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!

Seeking Simplicity?

National Simplicity Day

National Simplicity Day is observed every year on July 12th, honoring the life, work and philosophies of Henry David Thoreau, who advocated for living a simple life via poetry, in his books and as a transcendentalist.

In our modern-day world, life is complicated by so much: the pings and dings of technology, the clutter amidst our calendars and to-do lists alike, the avalanche of communications received via email, calls, texts, social media, snail mail, technology and mainstream media... The list goes on and on. Yet, amidst our current pandemic, I see so many refocusing on their truest priorities, people taking time to reconnect with loved ones while actually slowing down a bit, new routines being turned into necessary habits as well as an emphasis on listening to what our minds, bodies and spirits truly need.

Whether you think of "simplicity" in terms of being plain, natural or easy to understand, I believe this National Simplicity Day is an ideal time to really align our actions with what matters most to us, including the personal mission, vision, core values and life desired to cultivate for each of us. How will you choose to let go of life's complications to make room in each day's 1,440 minutes for what's most important to you?

Some ideas for slowing down and living deliberately include the following:

• Think deeply about what matters most to you.
• Put things on your calendar that align with your priorities and the life you want.
• Adopt a new attitude by being deliberate in how your time is invested.
• Expend as much energy to reflect, live in the moment and appreciate life as you schedule for when to get things done.
• Shift your focus from "all the things" to what you can actually control.
• Utilize Do, Decide When, Delegate and Delete from Eisenhower's Matrix so your resources go toward what only you can do first.

Where will you choose to start in your efforts to celebrate National Simplicity Day?

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!

To Where Do We Go Now?

Something fantastic happened in Raleigh this weekend as this message was painted by volunteers in front of CAM Raleigh on Martin St.

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It is everyone’s responsibility to make sure our young, black or brown girls and boys live long, full lives. I don’t tolerate hate or racism.

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I cannot imagine not having a diverse inner circle of friends, a diverse base of clients, diverse committees with whom I volunteer and a diverse neighborhood in which I live.

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Decisions made by diverse groups are higher quality, wiser and more apt to have a more positive impact than those made by like-minded groups. When interacting, “I see your color, honor you and value your input” is the goal, not “I see no color.” Y’all, I firmly believe we are better together, and, together, everyone achieves more; those are not just cliche phrases but, instead, are actual mantras.

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In today’s world, if you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention, and we must take peaceful steps toward living together as equals. It’s never too early to start having these conversations with the next generation as well as our peers. As I heard recently, “Until all of us are somebody, nobody is anything”.

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As my friend Jim Scott shared recently, those who are disparaging the character of George Floyd are completely missing the point of the recent #BlackLivesMatter protests; these aren’t about how George Floyd lived, but, instead, they’re about the far too many black and brown individuals who have died way too early in life.

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We all must do better. As a white woman, I will be educating myself, listening carefully, proceeding with empathy and always taking action. Know that we are better together.

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!

Weathering a New Season for Productivity

Now that we are almost 10 full weeks into actively protecting ourselves from COVID-19, I know it’s continually difficult to find peace and happiness, particularly as the world is ever-changing around us.

The anxiety remains high as the future is unclear. Similarly, although “stay at home" initially sounded like it wouldn't be too difficult, it turns out that social distancing can be majorly challenging. As the world starts transitioning into this timeframe where we re-enter elements of our economy that have been slowed by fighting this disease while still trying to minimize the negative effects this dreadful disease for which there is no treatment or vaccine, I realize the emotional rollercoaster will continue, including fear, anxiety, excitement, stress, hopefulness, hopelessness and more. 

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This period of uncertainty and fluidity has really brought me back to my core values for boosting productivity:
🌻 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲. You are doing the best you can in the most extenuating of circumstances. If you’re working remotely, you are not a “work from home” employee; instead, you are at home trying to work amidst serious stress.
🧘🏻‍♀️ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲. The more we roll with all the ups and downs of schedule changes, the better.
👩🏻‍💻 𝗔𝗶𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. There is plenty of grief to go around, whether that's grief for a loved one, grief for a job lost, grief for plans changed or something else, and the emotional rollercoaster is distracting, taking energy from desired results. Things now are exhausting. It’s okay to expect less productivity than would be considered normal.
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TAKE ACTION - While implementing these big-picture steps, there are a few tactics to adopt that can be super helpful:
1️⃣ Visualize what matters most to you, committing time to those priorities. We must know our goals to get there.
2️⃣ Internalize the belief that we all deserve joy, putting things on your calendar that bring happiness while staying at home. Maybe that's scheduling virtual hangouts with friends, achieving milestones with work goals, enjoying a tasty meal via takeout from a locally-owned small business, finding an organizational break-through for a troubling area of your home, self-care or something specific to your unique interests. Decide what you need and creatively go after it.
3️⃣ Create structure. Protect your designated workspace, whether that's a corner of the living room that you've partitioned off with painter's tape or an actual office. Have a morning routine that sets you up for success, including an effort to get dressed in such a way that you feel better about yourself. Set breaks throughout the day for movement, eating and staying hydrated. Find tools for capturing tasks, time commitments and information, culling the details together so they can be better organized and make using those details easier. Establish an evening routine that is calming and creates a foundation for the next day's success, expressing gratitude and celebrating what went right that day.
4️⃣ Determine what will hold you accountable. Do you need a carrot to work toward or something negative to avoid?
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This season is not normal, but there are still ways to thrive. Even if it’s only 5 minutes of deep breathing each day, taking a tiny bit of time to invest in your own well-being can go a long way toward cultivating the lives we want. What action can you take today for which your future self will be grateful?

Step-By-Step Tactics for How to Thrive This Holiday Season

The sprint from Halloween to New Year's Day can be a blur, particularly without planning how you really want to enjoy each of the many holidays throughout this season... Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday, Advent, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and more. Now that we are only 50 days away from Christmas, it's the perfect time to be proactive. Here are a few simple steps to get started. ⠀ Step 1: Detail your vision. How would each perfect holiday look, smell, taste, feel and sound? With whom would you be spending time? What would you be doing? Consider every aspect. ⠀ Step 2: Choose your priorities. Every what that has a when is more likely to get accomplished so schedule on your calendar what earns your time: holiday traditions, kids' performances, local events, gift-giving, new opportunities to celebrate. ⠀ Step 3: Integrate your holiday priorities amidst your existing commitments for work, home, community as well as self-care, including what you need to keep your mind, body and spirit fueled. Work-life integration proves so much more productive than the dream of work-life balance. Which of your non-holiday commitments can you delegate, delete or delay? Should you use some PTO from work to address holiday needs so they cause fewer distractions? ⠀ Step 4: Create a budget. Include everything for gifts, decorations, entertainment, food, beverage and travel, taking into account from where your resources will come to cover these additional expenses. Have you culled finances into a special account for holiday needs? Should you be aware of the limit for what credit card you'll use? ⠀ Step 5: Secure your travel details. What are your desired travel dates, and will you be going by plane, train or automobile? Should you get your vehicle serviced? How will you book hotel or other accommodations? Can tech make your trip better? ⠀ Step 6: Outsource what you can. Apps can enable automating certain functionality or you can delegate via sites like Fancy Hands, Task Rabbit and Thumbtack. Better yet, consider a local concierge service to help, such as Errand Girl, Consider It Done! or Metro's Other Woman. They do offer affordable options. ⠀ What steps can you take now to worry less, avoid hectivity and savor every moment? A little work now will make the holidays less overwhelming and empower you to thrive while enjoying it all.

Organize a Successful Tailgate Party

Sports fans everywhere are studying up on their favorite teams' starting quarterbacks, injury reports and expected totals for wins as well as losses, but that's not the only conversation circling around football.

Pregame festivities are the ultimate excuse to gather with friends for cornhole, crack open a cold beverage and fire up the grill. Maybe you are an ACC fan celebrating the season for your Demon Deacons, Tar Heels, Wolfpack, Blue Devils and Clemson Tigers or you're an SEC fan excited about the prospects for this year's Gators, Bulldogs, LSU Tigers and Crimson Tide; maybe you're an NFL fan who's eagerly awaiting the start of the 100th season coming up on Thursday. No matter what logo is on your jersey, chances are good you'll be tailgating soon.

Whether you're planning a football tailgate for tomorrow, next week or next month, here are some tools to make the process of planning your pregame festivities a little easier:

• Make sure you bring the right supplies. If you know right off exactly what you and your crew need, don't rely on your unreliable brain; capture the checklist for what to prepare, pack and bring within your Evernote account. If you are an Android user, you can use the already drafted list within the Tailgating Planner app, which is easily customizable as your list evolves and syncs between all your Android devices. If you are an iPhone user, you can create food and drink menus as well as collect attendees' fees from the Tailgate Nation app, making it easy to host the party.

• Efficiently answer your friends' "What can I bring?" question. Whether you update the list built into the Thing2Bring app on your iPhone or you use an event list from SignUpGenius.com, having folks choose from a list will better ensure all elements needed are covered without too many folks bringing the same thing. Ice is important, but you don't want everyone bringing only a bag of ice, just like too many desserts won't cover all needs.

• Be weather aware before and during your tailgate. Check the weather beforehand to be sure you dress appropriately as well as take whatever accessories will be needed for what Mother Nature is sending, like tents, jackets, umbrellas and sunglasses. Then, setup alerts from your preferred weather app to be notified when there are changes or a weather system gets nearby, whether that's via the app for your local TV station, what's built into your mobile device or from The Weather Channel.

• Ensure attendees painlessly find the party. The Map My Tailgate app on Android as well as iOS allows hosts to share exactly where the tailgate is, choosing to share that with invited guests or inviting anyone with the app to come share your fun. Alternatively, if you used the Tailgate Info app to plan who will be bringing what, it includes Point to Point Navigation for easily finding your precise location. Plus, whether stars, footballs or something else, a bundle of helium balloons from Dollar Tree will last a long time, giving great visibility for those roaming the lot in search of your tailgate. 

• Avoid FOMO by staying abreast of all the other games. You could use an app like ESPN or Yahoo! Sports to get notifications of all the others' scores and important plays. Or you could setup an actual TV in your truck tailgate to broadcast what's happening elsewhere.

Going beyond these basics, make sure to checkout BuzzFeed's 41 Tailgating Tips That Are Borderline Genius. These best practices are guaranteed to take your pregaming from great to amazing in the snap of your finger, and you will certainly say "Wow!" when reading at least one.

Once you have nailed how to organize a successful tailgate party, if you are in the state of North Carolina, consider submitting your next tailgate to the David Glenn Radio Show to win big prizes as the tailgate of the week or of the year via the Big Tailgate Tour. DG will definitely bring even more excitement to your already fantastic celebration.

What's your favorite way to prepare the ultimate tailgate? Which element is essential for your most fabulous tailgate?

4 Ways to Integrate Life's Various Elements for Greater Success

Whether you're rebounding from vacation mode, barreling into new routines with back-to-school season, building a side hustle into something more, increasing the intensity of a countdown to a big event this fall, racing from the office to a nonprofit meeting or simply squeezing all you can into these last almost 4 weeks of the summer season, my client's words about the value of work-life integration ring true.

People often refer to work-life balance; yet, I believe work-life integration is more realistic. In thinking about "balance", I see a scale or seesaw, forcing a perception of costs needed for success, and I don't believe my "work" competes with my "life". Instead, the various elements regularly complement each other, each one adding value to the others with the ongoing mix of priorities. Although balance would be static, life is certainly not, and successful productivity requires flexible, fluid solutions to address one's ever-changing priorities for work, home, community or society and the realm of self-care for mind, body and spirit. As the various elements are layers on top of each other, the emphasis needed for each element continually fluctuates, and each layer enhances the others, making the sum greater than any part.

Here are ways to get starting putting work-life integration into effect for the results you desire:

1️⃣Account for your priorities in all elements of life via your one, individualized game plan on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

2️⃣Aim for activities that accomplish wins (or improved performance) in multiple elements of life at the same time, like brainstorming a big pitch for work or listening to an audiobook at the same time as walking your dog.

3️⃣Acknowledge how the resources around you can help, like creating an organized workspace, outsourcing what needs to be done but not necessarily by you and utilizing any applicable technology tools that are available.

4️⃣Audit how you invest time regularly, making sure your activities align with your goals for greater success as well as less burnout.

Known as the Wharton Work/Life Integration Project, Stew Friedman's research at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania focuses on the interactions between all the elements encompassed in life, empowering each of us to be real, whole and innovative by integrating all elements to make each better.

The above from Joyce Chen of La Marca Prosecco gets to the heart of why work-life integration better enables crafting the lives we want to live. "I hate that 'balance' word. The reality is: It's a rhythm. We're in rhythms where it's high and it's low, it's high and it's low. And I think, in those rhythms, it's ok to let some things go for a little bit, and maybe you get back to it later."

As productivity is about efficiently working to effectively achieve results desired for all elements of life, the most powerful tools in the toolbox of highly successful individuals have been found to include flexibility, streamlining, resourcefulness and a focus on outcomes over the specific activities we "should" be doing.

What tools do you put to work for crafting the life you want to live, fueling what results you want, moving you towards achieving your priority goals and truly helping you organize for success?

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?

Over 150 Gift Ideas to Eliminate Clutter for Loved Ones

The holiday season has snuck up on us again, and, whether you're celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or Boxing Day, chances are good that your gift shopping list feels endless. While giving the gift of your time, access to an experience or consumable items can offer excellent options, many gift recipients want a tangible item that can immediately improve life or solve a problem. When determining which such gifts to consider, it is important to think about lifestyle elements for the recipient. To eliminate some of the overwhelm, here are some of my favorite, clutter-free gifts for folks on your list:

Technology:

If someone on your gift-giving list is like me and many of my friends, that person makes a cup of coffee, gets pulled in 100 directions and, then, upon returning to that cup of coffee, finds that it's gotten cold. Such sadness! The travel, ceramic and copper mugs from Ember heat themselves so there's no worry about one's coffee, tea, cider or hot chocolate falling anywhere below the desired temperature. Alternatively, fend off sacrificing your cup of joe with the Bellemain desktop mug warmer for coffee, tea, cocoa, soup, scented candles or wax, including effortless clean-up.

EyeJust blocks the harmful blue light emitting from just about any type of iPhone, helping prevent it from killing cells in the eye, causing sleep disruption and damaging skin. Oh, yes. And it protects your phone's screen, too, using scratch-proof tempered glass that's anti-microbial as well as smudge-proof.

Speaking of blocking bacteria, particularly with all time spent on our mobile devices, it's helpful to give the gift of easily cleaning our mobile devices. Whoosh! Screen Cleaner Kit includes superior, non-toxic cleaner specifically designed to not only clean screens but also make them shine like new and resist fingerprints. With about 250 sprays per bottle, it's possible to keep tech devices clean and shining like new, perfect for any carry-on or laptop bag as it's TSA compliant. OXO Good Grips Electronics Cleaning Brush easily cleans the hard-to-reach nooks and crannies of everything from keyboard keys to camera lenses, including a retractable bush designed to brush away crumbs and dirt along with a silicone wedge designed to reach into crevices, grabbing dirt and fuzz, all in a pen-like shape that's easy to carry and use. PhoneSoap will keep anyone's smartphone disinfected as it charges, which works well to "house" one's iPhone or Android device overnight while sleeping.

Whether at home or on the road, being able to stream one's desired content can be helpful. Consider gifting the Amazon TV Fire Stick, Apple TV, Google Chromecast or, particularly for those business travelers on your list, the Roku Streaming Stick as it plugs straight into the TV's HDMI port to be good-to-go for streaming.

The Lenovo Smart Display is a voice-controlled device with Google Assistant built-in to help, adding an enhanced visual experience for greater ease of getting things done. It allows for keeping in touch with video calls, includes a privacy shutter and a powerful, 10W, full-range speaker with dual passive radiator that expands the low end bass range for clear, natural, balanced sound, whether listening to a playlist or communicating with loved ones.

With so many photos living in electronic form, it can be a challenge to keep them all organized, accessible and able to be printed easily when desired. Although many prefer Dropbox or Google Photos, ThePhotoStick is a safe, secure way to easily backup all your photos, videos, documents and music from across various mobile devices. Choose either the Lifeprint 2x3 Portable Photo and Video Printer for iPhone and Android or the Polaroid ZIP Mobile Printer to capture and share photos in less than a minute.

For those with a newer MacBook from Apple, there might be a need to replace the missing USB plugs, particularly when trying to plug in USB devices, HTML cords or projectors. Consider the HyperDrive PRO 8-in-2 Hub for USB-C MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs, which might be the ultimate MacBook dongle with plenty of ports from which to choose.

If someone on your list of recipients is constantly suffering from a dead phone battery, there's no better gift than extra power. Twin Power Powerbank Station has 2 compact, lightweight, rechargeable powerbanks that are slim but impressive, offering power to recharge both iPhones and Android phones up to two times as well as give a power boost to iPads and tablets; plus, the charging cables and dock are included to recharge both powerbanks at the same time. If you're looking for something that offers even more juice, consider the Anker PowerCore portable charger, which provides high-speed charging at an ultra-high capacity, meaning it charges the iPhone 7 almost seven times, the Galaxy S6 five times or the iPad mini four times. Similarly, there are ways to build powering options into your gift recipient's space with Simple Designs gooseneck organizer desk lamp that has a holder and charging outlet or the LampCharger that screws onto just about any household lamp to provide a USB power source for mobile devices and works even when the light is turned off. Or consider a personalized nightstand valet with a phone-charging dock.

For those that often have a phone or table sitting on their desktop while plugged into the wall, it can be an issue to have the cord fall off the desk each time the mobile device is unplugged; give them the gift of keeping the plug in place until the next time the device needs to be recharged by giving BlueLounge CableDrop cable holders, which easily mount to a flat surface with permanent peel and stick backing while holding wires up to 7.5mm in diameter.

Mark and Graham's wooden Charging Desk Station is a computer stand equipped with three USB ports for charging and one adaptor, supporting one's effort to stylishly keep clutter at a minimum. Plus, you can easily add a monogram or personalization.

As standing desks have lost a bit of their shine, current research shows that it's important to alter standing and sitting throughout the day, which makes options to offer this fluctuation more appealing. The design of the Levit8 foldable laptop stand was inspired by the folds used in origami, and the stand goes from flat to fully upright in seconds. It is lightweight, sturdy and built to keep up with you wherever you take it thanks to durable, high-performance fabric that is water- and stain-resistant. The Adjustable Tilt Lap Desk from Target is adjustable to eight different angles for easy, hands-free use and optimal viewing, saving space when it's folded flat, providing proper ventilation for any laptop and conforming to any user's lap with dual-bolster pillows underneath.

In this day and age, the gift of a device to make life easier is always welcome. The reMarkable Paper Tablet has visually unlimited pages, days of battery, the ability to cull together all notes in one place, easy annotations of documents within the organized system, sunlight readable screen, ability to instantly share content via email, ways to convert multiple pages of handwritten notes to typed text, access from anywhere over the cloud, real-time syncing between devices and file transfer in a drag and drop functionality; it eliminates distractions by making users focus solely on writing, reading and sketching. IRISNotes 3 digital pen converts handwritten notes to editable digital text, recognizing hand-writing in 30 languages along with graphs and drawings. With this tool, users can export digital notes to one's favorite text editor and, then, share notes, video memos and annotated photos anywhere. Rocketbook offers endlessly reusable digital notebooks with symbols at the bottom of each page that allow for sending notes to specific locations in the cloud services already being used; plus, the associated app crops and enhances each page so digital notes are more crisp and vibrant than the real thing. With Rocketbook, put pen to paper, choose destination, scan to transcribe pages and blast notes to the cloud.

Once you know your gift recipient has the right tools, why not offer a complementary accessory? AfterShokz Trekz Titanium Wireless Bone-Conducting Headphones let users hear their music as well as their surroundings at the same time. With the Prynt Pocket instant photo printer, photos are printed directly from your iPhone onto ZINK Sticker Paper with no ink necessary; after printing, simply peel off the adhesive backing to turn any photo into a sticker.

If your gift recipient is always misplacing things, XY Findit™️ can help. XY GPS devices attach to items so users have up-to-the-minute tracking information from virtually anywhere in the world. The XY4+ Bluetooth Item Finder is the most powerful Bluetooth item finder on the market with the longest range, loudest sound and longest lasting battery.

The germ-eliminating cleaning compound kit is perfect for use in one's car, on smartphones and for any electronics cleaning. It squeezes into vents, ridges and nooks, picking up direct, absorbing it and eliminating more than 99% of germs along the way.

Particularly for new homeowners or folks that live alone, the Nest Hello Video Doorbell replaces an existing wired doorbell, delivering HD video and bright, crisp images, even at night, showing the resident everything at the doorstep, including people head to toe as well as packages that have been delivered. Alternatively, you could gift the Ring Video Doorbell 2, which lets homeowners see, hear and speak to visitors from a phone, tablet or PC.

For Business Owners:

Whether founder, CEO or solopreneur, one must have the right tools to meet all business goals. The Layered Living Planner is more than a simple paper planner; it empowers users to lead the layers of their lives as they plan for the year ahead, live out those layers with weekly calls to action, lean into their layers as they assess progress and learn from those layers as they reflect on what happens throughout the year. A subscription to Sparkle Hustle Grow provides tools, training and community to help grow a business. Plus, Emily Ley has created a "Well-Loved Brand" playbook and online video masterclass that pairs the video course with a printed Well-Loved Brand workbook that's shipped to homes.

Productivity Boosters and Sanity Savers:

One of the basic principles for bettering one's productivity is to "contain what you retain", and zippered, canvas bags can assist in this goal, particularly when they include entertaining phrases, like "Straight Outta Patience" and "Those first five days after the weekend are the hardest." Likewise, backpack, carryall and Scout Pouch options provide stylish solutions to contain what you retain from 100% premium neoprene that is a high-tech fabric, hand washable and quick to dry. It's insulating and shock-absorbent make-up boosts durability and versatility for all need.

When considering that "vertical is visible while horizontal is hidden", consider whether your gift recipient would implement a Godery 5 Pocket Hanging Wall Organizer, which can contain file folders, individual documents, magazines and reference materials in a meaningful manner.

I'm a sucker for a great bag, particularly the hand-made goodies created by Holly Aiken's team at Stitch in downtown Raleigh, but I keep being reminded how backpacks are so much better for our bodies. The Laptop Backpack from Beyle offers anti-theft, water resistant capabilities with USB charging port.

A weekly Simplified Planner from Emily Ley pairs well with creating each week's game plan through the steps of my Weekly Strategy Session, but you must hurry to order one of these as they are selling out quickly. Paired with the Marvy Le Pen 12-color set, it's amazing how many big, hairy, audacious goals can be solved. Then, to simplify another aspect of the corresponding process, include paper tape to line up a list of numbers, checkboxes or days so your gift recipients' lists become so much easier to utilize.

As humans, it's often easier to utilize what we can see; therefore, it's important to make sure what is visible isn't misconstrued as clutter, remains contained and is labeled for easier reference later and that the piles don't spread. Magnetic See and Store Containers are made of food-safe polypropylene plastic with a magnetic backing and see-though top that features an air-tight silicone seal. Three by Three Magnetic Tin Bins have front windows for easily viewing what's inside.

Nite Note offers a hand-held, light-up notebook that conveniently holds a pen and writing pad. Record your thoughts while laying down using this bedside notepad that "lights up"when the pen is removed and "lights off" when the pen is replaced.

On-The-Go Necessities:

For those times when there's no hook but there's a need to keep a purse off the ground, Bagnet can hang from chairs, barstools, table bases, tabletops, gym walls, under bars, in restrooms and anywhere else needed.

Making sure to have the right beverages while on-the-go can become a major issue. Be the one who helps with the right tools! The water bottle has been reinvented with Que Bottle's collapsible, leakproof, shockproof, lightweight option that matches your gift recipient's style; it is BPA-free, plastic-free, taste- and odor-free with a mouth wide enough for ice cubes and, most excitingly, dishwasher safe. Alternatively, whether the 14 oz, 22 oz or 35 oz option, the Bubi Bottle is a collapsible, silicone water bottle that's BPA-free, flexible, washable, reusable and, according to its website, completely indestructible. One of my personal favorite bottles is the S'well Bottles, and I've been particularly impressed with the new Traveler size. I like its wider mouth, that it holds 16 ounces, keeping cold beverages the desired temperature for 24 hours while hot beverages stay that way for 12 hours, and mine came in a beautiful Green Jasper, which is perfect. Soda Says x Wacaco Minipresso GR Portable Espresso Machine connects innovative construction with easy operation in a sleek, beautifully designed brewer that turns out rich, bold espresso anywhere at any time by combining ground coffee with hot water and pressing the semiautomatic piston. Boon Supply's Portable Blender allows its owner to blend amazing smoothies in a minute and, then, easily take them on-the-go in the same container.

Does your list include a new mom who needs to clean her breast pump parts while at work or traveling? How about someone who wants to make sure their travel bottle gets the coffee cleaned out earlier in the day? Or a business traveler who needs some help cleaning bottles while traveling? The OXO Tot On-The-Go Drying Rack is a portable, ventilated kit for quick washing and drying that comes with a brush and a drying rack; plus, it's easy to fill a travel-size bottle with dish soap as a quality complement.

Yes, an individual who owns a dog that sheds a lot will have to deal with fur sticking to their clothes, but the various things that cling to our clothing are endless. The Flint Lint Roller offers super sticky sheets, retracts to stay clean, won't get stuck, fits in a bag or pocket, is easy to refill and offers a stylish, fun solution to the lint that black sweaters attract. Toss one of these in your vehicle and bag to have a readily available fix whenever needed.

For those of us who live in our vehicles or are hopping on planes between commitments, there's never easy access to all the beauty necessities needed. You could make your gift recipient super happy if you cull together a Minnie by OLIKA charcoal natural hand sanitizer, CoolKind Original Organic Lip Balm and Aveda hand relief moisturizing creme, maybe putting them all in a nice basket.

Warmmuffs are cozy hand-warmers that attach to the handlebars of a stroller or shopping cart, eliminating the "runaway mittens" that result from juggling so many different things.

Hot Logic pyrex containers let you pack your lunch in a container that allows for reheating via an outlet or car inverter.

Pearl is a compact mirror with a ring of LED lights around it that's also a USB battery pack.

For Traveling:

Many folks who travel frequently start complaining about their luggage once things start functioning in a less than desirable manner. If your loved one is itching for a new suitcase, consider gifting the American Tourister 16" underseat spinner suitcase, which slides right under the seat in front, or Away Travel's The Carry On with an ejectable battery to charge mobile devices while on-the-go.

The Paravel Fold-Up Bag offers a couple options: It its unfolded state, it's the prefect overnight duffel bag; alternatively, it zips into itself to form a compact pouch that can easily be tossed into a carry-on for an extra bag to haul back all the goodies found along a trip.

Whether traveling by plane, train or automobile, keeping all one's IDs, credit cards and travel documents together and organized is vital; if your gift recipient is often scrambling to quickly access what's needed, consider the Zoppen Multi-Purpose RFID-blocking Travel Passport Wallet, which is a tri-fold document organizer available in a multitude of color options.

For carrying toiletries, pills or small items in ways that really work, no one thinks about the details, users' needs and the ultimate experience better than HumanGear.com. Consider the GoToob+ as the new standard in silicone bottles, which offer a variety of colors, come with a warranty, is easy to squeeze such that every last drop comes out, is designed for easier filling and features an exclusive LoopLock around the collar, which makes it almost impossible to accidentally open. Likewise, consider the GoTubb to open with one hand for pills, knick-knacks, snacks, vitamins, change or anything that's little and loose but needs to be contained.

It can be truly frustrating to be on an airplane with AirPods or wireless headphones when you really want to be watching the movie that's projecting throughout the main cabin or unable to hear the gym cardio machine's audio. To aid your loved one with connecting those AirPods or wireless headphones into the wired headphone jack that is sharing the much-desired audio, gift AirFly, which uses Bluetooth, provides high-quality sound and offers easy set-up.

If your loved one has been using Grid-It by Cocoon with occasional difficulties, consider gifting the BAGSMART Travel Universal Cable Organizer electronics accessories case that stores various USB, phone, charger and cable needs in a similar manner but adds a heavy-duty, durable, water-repellent, nylon-molded case to contain items while protecting from scratches, dust and accidental dropping.

Secret Weapons' fold-up ballet flats come with a carry bag to fit in one's purse, tote or airplane carryon so no one ever has to suffer form foot pain while racing between appointments, commitments or flights. Available in black or silver, these are super comfy. Further, if one's suitcase is filled with other types of shoes, the best gift might be YAMIU Travel Shoe Bags, which come in sets of 4, are made of waterproof nylon for appropriate protection, include a zipper for easy access and make it easy to keep shoes protected while tossing them from home to bag to destination.

Looking for something your frequent traveler will want to pack to take luxury along for their next trip? The Merino Travel Kit is ideal for frequent flyers, comfort seekers and backseat nappers alike, including a blanket, eye mask and carrying case all made from 100% extra fine merino wool so they are light, breathable, warm and super comfortable.

One of my absolute must-have items when traveling is a travel-size steamer. Yes, many hotels will offer an iron in the room, but nothing can beat the ease and productivity offered by either My Little Steamer's Deluxe Hand Steamer by Joy Mangano or PurSteam Elite Powerful 7-1 Clothes / Garment / Fabric steamer, which remove wrinkles as well as soften, clean, sanitize, sterilize and defrost as needed. The functionality can't be beat for ease, simplicity and ability to meet desired results.

The BONECO Travel Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier makes any environment more comfortable, particularly for those of us with breathing issues, and includes an adapter for users to simply utilize conventional plastic bottles while on-the-go, whether in a hotel room, while an overnight guest at relatives' homes or in your own office. Along those same lines of boosting comfort, Travel Remedy essential oil blend is a grounding as well as refreshing scent that helps your loved one adjust to shifts in temperatures, climates or time zones, making the transition to a new location go much more smoothly.

Traveling with kids can take some effort. The Go Happy Travel Tray gives kids a clean, contained space to play, create and eat while on-the-go. Its removable, food safe, easy to clean silicone liner welcomes food, drinks and baby products atop a clean surface. Its firm surface gives the ideal space for creating art or building with Legos. Its raised border means that no more toys, crayons or food will end up on airplane floors while the entire tray fits securely atop the built-in airplane tray table.

Whether your gift recipient has little ones that need separating in the backseat or simply wants to keep the inside of one's vehicle better organized, the High Road® Back Seat Cooler / Play Table offers an insulated cooler to keep drinks and snacks cold, has multiple storage pockets for everything that needs transporting alongside passengers and features a convertible plastic lid for an instant tabletop that offers an ideal flat surface to play games, eat snacks or rest supplies being used.

When four-legged family members are in the vehicle, there are specific supplies that can be most helpful. The Bonza Collapsible Dog Bowl is lightweight, sturdy, leak-proof and food safe. PupProtector Car Seat Covers allow dogs to come along without any fear of water, dirt or hair being left behind while protecting seats from any scratching damage; the cover is waterproof as well as equipped with seat belt openings, straps to fit head rests and rubber non-slip backing.

For the road warrior, frequent flyer or travel aficionado, it can become increasingly difficult to keep track of all the places that have been visited. Consider gifting the Scratch Map, where scratching off areas visited reveals adventurous pops of color that turn traveling into a treasure hunt, or the Cork Globe, where travelers add red pushpins to mark cherished destinations or attach pictures, tickets and mementos to relive the thrill of each trip over and over again.

Support Health:

We all need a little rest and relaxation to be able to successfully battle what life throws at us each day, and AHAlife's Exclusive Aromatherapy Herbal Wrap Set heats up easily to melt away stress while easing muscle pain. This gift is like wrapping your loved one in a hug whenever daily stress becomes too much.

If your gift recipient suffers from congestion, allergies, breathing problems or air sensitivity, consider AmuseNd USB Cool Mist Humidifier that's in the shape of a miniature cactus to add a pop of color to one's bedroom, office or car. Prevent dry, stuffy air while fending off flu / cold germs and preventing dry, chapped skin with noise-free service that includes automatic power-off protection after 4 hours have passed.

One of the most well-received gifts can be a basket of goodies that make the recipient look and feel better for many moons to come. Consider filling a basket with some of your favorites or you can use these that are some of my favorites. Restorative Treatment Mask by North Carolina's own Virtue Labs actively rehabilitates hair in need of extra care for an instant infusion of shine, moisture and resiliency without weighing it down. This product delivers an immediate and intense hydrating and conditioning boost for silky-soft hair that's reinvigorated with health and nourishment. Dr Dennis Gross' C+ Collagen Brighten + Firm Serum helps even out skin tones, smoothens fine lines, lessens wrinkles and addresses the loss of firmness as well as elasticity; alternatively, NeoCutis' RéACTIVE Anti-oxidant Serum powered by VITAPLEX C offers one of the most complete anti-oxidant defense systems available to help neutralize free radicals and promote anti-oxidant regeneration to promote energized skin while limiting the signs of skin redness related to oxidative stress. RoC Multi-Correxion 5-in-1 Daily Moisturizer provides amazing hydration while fighting multiple signs of aging, including discoloration. Most importantly, EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 is recommended by dermatologists everywhere for a lightweight, oil-free sunscreen to protect sensitive and acne-prone skin alike.

As we near the winter months where folks are desperate to fend off extra germs, Jao Refresher becomes an increasingly desired gift; it is an all-purpose fix for any germy skin thing.

Sleep is necessary to maintain one's health, and there are tools to be gifted that will make achieving better sleep much easier. Slip's Pure Silk Pillowcase provides a gentle, hypoallergenic surface to protect users' hair and skin. The Sleep Mask by Mingtong is a contoured, comfortable, lightweight and breathable sleep mask with adjustable buckle that's helpful for sleeping, traveling and easing stress.

Whether your gift recipient loves working out or is looking for an easier way to get moving each day, there are two ideas which put technology to work in making life better. LED-Embedded Smart Jump Rope displays user's fitness data while in mid-air and can be synced with the free mobile app to track jumps, calories burned and workout times, get recommended training intervals as well as keep motivated by unlocking rewards while competing with friends. YoYoMats are self-rolling, stay rolled up while on-the-go and have edges that stay flat during any workout.

HemingWeigh Complete Acupressure Mat and Pillow increases energy levels and improves sleep while relieving stress, aches, pains and muscle tension. Gift the benefits of acupuncture without requiring your loved one to actually go anywhere.

Eufy Smart Scale includes two pairs of super-sensitive sensors that ensure precise and correct measurements for users to instantly learn 12 insightful measurements of body health, including weight, body fat, BMI, bone mass and muscle mass.

Mold and Germ Destroying Air Purifier from Hammacher Schlemmer eliminates up to 99.9% of airborne bacteria, mold, viruses, pet dander, dust mites allergens and pollen, all without making a sound. With no filter to replace or clean, the anti-germ air purifier uses natural convection to silently draw airborne impurities into its patented ceramic heating chamber that instantly destroys the microorganisms with 400℉ heat and, then, releases the clean air into the room. This tool works quickly and efficiently to replace all the air in a standard size room in about 4 hours, remaining cool to the touch while the heat it produces does not affect room temperature.

Since night driving is the top cause of auto accidents, Myiaur® night driving glasses make an excellent gift, helping the recipient see enhanced color and clarity just like high definition TVs at a fraction of the price of designer glasses while providing a durable, lightweight and stylish solution. Even better, those already wearing glasses will have no problem adding NightGuide HD as it fits easily over prescription lenses and is designed to overlay glasses while driving, all with a polarized lens.

For the Kitchen:

The gift of extra storage space can go a long way toward improving functionality in the kitchen. The Instant Range Top Shelf is a 30"-wide magnetic shelf that snaps directly on a stove's top range, allowing items used frequent while cooking on the range to be easily accessible as needed. Yamazaki Home Over-The-Sink Dish Drainer Rack is made of steel and wood with an adjustable bottom so it fits easily in different sizes of sinks; it holds a variety of items that need drying right there by the sink, such as dishes, bowls, cutting boards, utensils and glasses, which saves valuable kitchen space.

Having the right tools to clean what you've used in cooking such deliciousness is imperative, which makes OXO Good Grips Kitchen Appliance Brush Set an ideal gift. This set keeps every crack and crevice of small appliances clean with sturdy nylon bristles and an angled design to sweep away food, while cleaning out tight spaces or small crevices. The two pieces snap together for simpler storage.

The Easy Speed Salad Maker offers the quickest and most convenient way to make one's favorite salads. It's a matter of chop, chop, chop, rinse, toss in a bowl, add dressing and eat. Super speedy!

As a huge fan of watermelon, it's always a good time to stock up on tools that make enjoying this fabulous fruit easier. Aremazing Watermelon Slicer is stainless steel with a sharp blade to help cut watermelons into consistent size pieces with no watermelon juice left on anyone's hands or the countertop. This popsicle shaped slicer adds some whimsy to the process and encourages kids to help.

I can't think of a kitchen appliance that uses as little space to perform as many functions as the Instant Pot Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, which is convenient, dependable, safe, fast and easy to use. Plus, it's an excellent time-saver as it offers set-it-and-forget-it options for cooking.

Since the kitchen is one of the most powerful places to eliminate clutter, there are storage solutions worth gifting, particularly to your loved one who is environmentally conscious. Consider Beeswax Reusable Wrap, Reuseable Food Storage Bag, and Colorful Beeswax Food Wraps Reusable, Sustainable, Plastic Wrap Alternative.

Make sure your loved one is never without the ice needed for truly cold drinks with Ice Cube Storage solution, which replaces the traditional ice cube trays to hold 3 batches of ice in a handy to use, clean and store option. Made of high-quality silicone rubber with a unique double chamber design, the outer chamber freezes the ice cubes while the inner cylinder stores them. It's airtight lid keeps cubes fresh and odor free, and it can be washed on the top rack of any dishwasher.

The ice ball mold enables enjoying one's favorite drink without diluting the flavor. Users fill the mold, let it freeze and, then, remove the ice sphere with no rinsing required.

Whether your gift recipient likes to cook, enjoys a hot cup of tea or prefers good, ol', southern biscuits, everyone needs honey, especially with all of its amazing health benefits. Some of the greatest honey options are the Meluka Australia Premium Raw Honey, including avocado and orange blossom options.

To Better Enjoy Living at Home:

As explained on its website, the Intelligent Alarm Clock "is your ultimate bedside concierge." Give the gift that allows waking up refreshed with a light that simulates the sunrise, setting an alarm to one's favorite music that gradually increases in sound, receiving weather and traffic reports upon waking up, sleeping well with soothing white noise, communicating from a bedside table with other smart devices throughout the home and rapid charging of smartphones or tablets.

Being a huge fan of music for motivation, I love starting my day by singing in the shower, and Kohler's Moxie Showerhead with Wireless Speaker offers a great tool to add some jams to my morning routine. It enables streaming music wirelessly with any Bluetooth-enabled device, and the speaker can easily be removed from the shower-head for recharging.

Bring both magic and function to any space with Photo String Lights, which pair bright illumination with clips to hold photos, drawings, letters and mementos. Each light is a clip to be more creative in displaying your loved one's keepsakes while creating a warm environment.

Trade Secret Wood Furniture Care Solutions camouflage nicks, cuts, dings and rings in wood while being more eco-friendly than similar alternatives, and the results are amazing. If you left your calling card on a friend's side table or heard them complaining about a stubborn issue on wood around the house, this might be the perfect gift to give.

As the temperatures drop, folks with traditional fireplaces or fire pits need creative solutions for getting that fire properly lit. Pinecone Fire Starters are molded from a mix of pinecones and wax, burn with a high, powerful flame and make it simple to light a fireplace or campfire.

Whether a cold evening or a snowy afternoon, it feels divine to snuggle up with a Heated Throw Blanket, which features an EliteStyle II Controller and comes in brown or white.

Entertaining:

If your gift recipient is "the hostess with the mostess", she probably would love an Andaz Press Personalized Laser Engraved Small Bamboo Wood Cutting Board, which makes quite the statement when bringing out the carved meet or a great mix of cheese and accompaniments.

Whether your gift recipient likes serving guests a custom punch, sweet tea, water or something else, presentation can matter, both for how it is perceived as well as how it functions. Consider gifting Circleware Hobnail Glass Beverage Despenser or Circleware Cranston Beverage Dispenser

If your gift recipient has incredible glasses but fears guests getting too wild and crazy such that someone commits the party foul of dropping (and breaking) one of those beautiful glasses, the best gift might be Silicone Wine Glasses. These work well for parties at home, picnics in the park and traveling or tailgating options. Allow your gift recipient to say goodbye to broken glass and get ready to have a great time anywhere with these 100% BPA free, food grade, silicone glasses that are dishwasher safe, flexible, freeze proof and clumsy proof.

For the gift recipients who host happy hours, cookouts and tailgates where attendees mix and mingle, carrying their food around, consider gifting Food and Beverage Plate, designed for freehanded eating and drinking where the plate has separated compartments for different parts of the meal and fits over most consumer bottles, cans or cups. Plus, they are available in packs of 10 or 20 to make hosting even easier.

In anticipation of overnight guests, consider gifting Bedside Night Carafe Pitcher and Tumbler Glass Set, creating a welcoming environment that enables those staying in a guest room to more easily fend for themselves and better stay hydrated, which is super important during dry, winter months.

Clothing:

If your gift recipient craves dependable sweatshirt warmth and durability but prefers something a little more different than the same old sweatshirt, consider the Quilted Snap Sweatshirt, which is sewn from two equally soft jersey layers and filled with just enough insulation to fend off frigid breezes or cool conditions.

Women who are out and about, doing things and moving around, often struggle with tanks that inch up in the back, leading to constant tugging and battling. Gift Elastic tank tops for women to solve this problem. It's available in a plethora of colors, and the extra length prevents overexposure.

Although Spanx offers plenty of powerful options for meeting one's style needs, consider gifting Shapermint for an excellent alternative. This supportive technology is effective shape-wear that hugs one's curves to better boost confidence.

Whether your gift recipient prefers hiking, climbing, exploring trails or participating in the athleisure trend, ODODOS high rise cargo yoga pants offer convenient pockets to hold your items.

When you think about the human body, remember that your entire weight rests on your feet, making socks super important. Consider gifting Physix anti-odor comfort socks that are also anti-blister and anti-fatigue, Bering that line the interior heel, sole and tongue of the shoe, providing a complete no show solution with moisture wicking fibers that eliminate odors while keeping you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, or Bombas' absolutely amazing socks, which are engineered for greater comfort while gifting a matching pair to homeless shelters for each pair sold.

Many people hear "medical compression socks" and have negative thoughts, but the DocSocks are actually attractive while supporting all foot sizes and improving circulation. Foot pain, no matter how great or small, is alerting that person to underlying health issues, and these compression socks have a positive outcome on users' results, improving circulation of blood flow so feet get enough oxygen.

The buzz about LeMoutonWool Runners is for real and doesn't appear to be lessening anytime soon, but I'm not surprised as these sneakers are fabulous: flexible, supportive, astonishingly soft and cozy, wool upper, recycled laces, padded insole, lightweight sole, cool in the heat while warm in the cold, wicks moisture, minimizes odor, machine washable as well as low carbon footprint.

Preparedness:

Have you noticed the havoc that Mother Nature has been causing across our nation?!? From hurricanes to fires and everything in between, there's never been a better time to make sure you and everyone around you is thoroughly prepared for whatever might strike.

One of the greatest finds I've encountered for preparedness is the LuminAID PackLite 2-in-1 solar lantern and phone charger. It's lightweight, inflatable, portable waterproof, shatterproof and durable, offering 5 brightness settings (including SOS flashing mode) with approximately 100 hours of light on low mode when the battery is fully charged and two ways to recharge (solar and USB).

Nite Ize 3-in-1 mini offers modes for a hanging lantern, SOS signal and flashlight, which is perfect for stashing in backpacks, emergency kits, glove boxes, office desks or home gadget drawers, keeping the necessary light at arm's reach wherever you might lose electricity.

The 6-in-1 Emergency Auto Tool from Sharper Image is a must-have no matter where your gift recipient lives, works, plays and drives around. It includes a white LED flashlight, emergency flasher, emergency whistle, safety blade seatbelt cutter, automatic glass breaker and digital tire gauge.

Loaded with over 20 items that could mean the difference between life and death, the Ultimate Survival Kit can be stashed in a camping bag or glove box so your loved one is always prepared should disaster strike; it includes a water bag, nylon cord, night light, flint and striker, compass, fishing kit, mini multi-purpose tool, book of matches, sewing kit, water tablets, safety pins, single edge blade, salt sachets, mayday mirror, gold wire, pencil, distress whistle, tampon to use for tinder, wire saw, lock bag, cable ties, micro torch and silicone tubing. Can you think of anything it's missing?!?

Because no one should fear venturing out alone, Unbound's Whistle Necklace is like gifting your recipient with a shield of armor and an extra layer of confidence, which are both always a good idea. This chic necklace features a pendant that conceals an effective whistle, which can be used to keep anyone safe even when riding solo.

Enjoying the Great Outdoors:

One of the greatest boosts to productivity is getting outside, breathing in fresh air and absorbing some powerful vitamin D directly from the sun; however, those that are out in the elements need the right gear to make being outdoors its most enjoyable. The Filson Dry Backpack keeps one's gear dry by rolling the top closed, even when fully submerged. Its high-density foam back panel provides comfort while on a long hike just as balancing the weight of one's load between both shoulders is so much better for back health; plus, it comes in one of my favorite shades of green.

If you want to enhance the gift of a bag to go out and about, try including an essential tool for camping, travel or backpacking, which is the Muncher Titanium Multi Utensil by Full Windsor, which is a lightweight multi-purpose tool featuring 10 different functions: spork, serrated butter knife, fire starter, bottle opener, peeler, can opener, cord cutter, screwdriver, pry-bar and box cutter.

For folks who bike to destinations and, then, want to actually live their lives in those destinations before heading back home, the Morpher Folding Helmet is an excellent gift option. Its lightweight material makes it easy to carry, and it folds flat for ultimate convenience as well as portability; it can slip easily into a small bag, backpack or briefcase. Plus, it is as safe as a normal helmet, being made from eps and polycarbonate, which are standard helmet materials. It offers excellent ventilation, suitable for use in all weather conditions, a magnetic clasp for comfortable fit and a range of colors.

Another great gift idea for those recipients who like to ride bicycles is the Avantree Portable Wireless Bike Speaker with bicycle mount and an SD card slot. Its powerful sound enables cycling, hiking or even sailing to one's own distraction-free soundtrack with an IPX4 splash-proof, shock-proof, rubber exterior, bike mount, belt and snap hook design, which offers input from wireless, micro SD/TF card and AUX line options.

One of the greatest balancing acts required for enjoying the great outdoors is getting enough but not too much direct sunlight, and there are plenty of gift options to assist with this. Consider Supergoop! Glow Stick Sunscreen SPF 50, COOLA Organic SPF 30 Makeup Setting Sunscreen Spray, Coolibar's Sun Blanket with a UPF 50+ that doubles as a wrap in an array of stunning colors, the Instant Sun Shade from Hammacher Schlemmer that is a portable umbrella with a telescoping pole which sets up quickly for instant shade on the beach, at the campsite or along any youth sports sidelines as well as Herbivore Botanicals' After Sun Skin Soothing Aloe Mist.

As a big fan of fun, festive, upbeat tunes, I firmly believe that being outdoors is made much better with some great music, and the SunnyLIFE Portable Beach MP3 Speaker with AM/FM Radio and Smartphone Holder is an ideal addition to anyone's beach supplies. Its fabulous greenery pattern simply screams spring, summer and time by the ocean, soaking up some sun.

Many of my friends and family members who prefer the great outdoors enjoy an adult beverage while out hiking, camping or simply spending an afternoon over a picnic in the park. While all 25 ounce S'well Bottles will hold a full bottle of wine, it is the BottleKeeper that works best for beer-loving folks.

Similar to the balancing act regarding sunshine, there's an equally pressing battle against rain, snow, sleet and any other water element falling from the sky. The RainScarf is a reversible scarf that includes a waterproof hood, 2 pockets and a generous length of soft, comfortable protection, all of which is machine washable so upkeep is so easy. The RAINAWAY™️Double-Layer Reverse Umbrella closes inside-out, which prevents it from getting blown out, destroyed or leaving puddles and water marks wherever it gets placed indoors. Further, TheEcoDryer® Floor Dryer with Sanafor® is a non-electric shortcut for drying gloves, mittens, boots, shoes, hats and wet garments, which works particularly well drying items overnight after a busy day sledding or building snowmen.

Handmade by Tilley Endurables, The Better Winter Hat protects against wind, rain and snow while horseback riding, canoeing or working outdoors. This phenomenal hat is handsewn with lock-stitch seams from a lightweight technical fabric blending Merino wool, polyester and polyurethane. A windproof membrane laminated to the interior reacts to changing temperatures, keeping the wearer warm in cool weather and comfortable when the temperature rises. The interior crown has a layer of closed-cell foam for insulation and comfort while knit earflaps extend from either side or easily tuck away for storage.

Lastly, no matter why your loved one is headed out into the cold, you can help with Ravean Heated Down Jackets and Gloves, allowing the wearer to control the temperature whenever and wherever needed. Plus, the same cord that heats the jacket can charge a mobile device, making sure no one suffers from a dead battery when hiking through the woods or skiing down a black mountain hill. As an addition or alternative, consider the EnergyFlux Enduro Rechargeable Hand Warmer, which doubles as a USB portable charger power bank to make sure your hands stay warm while keeping your mobile device charged, and it includes a built-in flashlight as an added bonus.

For Your Significant Other:

Whether you're newly dating, someone who's been dating the same person for years, a newlywed or in a couple that is celebrating 50 years of matrimony, making time for one another is imperative, but it's easy for other priorities to supersede that time commitment, resting on the fact that the other person in your relationship will still be there when things calm down in other areas of life. Plus, when you do make a commitment to a weekly date night, it's easy for ideas to get stale. Proactively keep things fresh by gifting your partner the Date Night Bucket List from uncommongoods, which offers date night-invigorating prompts printed on a cute collection of birch wood sticks, running the gamut from romantic to intellectually stimulating. Or consider Bonding Bees' subscription of date night boxes, which offer unique activities, custom-made games and awesome products to help you connect, have fun and delve into new experiences together.

Meeting the Needs of Babies, Children and Teenagers along with Their Parents:

With nieces and nephews that range in age from 3 to 31 years in age, I am a big believer in the power of getting up, moving around and being active. It's good for physical health, but it also helps connect people, creates positive energy and aides in staying active as "activity breeds activity". Two of my favorite gifts for achieving the goal of getting young folks moving are Little Tikes® Pogo-It, Kidzlane Light Up Dance Mat and ROXs Real Life Gaming Console Kids Active Play Set.

Equally important to incorporating movement into play, I believe, is including creative crafts, coloring and hands-on experiments. Pinhole Press creates beautiful, customized, photo gifts, many of which help engage kids in activities to bring the entire family together. Likewise, Seedling offers gobs and gobs of fun and unique activities, like the Galaxy Rocket Adventure Cape Costume Kit, Design Your Own Marble Maze Virtual Reality Game and Disney's Alice Through the Looking Glass Clock Kit. The Sensors Alive STEM experiment kit brings physics to life with a pretend bioengineering lab inside a game, which is super cool. Still, sometimes, kids simply want to draw, but there's extra energy that will need an outlet; for those instances, consider ArtCreativity 13" Flexible Bendy Pencils, which are fun, functional, long, bendable, writing pencils. Finally, consider Sculptapalooza Sculpting Party Game for teams to race against the clock in sculpting their way through hilarious challenges that create laugh-out-loud family fun.

Ice cream is a winning dessert year-round, which makes Prepara Super Scooper Kids Ice Cream Scoops a great fit for kids of all ages. The set of four scoopers comes in an assortment of colors, and it's easy to add some sprinkles atop the smaller portion for a special treat.

The 2-in-1 Travel Booster Seat by CarGo Seat goes from colorful carry-on bag to car seat seamlessly, making it an empowering addition for little travelers to pack and roll their own suitcase, which fits in most overhead compartments and eases the hectivity of a trip to visit relatives or vacation.

If you're buying for a newborn baby or the parent of an upcoming arrival, consider the VTech Video Baby Monitor with 4.3" Screen, which has a portable parent unit that enables viewing live footage within 1,000 feet of the camera and has a built-in intercom for two-way communication. Another option is the Milk Boss Infant Feeding Pillow from Itzy Ritzy, which provides infant feeding support, a burping pillow and an arm cushion all in one, soft solution. It is ideal for positioning the baby at the perfect angle while bottle feeding or breastfeeding to help reduce the chance of reflux or gas; then, when feeding is over, it acts as a rest for baby while on his or her tummy getting burped. The Milk Boss is firm enough to improve the caregiver's posture while holding or feeding the baby and also helps to prevent strained arms from feeding or cradling; plus, its compact size makes it ideal for use while out running errands, traveling or visiting others. Simply slide it on or off the arm as needed.

The Knot Genie™️Detangling Brush was created for every mom that has endured the foot stomping and screaming matches that come from brushing children's hair. With this tool, even the curliest, most knotted up hair will practically slip through the unique bristle configuration, gently and painlessly, virtually stopping breakage and split ends.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 film camera is simple to use so anyone (including that hard to buy for tween on your list) can easily achieve crystal clear, vibrant photos in no time, including built-in flash and a fun, colorful package. With the available accessories bundle, you add to the camera 2 instant film 20-packs, camera case with adjustable strap, 64-photo album, selfie lens, 4 colored filters, 10 hanging frames, 10 clips, 60 sticker frames, 5 plastic stand-up frames and a microfiber cleaning cloth.

Any budding artist on your shopping list will love My Comic Book Kit, which contains everything needed to turn original comic book drawings into a bound book. It includes a booklet of instructions, inspiration and helpful tips. Once your gift recipient's illustrated story is complete, it gets sealed in the pre-paid envelope and slipped in the mail; shortly thereafter, a professionally-bound copy of taht original comic book will be sent back, complete with an "About the Author" page.

Give The Gift of Better Living

Feel free to utilize these ideas for the holidays or throughout the entire new year. There are plenty of opportunities for gift giving, including birthdays, thank yous and so many different types of celebrations. Still, since it is hard to go wrong with gift cards and gift certificates, keep in mind options like Cardpool, Gift Card Granny, Gyft or Raise to buy, send, organize and redeem discounted gift cards while the Yiftee app will let you send certificates for what's local to any recipient via text or email.

Keep in mind the value of giving experiences. Depending on your recipient's interests, there are so many options: tickets to sports events, theater productions, food tours, art exhibits, special events at museums, airline travel vouchers, zoo passes and spa packages. Or you might want to consider restaurant gift certificates or gift cards to hotels in cities that might be of interest. Sometimes, though, the greatest value is in giving your own time, like to help with childcare while your gift recipients go out for a date night or to jump in on some household chores that are tasks you really enjoy.

I recommend culling together all your gift-giving ideas, what you've bought from whom, where each present is stored and whether it has been wrapped thus far. I'm a big fan of Evernote to organize these details amidst all the other information I must remember; however, if your information is primarily based in G Suite, you might want to consider Google Keep, and, if your information is primarily in Microsoft's tools, it might be best to use OneNote. Alternatively, if you are seeking an app designated for tracking only your gift-giving activities, The Christmas List, Gifted and GiftPlanner are excellent iOS options while Christmas List Gift Planner is equally good for Android, and Christmas List works cross-platform.

Above all, realize there are 12 days until Hanukkah and 35 days until Christmas; there's plenty of time to pull together all the loose ends. Take a deep breath, remember to take care of yourself amidst the craziness, break the big projects down into manageable action items and see what resources can help. You can stay sane while addressing all your priorities.

Finally, make sure you are getting the best deal possible. If you are shopping in stores, you can compare prices with the BuyVia and Flipp apps; if you are shopping online, use Amazon Assistant, camelcamelcamel, Coupons.com, Honey, PromotionCode, RetailMeNot and SlickDeals to find ways of saving money instantly. Plus, with Ebates, you can earn cash back by shopping at the stores you love while seeing the best coupons and deals available.

What gifts do you have in mind to help your loved ones boost productivity, squeeze every minute out of the day, limit clutter and best craft the life they desire? What are your go-to gifts that are functional for those on your list of gift recipients? I am always looking for more ideas!