Jessica's Friday Five

Hi Reader, Finding ways to fit exercise into my day has never been a strength for me. About a year ago, I discovered that "body doubling" is effective for me in getting things done at work, especially when I start attending FLOWN sessions (I go daily). My good friend Sierra recently reminded me that exercise classes can give that same kind of support when it comes to taking care of my body, and she's right - when I'm signed up for a class and it's on my calendar, I'm nearly always going to...

Hi Reader, It's been the first week of school in our community, and wow, it's so easy to forget how much work and overwhelm that brings with it for parents. From forms to purchases to routines to design and so many messages with important details coming in apps, emails, and flyers - it requires a ton of capacity. If you work with parents of school-aged children, be gentle with them in the coming weeks. If you are a parent of school-aged kids, what can you set aside this month to make things a...

Hi Reader, School starts next week for our local public schools in my community, and I'm flabbergasted that the "back to school" season is here (the temps still scream summer, as some of the memes I posted this morning attest to). But I'm also totally delighted by it. I love the back-to-routine vibes, I love the excitement of all the preparation (even if it's also overwhelming), and I'm hopeful that things go well for my daughter and her friends as they embark on their first days of middle...

Hi , Across industries, leadership is incredibly challenging right now. This month, a nonprofit I've admired and supported as a donor for years is closing down many of its programs and laying off staff due to a lack of funding. Another organization doing similar work, led by a former colleague of mine, is in a similar place and is fundraising to keep its doors open for the critical community work it leads. If you're struggling with similar challenges, I see you and appreciate all that you're...

Hi Reader, I'm back home after a delightful trip with my family and some dear friends to Alaska. Glaciers, whales, otters, husky puppies, delicious meals, so many board games, and beautiful scenery. A cruise is undoubtedly a great way to see that part of the world, and I shared some of our pictures here and here (and one of those ideas could be used in your workplace to build community!). And guess what happened while I was away? We surpassed 15,000 subscribers! Which means another...

Hi Reader, I'm writing this a week ahead of my normal schedule because, as you're reading this, I'm hopefully enjoying myself on a cruise in Alaska with my family and some dear college friends. There are hundreds of new subscribers here in the last few weeks - welcome! Each Friday, I share five tips to make life easier at work and home. 3 ways to stay organized using tech: I recently wrote a blog post with 3 tips on how to use technology wisely to help you stay organized and keep fewer things...

Hi Reader, With an emergency vet visit (more on that below), the weird, constantly changing summer schedules when there are school-aged kids in your home, and a cruel bill that will make healthcare and the economy worse in my country likely to pass, it's been a tough week around here. Pulling together 5 practical tips for you each Friday continues to be a joyful ritual for me to share with you in the midst of good weeks and bad weeks, so let's get to it, shall we? If you have a pet: This...

Hi Reader, Many people in my part of the world are experiencing extreme heat this week. I hope you are finding ways to stay cool. In my little family, our volunteer foster kitten project has come to a close, with all the kittens being adopted by amazing families. In an unexpected (or maybe entirely expected?) twist, we ended up being one of the adoptive families. We just couldn't let go of little Jake. I shared about him on my Insta and Facebook this week. He's the cutest. Oh, and congrats to...

Hi Reader, In addition to Juneteenth, yesterday we celebrated my daughter's 11th birthday (she's thrilled to be old enough to attend Hogwarts now), and tomorrow we'll welcome a horde of rising 6th graders to our home to celebrate with her, featuring a flavored lemonade bar, chicken nuggets, and a Taylor Swift-heavy playlist. Oh, to be 11. It will be fun, 0% relaxing for us parents, and hopefully very memorable for all involved. Oh, and another fun milestone this week - we reached 14,000...