Tuesday Thoughts | 30 August 2022 | The Great September Reset

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Ok, ok, not technically the new year, but at least the start of the new school year.

Even if you graduated decades ago, and don’t have kids heading back to the classroom, you undoubtedly feel the pull to make that shift from long-hot-summer-days to stop-with-the-pumpkin-spice-already-season. This is the time of year when most of us stop packing every little bit of vacation time into our calendars and refocus on bringing the year home hard.

Yesterday for #MotivationMonday I posted about the incredible power and potential that rests in this season; by now you probably also know that I run much of my life on processes, habits, and strategies that help me maximize my time, minimize inefficiencies and focus on what really matters – and spoiler, next week’s Tuesday Thoughts will give you a glimpse into what really matters for me.

I’m going to place this week’s Call to Action right up front, and then explain to you how I think you might do it. Call to Action: do 5 thoughtful things to set yourself up for success before December 31, 2022.

Make Getting Dressed Easier: Most of us have now made the (at least temporary) switch to traveling with carry-on-only luggage, when you pack a small bag, you have to evaluate what you’ll actually be doing, what the weather will be, and selecting things that mix and match well with each other.

We can do the same for our closets but on a more macro scale – I prefer the idea of the capsule plus wardrobe, most things match, all items fit, and I keep out only the items I need for the activities I have planned this fall – tuck the rest away in bins if you can’t bear to donate them.*

Buy Your Time Back: The first step of course is to figure out what your time is worth, what do you really make in an hour, (I know it can be painful) but you need to divide your salary – I like to use the after tax number for budget purposes; or, what you bill out at in an hour (less any relevant expenses, and remittances).

Now that you know that number you’ll be make quicker and more confident decisions about the most efficient things to contract out; as many of you know, I pay someone to cut my grass, because the per hour amount of the time I get back (not how long it takes a pro to do it, how long it takes me to do it) is less than the value of an hour of my time.

Remember Food is Fuel: Figuring out the most effective, and efficient way to get the right food into your diet is an art. As someone who genuinely enjoys cooking and eating – I actually rarely feel hungry, I simply love food way too much; I choose to make the majority of my own meals, sprinkling in old favorites and new culinary experiences for kitchen inspiration.

I’ve found a meal planning and meal prep system that works best for me (and includes buying my time back through grocery delivery); but the goal is to get the right fuel into your system in a way that improves instead of detracting from your day. From meal kits, to batch cooking, to ordering pre-prepared meals, your right solution will be unique to you. Don’t forget to pack those lunches to save some $$$.

If you are ever curious what I’ve got going on in my kitchen, I post regularly about my food on my Instagram: @danielle.s.russell. And, touch briefly on my meal prep regimen in today’s One Woman Island video – wherein I attempt to make dairy-free Spanakopita with Vegan Feta from Farm Boy (which you can order delivered to your doorstep via Voila in Ontario – if you too are looking to buy some time back).

Reset Your Calendar, Reset Your Budget: The easiest way to free up mental space is to stop worrying that you will run out of time, or money. Calendar Apps and Budgets aren’t magical, they won’t add a 25th hour to your day, nor will your budget automatically earn you more money if you need it; BUT they can help you figure out how to make the most of what you do have.

In the last 48 hours, I’ve been asked twice if I HAVE TIME to do something, both of the ladies who were asking have added immense value to my life in the time I’ve known them (one for a couple of decades, the other for a couple of years); so I responded with “I will MAKE TIME”, its easy to be confident that this is possible, because I know what’s in my calendar, and I have a general idea of where there are pockets of white-space. As our post-summer commitments ramp up, it becomes more and more important to know where we have to be, so that we can stop worrying we won’t have time.

Since January 1, 2022, I have spent $22,059.46 on Tuition and Professional Development, that includes the first 4 Modules of the Chartered Director program, and a couple of Conference registrations; I can also tell you to the cent, every penny I have spent this year, every penny I’ve made this year, and the exact balance of all of my liquid accounts (I can’t bare to look too closely at my investment accounts too often), and credit balances. Not everyone needs to, can, or is interested in this level of financial management; but whatever system you choose, you should have a general idea if you can afford a last-minute opportunity to experience something new.

Review Your Resolutions: Just over 30% of the year 2022 remains ahead of us; while I subscribe to the finish hard yearly theory that focuses on the last 90, and then the last 30 days, its important to review your goals now to ensure that your calendar and budget align with the fulfilment of your goals and objectives for this year.

My 2022 resolutions fall into 5 Buckets, along with a few key items on my Bucket List that I’ve identified as being obtainable for this year. Its time for me to revisit and refocus on the actions that make up my strategies to 1. Live Happy & Healthy, 2. Build My Career, 3. Enhance My Personal Brand, 4. Stay Organized and Focused, and 5. Eliminate Distractions.

By the way, I’m still looking for takers to join me in fulfilling a very specific Bucket List Item, to leave a 100% tip on a meal, I’d prefer to make it a spectacular meal and not something at a fast-casual restaurant. Let me know if you have something similar or compatible on your goal list for this year or beyond.

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*I’m not a stylist, most days I dress basically the same as I did in university, except now the sweaters are cashmere instead of $15 scratchy polyester from Suzy Sheer. But, I have been following with interest the journey of Reidin Rees who I know from the Toy Industry, if you’re looking for a Style Coach – while I haven’t worked with her, the values she bases her work on are something I can absolutely get behind.*

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I was overwhelmed last week with the outpouring of supportive comments, thoughtful suggestions and offers to help in my search for my next great career adventure. So much so, that I actually put out a poll asking my LinkedIn Community why they thought that I could get away with flipping the script from adding immediate value, to seeking help finding a place to make lasting value. In this spirit, I am redoubling my efforts to add value, build community, and keep that Karma bank full. I hope you’ll consider subscribing to my #TuesdayThoughts newsletter to keep up with my journey.

New and Noteworthy?is a collection of things readers of?#TuesdayThoughts?might find interesting, important, or informative;

??What to Read:?The Relationship Between Strategy and Business Architecture from Kevin Brennan | LinkedIn Lessons I Learned From My Garden from Leanne Calderwood | 5 ways to show you can lead — even when you don’t have a leadership role from IDEAS.TED.COM h/t MacPhie | For Lori Duthie, head of the Canadian International Air Show, creating spectacular CNE events runs in the family from The Star h/t Sarah Fink | Bucket List or F*ck It List…? from Jennifer Spear and WorkUnScripted | Finding the courage to show up. That is where it all starts. from Danielle Wong

??What to Watch:?CTV Spot featuring Taylor Lindsay-Noel, TikToker puts restaurants, bars to the test over wheelchair accessibility | CSAE Halifax 2022 Conference teaser |

??What to Listen To: Warren Weeks' podcast with 64 published episodes

????What to Do:?Vote to Support the Creation of a City of Toronto Skyline from LEGO Architecture | Apply for the TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund | Nominate A Rising Star (and other awards) in the MPI Ottawa Chapter h/t Elodie Lortal | Check Out the first GLOBAL membership research project from Sarah Sladek | Apply to Attend Your First CSAE Conference for Free

????♀?Cool Jobs (Paid and Volunteer):?Travel and Tourism Development Specialist @ Tourism Kingston h/t MC Thibault | Senior Program Manager, Socially Responsible Purchasing @ Amazon | Senior Coordinator, Events & Communications @ Club Managers Association of Canada h/t Amanda Cormier | Coordinator, Member Relations @ CSAE h/t Penny Tantakis | Executive Director @ Equal Voice h/t Frances LeBlanc

??Take Note:?Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Tool from Destinations International h/t Miranda Ji | Capitalize every word of a Hashtag to increase Accessibility for those who use screenreaders from Heather McCain | Krisp.ai h/t Tami Adams |

??I am a Certified Association Executive with nearly over a dozen years of experience in leadership positions in Canada's Not-for-Profit Sector; as a College Professor, occasional Speaker, and contributor to blogs, newsletters, and media, I am skilled at using the art of storytelling to explain my ideas and inform audiences and readers on a variety of topics.

??♀?I am also a Certified Organizational Specialist and Practical Minimalist, who happens to have an unhealthy love for Excel Spreadsheets. I don't do this work often, but I am always happy to give a bit of advice if you are struggling.

??Did you know I also paint and draw? I am passionate about the benefits of Adult Colouring, and can create custom colouring sheets for speech and workshop audiences, by request.

Not-for-Profit Consulting Services?(pdf) | Check Out my website?daniellerussell.ca

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LinkedIn?Danielle S. Russell, CAE (she/her)?| Instagram ???@danielle.s.russell?| Twitter?@dani__russell?|?YouTube???One Woman Island

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