Thursday, October 21, 2026
I recently listened to two podcasts where they were talking about what’s working for them in this season – Lazy Genius and Emily P. Freeman.
Cold calls! I love when someone calls me out of the blue. Sometimes these happen in the morning and I love it. I want people to feel that they can call me. I actually have more energy to talk in the morning than I do after lunch!
Cottage cheese in eggs – It makes them so fluffy! I think this works best in an oven egg bake or in the microwave. It doesn’t work as well for me in a skillet. It’s also pretty cool how much protein is in cottage cheese. I have not enjoyed it with pasta (although we do use this instead of ricotta in our lasagna) and I don’t want to bake with it, though. I have my limits.
My paper agenda in a notebook size and an old kid notebook with pages still left. I write things in the generous spaces and then each day I take the things and list them on a notebook page along with other to dos and my protein count (most days). I write things like: clean bathrooms, wash bathroom rugs, collect trash for trash day, defrost __ for dinner. I really like to cross things off. I also set alarms on my phone if needed. I have been counting protein grams by writing them down, too, and find that is motivating for me. I plan to order some cute notepads soon that will make me happier than notebook paper.
Screenshotting events going on this fall on my phone and then transferring them to my paper agenda. If I can go, I go when the date rolls around.
Making a seasonal bucket list. I blog about it and also write it out on a piece of cardstock and keep it on my memo board and see what I still want to do. If I no longer care about the thing, I just cross it out. I don’t make it a thing of pressure but a thing of fun and intentionality.
Do you do any of these things or think they would work for you?
What’s not working for me?
I am having a hard time getting to blog comments or commenting on blogs that join link ups when they come in after my allotted computer time. I try to cut myself off from my laptop around 8 am. I rarely come back to it the rest of the day. I don’t like responding on my phone. This is very much a ME problem but I just don’t want to spend too much time on my laptop.
When to go to the gym. I no longer want to go when it’s dark o’clock in the morning. I want to go in the 8-9 am range when stores are open so I can bundle with other errands. I just don’t have a set routine right now and I also have to work in at least two walks for EO. It’s rough – just kidding!
When to get dressed for the day which results in me staying in exercise clothes more than I would like. Maybe this is ok? I don’t know.
Now this last one…I need your advice. I have booked an Airbnb for the day after Thanksgiving and the day after Christmas for just one night each. We can still cancel (up to the day before) for one or both. These are in my hometown and it’s to keep us connected and close. Last year we didn’t see each other at all during Thanksgiving and it was sad. However, they only have a long weekend for Thanksgiving break. Then, Christmas is a mere month later, but they do have two weeks to a month for break. Do we do both and whomever comes, comes. Do we do one or like Kate suggests, do we pick a non-holiday time to start this tradition? We only have an hour’s drive, Molly has a 2-hour drive, and Kate has a 3-hour drive. I feel that I bear the weight of this responsibility and decision-making, you know?
I am open to your suggestions!
Amy
I go to the gym around 7 and workout for an hour so most stores are open by the time I leave at 8 and I do like to run errands then and then I’m home and dressed by 9:30 or so and get my breakfast started. But only M W F. Tuesday if I go to yoga that class runs from 8-9 so everything gets pushed back an hour and then on Thursdays I tend to skip the gym entirely so I can get our grocery shopping done before the weekend. I’ll make every effort to squeeze in a hike this afternoon if the weather cooperates or else I might jump on the treadmill in the basement.
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That’s a good routine!
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If you don’t open your laptop past 8:00 am, when do you write your post for the following day? All on the weekend? Or do you crank them all out for the week on say, a Monday? (Though you certainly couldn’t do Friday’s post on a Monday!) Regarding the AirBnb, personally, I wouldn’t book a night not knowing who is going to show up based on others not having a lot of time off. I mean, you’d have to book a pretty big Airbnb on the possibility that many can come. And then if they can’t, you’re stuck with a pretty large Airbnb. Which is fine if you’re ok with that!
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I load photos on my phone app throughout the day when I have something to add and make the framework/structure for several posts on Sunday morning. I both read other blogs and write my own blog post during the 6-8 am time frame.
I booked the same airbnb as we did last Christmas and they have such a generous cancellation policy – you can cancel up to the day before.
But that is good advice. I want to decide on Thanksgiving soon. I think I am ok with only doing Christmas again. It’s funny because the kids all want to do both but it’s the parents that are more hesitant based on time off from work and school.
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I loved reading all the things that are working and not working for you. And how funny that I cold called you while you were writing this yesterday?! I appreciate that you don’t mind those calls. I’ve gotten to where I tell people this; one new friend recently asked me if he could call me as he drives home in the morning from work, and I told him he doesn’t have to ask me. And since then he hasn’t!
Before I offer a suggestion, how will it make you feel if another holiday passes and you don’t see each other again this year during that magical time? If the thought makes you sad, then keep the reservation and whoever comes will come. If you know that you’ll see them another time not too long after the holidays and everyone can come, then change it to a later date. I think I would feel sad about not seeing them at the holidays, even if just for one night, but you’re the one that will have to make that call as oldest boss lady.
Those are just my two cents. I hope it helps some.
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Haha – it was really funny!
That is a really good way to frame it – how will you feel? I will think on that.
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On the AirBnB, I would say pick one because 2 that close together seems like a lot to me. But at the end of the day, if it makes you happy to do it, then nothing else matters.
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Yes, that makes sense. I hate decision making sometimes!
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Amy,
I am a retired nurse. Worked my share of holidays. Personally celebrating Thanksgiving on a non holiday was always fairly easy. Now Christmas……. I always struggled with that. I applaud your desire to keep the family close. I love and appreciate your blog .
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My mom’s side of the family gathers for Easter weekend. As kids and grandkids got married and needed to celebrate with both families it just became too hard to get everyone together at the same time for Thanksgiving or Christmas. No ones competing for Easter so we get a great turn out.
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