DO NOT WANT This week, I’m starting a series of user interviews at work, in an effort to develop personas for users of the content we produce. It’s all part of my role as a senior content strategist at a software company, and it is something I have been working toward for a year. I…
Tag: self improvement
My 12 favorite problems
I get a lot of ideas from podcasts lately. I sort of rediscovered them years after an initial foray into some true crime series when Serial was the cultural phenomenon. Based on a recommendation from a fellow productivity nerdette, I started listening to Hurry Slowly on my daily walks (which is more about exploring your…
New year, same old me
I can’t believe we’ve made it to 2023. It sounds so far in the FUTURE. I mean—as someone born in 1971—I grew up with the year 2000 as the shimmering threshold of a futuristic technotopia. We haven’t quite figured out the utopia aspect yet, but we truly do have a lot more tech, for better…
How was your year? Reflections on 2022
2022 was not a year of momentous changes or big accomplishments. When I look at my life now compared to the start of the year, it looks pretty much the same. Same house, same husband, same job, same daily routines, same lack of a social life. I watch the same TV shows, give or take….
Mid-year check-in
I launched this blog around the beginning of 2022, and while I am pleased with some of the content I’ve published, it is not really the blog that I want it to be. Why? I’m writing it as if I’m an expert trying to “monetize” or create professional clout in an area that I’m frankly…
Why You’ll Never Be Happy
If you want to enjoy your life, stop trying to be happy. There are so many books and podcasts and courses about finding happiness, you’d think there might be a formula or set of steps you can follow, but here’s the secret they never put on the book jacket: happiness is not a state that…
Get comfortable being uncomfortable
Why are you so uncomfortable? Why do we work so hard to avoid discomfort? Within our first few days of existence we’ve figured out that discomfort is part of the deal. To cope with it, we scream our heads off. We have to depend on others to change our diapers, feed us when we’re hungry,…
Five Foundational Habits
Habits are the key to a happy life. Or a terrible life. It really depends on the habits you pick. A great reference for choosing small habits and making them stick is James Clear’s Atomic Habits. Tiny, easy habits tend to lead to exponential changes over time, and healthy habits generate more healthy habits. On…
Plumb Wonderful 