“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” 💫 ~Carl Sagan
The tiniest systems can make the biggest difference (#423)
This week…my body has been like…nope.
Summer allergies are hitting differently this year, then I got this weird throat thing that had the doctors going “it’s not strep but we’re treating it like strep anyway” 🤷🏾♀️. I’m low-key wondering if maybe this is my version of long COVID…
But hey, I’m getting through it - slowly but surely. And while it’s slowing me down some, it sparked an idea I’d had tucked away for a rainy day.
I think it’ll make things easier for Future Jess, and maybe for you too.
Introducing: Side Hustle A to Z ✨
I’m kicking off a new mini-series where each week, I’ll share a tip tied to a letter of the alphabet. Nothing fancy. Nothing overwhelming. Just small, doable ways to make your side hustle life a little lighter.
(The idea came from a Google Tools A to Z resource and I thought that it’d be fun to create a side hustle version. Don’t you love when inspiration sneaks up on you like that?)
There are 26 letters and 26-ish weeks left in the year. Perfect timing, right?
This week: A is for Automate 🔁
Maybe it’s because I grew up loving The Jetsons, but I’ve always been into anything that makes life feel more automated in a good way.
Think “set it and forget it” energy. A system quietly handling a task so you don’t have to - aside from the occasional check-in to make sure it’s still doing its thing. Yes, please.
Here are a few of my go-to automations:
Sanebox sorts all my newsletters into a separate folder, so only the important stuff hits my inbox.
Amazon’s Subscribe & Save delivers Ensure for grandma (and some other helpful household purchases) every other week. One less thing to stress about when it comes to caregiving.
Bonus: Alexa even reminds me when something might be running low.
Buffer lets me schedule LinkedIn posts when I’m feeling creative, so they go out while I’m working or resting.
Autopay for most of my bills, because why not?
Related: you can automate savings + prescription refills too!
Text replacement on my phone/laptop: as an example, when I type `zadd`, it auto-magically fills in my full address. (Here’s a 43-second video on how to set it up for iPhone.)
These little systems make me feel like I’ve got a tiny team behind me, even when it’s just me and my to-do list.
The tiniest automations can make a surprisingly big difference. They save your energy for the stuff that really matters: your ideas, your people, and your rest.
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💬 What’s something you find yourself doing over and over again that makes you think “There has to be a better way”?
Let’s brainstorm in the comments!
Or reply and tell me your favorite automation in life, business, or caregiving. Whatever makes things easier for you. I’d love to hear it.
On to the picks!
P.S. Thank you for being here, especially when things feel foggy, messy, or slower than you’d like. One letter at a time. One baby step at a time. That’s the way we do tihngs around here.
Note: This email may contain affiliate links. If you click through my link and make a purchase, I may receive “thank you money” at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that I use and love.
#sidechat 💬
We have come to the end of the Substack Chat experiment! What do we think?
#picks 😍
A few gems for your weekend scroll…
🎬. Echo Valley. This new thriller with Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney starts off quiet, and then whoa. (They both seem to be having a moment right now.) I watched it on a slow Saturday morning in bed with my cereal, and it was the perfect little escape. Suspenseful, twisty, and a reminder that we all need a friend like Les in our corner.
👵🏾 . This Kick-Arse Granny guide is giving "future me” vibes. It’s all about the everyday movements we’ll want to keep doing in our 80s (like dancing, lifting groceries, or opening jars). I’ve been thinking more about who might care for me one day, and I want to stay as mobile and independent as possible as long as I can. I’ve started doing 10-minute yoga sessions, and this has given me even more motivation to keep going.
✨. This is your invitation to remember who you are. Reading this felt like a hug and a mirror. If you’ve ever felt like you used to shine a little brighter, this is your reminder that the light is still there. Tuck it away for a day when you need it. 💖
#icymi
😍. Last issue’s top pick: Let's Cancel the Subscriptions You Forgot You Had
#classifieds 🗞
📧. Weekly email templates + simple strategy to help you write with ease (and hit send every week). Just $9/month. Make email work for you.
🎙️. Side hustle tip: Use Voicenotes to brain dump out loud. It transcribes as you talk, so you can come back later and organize it all.
🚀. You’ve got content. You’ve got ideas. Christine’s book is your guide to turning all that into a course that sells. A solid next step if you’re ready to earn online.
(like these? let’s partner up!)
#lifevibes
#supporters ☕️
Thank you, Kelly, Melinda, Tawanna, Gia, Lori, Ayana, Krista, Jessica, Annetta, Constance, Tunde, Jen, Michelle, Emile, Bex, Kim, Angela G., Lauren B., Chelsea, Amy, Ricky, Kirsten, Vin, Julie, Nicole, Hmza, Greg, Kristin, Kirstyn, Jess, Cheryl, Krysta, Adrena, Vidya, Kristyn, Danielle, Keyn, Terry, Vanessa, Meredith, Lauren, Meg, Maria J., Chivon, Kim, Luciano, Colie, Chasity, Laurie, Latienda, Collette, Anne, Kristen, Liz, Katherine, Monale, Betsy, Melissa, Lindsay, Jennifer, Kayla, Madison, Rae, Stephanie, Christine R., Christine M., Frances, Hannah, Chris, Brandy, Mea, Kristian, Maria K., Avery, Adam, Barbara, Shenee, Desiree, Lisa, Kandice, L’Oreal, and LaVerne for being #jesspicks supporters!! ❤️