Vacations really ARE good for you

It turns out that vacations ARE really good for you.  They do something to our brain.  It’s like “shaking up the snowglobe” so to speak. Vacations get us out of our ruts of daily life and help our brain think in new and exciting ways.

I recently took a week to visit my sister in Florida with my son.  I felt like I hadn’t taken a real vacation in a very long time.  Most of my trips the last few years have been to see my family back east and I’ve “helped” them start to purge for their next chapter.

My week away did my brain wonders in more ways than one.  I came back completely refreshed and looked around and saw things with a fresh set of eyes.  The same old living room looked newer and I saw things that I could purge that I hadn’t noticed before.  

I also came back feeling totally refreshed and ready to get back to work.  Excited to start a new project.

Taking a vacation isn’t just a break from work—it’s a powerful way to reset your mind and body. Science shows that stepping away from daily stress can lower your cortisol levels, boost your mood, and help you sleep better. In fact, research found that men who skip vacations for years are 30% more likely to have a heart attack. That’s a huge risk for something as simple—and enjoyable—as taking time off. Vacations also spark creativity, improve focus, and make you more productive when you return. And get this: just looking forward to a trip can make you happier for weeks. So if you’ve been putting off that getaway, think of it as a necessary act of self-care—not a guilty pleasure.

I’ve decided that even when I can’t take off for a week I can do day trips close to home that will take me out of my routine and shake my snowglobe up.  Going on small adventures close to home is good, too.  There are so many great things to see and do in our own backyards.  

What’s your next vacation you have planned?

Joy Snacking

Life moves fast. Between deadlines, responsibilities, and endless to-do lists, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and forget to pause for joy. But what if happiness didn’t have to wait for weekends or vacations? What if we could sprinkle tiny bursts of joy into our daily routine—just like a quick snack to refuel our energy.

Enter joy snacking—the simple, intentional practice of savoring small, everyday moments of happiness. These quick hits of joy don’t require grand plans or major life changes. Instead, they’re about embracing the little things that make you smile, bringing more lightness and ease into your day.

Our brains are wired to focus on what’s urgent, often skipping over what’s enjoyable. But research shows that small, repeated positive experiences can boost mood, reduce stress, and increase overall life satisfaction. Joy snacking is about training your brain to notice and amplify positivity, shifting your focus from what’s missing to what’s already present.

Think about it—when was the last time you let yourself fully enjoy a sip of coffee, a favorite song, or a deep belly laugh? These moments may seem fleeting, but when stacked together, they create a more fulfilling, resilient mindset.

The beauty of joy snacking is that it’s personal and flexible—there’s no right or wrong way to do it. It’s about finding micro-moments that make you feel good and intentionally soaking them in.

• Pause for Sensory Joy – Close your eyes and really savor the warmth of the sun on your skin, the first sip of your morning drink, or the sound of leaves rustling in the wind.
  

• Incorporate Playfulness – Watch a funny video, dance to your favorite song, doodle, or let yourself be silly for no reason.
  

• Engage in Micro-Acts of Kindness – A quick compliment, a thoughtful text, or even smiling at a stranger can create a ripple effect of joy.
  

• Celebrate Small Wins – Finished a task? Take a moment to appreciate it. Even tiny accomplishments deserve recognition.
  

Joy doesn’t have to be a far-off goal—it’s available in the present, waiting to be noticed. By weaving small, joyful moments into your day, you’re not just adding happiness—you’re training yourself to live a life that feels lighter, more balanced, and deeply fulfilling.

So, what’s one joy snack you can indulge in today?

Tackling Procrastination

I just wrote a course and filmed it recently about breaking the cycle of disorganization.  One of the main culprits of disorganization is procrastination.  We all deal with it.  But there are some things we can do to help mitigate it.

Recognizing the pattern of procrastination is the first step toward breaking it.  You know the feeling.  When you’ve had something on your to do list for weeks and it still isn’t getting done.  It weighs heavy on you.

One of the most effective ways to overcome procrastination is to make tasks feel more manageable. Big tasks can feel like an impossible mountain to climb. Breaking them into smaller, more manageable steps reduces the psychological resistance that fuels procrastination. 

Instead of staring at “Finish presentation” on your to-do list, try splitting it into “Outline key points,” “Design slides,” and “Practice delivery.”  Even just opening a new document and writing the title helps get the ball rolling.  Each small win builds momentum, helping you feel more accomplished and less overwhelmed.

Here are 3 easy things to do right now to tackle procrastination:

• Choose something you’ve been procrastinating
  

• If you can’t work on it now, calendar it.  
  

• Break the project into smaller bit size chunks (list steps it will take to complete it).
  

• You’ve got this!
  

Easing into the New Year

Hope you’re off to a smooth start to the New Year.  I’m easing into it slowly this year.  How about you? Anyone else feeling the need to start the year with ease?

I’ve changed over to a new calendar and planner and written a few intentions for the year but other than that I’ve been taking my time with fully embracing 2025.   I’ve decided that it’s ok.  

I’ve also decided that I’d like to do 3 easy things each day that help me feel lighter.

Here are a few easy things you can do right now:

• Clear your workspace  ( Set a timer for 10 minutes and do it, you’ll feel so much better)
  

• Drink a glass of water
  

• Say No to something that you really don’t want to do

  What would you like to leave behind in 2024 and bring more into 2025? 

I’d love to help your friends and loved ones feel more organized in the New Year!  Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have.

If you would like to feel more organized, I'm here for you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.  If you’d like to book a call with me to find out more, click here.  I'd love to connect!

Finding More Quiet in My Day

I’ve been craving quiet lately and decided to follow my intuition. I spent two nights this past week at a Monastery a few hours away.  I’ve always been drawn to monks for some reason.  The quiet, the routines and the lovely singing.  My goal was to find more quiet and unplug and I did.  I napped, read and attended their services filled with music.  I loved every minute of my stay and would love to go again next year.

It seems that silence can actually help us both physically and mentally.  Silence may help your health in several ways, including:

• lowering blood pressure

• improving concentration and focus

• calming racing thoughts

• stimulating brain growth

• reducing cortisol

• stimulating creativity

• improving insomnia

• encouraging mindfulness

If you have been wanting to incorporate more quiet in your day here are a few ideas for how you can. 

Ways you can find more quiet in your day:

• Wake up earlier.  Even 15 minutes to take advantage of the quiet house.

• Shut down all devices off an hour or two before bed.  

• Let other family members know your intention to help with accountability.

• Finding quiet out in nature is a bonus

Are you craving some quiet in your day?  

Feeling Gratitude This Season

As we move the clocks back and the days feel so much shorter I'm filled with gratitude.  Gratitude for the changing seasons, the colorful leaves, and gratitude for having my health. I’m one of those people who love the shorter, darker days.  It gives me the green light to hunker down and hibernate.

 It might not always feel like we have things to feel grateful for but the science is there to show us that feeling gratitude actually helps our brain. Gratitude really has the power to change how our brains work, thanks to something called neuroplasticity, which is just a fancy way of saying our brains can adapt based on our experiences. When we practice gratitude, we can:

• Build up positive connections: It helps strengthen the pathways in our brains linked to feelings like happiness and contentment.
  

• Weaken negative connections: Gratitude can also tone down those pathways associated with negative emotions, like guilt, shame, and aggression.
  

• Activate the medial prefrontal cortex: This part of the brain is all about learning, making decisions, and dealing with negative feelings.
  

• Lower cortisol levels: Practicing gratitude can help reduce cortisol, which is the stress hormone that kicks in when we're anxious or scared.
  

• Boost our happiness hormones: It even triggers the release of feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, making us happier overall.
  

So, embracing gratitude really does wonders for our minds!

A few easy ways to incorporate gratitude into your life are noticing what you are grateful for each day.  Maybe as you wake up you start your day with gratitude.  Some people write in a gratitude journal.  At Sunday dinner, we like to go around the table and share what we are grateful for.

What are you grateful for?  Do you have any gratitude practices you’d love to share?