Inspiration

Every week on Friday, I share a list of the most interesting and inspiring content I’ve read lately here on my blog. You can expect thoughts on productivity, happiness, balance, spirituality, politics, and more. Subscribe here to get updates. See archives here.

I think it’s funny that Canada is framed as super boring in this article, but I suppose that our practicality stands in stark contrast to the sensationalism of politics in places like the States. Still a great article and I’m a fan of Nicholas Kristof (his book A Path Appears with his wife Sheryl WuDunn was excellent).

This week I heard the term “blackfishing” for the first time and: ugh. I think this is a great analysis as to why pop stars like Ariana Grande trying to make themselves seem more “exotic” is problematic.

A very in-depth analysis of what it means to take a digital detox and various strategies for doing so. I liked these ideas a lot.

It’s always fun when you read about a concept that you realize you were already kind of applying in your life without knowing what it was. Turns out, I am a big fan of hacking hedonic adaptation! Here’s more about what that is and how to be more intentional about it.

I’ve been a huge fan of Marie Kondo since I read her book back in 2015, and apparently live in a bubble because all of the coverage I’ve seen about her new show has been positive. But that is not the case in other bubbles of the internet, which I find disturbing. This is a great article about the latent racism inherent in many critiques of her work.

This article gives me the shivers, and not in a good way. This is a big part of why I try to resist the (very strong) siren song of integrating more technology into my life, despite my love for it. It’s a dangerous beast! “Instead of our devices being a distraction from our relationships, our relationships seem to be a distraction from our devices.”

I tried out this vegan recipe for ‘butter’ cauliflower this week and it was so delicious! I still have to perfect the flavours, but will be making again for sure.

Last thing from me, I’m so excited to be launching a new resource over on my business blog: my signature Dropping In Questionnaire. I send this to all my clients to help them reflect on the gaps & opportunities in their specific businesses and help them draw a map to where they want to go. And now it’s a free resource for you, too, if you’re interested! Check it out here. PS. If you’re already on my *business* email list, I’ll be sending it out to you on Monday, so no need to opt in again!

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This week flew! We had one snow day this week which I technically did not take off but definitely used it as an excuse to not go outside in the blizzard! But lots of fun things going on work-wise, including finalizing the questionnaire mentioned above, and starting work on my Inbox Zero online course. I’ve been working on the slides all week and it’s going to be so great, I can feel it. This weekend I’m getting together with a few of my girlfriends and then going home for a family day together. I hope you have a wonderful weekend too! xo.

Every week on Friday, I share a list of the most interesting and inspiring content I’ve read lately here on my blog. You can expect thoughts on productivity, happiness, balance, spirituality, politics, and more. Subscribe here to get updates. See archives here.

Always love revisiting this comic about how emotional labour plays out in households.

So much great information here about the marketing strategies Paul Jarvis used to launch his new book. Very interesting and inspiring.

Thoughts on surviving our brave new world of technology using mindfulness & slowness, from the New York Times.

Feeling overwhelmed? I liked this definition of overwhelm and the tool he’s proposing to deal with it.

Fellow Canadians, last weekend when I was sick in bed with a stomach bug I treated myself (a whole $4.19) to an OutTV Go subscription for the month so I can watch all the RuPaul’s Drag Race I want! Highly recommend. Not an affiliate link (I wish).

Toronto folks, I went to The Love (Actually) Exhibition at the Gladstone hotel last night and left with a full heart. It’s a curated collection of heart-warming wedding moments, and it’s lovely.

In case you missed it, I interviewed my friend Kathryn Bondy on the podcast this week. She’s so thoughtful and inspiring and I loved learning more about her creative process.

In podcast-related news, I got a link that sends people straight to leave a review! Handy, right? If you feel like it, you can use it right here.

The art pictured above is by Laura Fraser Lettering. You can learn more about it here!

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Wow, it feels good to be feeling good again. I am finally over my weird bout of sicknesses, sleeping through the night again, and getting my energy back. That’s a good feeling, and I am committed to keeping it that way! My prescription to myself is lots of rest, lots of quiet, lots of downtime. This weekend I’m heading up to a friend’s cottage with a few girlfriends and am looking forward to being out of the city. I am also bringing Bananagrams and a lot of books. I hope you have a wonderful weekend too! xo.

Every week on Friday, I share a list of the most interesting and inspiring content I’ve read lately here on my blog. You can expect thoughts on productivity, happiness, balance, spirituality, politics, and more. Subscribe here to get updates. See archives here.

As you may have seen on my Instagram stories the other day, Laura introduced me to the Harry Potter sound mixer this week, which is just hilarious and delightful. I am currently re-reading the series and listening to Binge Mode alongside, and it’s bringing me a lot of joy.

A particularly excellent and moving Ask Polly column. Bless Heather Havrilesky, that’s all. “All you have to be is a human being. That’s success. When you’re a human being, life feels satisfying. Everything adds up. Every little thing matters.”

In the midst of a particularly brutal weather week here in Toronto, I found these pictures funny and whimsical.

Sarah does it again with this amazing article about how to get what you want by asking for it. I love how she gets specific about her own goals and makes specific asks. So good!

I really liked this piece about NOT planning your life so much. “When I erased the timeline of where I should be, I was able to enjoy where I currently am.”

Spoiler alert: you have SO MUCH TIME. You are SO YOUNG.

I always like reading about other people’s financial habits, and revisiting this article reminded me of how much I like to be frugal about some things and why that’s a good thing. 

In case you missed it, I’ve started another newsletter for my small business! In every issue I share a helpful article, what I’m reading, a project I’m working on, and something I was inspired by lately. If you’re a solopreneur or side hustler, I think you’ll like it a lot! You can sign up here.

This week on the podcast, I’m talking about one of my very favourite reframing techniques for when hard things happen. You can listen right here, and subscribe here!

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No Inspiration post last week because: a) I was battling a bad head cold that had me in bed for a few days, and b) I actually forgot what day it was, because of getting back from New York! But I’m feeling almost back to normal and definitely aware of the date, so I’m happy to be back at it. This weekend I’m going to be catching up on my sleep and my reading, and spending some time with my baby sister who just moved to Toronto! I hope you have a wonderful weekend too. xo.

Every week on Friday, I share a list of the most interesting and inspiring content I’ve read lately here on my blog. You can expect thoughts on productivity, happiness, balance, spirituality, politics, and more. Subscribe here to get updates. See archives here.

Absolutely adored Jocelyn K. Glei’s defense of being ‘inefficient’ and why that’s where her source of true creativity lies. Such an interesting meditation on creativity in general.

Well this is just pure delight, is it not?

I haven’t actually used this yet, but it looks extremely helpful, especially if you’ve ever tried to remove a background in Photoshop before – that ish is tedious!

Always obsessed with Sarah’s posts about saving money for the things we really and truly care about instead of thinking we need to spend it on everything all the time. This one was particularly thought-provoking.

I’m currently reading A Life Less Throwaway: The Lost Art of Buying for Life, and it’s got me all fired up to invest in things and be more careful about my possessions. The website the book is based on looks so helpful & useful.

I was inspired by my own decision this week to delete tons of episodes from my podcast queue. I’d fallen behind over the holidays and was starting to feel stressed out by all the podcasts I had to catch up on…which is crazy! Podcasts are for fun and for learning. So I deleted every episode that I didn’t feel excited about, and I feel way better. I use Overcast for all my podcasting needs, and it’s amazing.

In case you missed it, this week I posted all my 2019 goals and intentions based around my word of the year, Energy. You can see them here!

This week I’m talking about identity-based habits on the podcast this week and learning how to create new and better identities for myself.

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I’m so excited to be writing this right before I get on a plane to New York to see my bestie Katie! Normally I go in the summertime, but we realized that meant a huge gap between visits, so instead I’m taking a ‘working holiday’ to hang out, eat frozen appetizers, watch Gilmore Girls, go to a drag brunch and hang out at the spa. It’s going to be an incredible time despite the blustery cold that they’re expecting, and I can’t wait to spend some quality time with a friend I don’t see often enough. I hope you have a wonderful weekend too! xo.