Jessica's Friday Five: A $9 fix for lost bits + dessert instead of dinner sometimes
Published 4 days agoΒ β’Β 7 min read
Hi Reader,
I'm coming to you today with a bunch of tips I'm thrilled to share with you. At the same time, it's been a rough week. It's super warm weather where we live right now, and the AC we replaced less than a year ago with a quality system is somehow broken π₯΅. There's a ton of alarming things happening in my country's government as well that are clear moves towards authoritarianism.
When it all feels like too much, the thing to do is identify the next right thing you can do to help, however small. If you need ideas, consider using this super-cool GPT my friend Alexis built to chat for a few minutes. You can find suggestions on how to defend democracy with your available time, risk tolerance, and specific skills, or pick a teacher wishlist here and buy something for their classroom.
Now let's get to your Friday Five, okay?
Have Dessert Together: If you'd like to have a regular dinner with your spouse or family, but schedules make it tricky, consider changing up the approach. Dinner isn't a uniquely magical meal - the benefit you're likely going for could be accomplished at another time of day. Perhaps breakfast is the best meal of the day to bring everyone together around a table for food and conversation. Or, like my brilliant client Kaycee mentioned to me last week about her approach when there are evening work events: when she and her husband can't make dinner work, they plan to have dessert together later in the day. It's a nice, easy thing to look forward to during a busy season. β
Two Useful Products: Last week, my friend Jess lost her earring back in my driveway. I went to my closet and grabbed this little $9 box of amazingness that I use all the time when I need a replacement part for jewelry. It's one of the most useful things I've ever purchased - anyone who wears jewelry regularly would benefit from having this on hand. Second, I've become a huge fan of hypochlorous acid spray for tons of uses. I learned about it from dermatologists I follow on social media, and we're now using it in my house for cleaning cuts (they then heal incredibly fast), on my face after a workout, and in my armpits before deodorant on no-AC days (see above) to keep myself smelling fresh longer. I sent a bottle with my middle-schooler to help her stay fresh after her morning PE class at school. Wish I'd known about this product years ago. β
Weird Slack Policy: Did you know that Slack (the software company that makes an incredibly popular tool for workplace communication) gives its product for free to nonprofits? I love that policy! But there's a weird exception - if your nonprofit works in education, you don't qualify. So, nonprofits doing good work (like the Red Cross or Habitat for Humanity)? They're eligible. Those giving away school supplies or creating free curriculum to teach children to code, or leading workshops for families to help their child get into college? Those nonprofits have to pay (there's a discount, but it's still costly software). I find this policy bizarre, and as someone who pays for Slack in my professional life, I've been trying to find out more about the company values behind this choice. If you are also curious, I invite you to comment here on my post to see if we can get some answers, or drop an email to feedback@slack.com with your thoughts. β
Mindfulness Habit Tip: I love this tip from Somatic Coach & Mental Health Educator, Kim Jennings, MA, CPC: "Do you feel like you are rushing from one place to the next, looking for ways to find greater balance and ease? Do you commute to work, the gym, or carpool regularly? If so, try turning that moment when you are alone in the driveway into a Mindfulness Moment. Park the car, and before getting out, try setting a timer on your phone for 1 to 2 minutes and use that time to do a simple breathing exercise, or listen to a guided visualization. By linking your mindfulness habit to something that is already part of your routine, youβll have a regular cue to remind you to pause, breathe, and bring yourself into balance before heading off to the next activity." This idea of "stacking" a new habit with an existing one is supported by research and I hope it helps you! β
Doors Close Tonight: If you're thinking about joining Joyfully Managed Worklife, the 4-week program that starts in September to get more organized and less burnt out at work, you've only got the rest of today left before the doors close. Hit reply or chat live with me (blue button, bottom right) if you've got Qs today!
Bonus Sponsor Resource: It's time to get the Essential Calendar for fall or the school year. I have been using these for years, and it's invaluable to see the big picture of a few months at once. Of course, we all need digital calendars these days, but this is not a calendar you'd put all your meetings on - it serves a different purpose. Here, you put the bigger stuff like trips, days with no school, birthdays, and such. Our summer Essential Calendar was the go-to place where everyone in the fam could see what trips were happening, what summer camps kids were going to when, and when we were going to try to fit in various summer fun activities we wanted to prioritize. I pair this calendar with this teak magnetic frame and this erasable pen. Get these for a little extra delight, too. Use code JOYFULLYMANAGED for a discount! This resource is from one of our Friday Five sponsors - thank you to them for keeping this newsletter free for readers!
Last Friday's Most-Clicked Link:FabFitFun was the most clicked link last week! It appears you can still get the Fall box free with code BOGO, though I'm not sure how long that'll be active for.
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Two Useful Products Recommended Above
ONLY $9.99
Kate Blanc Cosmetics Hypochlorous Acid Spray for Face and Skin....
