Breaking workouts into micro-doses just unlocked something in my brain. Why have I been torturing myself with 60-minute death sessions when I could just scatter them like snacks?
also One product at a time is such a mood. My bathroom shelf looks like Sephora exploded. Picking one bottle might stop me from living in skincare purgatory.”
And also Flynn could totally pull off a dapper little pumpkin with a velvet stem hat, and Suki? She’s giving “chili pepper diva” energy something red, sparkly, and slightly chaotic. Or maybe go full cozy-core, Flynn in a caramel latte getup, Suki as a cinnamon roll with a soft swirl hood.
please buy the costumes and report back I need to live vicariously through their Halloween debut. 😉
Haha, thanks, Cynthia! I’m glad you enjoyed this! And yes, I definitely recommend micro-dosing exercise. Obviously, I’m not an expert, but it’s working for me! 🤣
I feel you about the Sephora explosion! I am in the same sorry state 😬
I LOVE these Halloween costume ideas! I was already thinking pumpkin for Flynn and maybe a bat for Suki… but she would make a lovely cinamon roll lol
Bite size chunks of things - cleaning, exercise, cooking prep - seem to make it easier for me to manage. I walk the dogs as my primary exercise, but on each walk, try to spend some of it going faster than my normal doddle.
I really don't like cooking and prepping the evening meal hangs over me. But it reduces the friction if I get out the ingredients straight after lunch (unless freshness is key, in which case they stay in the fridge) and keep them together on the worktop. Also, I may do a bit of prepping, like chopping veg and then leaving it boxed in the fridge, or washing fresh herbs. So simple but it really does make a difference.
Ooo, yes, I really feel you on this, Miranda. I enjoy cooking sometimes, but often I just feel too tired! I’m a big fan of making enough dinner to also use for lunch the next day, so I’m only really cooking once a day.
Prepping helps, too! I really hate chopping, so if I can do it all in one batch that makes my week a LOT easier!
I work from home, and one promise I made to myself was to get outside for a walk every day. Since then, I’ve stopped spending my whole Sunday cleaning and doing laundry. Now I do laundry on Friday mornings and finish the rest of the cleaning on Mondays. I like starting the week with a clean, fresh-smelling house—and it means my weekends are totally chore-free.
Books and reading, though, are another story. My TBR stacks keep multiplying because I can’t stop buying new books. But hey, I do read them too! At the start of the year, I promised myself I’d write something after finishing each book… but I’ve definitely been slacking on that part lately.
Here’s to keeping the balance and catching up on those book notes one day soon! 🫣
Ahhh, Lúcia, I feel you on all of this!! I like your idea of making Friday and Monday cleaning days. My brain usually turns to mush by Friday anyway, so I don’t get as much work done as I’d like! And agree… starting the week with a clean house makes such a difference!
Oh, I also have a real problem with my TBR pile and the constant urge to buy books. I could do with finding a more ‘scheduled’ time to read.
I like your idea to write something after each book! Would you write about what you read, or something else? xxx
I have a note book where I just write my thoughts about the book. It helps me to understand better what I just read. And sometimes I turn my notes into posts 😊
I also break up my exercise time. If I’m facing a long workout, I’ll find a thousand ways to avoid it. But break it into bite-size pieces and I get it done.
Yes! That’s exactly it! If I break it into ten-minute chunks, I really can’t make an excuse not to get it done! And I think it also helps my brain to have extra breaks throughout the day!
This was really inspiring! Bite-sized really is the key. Making things "routine" is one of my favorite tricks. Once "musts" are habit, they kind of just get done. When I wake up to tackle the musts before all else, I like to think of the Buddhist mantra "gather sticks, carry water" which were (and still are) the musts in some rural monasteries every morning. There is a beauty to these tasks that support life when they become routine! <3
Mine are similar Emma! Drink water, make the bed and open all the shades, check in with my husband who is up at early dawn (before me) working at his desk, make tea, check the calendar and plot the day...and when I had cats their needs always came before mine. 🤣
We have VERY similar mornings! My husband is always up before me, too, though he’s not currently working from home. I can’t wait until he has a home studio (we’re working on making one for him) because I hate waking up to him already being gone!
Love this post! First, I’m never going to talk you out of a Halloween costume for the pups as I have that problem as well 🤣. I loved the last strategy you spoke to. I’m a big reader and I love read fiction fantasy but also personal development. I find myself in fantasy holes that I love but with a long tbr of nonfiction that builds up. It’s almost a blessing and a curse because I love that I have the time and joy to read but I get a little anxious when the development ones get put to the side because of my craving for fantasy or romance stories. I think going back and forth or at least working them in when I’m finished with a series at a natural pause! Thank you for the post!
OMG Rosemary, I just looked at your profile page and your dogs are SO cute! What are their names? What ideas do you have for Halloween costumes? For mine, I’m thinking little red riding hood and ‘grandma’ lol
Yes, I relate to that! And I often find myself having the opposite problem. I totally prioritise the craft or research reading because it feels important, but then I get burnt out and won’t read for a while. So I realised I also need to prioritise the reading that gives me joy and inspires me! Otherwise, what’s the point in the research 🤣
I haven’t read many fantasy novels… what’s your fave?
Hello! Thank you! I'm obsessed with my pups just a little. Their names are Finkle, Einhorn, and Frieda. With the one that looks like a wolf, we actually did dress up like Little Red Riding Hood and the big bad wolf one year so that's awesome you were thinking something similar. We also have dressed like witches and wizards from Harry Potter and my big white fluffy dog dressed like a pumpkin once. Not sure what we should do this year though!
You have inspired me and I decided to start ready Worthy by Jamie Kern Lima before I start my next fantasy novel. I am definitely a fan of the popular Sara J Mass novels (the Crescent City Series is my favorite so far) and the Fourth Wing series. I recently read Quicksilver which has a second book coming out next month. That one was AMAZING and I highly recommend!!!!
Breaking workouts into micro-doses just unlocked something in my brain. Why have I been torturing myself with 60-minute death sessions when I could just scatter them like snacks?
also One product at a time is such a mood. My bathroom shelf looks like Sephora exploded. Picking one bottle might stop me from living in skincare purgatory.”
And also Flynn could totally pull off a dapper little pumpkin with a velvet stem hat, and Suki? She’s giving “chili pepper diva” energy something red, sparkly, and slightly chaotic. Or maybe go full cozy-core, Flynn in a caramel latte getup, Suki as a cinnamon roll with a soft swirl hood.
please buy the costumes and report back I need to live vicariously through their Halloween debut. 😉
Haha, thanks, Cynthia! I’m glad you enjoyed this! And yes, I definitely recommend micro-dosing exercise. Obviously, I’m not an expert, but it’s working for me! 🤣
I feel you about the Sephora explosion! I am in the same sorry state 😬
I LOVE these Halloween costume ideas! I was already thinking pumpkin for Flynn and maybe a bat for Suki… but she would make a lovely cinamon roll lol
Hahahahaha am glad you love my idea kudos to the pups in their Halloween costumes
haha thank you!
You welcome dear
Bite size chunks of things - cleaning, exercise, cooking prep - seem to make it easier for me to manage. I walk the dogs as my primary exercise, but on each walk, try to spend some of it going faster than my normal doddle.
Yes, bite-sized everything is the way to go!! It also keeps you moving throughout the day too, which is a plus.
I love your idea of incorporating faster bursts into your dog walks!
Thank you for your ideas 😃
Most refreshing insights 💕
Thanks, friend! How are you?
💐 Best wishes 💐
Thank you 🙏
I really don't like cooking and prepping the evening meal hangs over me. But it reduces the friction if I get out the ingredients straight after lunch (unless freshness is key, in which case they stay in the fridge) and keep them together on the worktop. Also, I may do a bit of prepping, like chopping veg and then leaving it boxed in the fridge, or washing fresh herbs. So simple but it really does make a difference.
Ooo, yes, I really feel you on this, Miranda. I enjoy cooking sometimes, but often I just feel too tired! I’m a big fan of making enough dinner to also use for lunch the next day, so I’m only really cooking once a day.
Prepping helps, too! I really hate chopping, so if I can do it all in one batch that makes my week a LOT easier!
I work from home, and one promise I made to myself was to get outside for a walk every day. Since then, I’ve stopped spending my whole Sunday cleaning and doing laundry. Now I do laundry on Friday mornings and finish the rest of the cleaning on Mondays. I like starting the week with a clean, fresh-smelling house—and it means my weekends are totally chore-free.
Books and reading, though, are another story. My TBR stacks keep multiplying because I can’t stop buying new books. But hey, I do read them too! At the start of the year, I promised myself I’d write something after finishing each book… but I’ve definitely been slacking on that part lately.
Here’s to keeping the balance and catching up on those book notes one day soon! 🫣
Ahhh, Lúcia, I feel you on all of this!! I like your idea of making Friday and Monday cleaning days. My brain usually turns to mush by Friday anyway, so I don’t get as much work done as I’d like! And agree… starting the week with a clean house makes such a difference!
Oh, I also have a real problem with my TBR pile and the constant urge to buy books. I could do with finding a more ‘scheduled’ time to read.
I like your idea to write something after each book! Would you write about what you read, or something else? xxx
I have a note book where I just write my thoughts about the book. It helps me to understand better what I just read. And sometimes I turn my notes into posts 😊
Oh that’s such a great idea! I was just looking at reading journals and trying to decide if I would use one. It seems like it would be helpful!
I also break up my exercise time. If I’m facing a long workout, I’ll find a thousand ways to avoid it. But break it into bite-size pieces and I get it done.
Yes! That’s exactly it! If I break it into ten-minute chunks, I really can’t make an excuse not to get it done! And I think it also helps my brain to have extra breaks throughout the day!
This was really inspiring! Bite-sized really is the key. Making things "routine" is one of my favorite tricks. Once "musts" are habit, they kind of just get done. When I wake up to tackle the musts before all else, I like to think of the Buddhist mantra "gather sticks, carry water" which were (and still are) the musts in some rural monasteries every morning. There is a beauty to these tasks that support life when they become routine! <3
Thanks, Stephanie! And I love that mantra, thank you for sharing.
What’s on your list of “musts” to tackle in the morning? For me, it’s walking the dogs, drinking tea and making the bed! 🤣
Mine are similar Emma! Drink water, make the bed and open all the shades, check in with my husband who is up at early dawn (before me) working at his desk, make tea, check the calendar and plot the day...and when I had cats their needs always came before mine. 🤣
We have VERY similar mornings! My husband is always up before me, too, though he’s not currently working from home. I can’t wait until he has a home studio (we’re working on making one for him) because I hate waking up to him already being gone!
Love this post! First, I’m never going to talk you out of a Halloween costume for the pups as I have that problem as well 🤣. I loved the last strategy you spoke to. I’m a big reader and I love read fiction fantasy but also personal development. I find myself in fantasy holes that I love but with a long tbr of nonfiction that builds up. It’s almost a blessing and a curse because I love that I have the time and joy to read but I get a little anxious when the development ones get put to the side because of my craving for fantasy or romance stories. I think going back and forth or at least working them in when I’m finished with a series at a natural pause! Thank you for the post!
OMG Rosemary, I just looked at your profile page and your dogs are SO cute! What are their names? What ideas do you have for Halloween costumes? For mine, I’m thinking little red riding hood and ‘grandma’ lol
Yes, I relate to that! And I often find myself having the opposite problem. I totally prioritise the craft or research reading because it feels important, but then I get burnt out and won’t read for a while. So I realised I also need to prioritise the reading that gives me joy and inspires me! Otherwise, what’s the point in the research 🤣
I haven’t read many fantasy novels… what’s your fave?
Hello! Thank you! I'm obsessed with my pups just a little. Their names are Finkle, Einhorn, and Frieda. With the one that looks like a wolf, we actually did dress up like Little Red Riding Hood and the big bad wolf one year so that's awesome you were thinking something similar. We also have dressed like witches and wizards from Harry Potter and my big white fluffy dog dressed like a pumpkin once. Not sure what we should do this year though!
You have inspired me and I decided to start ready Worthy by Jamie Kern Lima before I start my next fantasy novel. I am definitely a fan of the popular Sara J Mass novels (the Crescent City Series is my favorite so far) and the Fourth Wing series. I recently read Quicksilver which has a second book coming out next month. That one was AMAZING and I highly recommend!!!!
Aw, your pups’ names are soooo cute! And I love those Halloween costume ideas! I can just picture them all dressed up 🥲
Oo I will look into Quicksilver! That sounds fun 🤩
I hope you enjoy reading Worthy. You’ll have to let me know how it is! xx
I love all the tips here - thank you 🤩
Thanks, Jenny! And thanks for commenting! It really helps my page grow 🧡