“My self must come first. It’s not an option. It’s a priority.” ~Jolie A. Doggett
Shout out to Vanessa Flowers for buying me coffee this past week! ☕️
Vanessa is an amazing social media strategist and community organizer. She is the founder of Flower Girls Meet, a community that brings professional women together to enjoy authentic conversations about the workplace, mental health, and what it means to be a woman today.
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There is absolutely nothing that can dampen my mood for at least the next few days after seeing this tweet the other night (thx Cali!). It is such an incredible honor to be included on this list (thx Meredith for the wonderful comments!) and have #jesspicks recognized alongside many newsletters that inspire me.
Thank you for reading and sharing and replying and for all of the support. I couldn’t do what I do every week without you, and it would be tough to keep going. So I’m sending so much gratitude and virtual hugs your way. 💖
It’s such a spot of good news as we acknowledge the pandemic anniversary. And there is a lot of hope out there and fear, nervousness, and anxiety about the “after.” What does life after the pandemic look like?
I, for one, can’t wrap my head around the amount of going I did pre-pandemic. Like how did I do ALL of those things? And I’m in no hurry to get back to that life, at all. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m looking forward to going to the theater again and concerts (when it’s safe), but I would love not to be as busy as before. So that’s something I want to let simmer while the world slowly reopens.
The call to rest is loud in my world. And I started by taking a couple of days off work. Even scheduling that on my calendar changed my mood so much. Spending time in the sun this week has been glorious and a great way to recharge my batteries. I’m also experimenting with a new musical meditation (more in the #loves section) and feeling good about that. All in all, I’m trying to bring more ease into my life.
I read this in Mara Glazel’s newsletter, and it seems like the perfect sentiment to end on:
“Even if it feels impossible, you get to choose to carve out moments to breathe, ground, look at yourself in the mirror with love in your eyes, and prioritize whatever makes you feel whole. That ONE MINUTE of care is infinitely better than nothing. That it doesn’t have to be perfect in order to feel really, really good.”
How can you take one minute to care for yourself today?
On to the picks!
P.S. ICYMI, I’m doing a free workshop about getting better at promoting yourself and celebrating your accomplishments next Thursday. Details here.
P.P.S. Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead tomorrow morning! 😉
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#loves 😍
🗣 Tool: Voxer. I’ve been trialing a new 1:1 coaching offer this week, and this tool makes it super easy. It essentially turns your phone into a walkie-talkie. And you can do text and audio messages back and forth with another person. I never thought of using a tool this way until I took this free training. But I’m a fan. What I love about it is that it’s a way to do and get coaching without having to be on video. You can provide lots of value in a creative way that works for your busy lifestyle.
🧘🏾♀️ Listening/Doing: Chorus Meditation. Those who know me know that I find meditation very difficult and have found other ways to find mindfulness, like reading or working on jigsaw puzzles. Well, I saw an ad saying something like, “meditation could be musical,” and I immediately signed up for a free trial. There is a 3 part breath that we practice along to the music. It’s social, fun, and gives you tingles. I have only done one live class so far, but I loved it. And two on-demand ones, which were also great. It’s “meditation, kinda .” 😉
📚 Reading: Do Less: A Revolutionary Approach to Time and Energy Management for Ambitious Women. This book talks about creating more presence and meaning in your life by doing less. And also debunks this idea that our worth is tied to our productivity. 🤯 I’m already curious about Kate’s idea of planning some of your work around the phases of your menstrual cycle.
#reads
How to Ace Your Side-Hustle When You Have a Full-Time Job — medium.com
“You can ace side hustles without losing your soul.”
Niharikaa has some great takeaways for side hustlers in this post:
Navigate the employed vs. freelance rut. Don’t worry about the outcome and taking your side-hustle full time. In the beginning, focus on creating, making, shipping.
You are allowed to be busy and lazy. This is my favorite tip of the four. It is so important to rest. We are already working 8-9 hours for someone else and then putting some hours on top of that every day. Make time for self-care, so you don’t burnout.
Set your goals. So you have something to work towards. And a goal could be something as simple as publishing a newsletter every week.
Your passion may not be your business interest. It is okay to have hobbies, things that we enjoy without monetizing them.
My Morning Routine Is the Most Important Part of My Day — zora.medium.com
If you are curious about where this week's subject quote came from, it's this article here.
Jolie had me nodding along to everything she was saying:
“When I just jump out of bed and go straight to my desk, I’m irritable and sloppy, and I actually end up getting less done than I would have if I had just taken some time to make myself some breakfast and go for a walk to clear my head before starting the day.”
It is OK to take that time for ourselves. It is OK to put our needs first. The work will still get done.
Tip: LT in the City newsletter
#icymi
😍 Last issue’s top pick was: Stop Wasting Your Creative Time and Energy Producing Social Media Posts for Your Content
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