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The Value of Starting Early & Layering Support
Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
I had this light bulb moment a few months ago.
I realized that none of the students I coached for at least a year while they were in high school, continued on with coaching in college. And when I have checked-in on them, the feedback is that they are doing great!
This is amazing and what the coaching is all about!
On the flip side, I have coached a number of students for 3+ years in college. While there is progress, many of them have continued to struggle a bit.
I know there are so many factors that come into play here. I also know that I coach more college students than high schoolers, which definitely skews the numbers.
Yet, this still feels like an important observation.
While in high school, the students still have the support of their parents at home. Even if the parents are doing a great job of stepping back and letting their child take more initiative, students undoubtedly feel the scaffolding around them for when the inevitable missteps happen.
Many of the high schoolers I work with have projects and papers that are as hard or harder then many of the college assignments I see. They also have easy access to their teachers for extra support. Often their teachers will provide smaller deliverables to support the students and the coaching in learning how to break down their assignments into smaller parts.
Getting Started
This made me curious about how many other areas this likely applies, not only for our young people, but adults, too.
If you grow up in a house where your parents cook healthy meals most nights, how much easier is it to integrate cooking healthy meals as an adult?
If you grow up in a house where reading is a common past time, how much more likely are you to read as an adult?
If you didn't learn a certain skill growing up, how can you create an environment that supports the learning process as an adult?
I’m sure there are plenty of ways to integrate learning into our every day lives. I mean, I make a living doing just this. I help my clients get organized, learn a new skill, and create an environment where we make our day-top-day happy and healthy. If you were getting started on your own, though, how would you learn and find the resources to learn. This may be simply by surrounding yourself with others that value the skill you are trying to learn and implement. Or, are you looking for an accountability partner that will be there for you through the ups and downs?
I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas about the value of starting early and layering support.
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
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Learning Through Actions
Image from Canva.
Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
This may be contrary to the perceived role of a coach. However, I am a firm believer that the best way to learn is through action and building self-confidence.
If you haven't taken action and you don't have an experience to reflect on and learn from, you are not likely to see growth and progress.
Our mission at Happy Spaces is to " Share, Teach and Inspire about The Power of Planning and Why Systems and Structure Matter."
The primary method we use to teach is to pick ONE project, routine or structural change that you want to make happen. We put a plan together and work through that plan until we cross the finish line.
This process, which is all about action, shows our clients what is working, where the pain points are and provides their WHY to make those HARD changes.
Getting Started
I know I am guilty of spending WAY too long making a plan. So often, once I get started, I realize that the pain points are not what I anticipated. Only after getting started and taking action was I able to do the required work to reach my goal and grow.
We always recommend starting small. This builds confidence and often brings to the surface many of the pain points that are likely present in your work and life.
Building a LinkedIn Profile for your new venture may be the perfect springboard project, before building your new website.
Writing a weekly blog may be the ideal first step on the journey to writing your first book.
Launching a monthly IG Live may be the right first step to becoming a paid speaker.
Actions are the best teacher. Taking the time to reflect on your actions, what works, what doesn't, and what changes YOU are willing to make, makes all the difference.
Don't underestimate the power of believing in yourself and positive self talk.
All projects worth doing are HARD. As I like to tell my daughter, "We do hard things".
I know you can too!
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
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You Need to See to Believe
Photo by Judy Beth Morris on Unsplash
Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
I love coaching. I love watching clients learn to believe in their ability to figure out any challenge that is thrown their way.
One of the most important lessons I have learned is that people don't simply believe they can do something because someone else says they’re great or doing a good job.
They believe in themselves because they have done the work and proven that they can do it. That they can figure it out. My most successful clients learn that they can ask for help, but also receive the respect and admiration of whomever they’ve asked.
Getting Started
While it’s true we all learn differently, I choose to coach through action. Together, we can pick a project and make a plan to complete it. Initially, we’ll work together to tackle this plan. Over time, while learning new habits, skills and structure, clients learn to believe in themselves because they have proven that they can do it. That are smart. They can work hard. They are NOT lazy. And that’s when the magic happens. Clients then see the next project as a way to take their skills and apply them to a project that a few sessions ago may have been completely daunting and unattainable. Now? Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
If you or are struggling with feeling like you are not enough, start small and be consistent. Slowly you will build the confidence and skills you need to believe.
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
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What if it All Works Out Great?
Photo by Enrique Ortega Miranda on Unsplash
Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
This week's blog is more of a do what I say, not what I do.
As someone who always plans for the worst case scenario, I struggle with placing equal emphasis on how well it could all work out.
I also know, that even when things go wrong, really, really wrong, it never goes wrong in the way I think it will.
I have been working on shifting my focus to all to the ways it may go right.
Getting Started
I love to plan and I have found that as long as I have a plan, I can see when obstacles are popping up and I can make adjustments.
In some ways I am sure catastrophizing has helped light a fire under me and added to my success. There are plenty of Instagram memes about this very topic - first daughter and all!
However, I can also see how much anxiety and unnecessary angst it has caused over the years.
So, to get started, I am issuing a challenge: create your plan, look at it to see where the obstacles are, but also look to see where a plan shift (intentional or because it’s just life) could create something better. Work on enjoying the journey and focusing on everything that could go right.
Here’s the best part - even if something goes wrong, I know (and you know) I’ll figure it out. I know I’ll land on my feet and you will too.
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain.”
- Vivian Greene
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
Follow Me
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Do You Need to Feel in Control?
Photo by Link Hoang on Unsplash
Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Most of us like being in control.
I think the hardest part about COVID was that we all felt like we had no control over anything — our health, careers, finances, or family's well-being.
I know my love/need for control stems from the feeling of not having control growing up, which I felt resulted in bad things happening.
As an adult, this is a double-edged sword.
Creating a life full of structure, routines, and habits makes me feel in control and brings me a lot of peace and success.
The need to feel in control can also make it hard to delegate and accept help.
I know it has for me.
Getting Started
One strategy that has helped me is to decide what really matters.
If it doesn't really matter, I can either let it go or share the responsibility.
While I write the content for this blog, I share the remaining responsibility with the AMAZING Nicole Morelle. The blog is SO much better because of Nicole!
For my website, while I write the content, I share the remaining responsibility with the TALENTED Lindsey Morano. And my website is only possible because of Lindsey! Did you see the 2016 version I did myself.? Yikes.
This strategy is also helpful at home. When I work with families, we work together to decide the purpose of each responsibility, discuss how everyone wants to fulfill the purpose, and then decide who is responsible.
The goal of loading dishes into the dishwasher is to wash them thoroughly without breaking. If your 8-year-old is accomplishing this goal by loading the dishwasher like a crazed raccoon, then this is not a responsibility you should micro-manage. The dishes don’t have to be put into the dishwasher in perfect uniformity to get the job done.
The goal of kids picking up their rooms may be to create a calm space. It's important that you and your child decide together what 'calm' looks like. Calm may mean a clear floor other than a pile of books next to the bed, the comforter laid out flat but not perfectly made, and a drawer for each category of clothes. Giving up control over your kids' rooms and allowing them to learn how to maintain a calm room is a gift and worth the work.
The goal of doing laundry is to have clean clothes. So if your teenagers want to throw everything in the machine together in cold water, why not?
There is value in being in control, and there is also a lot of value in letting go. The magic is in how you balance it!
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
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It's Complicated.
Is it really that complicated? Probably not.
Photo by Gaddafi Rusli on Unsplash
Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
It's Complicated!
Or is it?
Have you had situations arise where you spent days, or maybe even weeks, trying to understand what happened, figure out how you got there, and then brainstorm fifty different ways you might be able to fix it?
All this, only to realize, that it's actually not that complicated.
Getting Started
Let’s be realistic. While you may have made some missteps, you didn't create the situation, and you alone cannot fix it.
The answer is actually simple, it just isn't the answer you wanted to hear.
It's not the outcome you wanted to happen.
Let us know if you have had a similar experience. What helped you find the courage to accept the hard truth and make the right decision?
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
Follow Me
Share this post
Dig in or Shut Down?
Photo by Syd Sujuaan on Unsplash
Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
When working with clients, I have noticed that most people likely fall into one of two categories.
Some clients dig deep when the pressure is on, while others tend to shut down.
Imagine you're in a meeting with your boss a week before a major presentation. Your boss informs you that the entire presentation needs to be reworked. In this situation, do you find the strength to push through, or do you feel overwhelmed and consider giving up?
If you are a college student and you get a failing grade on your midterm, do you meet with the professor to review what you didn't understand and make a plan for how to do well on the final, or do you just give up because you likely won't pass anyway?
Getting Started
While there are ways to learn how to dig in rather than shut down, I think the first step is to understand where you are.
If you know that your quality of work tends to decrease as the pressure increases, how can you reduce the pressure, while continuing to grow and succeed?
If you are a student, one way is to take one less course. I commonly recommend that college freshman take four courses their first semester while they are figuring out college life. This builds self-confidence, which is a key factor in one's ability to bounce back from obstacles.
This can be more difficult when it comes to work.
Prior to choosing a company to work for, pay attention to its work culture. Is it supportive or competitive? This would make a great question during the interview process - do you feel like you provide an environment that promotes competition amongst team members?
Is the promotion you are being offered really the best fit? Or will the additional responsibility cause you to go from liking your job to dreading it? And, maybe failing at it.
Be honest with your boss when they ask if you can take on a new project. I would be willing to bet that nine out of ten times, the reason you don’t want to take on the new project isn’t because you don’t actually want to do the work. Instead, you’re worried about your other responsibilities and doing those well. Your boss should know that.
Meet with your boss regularly to help prioritize your work.
It's important that we understand ourselves and accept where we are so others can meet us there. Having a plan and feeling confident in your communication will eliminate the need to shut down when the going gets tough. Instead, you’ll be able to prioritize, plan, and move forward in a way that’s productive for you and your work.
How can we shape our environments to support our growth and success?
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
Follow Me
Share this post
Re-Post: Let Your Kids Take Over the Budget
What if you let your kids take over the budgeting reigns?
Photo by Canva.
Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Let Your Kids Take Over the Budget
Author’s note: This was one of our most popular blogs in 2023. If this is your first time reading it, I hope you take away some valuable nuggets of info. If this is your second time, I hope you learn something new!
I have shared quite a bit about my love of personal finance and setting ourselves up for solid financial futures. I strongly believe that starts with teaching our kids, at a young age, the value of things and how money is earned and spent. This can be done from the time kids are toddlers. Sticker charts are a rewards-based example of a way to show your child the value in their efforts and their reward for their hard work. The reward can be as simple as a piece of chocolate for picking up their toys, following a very serious make-believe session in the family room. We go to work and get rewarded, so why shouldn’t they?
Now, let’s take that a step further. Almost every kid goes through a sometimes entitled phase where they don’t quite understand how money works or how hard parents work to earn that money. They assume they can have whatever, whenever. In a world where dollars don’t always go as far as we’d like them to, I think it’s important to teach our kids the value of things early. So, we did a little experiment with my friend Nicole’s daughter. This year, rather than going school clothes and supply shopping with abandon, Nicole sat her daughter, Harper, down and explained how she determines the budget amount for school shopping and then how she determines how to spend that amount,
Getting Started
Harper is a 12 year old girl whose passion involves Broadway musicals, playing the piano, and hanging out with her bestie.
As kids often do, Harper would come home and ask Nicole for items she saw other kids have at summer camp or her friends brought to school. While Nicole is in a position to be able to provide Harper with what she asks for (within reason), she also wanted Harper to learn about budgeting and needs vs wants. So, when it came time to school shop, Harper was given a budget of $500. This may seem like a lot to you personally and that’s okay. Nicole came to this number, with Harper, in a very thoughtful way.
Nicole had Harper go through her closet and try on clothes to determine what still fits and what can be passed on to a younger cousin. In the last year, Harper has grown 2 inches, so Nicole knew her school clothes budget would need to be a little higher this year in order to incorporate more pant purchases in their shopping. And, by the end of this closet cleaning exercise, it was determined Harper literally did not have a single pair of pants that fit her - yoga, sweat, or jeans - and many of her shirts no longer covered her mid-drift, so new shirts were also added to the list.
Nicole then had Harper make a list of things she needed: basic short and long-sleeved shirts, a couple of pairs of jeans, yoga pants, socks, underwear, etc.
Nicole had Harper repeat the same closet exercise, but with her shoes this time. Luckily, Harper’s feet hadn’t grown much, if at all, and the shoes she currently had - a pair of sneakers, Doc Marten boots, sandals, and a pair of dress shoes - would suffice to start the year with.
Off to the mall they went! Harper’s friends all shop at American Eagle, so naturally that’s where Harper wanted to start too.
Nicole let Harper have free reign as she walked through the store. As long as the clothes met the school and family dress codes and were within Harper’s budget, she could get them.
Quickly Harper amassed quite the pile. Nicole was keeping track on her phone’s calculator of the grand total. This pile included “need” items that Harper had written on her list, but also included items that she really wanted. If we’re being honest, there were probably more want items than need items. It was at this point that Harper felt she was done shopping and ready to check out. Before walking to the registers, Nicole shared that she had been keeping track of the items on her calculator and if Harper purchased everything in her pile right then, the total bill would be $834 before tax. Harper was shocked.
Cue an upset kid who just had to have those ripped jeans and a few other things. Nicole explained that’s fine, but needs had to come first. Again reminding Harper that included basic tees, underwear, socks, and so on. So, Nicole made the suggestion that if Harper liked the jeans at American Eagle, but didn’t care much about where the tees came from, those could be purchased at another store. And quickly, they were back in business.
Harper remembered she had received a number of gift cards to Old Navy and Target for her birthday at the beginning of the summer. She asked if she could use those gift cards to buy her basic items and then use Nicole’s budget to buy the want items. Nicole agreed.
At this point, Harper also mentioned she had a gift card from her birthday to LuLulemon, so she wanted to stop there. Again, once she saw the prices of yoga pants, Harper decided to supplement her budget with the gift card and purchased a jacket there, but then went to Target and Old Navy for the pants.
At the end of their shopping extravaganza, Harper actually determined some of her wants weren’t important enough to purchase. She asked if the money she didn’t spend in the budget could be set aside for her to use in a month or two after school started in case there was something new she wanted (read: someone at school wore or had something she really liked). In total, of the $500 budget, Harper spent $375 on jeans and a few shirts she really wanted. She also spent $200 in gift cards to Lululemon, Old Navy, and Target to buy a jacket she wanted and then basic items that she needed.
Nicole asked Harper on their drive home to reflect on their shopping experience and Harper reiterated how surprised she was at her original total. She didn’t know that jeans could be easily $50, $60, or more per pair and the same was true for yoga pants and sweats. She also admitted that she liked the game of it - figuring out what she wanted and what she could afford and what she may want to come back for later.
Nicole noticed that the items purchased are all actually being worn and not just sitting in the closet with tags on them because Harper was only choosing to wear the same three or four shirt and pant combinations.
Overall, this life lesson went super smoothly and is something Nicole has admitted she’ll definitely be using in the future. Harper has already said she’ll definitely be asking for gift cards for holidays and birthdays in the future because she can buy what she wants when she wants. All in all, a great experiment.
Is this something you’d be willing to try with your tweens and teens? Have you already? How did it go?
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
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What is the Sticking Point?
Where in the process are you getting stuck?
Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
For the past two weeks I have had a pile of my daughter’s old t-shirts sitting in my room.
They were nicely folded, yet they annoyed me every time I saw them.
So why did I leave them sitting there you may ask?
I had an empty plastic bin ready for them in the attic.
Yet, it never seemed like a convenient time to go downstairs, make a label and bring it back up.
And I knew if I put that pile of shirts in the attic in an unlabeled bin, I would forget what they were for.
When I would see them and remember, it never seemed like a great time to make a label. I was getting up to shower, grabbing something quick from my bedroom during the work day, or getting ready for bed. Not ideal label making time.
Getting Started
Finally, I just stopped and made myself take the 2 minutes to make a label. In fact, I think in those two minutes I was able to make the label, grab the shirts, put them in the bin, and put the label on the bin.
How many tasks or things are happening in your life that have a sticking point as simple as this?
I could hear James Clear in my head, "What is the 2-minute version of the task you’re avoiding?"
Okay, so simple sticking points are one thing, but what about the bigger projects, right? You could schedule time on your calendar or change how you go about the task.
For example, I have a friend, Nicole, that has three kids and they all seemed to always be growing out of their clothes. She used to set aside an hour or two once a month to go through closets and drawers, edit items, and move hand me downs from one room to the next. Then she changed how she does the task.
Nicole has one of those four section clothes sorters in her laundry room. It looks like this. As each of her three kids outgrows something, she washes it and then adds it to the clothes sorter (each section has the child’s name on it). Then, when that’s full, she moves those same items to a bin, labels it right there in her laundry room, and to her basement it goes. The fourth section she uses for clothing items headed to Goodwill or another donation organization. Simple, efficient, and all the pieces are in one place, so she doesn’t have an excuse.
So, what’s holding you back?
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
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Why You Want a Nighttime Routine
A nighttime routine means setting yourself up for success.
Photo by Canva.
Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Isn't it amazing how we feel like we can DO ANYTHING after a good night's sleep!
Yet, after a just one sleepless night, even the smallest tasks can feel overwhelming.
So why is it so hard to get a good night's rest?
If you are like me, you may be your worst enemy.
Getting Started
Decision Fatigue is a real thing. There are only so many smart decisions you can make in one day.
It's 8:00 p.m. and you have finally finished for the day and the kids are in bed - can you really expect your brain to choose a quiet book and then lights out over TikTok or Netflix?
Our bodies crave a consistent sleep schedule. Going to bed and waking up at the same time is key.
The best way to support having a consistent sleep schedule is to have a consistent Night Time Routine.
This will allow your brain to go on autopilot.
What is your ideal Night Time Routine?
Everyone is different. There is no right or wrong.
Below are a few questions you may want to ask yourself:
Am I a night person or morning person? This should help you determine what is best for you to do in the evening, verse the morning. As a morning person, I prefer to wash water bottles and pack lunches in the morning. If I was a night person, I would add this to my Night Time Routine, so that I could sleep later.
The last time I took a long vacation, about how many hours of sleep did I get each night? We need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. It's helpful to know your individual need, so that you can figure out when you have to go to bed in order to achieve this. You may also need to add in a buffer, if you take a while to fall asleep or often wake up in the middle of the night. For example, I aim to be in bed for 9 hours, knowing I need about 8 hours a night.
What is the best way for me to wind down?
Take a few minutes to bullet point out a schedule:
Below is our family’s Night Time Routine:
6:45PM - 7:00PM - Clean-up/Close-up the downstairs. Get water for bed.
7:00PM - 7:10PM - Brush Teeth
7:10PM - 7:30PM - Daughter’s Bath Time
7:30PM - 7:40PM - Pajamas
7:40PM - 8:00PM - Read to Daughter
8:00PM - Daughter’s Light Out
8:00PM - 8:15PM - Check calendar for the next day and set alarms on my phone
8:15PM - 9:00PM - Tech Free Me Time.
Yup, I said tech free. This can mean reading, journaling, writing notes to mail to friends and family. This does not mean TikTok, one more episode of GOTs, or planning your family vacation.
9:00PM Lights Out
Over time, you will likely find yourself looking forward to your Night Time Routine and the Me Time you can consistently count on!
Sleep Tight!
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
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Be Intentional About Where You Do What
Where you complete tasks is almost as important as when.
Photo by Canva.
Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
As the summer comes to a close and students head back to college or get ready for their first day of school, there is - even for a little while - an excitement. It’s a new beginning. This year you’ll be completely organized. This year, you’ll get all your assignments done ahead of time. This year, you won’t stay up too late and miss your 8 a.m. class.
As the days and weeks go on though, we realize how hard it is to change ourselves. Add in extracurricular activities, friends, family obligations and life. It becomes hard to find motivation when your tank is empty.
It's much easier, however, to change your environment and you may be surprised at how impactful it can be.
Where you choose to work may give you the boost you need to get started or get over the finish line.
Getting Started
With students, we discuss which location is best for each subject and assignment.
Doing daily Spanish homework in your dorm room may be fine, but reading a textbook chapter from your History textbook may require a slightly less comfortable environment. We’ve all been guilty of dozing while reading about the French Revolution.
Doing chem homework in the study lounge may work, while the same student may benefit from working on their calc homework at office hours or at the Math Help Center, so that they have support when they get stuck.
I had a project that involved a lot of writing that I have been procrastinating for over 6 months. There was no real deadline and every time I sat down to do it, it just felt too hard. Or that I wasn't in the right headspace. Or I just plain didn’t want to.
Then, I decided to take my own advice. After getting my daughter off to camp, I packed up my laptop and went to a coffee shop. The first 20 minutes was hard and all I wanted to do was leave. Then I found my rhythm. I was able to finish 75% of the project that day and committed to coming back the next week.
Almost like magic, the project I both valued and dreaded was complete.
All it took was a change in my work environment and two vanilla lattes with oat milk.
Is there a task or project that you have been procrastinating or having a hard time focusing on?
What environment do you think would be best to try next?
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
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What a Difference a Duplicate Can Make!
Having duplicates of certain items really is a game changer.
Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Sometime I wonder how many times I need to learn the same lesson.
You make recall I wrote a whole blog about the value of duplicates. Instead of always having to pack a phone charger, just keep one in your purse and keep one in your travel bag.
Life changing when you remember to implement this! Yet, so easy to forget.
Getting Started
I often wear a fanny pack around the house, so that I can keep track of my phone.
When we go outside to wait for the bus in the morning, I would wear my fanny pack with my phone and then also need to remember to grab my purse with our keys, so that we don't get locked out. (See where I’m going here?)
I know, I know. I try to leave the door unlocked - we’re only at the end of the driveway! - but sometimes I forget and once I locked us out and had to call my sister to let me back in.
One day it occurred to me, why don't you put a house key in the fanny pack! (There it is!)
Such a simple solution that has removed a whole step in the morning routine!
It has also simplified me taking a walk outside, which I don't do enough these days, so that's an even bigger win! Kid on the bus, phone and key in my fanny pack, hello, 10,000 steps!
After adding the house key to my fanny pack, I realized I needed to buy an additional step stool.
Short people problems - I can't close the blind in my bedroom without a step stool. So every night I would steal the step stool from the bathroom to close my blind and then have to put it back. As a result, sometimes I never opened the blinds.
You guessed it -- a second step stool -- problem solved!
Where does having a duplicate of something make sense in your life? Or in your kids’ lives as you get ready to send them back to school? Does a duplicate item in the locker and at home make the most sense?
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
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Are you Late?
And, I don’t mean late for a meeting.
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Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
I recently took this amazing training with Dr. Ross Greene on Collaborative and Proactive Solutions.
The idea is to work together with kids (or anyone really) to understand the problem and find a realistic and mutually satisfactory solution. His book, The Explosive Child is a great starting point. And, no, your child (or co-worker) does not need to be explosive for this to be a game changer.
One of his mantra's is "Don't be late." By this, he means you need to go back to the original problem and solve that.
While this seems so simple, I feel like this is where we often get it wrong.
Getting Started
Below is an example of a recent problem in our house where my first instinct was to solve the late problem.
As I walked out of the bathroom, my daughter threw a wooden hair brush at me, hard enough that it snapped and broke on the floor. I became frustrated because she threw the hairbrush, which was both dangerous and caused damage. But her frustration started long before the brush was thrown.
When I sat down and thought through what happened, below are all the frustrations that build up and caused the behavior that then frustrated me.
We had gone into the bathroom to begin our nighttime routine.
She had finished showering and brushing her teeth calmly.
As we do every night, she started brushing her hair, while I took out my contacts.
While brushing her hair, she got really frustrated.
That didn't phase me. We all get frustrated. I told her it was fine to stop and I would help her when I was done.
But she didn't stop and her frustration rose.
Then she started yelling at me.
I calmly asked her to take a few breaths and redo her words.
She was able to redo her words kindly, but then slammed the door as she exited the bathroom.
As I left the bathroom a few minutes later, that’s when she threw the brush.
Immediately, the problem I wanted to solve was her throwing the hairbrush (and eventually, that action does need a response).
After taking a few moments, I realized that was LATE. Very LATE.
The problem we needed to solve was difficulty brushing her hair.
We did solve it together. It's been two weeks and so far so good! :-)
What's interesting is that I feel like I am referencing this mantra all the time.
A student having trouble getting to class on time. The early problem is the student can't turn off the video games to go to bed before 3:00AM.
Making an unhealthy food choice while going out to dinner. The early problem is that I hadn't made the time to eat a protein filled lunch.
Frustrated and stressed that you have to create and give a 30-minute presentation in 4 hours. The early problem is that you didn't take the two minutes to add the presentation to your calendar, when you originally read the email from your boss.
"If you solve the early problem, often the late problem goes away." Dr. Ross Greene.
What is currently frustrating you? Is it LATE?
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
Follow Me
Share this post
Schedules are a Guide
Look at schedules as more of a guideline to your day or week.
Photo by Canva.
Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
As you may have read in an earlier blog, Mondays are my laundry day.
I chose Mondays for two main reasons:
Monday's allow me to go away on the weekend and not fall behind on my weekly tasks.
Secondly, by doing my laundry on Mondays, I always start the week by accomplishing something useful, even if the rest of my day or week goes to hell.
Over the last few months, we have been spending more time at home on the weekends.
So on those weekends, when we are in and out of the house, I have been getting started on our weekly laundry.
Some weekends, I get it all done. On other weekends, I get the towels and my daughter’s laundry done, leaving mine for Mondays when she goes to school and I get back to working with clients.
There is no pressure. But boy, does it feel amazing when Monday arrives, and the laundry is either done or well underway.
I like our schedule. I want to keep Monday as our official laundry day.
But some weeks, doing the laundry on the weekend works better.
Schedule's are a guide. Don't be afraid to make adjustments or revisions.
In fact, you may find a schedule that works even better!
Getting Started
Pick a day of the week that makes the most sense for you to take a look at the weekly calendar and what’s upcoming. Is there a day during the upcoming week when you’ll be home on Zoom meetings all day? Maybe that becomes the day to do household administration - pay bills, make appointments, and place your online grocery order. That frees up another day when you aren’t tied to your home to get other errands done or to go out and have fun without worrying that you’re “off schedule.”
In my opinion, the summertime is the best time to put this into practice. We’re all a little more go-with-the-flow and have fewer “must-dos” on our plates.
Schedules are meant to be a guide to make your life easier. Feel free to make adjustments or revisions. I dare you to! In fact, you may find a schedule that works even better!
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
Follow Me
Share this post
The Magic of Noise Cancelling Headphones
Photo by Canva.
Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
This week, I was reminded of the value of looking at how you can change your environment before trying to change yourself.
As Gretchen Rubin says, "It's easier to change our surroundings than ourselves."
Without getting into the details, there has been a lot of noise in our house these past months. As a parent, I’m sure you have heard the phrase, “You’ll miss the noise and mess!” from your parents or grandparents. I often think, “Okay, but right now, I have a headache, and the noise is too much!”
It's a common sentiment among parents to feel overwhelmed by the constant noise and activity in the house. It's perfectly natural to crave some peace and quiet, even while acknowledging that you might miss the chaos one day. Craving peace and quiet isn’t just for parents. This can be true for folks who have returned to the office or are working a hybrid model, and the click-clacking of their cube mate’s keyboard is becoming a little bit like torture.
It doesn’t matter what the trigger is; it can be difficult to focus, remain calm, and complete tasks.
Getting Started
I have tried SO MANY methods to remain calm among all the chaos that is life.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Sometimes, I may remain calm on the outside, but I am anything but calm on the inside.
A few weeks ago, enough was enough. I needed to look for something - anything! - that would help me focus. I bought noise-cancelling headphones.
This week, I finally broke them out. What a game-changer!
I still hear the "noise,” but at a much more manageable volume.
I didn't have to fake being calm. I didn't need to take deep breaths or give myself a "time-out.” I just needed a way to lower the volume.
Maybe it isn’t noise cancelling headphones that will drastically change your day-to-day and help you focus better. Perhaps it’s Creating a Laundry Schedule, or Making Meditation a Habit, or even Making Time for Movement in Your Day that will drastically change how you will improve your day-to-day life.
What’s “the thing” that can improve your life?
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
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The Art of Delayed Gratification
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Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
In a prior blog, we talked about how work ethic is a skill.
Today, I want to discuss delayed gratification. It’s a skill you can grow, leading to vast long-term benefits.
Wikipedia defines delayed gratification as "the resistance to the temptation of an immediate pleasure in the hope of obtaining a valuable and long-lasting reward in the long term."
In society, we often classify people who can resist temptation as "better," "stronger," and "having higher morals and ethics."
However, we don't classify people better at math or writing as better people with higher morals and ethics. They simply have more math and writing skills.
In part, what makes delayed gratification so hard to master is that it involves all of the executive functioning skills.
Getting Started
So, we’ve delayed long enough - see what I did there?! - what skills do you have to grow to improve at delaying gratification?
Delayed gratifications incorporate:
Planning / Prioritization
Task Initiation
Sustained Attention
Organization
Time Management
Goal Directed Persistence
Flexibility
Working Memory
Response Inhibition
Emotional Control
Metacognition
I recommend focusing on one skill at a time. Work on it consistently for short spurts.
Remember, we learn new skills every day—even hard skills.
Which skill do you want to start with?
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
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Share this post
The Price of More
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Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
We live in a culture where we are always taught to strive for more.
We want to purchase the newest trend.
We want a house with one more bathroom.
We want our kids to have all the toys and gadgets we felt we never had.
Getting Started
Having more means managing more.
More to find space for.
More to clean.
More to argue about when it's time to clean up.
This is equally true for responsibilities.
How many more hours a week will you need to work if you get that next promotion?
How much sleep will you have to give up if you take on that new volunteer role?
How many soccer games will you have to miss if you choose the job with travel?
Choose wisely.
Often, less is more!
"The more things you have, the more things you have to manage. Simplicity isn't merely cheaper, it's easier."
- James Clear
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
Follow Me
Share this post
Is It Worth It?
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Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Is it worth it?
We know that time is our most valuable resource.
Yet, we have so many ideas that feel exciting, valuable, and worth it.
How should we decide where to spend our time?
One way it to ask yourself, "If no one else knows I am doing this, would it still be worth it?"
Getting Started
Are you choosing to write a book because you want to add it to your resume?
Do you want to get that master's degree from Harvard, so that you can say you went to Harvard?
Do you want that fancy car, so that everyone can see how successful you are?
We should be proud of our accomplishments.
We should be proud to share our accomplishments.
However, we should work towards our accomplishments because it's worth it to us. Not to prove something to someone else.
What if your list of accomplishments for this year includes all things that no one, other than you and a few close friends and family, will ever see? Things like organizing your pantry, cleaning out closets, and getting your finances in order. Those accomplishments are all very much worth it - to you, to your family, and, likely, to your mental health.
When planning your next list of goals, as yourself, is this worth it and why.
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
Follow Me
Share this post
Be the Cheerleader
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Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
As a kid, I loved gymnastics. I loved doing it. I loved watching it. I loved cheering for my favorite gymnasts. Special shout out to two of my childhood heroes: Dominique Moceanu and Vanessa Atler!
Ironically, I never wanted to be a cheerleader. I didn't like the idea of cheering on the boys’ team. After all, no boys were cheering on our girls’ field hockey team.
As an adult, I feel differently.
I love being a cheerleader.
Being a cheerleader provides the feeling of joy when others succeed.
Being a cheerleader gives you a front-row seat for the journey, through the highs and the lows, and the opportunity to learn many valuable lessons along the way.
Getting Started
There isn’t a big secret in how to be a cheerleader for your friends, family, and colleagues. Simply show up. Send a text or a call on a day you know there’s something important happening. Send cards just to let them know you’re thinking of them. I have a friend who will send $10 through the Starbucks app on mornings she knows her friends have big presentations, job interviews, or just need that extra love.
I believe that the more we work together and support others, the more likely we are to succeed.
Enjoy the journey and surround yourself with those you believe in!
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.
Follow Me
Share this post
Annual Photo Book
Photo by Canva.
Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Annual Photo Book
We live in an age where we take photos all day long, but those photos almost all live in a digital world. We have to make a cognizant effort to print photos and display them in our homes or offices (assuming you still go to one). One way I love to capture and relive memories is by printing out an annual photo book.
This is the perfect time of year to set yourself up for success in creating a photo book for 2024 (or 2023 if you want to work backward).
Getting Started
I keep it simple.
My iPhone photos back up to Google Photos.
I go into Google Photos on my computer and click "Make a photo book".
Then I select all the photos from that year that make me smile.
I don't worry about the order. I usually keep it simple with one photo per page.
I spend a little time adding a note to any photos that have a memory attached that I want to remember.
Before I know it, I have a beautiful and fun way to remember all the great memories.
I have a friend who chooses to lay out her book every month. She backs her photos up to Shutterfly. Then, each month she sets aside 10-15 minutes to go through and upload the photos that she loves from that month. She then orders photo books and calendars for family and friends in November or December as holiday gifts.
How do you keep your memories alive?
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.