1. Working at a high school is fun for a lot of reasons, but this week it’s fun because 1) it’s Spirit Week, which means themed dress days (Extreme Weather Wednesday! Thrift Store Thursday!) and 2) it keeps me abreast of all the pop culture. Like Macklemore and the Harlem Shake. Do you know about the Harlem Shake? It’s a funny dance thing on YouTube. I don’t quite get it (which makes me feel old), but I’ll still laugh at it.
2. Speaking of high school – I saw a poster this week in the hallway to cheer on the swimming team. It said, “Losers let things happen. Winners make things happen.” It’s sort of cheesy and lame and cliché, but it really spoke to me in my career right now. That seems vague, which is even more cliché. I’m so sorry. But I needed to share that.
3. Email used to be something I checked eagerly – a place for fun! friends! And it still is sometimes, but lately I dread checking my email. It just feels like a giant to do list staring me in my face. There are a million posts on the internet on email workflow and organizing, which is overwhelming. I am slowly but surely learning to master my inbox for the first time…EVER.
4. For Lent, I am trying to do something that is really important to me and that has the potential to strengthen my relationships, make me more present, and practice self-control: I am not using screens when someone is talking to me or when I am talking to someone. I want my actions to tell people, You are more important than my phone/this email/Twitter. It’s been harder than I expected and I’ve already screwed up a number of times. But it’s also been incredibly valuable.
5. Good and bad stuff about my Little Leaf work: Yay – I have been feeling so encouraged and supported and, yeah I’ll say it, successful lately. Boo – I love the freedom and flexibility of working for myself (never boring!), but I would love to have my nights and weekends to just hang out with my family instead of working.
On that note – happy weekend, friends!
When I was working from home, one thing I had to get used to was just stepping away from the computer and not working for at least a few hours a night. It’s easy to step away when you leave the office, but not so much when the office never leaves you! Just because it’s there doesn’t mean you have to be there. I usually tried to take a few hours right when Erik got home from work. It might feel like you’re doing the best thing, staying on top of work for clients, but that won’t get you very far when you get burned out. And I bet your family will like it too! :)
If I didn’t have a kid, I would totally do that. I could even stick to a schedule with office hours!
But I’m choosing not to get child care, which means I’m choosing to spend more evenings and weekends working. It’s not like I work TOO much, just have to squeeze it in around the awesome, fun mom things I get to do – like going to story time on Thursday mornings. :)
I think your plan for Lent is a good idea! I work in a restaurant, and it’s kind of sad how many people I see out to dinner who have their faces buried in their smart phones the whole time. It’s like, why even go out to eat with your friend/significant other/family member if you’re just going to be on Facebook the whole time? Be present, people!
I like what you are doing for Lent- I really try hard not to play on my phone much when talking to people, particularly if we don’t have much time together. I admit that I’m not the best at this all the time, but I always try at least be aware of it.
I totally remember the Harlem shake back in the early 2000s. Has everyone forgotten or am I crazy?
My brother is notorious for using/checking his phone mid-conversation. When he does that to me, I just stop talking. Partly, it’s a test to see if he’s even paying attention to me (often, I don’t like the answer to that question). And, mostly, it’s because I want to be engaged with the people in my life … and we all have to take a moment to answer the phone or check a text, but it doesn’t have to be a part of our conversation. So, I think it’s great that you’re doing it and it’s a wonderful reminder that I need to be present more, too (just because I expect certain things doesn’t mean I’m always perfect about them myself).
I love, love, love #4. Major pet peeve especially when I am out with people.
However, at home, I have to say that I am guilty as charged sometimes…. but it also feels like my husband always starts talking to me JUST when I am about to check something on my phone. I try to not get annoyed and check stuff later – hehe. Baby steps here.
The no screen when talking to someone- that is a GREAT idea. I think I need to incorporate that into my life and make it that way for good. I’m bad about that (as are a lot of people I interact with on a regular basis).
I enjoy Macklemore. I know NOTHING about the Harlem Shake. I may go look it up on YouTube next…!
Happy Friday! xo
i give you a high-five for thinking of that lenten goal! what a wonderful forty days it would be if the world did the same…
I completely feel ya on the e-mail overload! (But I have to say, you got back to mine super fast! So good job!) :) I have slowly started unsubscribing to things that I never open. The more stores I subscribe to, the more likely I am to want to spend money I don’t need to spend, so bye bye 50 e-mails a day from stores! But seriously, if I don’t check my e-mail every single day, I will have over a hundred and I never read them all! Good luck with that organizing!
Oh my gosh the screens thing is such a great idea for Lent – I’m proud of you!
Also, as far as email is concerned you use gmail right? I recently learned about multiple inboxes (I’m sure I’m way behind the curve), but it seriously changed my life. Highly recommend!