Hello Friends!
We survived January!! It might very well have been the darkest January on record, but that’s okay – I am working on my hibernation skills! 🙂
I followed through on meditating every morning over the past 5 weeks and I have to say, it really has made a difference! I feel like there’s not quite so much pressure on my chest anymore, and I think I might be a teeeeeny bit more focused. I’ve started to really look forward to getting up and meditating. Never thought I’d say that!
Sensory Rest
After reading the article on 7 types of rest, I recognized just how much I was craving sensory rest. Between virtual meetings, scrolling on my phone, and occasionally watching TV with my kids, life is pretty much *always* in front a screen these days!! And that is killing me.
So I took the plunge and ordered myself a new iPad – with the intention of moving all of my social media apps off my phone and onto the iPad. The goal? Reduce mindless scrolling!!
And it has really worked! I’m on my phone far less, and am only on social media intentionally. It’s been a simple yet very effective change!
With the result that I have read way more books!!
Putting my reading & meditation corner to good use!
I am so happy with my new corner. And with the time I’ve gained from not being on my phone/social media so much, I’ve got to spend more time here indulging in some good books!
Here are some of the highlights:
Untamed, by Glennon Doyle
This was recommended to me by a very diverse group of people, and my lovely sister-in-law got it for me for Christmas. I really wanted to love it! And there were parts that really did speak to me. The concept – that women are “tamed” so that we keep society functioning with our selfless ways – is spot on. But I wasn’t crazy about the delivery. It was a bit too cliche for my liking. (Remember how I didn’t love Elizabeth Gilbert’s City of Girls this summer? Not surprised to discover that Doyle and Gilbert are BFFs!) The message IS great though, and I think the book is worth a read.
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
Everywhere I turned in December, this book was being touted as a top 10 of the year. It is set in Dublin in 1918 during the Spanish Flu epidemic, and the story is told over 3 days. It was a very different writing style – none of the dialogue had quotation marks for example, which took a bit of getting used to – but it was so engrossing! I was hooked right away. Donoghue’s writing style is marvellous. The story is not particularly happy, but it’s brilliantly narrated and compelling nonetheless. Makes me very glad to be living with 21st medicine! Really loved this story, even if there was no happy end.
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
If you’re looking for diversity, you’ve found it here. An autistic protagonist and his Vietnamese immigrant family in California.
If you’re looking for steamy romance, this is it too. Absolutely not literature. Frankly I’d love to say I hated it (I did hate 50 Shades of Grey!!) but I devoured it!
I’m moving back into non-fiction now, so that’ll be in the line-up next time!
How are you doing??*
I am someone who believes very strongly in the power of awareness, self-reflection, and acknowledging our emotions. Finding the balance – both in my professional life with my executive coaching clients, as well as in my personal life – of discussing feelings these days with the fatigue we all have around the global pandemic and a situation over which we have little control has been quite challenging.
But as I *am* a proponent of emotions as data, I found this article on the challenges of Lockdown quite helpful. It is a relief to hear that one is not alone in feeling the way we do, and to have those feelings explained scientifically.
The Soul-led Leaders podcast episode on Lockdown Burnout was also a really good listen on this topic.
I am finding in my coaching that people are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to talk about how they are really feeling. Not to have to put up a facade of productivity and pretend that all is well. This Harvard Business Review article about the surprising power of real talk is something I’ve been suggesting for months. It doesn’t mean everyone is going to collapse into complaining and tears, only that there is power and strength in real conversations.
And speaking of real conversations, remember that meme about how “I just survived another meeting that could have been an email”? Loved this article about how to optimize meetings. Ask a Manager is an absolute treasure trove of information and advice on work-related topics, and I think she’s really hit the nail on the head here! In this virtual world of working from home, not every conversation needs to be a scheduled meeting!
* Not meant in the Joey Tribbiani way! 😉
I’d love to know which – if any – of these resources spoke to you! And please do feel free to share this with others!
Hope you are finding time to read, to have a few real conversations, and to have a laugh or two!
Have a fab weekend!
Hugs,