suggestion a try for an upcoming “Final Friday’s Fab Finds” post. Or do you have any feedback on prior months' fab finds that you've tried? Plus, as an update for those following along, I'm shocked to say that my Marble Queen Pothos purchased from The Zen Succulent back in June is still alive. Take care, folks, staying safe and sane amidst all that we're facing!

Final Friday's Finds for September 2020

It's my favorite month! Autumn has arrived, and it's an ideal time to complete your Census, enjoy a football game, go apple picking, decorate pumpkins for your porch, jump-start holiday shopping, splurge on a pair of boots or educate yourself for the upcoming elections. For this final Friday's fab finds, here are a handful of what's currently helping me focus on what matters most and pursue my many passions.

With screen time having increased by at least 30% worldwide, 65% of

American adults are reporting symptoms of digital eye strain, much of which is attributed to our overexposure to blue light emitted by our technological devices. Did you know that blue light emitted by screens can penetrate all the way to your retina, damaging vision and causing eye strain? Ophthalmologist-approved Eye Just blue light blocking screens are scientifically proven to reduce digital eyestrain and protect one's eyes, skin and sleep from harmful blue light effects. The screens include bacteria blocker, are scratch proof and prevent smudges. There are options for your iPhone, iPad and laptop alike. 

Shift is the desktop app for streamlining your accounts, apps and workflows. Instead of logging in and out of various different email, chat, task management and collaborative workspace applications, simply connect them through your one Shift account, and work faster with browsing across all accounts' details. With Shift, you'll have one login to toggle between all of your Gmail, Outlook, Office 365, WhatsApp, Slack, Messenger and more apps, customizing which notifications make the most sense for your specific work needs. 

Mosquitos love me. I have no idea why, but, whenever I'm outside, they target my

skin for all sorts of bug bites. This summer, I discovered the Bug Bite Thing, and it's been amazing. This suction tool extracts the insect saliva and venom from under the skin to help alleviate itching, stinging and swelling. Removing the irritant makes the body stop producing the reaction causing uncomfortable symptoms, truly eliminating the problem. No creams, chemicals, ointments or anything but literally sucking the irritant out from under the skin. Created by a mom on a mission to alleviate her child's hurting, this product is backed by women entrepreneurs and making a positive impact worldwide.

Conscious Coconut Oil is Certified USDA Organic, is Fair Trade Certified™️, is cold pressed, comes in sustainable packaging and serves a higher purpose by donating to Feeding America with every purchase. Plus, the uses for coconut oil seem endless, including moisturizing skin, protecting hair from damage, improving wound healing, serving as a carrier for essential oils, removing stains, making wood furniture shine, soothing sunburnt skin, removing makeup and relieving chapped lips.

I’d love to know what you’re currently using, loving and finding can bring you a little comfort amidst the hectivity of life. Add a comment here or email me, and maybe I’ll give your suggestion a try for an upcoming “Final Friday’s Fab Finds” post. Or do you have any feedback on prior months' fab finds that you've tried? Take care!

Fight Procrastination Today

There's something truly fulfilling about today's Fight Procrastination Day falling on a Sunday. Tomorrow is the start of a brand-new week, giving a clean slate for a fresh start on your productivity, and it's the perfect time to attack those high priority tasks on which you've been procrastinating. However, it takes a little prep work. Here's where to start:

• Break projects into bite-sized actions. No entire project can be completed at one time; instead, list them as tasks that can be completed step-by-step, checking each item off one by one from a daily, weekly, monthly or annual to-do list. When creating this list, start each item with a verb, and make sure it is broken down into the smallest increment of what is to be done so it's more feasible.
• Gain clarity on what's unclear. Vague priorities, unclear directions, lack of knowing how to do something and being unfamiliar with the order in which to move through the steps necessary for getting tasks done are all problematic. Ask questions to better understand the objective, your team's priorities, how to accomplish each step necessary and why it must get done; if you don't know how to do something, ask someone who does know it for assistance. Never be afraid to ask those questions, realizing that the result to not asking is far worse than any answer you could receive.
• Set deadlines for each specific task. I have yet to find a calendar that includes "someday"; therefore, when we say "I'll get to that someday" or "I'll work on that when I get some free time", we are usually setting ourselves up for failure. Instead, assign deadlines for each of the smaller, bite-sized actions within the projects to be completed, making it possible to block off time on your calendar for when each task will be completed. Every "what" assigned a "when" is more likely to get accomplished, leading to more wins.
• Quiet any perfectionist tendencies. One of my favorite mantras reminds me that, "Done can be better than perfect so focus on good enough." Perfectionism is frequently the cause of procrastination; subsequently, focusing on the desired results can empower us to get past waiting for "the right time"and get us to stop continuing our work on projects for perpetuity in the effort of achieving perfection. Stop comparing yourself with others; achieving your desired results usually has little to do with how the finished product compares with what others do or have done. Instead, focus on getting things done to the best of your ability, not necessarily in a perfect way.
• Utilize a timer. Maybe you prefer time-blocking with the Pomodoro Technique or the Rule of 52 and 17, but, regardless, a timer can be your most powerful tool for getting things done. Working in a focused manner for a short stretch can boost both efficiency and total output, particularly when you shutdown all potential distractions during that time... Anyone can do an undesirable action for a short spurt, and it's amazing how much more can get done in a shorter amount of time than if you think you have longer to finish. Most importantly, when the timer goes off, you may find that you are engrossed in the task and will keep at it, getting even more accomplished, or you had been distracted and need to refocus for another timed session.
• Implement music's motivating abilities. Some people are energized by fast-paced music while others get more focused via smoother tunes, both leading to greater productivity. Pick enough tunes in the tone you prefer to fill your set block of time, group them together as your productivity playlist and use that playlist to motivate desired output.
• Spend time with folks getting things done. For years, I've heard that you become like the people with whom you spend time. If you prioritize spending time with people in your life who are considered hard workers or go-getters, their energy will rub off on you and motivate similar productivity in yourself. As activity breeds activity, time with productive peers can inspire greater productivity within ourselves, even if it's across a computer screen.

Which tasks have you been pushing forward? Are they actually projects that need to be broken down into individual action steps? Or are they tasks that need to be delegated or deleted? How can you make a little movement forward today?

Final Friday's Fab Finds for August 2020

As we're over two-thirds of the way through the summer of 2020, the world around us seems both like an opportunity for growth, change and betterment as well as a hamster wheel of Groundhog Days in the middle of so much craziness that we can't control... Amidst the mental and emotional overwhelm, it's vital to fill our toolboxes with what will best boost productivity and help us cultivate the lives we want. For this final Friday's fab finds, here are a handful of the lovely things currently helping me focus in on what matters most and enthusiastically pursue my many passions.

Back in July, my to-do list included the goal to "master face skincare routine", and my efforts at this uncovered a true gem. I've been using True Botanicals' Pure Radiance Oil, and I absolutely love it. All of their products are certified nontoxic and sustainably made as well as vegan and cruelty-free; plus, there's a quiz on their homepage to help figure out exactly which products will best meet one's face skincare needs. As explained on their website, the "face oils deliver nutrients and antioxidants deep into skin, for healing from the inside out." I use the Clear option to treat and prevent acne while minimizing the effects of aging, but all the face oils provide great, clarifying moisturizers that balance skin, which is vital for smooth, hydrated and healthy skin.

As many folks are getting out and about more while wearing a face mask, waiting 6' apart and washing hands as often as possible, there's a continuing need for hand sanitizer. Back when it was nearly impossible to find hand sanitizer on store shelves, I went searching for an option that wouldn't dry my hands out so badly, and I discovered By Humankind's Kindfill™️ Hand Sanitizer refill, which is such a necessary assist these days. This moisturizing, alcohol-based hand sanitizer comes in a large, 8-ounce bottle that is designed to refill your travel-size plastic bottles, and it's surprising cost-effective. The gel formula consists of 65% alcohol, offers Eucalyptus or Grapefruit options that include essential oils and smells (and feels) so much better than other sanitizers I've experienced.


Verb Energy Bars are made with organic green tea, providing as much caffeine as an espresso with only 90 calories. They use exclusively gluten-free, vegan ingredients that are in most folks' kitchens, each bar is small enough to stash in a desk drawer or the pocket of your purse without worrying about anything melting, and you can test them out with a starter kit of Maple Blueberry, Coconut Chai, Salted Peanut Butter and Simply Cocoa. I truly enjoy the Coconut Chai version and appreciate how easy they make getting refills via texts.

Watermelon is a summertime fixture and one of my favorite foods. Even as I have certainly been enjoying my fair share of fresh-cut watermelon slices, I've become a big fan of cold-pressed watermelon juice, whether that's from WTRMLN WTR® or Tsamma Juice. It's easy to keep a bottle handy while working from home, especially with how it's deliciously hydrating via natural electrolytes from watermelon. Every bottle of Tsamma contains over one and a half pounds of Frey Farms' watermelons, cold-pressed, gently pasteurized and cold-packed to protect essential nutrients. Both companies market that their juices include L-Citrulline + Lycopene. These options for watermelon juice are both tasty and healthy, which is a major win-win, especially with all that vitamin C to help me stay well amidst a global pandemic.

I’d love to know what you’re currently using, loving and finding can bring you a little comfort amidst the hectivity of life. Add a comment here or email me, and maybe I’ll give your suggestion a try for an upcoming “Final Friday’s Fab Finds” post. Or do you have any feedback on prior months' fab finds that you've tried? Take care, y’all!

Final Friday's Fab Finds for July 2020

As the temperatures are rising now that we're over a month into summer and yet another hurricane is heading our way, there's still so much happening around us: the COVID-19 global pandemic continues, America's economy just had its worst quarter on record, our communities work toward racial justices, and we all try to balance commitments while focusing on getting done what matters most. Amidst the mental and emotional overwhelm, it's vital to fill our toolboxes with what will best boost productivity and help us cultivate the lives we want. For this final Friday's fab finds, here are a handful of the lovely things I currently can't live without.

While many air purifiers simply collect pollutants on filters where they can multiply and release back into the air, Molekule air purifiers are different. They actually destroy the pollutants instead, and, having added them to my home, I can really feel the difference in my home's air quality. As someone with both seasonal allergies and asthma, I normally have greater symptoms throughout the spring and into summer as well as autumn, but I've really experienced relief since bringing the Molekule air purifiers into my home, using two of the Air versions to make sure I'm covered. Plus, I have to admit that they've provided a little reassurance during the COVID-19 global pandemic, keeping out some of the world's viruses and VOCs to help me breathe easier.

One of my favorite spots for amazing coffee in the Triangle area of North Carolina is Jubala Coffee, and, as a response to the COVID-19 global pandemic and folks not being okay with sitting in a coffee shop, they added the option of ordering Jubala's own Batch Iced Latte, which is 64 ounces of latte based on your preference for flavor and milk. Built on its relationships with coffee communities from which the coffee is sourced, Jubala has a deep dedication to the farmers and partnering with them to provide a top quality product. Every cup is fresh, offers a flavorful taste, supports the local community and has the world's greater good in mind throughout the entire production process. Better yet, there are two locations from which to choose so you can swing by whichever shop is more convenient to you.

As the world is taking 2020 to reflect on what matters most, there is great fluctuation and evolution in the routines that have been developing for me as well as my clients. I have found the Streaks Productivity App to be super powerful in turning behaviors into habits for routines that better enable us to get done what matters most. The app allows for choosing up to 12 tasks that you want to turn into daily habits, like exercising, meditating, drinking a certain amount of water, writing out that for which you are grateful, eating a vegetable, writing a personalized note or calling a friend. Each day that you complete a task, your streak is extended. Streaks is available for iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac so you can update your progress via any device, easily tracking your results to stay motivated.

No list of fab finds for July 2020 could be complete without the Hamilton film. If you've not seen this yet, make time this weekend to access it from Disney+. You won't regret the two hours and 40 minutes invested in watching the movie. It is no exaggeration when Lin Manuel Miranda explains that "This is a story about America then, told by America now", and it's a must-see for for hope or inspiration. "Hamilton" blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway to convey the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton in a manner that is unlike anything I've seen before. Watching this explains how our country's founding fathers had a vision for a more perfect union, making Independence Day the start of our never-ending efforts at continuous improvement as we move eternally towards that idealistic vision.

As an update from last month's fab finds, I'm continuing my way through Michelle Obama's Becoming, thoroughly engrossed by her delivery of each and every story. Plus, the good news is that my Marble Queen Pothos from The Zen Succulent is still alive, which is quite the achievement. Did you get a chance to try any of my recommendations?

I’d love to know what you’re currently using, loving and finding can bring you a little comfort amidst the hectivity of life. Add a comment here or email me, and maybe I’ll give your suggestion a try for an upcoming “Final Friday’s Fab Finds” post. Take care, y’all!

Final Friday's Fab Finds for June 2020

While wrapping up the first half of 2020, can you believe all that has occurred? We're in the throes of the COVID-19 global pandemic, protests are ongoing as we call for justice and equality in the Black Lives Matter movement, articles of impeachment were approved, Australian bushfires ran rampant, Kobe Bryant died, the Iowa caucus broke down in chaos, Harvey Weinstein was found guilty in a case that helped fuel the #MeToo movement, the nation is struggling with how to safely educate the next generation amidst a novel coronavirus, there are regular developments in the current election cycle, and over 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment. 

When disruption strikes, small businesses feel the impact faster and harder than anyone else with the effects lasting much longer afterward. With that in mind, I’m continuing my “Final Friday’s Fab Finds” series with options that emphasize both the need to support small businesses via shopping local as well as a desire to amplify Black voices. Hopefully, you'll find these sources of hope, inspiration and greater productivity in cultivating the life you want to live. 

Although American Son started as a play on Broadway, it was made into a Netflix film starring Kerry Washington, Steven Pasquale, Jeremy Jordan and Eugene Lee that is phenomenal. The story plays out in real time over 90 minutes. As time passes, tension mounts in a Florida police station as an estranged, interracial couple awaits news regarding their missing, teenage son, and the dialogue is amazingly moving. You feel like you're there with the couple, sitting on the edge of your seat. 

As so many of us have experienced big shifts in life amidst the current global pandemic, there are lots of people adopting new routines, realigning priorities and really focusing on who we want to be as well as what lives we truly want to cultivate. The world is not the same as a few months ago, we may go through a few different iterations before we get to a “new normal”, and there is so much in this evolution that impacts our abilities to be productive. In the spirit of evolving, I began digging into the book Becoming by Michelle Obama, and I’m absolutely loving her approach to answering “What’s your journey of becoming?” I’ve been enjoying her reading of the book on Audible, and there’s so much inspiration in the life she’s leading, filled with meaning and accomplishment.

In my efforts to be more active in being anti-racist, I have been working to amplify the voices of those Black experts in our communities, and I stumbled across Berrion Berry, who is a PMS and Period Educator based out of Florida. Y’all, I feel like I’ve found such a kindred spirit! Berri is an Enneagram 8w7 who self describes as someone who will challenge but inspire you; plus, she has 3 brothers and lost her father to lung cancer. So many similarities, and I am learning tons from this amazing rock star. Berri expertly explains how a woman’s menstrual cycle is set-up to help optimize her abilities for ideation, creation, execution and evaluation, helping me utilize my menstrual cycle as a tool for boosting productivity. Brilliant!

Finally, succulents and house plants are having a moment right now, and I’m well aware of the value plants bring to one’s home based off the stories from my dear friend Kelly, who has over 200 plants at her house. I was overjoyed to learn about Megan George, owner of The ZEN Succulent, who is just as bright and joyful as her welcoming garden center. I have absolutely no green thumb, but I wanted to support local by adding a living thing into my space so I ordered two pothos plants from The ZEN Succulent. These appear to be exceptionally resilient, even with my low maintenance requirement, and I really like the Marble Queen Pothos that I purchased. Stay tuned for how long I can keep this plant alive.

I’d love to know what you’re currently using, loving and finding can bring you a little comfort amidst the hectivity of life. Add a comment here or email me, and maybe I’ll give your suggestion a try for an upcoming “Final Friday’s Fab Finds” post. Take care, y’all!

Final Friday's Fab Finds for May 2020

As we wrap up this month, it feels like we continue an emotional rollercoaster ride: fear, anxiety, excitement, stress, hopefulness, hopelessness and so much more. For each of us, there are daily challenges. Yet, I’m cautiously optimistic that we’re each finding sources of comfort to help us stay safe and sane.

When disruption strikes, small businesses feel the impact faster and harder than anyone else with the effects lasting much longer afterward. With that in mind, I’m kicking off this new “Final Friday’s Fab Finds” series with a few options from small businesses that have been helping me find comfort while trying to maintain my sanity amidst all the efforts to be smart and safe.

Fragrances from candles can be both calming and energizing so I keep finding myself lighting one atop my desk while I’m working from home. My current favorite is Sweet Grace, which is the signature scent for The Flourish Market’s candles. There are numerous candleholder styles from which to choose, making it possible to find something for any space’s needs, and the fragrance lasts well after the candle’s flame is extinguished, meaning the benefits go on longer.

I splurge on my mental well-being by getting a weekly flower delivery, and I love each week’s creation by North Raleigh Florist. They know I’m a huge fan of sunflowers so they incorporate that happy flower whenever possible. Each week’s arrangement is designed to fit on my home office desk, adds something natural to my workspace and puts a smile on my face as I settle into work. Such happiness!

With all that’s happening in the world, my thoughts need an outlet, and I can talk through things to only a certain extent. Research shows that humans are more exposed to critical thinking when writing by hand instead of typing, which is why I find myself being pulled toward journaling on paper. The May Book from May Designs provides an ideal solution, allowing me to choose a fun, colorful cover, pick the size that I prefer, personalize the cover text and customize the inside paper design. It pairs well with a nice, gel pen.

Finally, as many of us are getting overloaded with back-to-back-to-back video conferences, I find myself sending more and more snail mail. The cards made by Emily McDowell seem to say exactly the right thing in a fun, colorful way, and I’m hoping they send a ray of sunshine to each of my friends’ mailboxes. She covers everything from empathy to gratitude to congratulations to a simple “happy birthday” in a witty way with fun artwork, and her creations pair perfectly with this season of unpredictability and contact changes.

I’d love to know what you’re currently using, loving and finding can bring you a little comfort. Add a comment here or email me, and maybe I’ll give your suggestion a try for an upcoming “Final Friday’s Fab Finds” post. Take care, y’all!

Simple Tactics to Boost ROI from Your Investment of Time

Each day offers only 1,440 minutes. Unlike dollars invested in the stock market that we anticipate will give us back more dollars to reinvest, each minute can be spent no more than once. Are you getting the desired return on investing your limited time?

If you're experiencing hiccups, consider these time management tips to boost productivity:

1. Stay true to your priorities, intentionally aligning your actions with those areas of importance and better avoiding burnout. As priorities shift, it’s important to be flexible, shuffling how your time is invested to keep your actions focused on achieving your highest priority goals. It's important to regularly revisit this alignment, assessing how well you are staying focused on what matters most and investing your limited minutes in those priority actions.

2. Learn to say "no". What actions are being asked of you that don't actually need to be done? Are there tasks on your to-do list that could be delegated to someone else who can do them equally well if not even better so you open time for what only you can do? Alternatively, should you consider "not now" for something that can be delayed until a later deadline?

3. Utilize work-life integration for more overall success. Create harmony with goals for home, work, society and yourself by allowing them to complement one another rather than compete with each other. Focus on actions that can accomplish multiple goals at once, plan how you can invest your time with each of your most important priorities at the forefront of your emphasis and maintain pliability to easily address your priorities as they evolve over time.

4. Cut back on distractions with fewer pings and dings. When distracted, it can take us an average of 23 minutes to fully re-engage in the task at hand. Each time we receive a notification for a new email, social media update, text or voice mail, those are the distractions that steal our time. Stop bleeding minutes throughout the day! Turn off the notifications and schedule set times to check each platform. For folks requiring immediate responses, make them VIPs to utilize Do Not Disturb on iOS and Priority Mode on Android.

How do you make sure the limited number of minutes you have in each day is moving you forward in crafting the life you want to live? Make every minute matter!™️

Ways to Keep Productivity Soaring Throughout the Summer Season

With the hours of daylight super long this time of year, it's the perfect time to take steps toward boosting productivity as you enjoy this sensational season...

List out your goals. It's only by knowing what you want to accomplish that you can best integrate all elements of your life for your greatest fulfillment and summer productivity. Therefore, take a few moments to jot down all your must-do activities, projects and tasks for this season. Think of it like a bucket list but take into account your goals for work, home, society as well as your self-care via mind, body and spirit. Once everything is culled into one place, it'll be so much easier to assign time for each and work through your checklist.

Calendar the craziness! Line up calendars for the months of July, August and September on your wall so you can see everything at a glance. These might be wall-hanging paper or dry-erase calendars; the key is to have all three months visible at once. Then, add vacation details for you and your team members, holiday celebrations, impending deadlines and personal or family commitments, including swim meets and camp registrations alike. Include all elements of your life, considering a different color for each bucket. When you know what is coming, you can more proactively invest your time in achieving all of your desired results for each area of life and address "all the things" that matter most for the life you want to craft to achieve your highest priorities.

Establish your non-negotiables from the get-go. As summer schedules tend to become a little more erratic than normal, you and your team need to know which items have less flexibility than others. For me, I absolutely must maintain my weekly strategy session and daily wrap-up, but the good habits that keep each individual on track productively will vary from person to person. Do you expect your team members to have certain hours during which they always work in the office rather than operate remotely? Is there an expectation for how team members should request vacation time or notify the rest of the team about a hiccup related to impending deadlines, which can be especially vital with varying schedules for summer vacations? This would be a good time to communicate leadership's expectations to everyone. Be as clear, concise and transparent as you can. Then, when looking at your personal commitments, which can't be shifted as they help you energize, stay centered and maintain some semblance of sanity? Make sure those are highlighted on the calendars you've hung on your wall and communicate their importance to those who can help you keep them scheduled. Is it getting outside daily or going to the pool? Maybe it's a daily yoga session or movement? Whatever you need, be sure to ask for and commit to those fuel sources.

Focus your efforts on individual activities or tasks, not projects. It's not possible to check a project off your to-do list in one sitting. "Plan a party" is not a single action item; instead, there are many actions that make up that project. As you are mapping out the next three months, take time to break larger goals into smaller, bite-sized action items that can be completed as individual tasks. Make sure these are actions that move you forward with regards to goals in the areas of your life that matter most, avoiding the "shoulds" so you focus on your priorities. Start each task with a verb so as to fuel action, break each task down to as simple of a function as possible, estimate how long each action item will take to complete so you readily know those tasks taking 10 or 30 minutes, and assign a deadline for each task's completion. It is only in the instances that we assign a "when" for each "what" to be accomplished that we get more done so move your "someday" tasks to a specific date and time. Your future self will thank you for this emphasis on crafting the life you want to live.

Invest some time to reflect inward. With erratic schedules during summer, many companies have fewer meetings that would otherwise be held at normal intervals; this can be the ideal time to review and reset some of your organization's key elements. When was the last time your team updated its mission, vision, values, goals, processes and workspace organization? If it has been awhile, block out time during the dog days of summer to look them over, adjust as needed and, thereby, boost productivity for what really matters most. Maybe you'll want to freshen up clients' experiences, update what messages you are conveying across all mediums and put yourself in the client's shoes. Further, this can be an ideal time for a personal audit, where you assess what you have learned and achieved thus far this year, what priorities need attention in the coming months and what "someday" actions need to be scheduled so they move from to-do to done. Do your goals for work, home, community or self-care need to be adjusted, and how can you realign your actions to focus on achieving each?

Make time for fun and frivolity. If you block out time to truly enjoy the season, you'll be less distracted by what you are missing when you are focusing intently on getting things done. Brainstorm what cool things you can do to dive into summer enjoyment; then, once you've blocked off time for those activities, your mind will be less likely to drift from working towards wondering when you'll actually be able to celebrate summer fun. Plus, when you are taking time to enjoy all this season offers, you can truly take a break from everything else since you've planned for when those other goals will be addressed, boosting productivity overall.

What steps can you take today to get the ball rolling? With whom can you partner to hold each other accountable in creating your plan and, then, following through on that plan, even as things might need to be tweaked and your flexibility might get tested?

Are You Prepared for an Emergency or Natural Disaster? 10 Tips for Your Business' Productive Preparedness

Each September, we are reminded of the need to review how prepared we are for emergencies and natural disasters as National Preparedness Month rolls around. The need to be prepared is increasing, evidenced by how the insured losses from the 330 natural catastrophes that occurred during 2017 reached an incredible $134 billion per a report published by Impact Forecasting. This included a very active Atlantic hurricane season, severe weather events from convective storms as well as many wildfires. It can feel overwhelming to prepare for such disasters, but here are steps each of us can and should be taking to be prepared, minimizing our negative repercussions:

1. Plan for what makes most sense for your location. Whether you face hurricanes, tornadoes, snow blizzards, thunderstorms with lightening or another type of natural disaster, there are differing steps to take. Determine what types of disasters are possibilities for your area so you can customize your approach, planning for those specific risks.
2. Gather necessary supplies. Visit Ready.gov/build-a-kit for what to include in your company's disaster supplies and, then, cull those items together where they are easily accessible. Add a recurring appointment to the electronic calendar of whichever team member will be accountable for maintaining the kit so it's reviewed regularly.
3. Create your communication plan. Establish from where employees, customers and vendors can obtain updates during an emergency situation, especially when and where team members need to return to work. Decide where folks will go and with whom to connect for check-in should your team have to evacuate. Be sure to communicate the plans.
4. Address potential gaps in what tech will provide. Verify all computer programs, data and documents are being automatically updated as well as backed up from each computer to a remote location. Include a hosted exchange server, VoIP, updated apps and a cybersecurity strategy in your steps to prepare for data issues.
5. Prepare for lack of electricity. Power outages are often a by-product of disasters, particularly if there are strong winds. Be sure you have cash, back-up batteries for all mobile devices, flashlights to see without office lights and an emergency radio supporting multiple power sources. Fill gas tanks for personal and company vehicles alike.
6. Get ready for the risk of a fire. Locate all fire extinguishers, making sure there are enough to cover your entire facility, and ensure everyone learns how to operate them. Find out where your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are located; mark the calendar of whichever team member will be responsible for replacing batteries so they are alerted when that recurring commitment arises, and learn which sounds indicate what. When possible, prepare and maintain adequate firebreaks and green spaces around your property. Consider installing fire glass in windows and doors. Locate your sprinkler shut off valves so first responders can easily access them and prevent residual flooding; routinely test your sprinkler systems to keep them in good working order. Also, know the location of major HVAC, piping, gas and water lines to aid in preventing the domino effect of damage being done to your facility. Keep emergency exits clear and marked with plenty of signage to direct anyone through that area.
7. Know what to do if evacuating is required. Decide where all team members will go in an evacuation and who should be contacted should you have to evacuate. For example, will you notify senior leadership who will relay the message to their teams or will there be a mass communication sent out via email, automated calls and text messages? Make a list of what essential equipment must be taken from your business' premises at that time, and designate who will be responsible for removing each item on that list. Cull together items that you need to grab when leaving, and store them in a quick-grab bag.
8. Verify your insurance coverage. Make certain you have proper insurance and it is up-to-date. Ask your insurance agent, broker or underwriter if you are adequately covered for potential property damage as well as what business interruptions you could possibly face.
9. Consider how to continue beyond an emergency. What functions need to continue no matter what sort of craziness is happening? Decide how you will facilitate payroll if you are displaced, lose power or have intermittent Internet connectivity.
10. Have your plan documented. Keep your business' policies and procedures in writing to be accessed from anywhere at anytime. Include within this documentation how contact data for employees, customers and vendors will be kept up-to-date for facilitating the aforementioned communication plan. Upload your documentation to the cloud so folks can access the necessary information during an evacuation or relocation. Then, be sure to review your plans and supplies every 6 months; you'll want to incorporate updates as things change

Is your business prepared for what natural disasters might strike your area? If not, which of these steps can you take to boost how productive your preparedness might be?

Top Tips to Simplify Your Life

As we near the first week of August, plan how you'll celebrate "Simplify Your Life Week" with baby steps you can take to streamline, cut out the clutter, make life easier and better invest your limited resource of time. With a few tweaks to how you get things done, you can better focus on what matters most, making greater progress on your priority goals to achieve your desired results.

Per Dictionary.com, simplify means "to make less complex or complicated; make plainer or easier." Invest some time in simplifying to limit stress, more quickly find what you need when you need it, have a clear grasp on what needs to be done at any moment and stop wasting precious moments of time. Make every minute matter!Ⓡ

Here are tactics to jumpstart your efforts at simplifying your life:

• Deliberately choose how you invest your time. Develop habits such as a weekly strategy session and daily wrap-up to map out a specific game plan and stay on track.

• Learn to say "no". What actions are being asked of you that don't actually need to be done? Are there tasks on your to-do list that could be delegated to someone else that can do them equally well if not even better so you open time for what only you can do? Alternatively, should you consider "not now" for something that can be delayed until a later deadline?

• Stay true to your priorities. When you know what matters most, you can more intentionally align your actions with those areas of importance, avoiding burnout. As priorities shift, you can be flexible and shuffle how to invest your time so you keep your actions focused on your goals.

• Utilize work-life integration for greater overall success. By studying research by Wharton's Work / Life Integration Project along with my experience with clients' best practices, I know first-hand how you can create harmony with goals for home, work, society and yourself complementing one another rather than competing with each other. Focus on actions that can accomplish multiple goals at once, plan how you can invest your time with each of your most important priorities at the forefront of your emphasis and maintain pliability to easily address your priorities as they evolve over time.

• Respect the value of your space. Whether it's in your physical space, electronic files or calendar, keep only what is accurate, applicable, useful, bringing you joy and not just as easily found with a quick Google search. If something filling your physical space, electronic files or calendar no longer meets those requirements, remove that clutter.

• Plan to have the tools you need nearby when needed. Do you utilize a smartphone, tablet or laptop? If so, you are well aware of all the accessories needed, especially when you are working on-the-go, like charging cords, earbuds and the like. Rather than depending on whether you remember to bring "all the stuff" with you whenever you work outside an office, keep multiple sets of accessories (one for the office, one in your vehicle, one for your bag), bundling your tech tools together with the GRID-IT or a canvas pouch that's easily portable.

• Address email. Unsubscribe from eNewsletters you are no longer reading, consider bundling subscriptions that you do read via Unroll.me and shift from checking to processing newly received messages, moving to-do items to your task management system, adding requests for your time to your calendar, shifting retention items from your inbox to personal folders and using delete as your friend to remove trash or junk.

• Save time with forms, templates and checklists. If you regularly send the same reply, create a template that can be easily plugged in and tweaked as necessary, saving time by not starting from scratch each time. Create a packing checklist so you don't forget anything needed for travel. Design a form for your grocery shopping list so you remember to restock the essentials each time and save valuable minutes by listing the items in order of the aisles at your store.

• Automate daily processes. "Set it and forget it" may be the greatest time-saver. Investigate options such as IFTTT, Podbox and Zapier to find the best solution for your needs. In addition, add an automated cloud back-up solution, such as Backblaze, Carbonite or CrashPlan, and consider which social media management solution will allow you to automate putting the right message in front of the right audience at the right time.

• Cut back on distractions with fewer pings and dings. When distracted, it can take us an average of 23 minutes to fully re-engage in the task at hand. Each time we receive a notification for a new email, social media update, text message or voice mail received, those are distractions that rob us of valuable time. Turn off the notifications and schedule set times to check each platform. For folks that do require an immediate response (like key account clients or your direct supervisor), make them VIPs so you can utilize Do Not Disturb on iOS and Priority Mode on Android.

Where do you see excess in your life or time being wasted? How can you take action in tiny steps that will assist in simplifying your life so you get to your goals more easily?

10 Tips to Safely and Successfully Spring Forward

As explained by WebMD, "Losing an hour of sleep to gain an extra hour of sunlight... interrupts your circadian rhythm or your sleep-wake cycle", and the act of springing forward can be stressful for our bodies, affecting our well-being in both positive and negative ways. Losing an hour of sleep in March is especially hard on those not following Arianna Huffington's advice and already getting less sleep than needed. As routines are tools to boost productivity, they can also assist in transitional times like this. During these days counting down to the start of Daylight Saving Time, there are steps to be taken for optimizing the good and minimizing the bad of the upcoming time change. Here are some actions to take this week:

• Prepare your sleep-wake cycles. Gradually shift yourself into the hour earlier sleep upcoming by adjusting your bedtime before the time change gets here. Go to bed 15 minutes early on Wednesday, 30 minutes early Thursday, 45 minutes early on Friday, and, then, an hour early Saturday. That means you'll get your normal amount of sleep once Sunday's alarm goes off.
• Caffeinate strategically. As you'll be headed to bed earlier in the upcoming nights, it's increasingly important to fall asleep easier, working towards those goals for your bedtime. Reduce your caffeine intake earlier than usual each day leading up to the start of Daylight Saving Time so it's out of your system earlier and has less effect on when you get to sleep.
• Fine-tune your bedtime routine. Start preparing for bed by eating dinner earlier. Then, drink a relaxing, sleep-inducing tea to make falling asleep come more quickly, like chamomile, lavender or some combination of similar herbs. Lower lighting and activity levels for an hour before bedtime.
• Be active during the day. Especially on Saturday, be sure to get some vigorous exercise. If it's sunny, get moving outside and soak in that vitamin D, which advances the body clock.
• Nap selectively. Normally, power naps can be a good way to catch-up on missed sleep; however, on Saturday or Sunday, an afternoon nap might make it too difficult to go to sleep earlier that night. Avoid taking a nap anytime this weekend.
• Stick with Sunday's normal wake-up time. While the aforementioned earlier bedtime approach is helpful for those with the chronotype of "night owl", many "morning person" types benefit from waking up in the same increments of increasing earliness; however, when it comes to Sunday morning, everyone needs to get up at what is considered a normal wake-up time. Sleeping in on the morning that the time change takes effect will make adjusting all the more difficult.
• Power up on morning sunlight. Letting the sun shine over your face first-thing each morning resets your body's natural clock. With Daylight Saving Time, you'll be waking up when it's a little darker outside so consider swapping your alarm clock for a light box to wake up more easily. Take a morning walk outdoors to get moving in the sunshine, even if it's for only 15 minutes. If there's not enough time for a walk, soak in the sun's rays from your porch, patio or sunniest window, allowing the warmth to better jumpstart your day.
• Add essential oils to your springtime morning routine. A little peppermint in your morning tea will help kickstart your energy level, especially the first week of Daylight Saving Time. 
• Implement the same changes for kids, too. Children having a hard time falling or staying asleep after the start of Daylight Saving Time are listening to cues from their bodies, making it equally if not more important to help them through this same process of proactively adjusting to the time change.
• Drive more attentively. The morning is already the most dangerous time on the road; when you add in the fact that it will be darker during your morning commute along with potentially greater exhaustion, it's important to be even more careful and alert as you drive to work, especially during the first few weeks following the start of Daylight Saving Time.

Take action with these tactics to cut down on the stress and sleep deprivation associated with Daylight Saving Time; you'll be grateful for the results. Do you do anything special to make the time change less impactful or stressful? Please share in the comments.

Learn How and When to Say No

In clarifying our priorities, it is paramount to acknowledge how limited our most valuable resource truly is. Each day offers only 1,440 minutes, and each of those minutes can be invested no more than once. If you spend time doing something, you can't get those minutes back for doing anything else; your return on time invested needs to fuel your passions or move you closer to attaining your loftiest goals.

Saying "yes" to doing one thing is inherently saying "no" to doing something else, which means the opposite is true, too... Saying "no" to activities that don't really excite us is imperative for making time to do what matters most. Yet, for the many of us who enthusiastically pursue many different passions, learning how and when to say no might be the most difficult lesson possible.

When figuring out how to make saying no work best for your specific needs in boosting productivity, keep the following in mind:

• Think of all that's possible. Consider what you would do if you could rather than what you feel like you should do. As Americans, we tend to should all over ourselves, whether from peer pressure or from within, and, as adults, our shoulds can become barriers. It is our most basic need, craving, ideal, calling or passion that we must make time for doing, which is very different from caving into what we should do. Instead of saying "should", try "could" and, then, choose the possible path that reflects your own priorities and the fire within you.

• Listen to your gut. Often, our bodies know what we really want to do. We might suppress the pull in that direction because it would involve challenges or conflict with others; yet, we're better off if we don't ignore the wisdom of our bodies. When we try to silence the messages from our guts, it can frequently lead to stress-induced health problems, like diminished immunities that make us more susceptible to viral infections. If you feel stress at the thought of saying yes, go with no; alternatively, if you are excited about both yes and no, go with the option that elicits stronger feelings of excitement.

• Take what time you need to decide. If you don't feel passionately either way when immediately asked, take time to think. Maybe it's a few minutes; maybe it's a few days. Your needs will vary over time so sit with the available options to see what works best for you at that point in life. Reflect on your options, research the pros and cons of each, seek advice and let your gut marinate on how each option best resonates with you. When you are committing your time to doing something, you want to make sure you like the commitment and have the time available to do it as well as you'd like it done.

• Saying no doesn't require being mean. As the majority of communication comes from non-verbals, try to pair declining an invitation with a smile or, at least, a warm, welcoming expression on your face. Then, choose your words wisely. Start with a positive statement, like "I would love to..."; include a transition word, like "but" or "however". If possible, end with a bit of rationale as to why not taking advantage of the opportunity being presented is actually better for you, your goals and your current bandwidth. If what you are declining is a request for help, substitute that with an explanation of how another alternative would be more helpful for that person or organization. For example, when relatives invite themselves to your home over the holidays, you can respond by saying, "It would be great to see you, but it is hard on my body to have guests stay over; plus, there is a nearby hotel with excellent service who can make your stay extra special. It will make having dinners together even more meaningful and enjoyable." Saying no with grace and authority is a win-win for everyone!

• Utilize "no" as a tool for staying on track. When you simplify commitments, minimize meetings, add in buffers and create white space on your calendar, you are able to give your best to what earns a spot in your schedule and focus more on what matters most. Create a weekly strategy to address your priorities; then, use that game plan to ward off time stealers and others' priorities. Knowing where you're headed helps in getting there, and saying no to detractors makes the pathway to success run more efficiently, making you more productive.

What is your criteria for saying no versus yes? What tactics have you found most helpful in telling someone no?

Protect Yourself with Better Password Management

There's no way around our ever increasing need for more securely storing our online data. It seems that we hear about another data breach just about every day while our list of websites requiring logins continues to grow. Productivity requires more wary processes.

Here are four practical privacy practices to implement now:

• Be password smart. Don't use the same password for everything. Create strong passwords, including uppercase and lowercase letters, spacing, punctuation and symbols whenever possible. Some sources encourage using a sentence as an effective password, but I still encourage incorporating those various elements of uppercase and lowercase letters along with symbols within whatever sentence you utilize. Then, change each password regularly, whether monthly or quarterly.

• Be consistent in where you keep your passwords. You can handwrite them in a book, have them printed out from a spreadsheet, save them in your smartphone's notes or enter them in an online password management app; however, please do not rely on your memory nor leave them written on sticky notes attached to your computer screen. My clients have had great success using Dashlane, Roboform, SplashID, Sticky Password and 1Password, but utilize the option with which you feel most comfortable. If you take the route of using a password management application, feel free to use your email to pull any existing passwords associated with that email and, then, move at whatever pace you prefer uploading others.

• Use two-factor authentication. Since many social media platforms and other tools link your accounts there to your email account, activate two-step verification within whichever email you utilize. When attempting to log into whatever account has two-step verification activated, you'll be texted a code that must be entered to proceed; this gives an extra layer of security to protect your account information and alerts you when someone else tries to login as you.

• Protect your information. Don't over-share on social media, particularly when it comes to announcing when you are traveling, and limit what personal details are posted that can be tracked back to answers you'd give for security questions. Be careful with whom you share passwords, your social security number, your birthdate, credit card numbers and any identifying data. Never send anyone your social security number or credit card information via email.

Do you have preferred options for password management? What steps do you take to protect your privacy and security, particularly for online information? Are there any on this list that you will add to your privacy practices?

Capitalize on Your Energy for Enhanced Productivity

When thinking about a normal day at work, are there times you feel more "in the zone", the output seems to flow more easily, you're in a groove and you're energized? Can you envision what those instances have in common? For many, the theme that runs consistently amongst instances when working tends to work better happens to be our personal energy level.

As I've learned by using the Time and Space Style Inventory assessment with my clients, each of us is invigorated by different things in different ways, and our energy level has a dramatic impact on our ability to be productive from moment to moment.

It is important to attack challenging work when your energy is at its peak. This becomes more complicated as the timing of one's peak energy level varies from person to person; therefore, the first step in pairing the work that is most demanding of your abilities with the timing during which your abilities flow most freely happens to be self-assessment.

Know when your energy is most likely to peak so you can schedule uninterrupted time then for addressing your hardest work.

If your energy peaks first-thing in the morning, you may choose to enlist your energy level as a productivity tool by "swallowing the frog", tackling your most difficult tasks first. This approach is why folks talk about wanting to "hit the ground running" each day.

If your energy peaks later in the workday, you may choose to enlist your energy level as a productivity tool by adopting the mantra of "activity breeds activity", starting with easier tasks and building momentum to do more difficult work later in the workday.

Unfortunately, it's not always feasible to pair those more challenging tasks with times when your energy peaks. Since meetings are designed for discussions and shared decision-making, they can be a drain on energy and force you to be filled with energy during times that are not your normal peak energy time. If you find your energy waning right before an important meeting, invest in actions to fuel your energy reserves and replenish your energy on demand. It might not be quite as effective as your natural time for peak energy, but there are always options to quickly boost energy as needed. Use whichever works best for you.

Does your energy peak in the morning, afternoon or when the sun goes down? How do you adjust when you attack certain work functionality to best use your energy peaks?