It’s Friday, and here at Brooke Stone Lifestyle Management we value all things Friday brings. Sometimes a slower day, sometimes a race to the finish, but always with a treat at the end of it all – the weekend!
In your busy life, do you take the time to reflect on the week past? The day past? Active reflection is one of the most valuable lessons I have learned from the extraordinarily lesson-full Pam Allyn, Executive Director of LitWorld. When you pause and look back at what has come before, you have infinitely more control over what will come next. How can you learn from your challenges and expand upon your successes if you don’t know what they were?! In this spirit I have collected a few of my favorite quips from Praxis posts past to re-share with you. They are a combination of good prompts for self reflection this weekend and good tips to make your every day life a little better, and, they are funny - bonus.
In a particularly mixed up order (let GO, it’s the weekend!), ghosts from Praxis past:
4 Ways to Live in 3D, Post authored by Trevor Worden, 4.18.12
Living in the present is vital for us to experience life, death, and everything in between. Also, if movies can be that much more real in 3D why would we short ourselves of the same experience.
Ready to go? Post authored by Brooke Stone, 11.25.11
Try this: use your commuting time as a break from the constant chatter of your day
Notice this: you will accomplish more during the hours you have actually designated as “work” time
Notice how you feel when you climb above ground or out of your cab – are you ready to go?
Start Your day Peacefully, Post authored by Laura Baron, 5.7.12
In this city, with so many demands on our time, it takes a little discipline and conscious planning to carve out time to truly care for ourselves. To start your day in peace builds the foundation for more peace. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Ritual Days, Post authored by Erin Jerozal, 12.27.11
Creating and sticking to a system of Ritual Days is an easy way of imposing order to the chaos of naturally unstructured time. Do this for weekly, monthly or even daily repetitive activities…I REPEAT – Ritual Days are not about being perfect.
Baby Steps Towards Epic Fitness Victory, Post authored by guest blogger Mark Fisher, 4.20.12
One of the most oft cited tactics on the way to success is to write your goals down. It’s no coincidence that this little nugget of advice is in basically every book on success ever written. Not only will you benefit from articulating your why and clarifying your goal, but you’d be AMAZED at how effective it can be to schedule your workouts and game plan for hotness.
Special Kind of Crazy: Starbucks Edition, Post authored by Josh Schulteis, 12.30.11
There’s an inherent design flaw in Starbucks coffee cups. They drip….Ladies and gentleman, may I introduce the “BIB”; a strategically placed napkin folded specifically to keep the best part of waking up from becoming your own private purgatory!
The World Will Be Watching, Post authored by Brooke Stone, 4.2.12
I’m taking bigger steps, instead of more steps. I’m taking bright red steps instead of faded pink steps. I’m growing everyday in leaps and bounds, not in inches and feet. Hope is crushing my fear like the nasty little bug it is.
Keep Those Pencils Sharpened! Post authored by Jacob Liberman, 1.24.12
I need my workspace to greet me every time I sit down to work. What do you do to stay prepared for luck?
Tax Time – Setting Up Your Files, Post authored by Liz Metura 2.9.12
The trick to setting up your files is there is no trick. Implementing a system that is simple and approachable is the key. It should be easy to manage and encourage frequent filing.
Ten Things Your Boss May Have Never Told You, Post authored by Maria Skopas, 4.11.12
And always remember, the basics of good manners are things we learned early in life. Please and Thank you go a long way!
Don’t Fidget, Seriously. Post authored by Brooke Stone, 1.8.12
This week, in the practice of my life, I will not fidget. I will not spend energy where it is not needed, I will channel my inner fidget to my daily life practice.
Reining in the Right Brain, Post authored by guest blogger Ruby Lewis, 3.2.12
My moral is—everyone needs balance. Realizing what you’re good at and nourishing that while pruning the stuff you’re not so good at—well, that just makes for a better you. We can all cheers to that!
Three Cheers for You, Post authored by Erin Jerozal, 1.26.12
As adults, we often live in the what’s next/how could I do this faster/just get it done mentality. We check items off our lists and instantly add three more. We hardly ever take a moment to congratulate ourselves for a job well done. We wait for special occasions or someone else to say something before we take stock of the efforts we’ve made. Sure, we wouldn’t get very far in life if we dilly-dallied through tasks like a 5-year-old, but every now and then, go ahead and give yourself the sticker or the ice cream or the round of applause for that small something that you chose to do when you really didn’t want to.
How To Avoid Double Booking Your Calendar, Post authored by guest blogger Sarah Shaker, 4.27.12
Ever take the time to just be selfish? Indulge in time for yourself – relax, detox and just enjoy the bliss of being alone. It may seem strange at first, but a busy city dweller needs to schedule in some me-time to avoid getting over-booked, over-worked and exhausted.
Siri: Friend or Foe? Post authored by Trevor Worden, 1.18.12
I think what is truly remarkable … is that humans are kind of awesome. Sure we need help to accomplish things, we can overwhelm ourselves, and we can even run ourselves into the ground. But, there is something beautiful and simplistic in knowing that the best solution to our problems is to simply ask for help. We are best at helping each other.
The Necessary Art of Prioritizing, Post authored by Kristen Evensen, 2.7.12
One great lesson that life has taught me: What I do is not who I am. The many bullet points on my to-do list, and the various calendar appointments I create, do not dictate the person I am; but they do indicate what is truly important to me.
Taking Stock: The importance of Time-Efficiency in the Freelance World, Post authored by guest blogger Matthew Powell, 1.20.12
But DO remember to take some time for yourself every now and again. Freelance workers are driven – perhaps too driven. It is easy to sequester yourself in the “bubble” of work and completely forget about the outside world.
Stylish Organization for Small Space Living, Post authored by guest blogger Nikka Graff Lanzarone, 2.3.12
Have patience with your space. It’s going to take awhile before it truly feels at home, and that’s okay. Have forgiveness for yourself, and move as slowly as you need to.
Passion is Productive, Post authored by Brooke Stone, 2.14.12
Loving something, feeling passionate about something is what makes us put one foot in front of the other every day. We naturally try to share this feeling with others so they too may have an easier time moving forward with the great energy and drive we feel. Time spent discovering your passions or feeding them is never wasted or unproductive. Being passionate can only be productive in fact, because it fuels everything you do and the others around you too.
Did you read all the way to here?! You really ARE taking time for yourself this weekend! Good, strong work – keep it up.
Post authored by Brooke Stone and the Praxis family.
