My days are just a little bit full, between teaching university classes and local workshops, running an online tutoring company, blogging, serving on two local leadership teams, and trying to keep up with the activities and education of my children, sometimes I just get frazzled. I genuinely love what I do, but I sometimes have trouble keeping track of it all. As a working … [Read more...]
How to Organize your Back to School Schedule
It’s that time of year. The time when parents scurry around with lists of school supplies, go shopping for school clothes, and try to get organized for the new school year. The back to school season can be exciting as kids head to new classes and college students make the trip to campus, but it can also be a time of anxiety as we transition to a new schedule and adjust to all … [Read more...]
Getting Back to Nature for Restoration
A few weeks before my 18th birthday, my dad took my brother and me on a camping trip to the boundary waters of Minnesota (the boundary waters are a series of lakes between northern Minnesota and Canada). We loaded a Duluth pack (a large backpack) and a couple smaller backpacking packs with supplies and headed out in a canoe for a 6-day trip. We canoed through the lakes and … [Read more...]
Why I Canceled My Gym Membership
After years of gym membership, this summer I decided to cancel my membership in order to achieve better work-life balance. I know, I know, physical health and fitness is important. I agree. But I’m learning there is a way to stay active and include my work and family as well. Instead of compartmentalizing my fitness into its own category, I am integrating it into every aspect … [Read more...]
What the Pioneering Spirit Teaches Us about Innovation & Productivity
My kids and I enjoy reading together. This year we have been working our way through the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. While my kids are mainly interested in the adventures and experiences described by the pioneer girl, I have been struck by the lessons we can learn about innovation and productivity. 1. Making do with what they had: The pioneers … [Read more...]
The Secret to a Balanced Budget
We all have different attitudes toward money that shape how we spend it and what we spend it on. For instance, some people take the approach that we only live once so we should spend money to be as comfortable as possible and have as much fun as we can. Others are committed to living frugally and spend as little money as possible for living, trying to save as much as they can. … [Read more...]
What Legacy Are You Leaving?
The second habit described by Stephen Covey in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People says to “begin with the end in mind.” Thinking about what is important to us, what we want to be remembered for allows us to clarify our personal mission and direct our efforts to the areas that matter most. Taking this end-of-life perspective can help us understand how to focus our … [Read more...]
Stop Trying to Reinvent the Wheel
Doing something new can be a daunting endeavor. Whether we are taking on a new project, developing a fledgling idea, or simply learning to do a task we haven’t done before, trying something new can leave us feeling a bit overwhelmed. This is especially true if we are starting from scratch, trying to reinvent the wheel, as the saying goes. Although new things often require a … [Read more...]
Time Management Secrets for Getting the Most Out of Every Day
We all want to make the most of the time we have, but too often a day seems to slip away before we accomplish everything we wanted. I write elaborate to do lists only to have most (and sometimes all) of the items left at the end of the day. Even when I do manage to make a dent in everything I need to do, the achievement is soon crowded out by everything that still needs doing. … [Read more...]
Take a Rewarding Getaway for Free
We all need vacations or even just a weekend getaway to recharge and come back to our work refreshed. Unfortunately, vacations aren’t free, and the cost can often keep us from fitting them into our finances. A weekend getaway can cost hundreds of dollars between travel expenses, 2-3 nights in a hotel, and meals out plus entertainment like tickets to museums, exhibits, … [Read more...]
