Welcome to my newsletter. The mission of this is to offer you some helpful organizing and productivity tips, share useful tools, fun stuff, and a fair amount random Anne insight based on whatever shiny objects I happen to be chasing at the time. Hope you enjoy it!

A week or so ago our power went out about 7pm. Not at all uncommon where I live. One strong wind, some old trees, and we can be off the grid for a full day or more. A piece of me actually loves it when it happens, especially at night. You can’t watch tv or be on your computer, it’s dark, it’s wonderfully quiet except for a few distant generators. It’s a detox. We all went to bed. 

I’m an early riser generally, and as of 6am the next morning, there was still no indication of when the power would be restored, and I was the only one awake. I made my coffee on the stove. (Grateful for gas!) With the electric fence off, I had to keep a close eye on the dog.  I worried about the food in the fridge & freezer, now off for many hours. I knew we’d have to power up our generator soon too. But as everyone slept I decided to try and be productive. 

I couldn’t figure out how to get started. I got a legal pad, always an excellent brainstorming tool. I stared out the window. I put my head down on the table and went back to sleep for a few minutes. Got more coffee. Flipped through my book to see my existing to-dos. Decided I could work on the newsletter with pen and paper. Wrote out one idea. Liked but decided that topic was better for later, which got me looking ahead to when to share those ideas with you... maybe September. That got me looking ahead to the fall and things I’d like to do then, so I put those thoughts on paper. Because I wasn’t on the computer, it was easy to resist the urge to take action on any of these thoughts/plans --- go down research rabbit holes or send emails.  I just kept making notes. And the notes started coming out strong as that rainstorm that knocked the power out. 

Here’s what got done that morning:

1. Drafted my SEPTEMBER newsletter

2. Created my July & August Bullet Journal calendars in my book and identified key days for work and family time.  

3. Brain-dumped plans for a Back to School webinar I’m doing in August (more on that later!)

4. Made notes on what I want to think about for my next biz planning day in July. 

5. Fed the dog

6. Wrote the draft of THIS newsletter. 

This was all done by 8:30am. Pretty sure that me, my notebook and my stove top coffee just did a solid day’s work in two hours. Had the power been on, and my computer at hand, I’d have gone down some rabbit hole of calendar review, or research, or shopping, or run out of time when the kids woke up asking for rides somewhere.  But that didn’t happen because it was just me and my thoughts. 

The moral of the story: cut the powerlines.

But seriously… 

We all hear about how we need to unplug for our mental health, yadda yadda, yadda.  No disagreement here. But... what that morning reminded me is that being plugged in:

• Steals Our Focus

• Stunts Our Creativity

• SLOWS DOWN Productivity. 

Not only did I get several concrete things done, I used that focused brain power for planning. That set me on course for a less stressful week ahead, one where I was aware of what I needed and wanted to do, and when I’d get it done. I won’t wait for the power to go out again before to get that kind of experience. It was just too good.

Product Recommendations of the Month

Stovetop Coffee Pot

This is the kind of pot I have. Saves the day whenever the power goes out!

Makes me feel like I’m on a balcony in Venice looking at the early morning mist rising from the canals...

Trip-It

Lately it seems like I’ve gone very analog in my newsletters and posts, but that’s not the whole me. I love good useful technology, so let me share one I’ve used for years and might come in handy as you prep your post-pandemic travel.  Trip-It is a website and app that helps you organize all your travel plans from flight schedules and confirmations to destinations, hotels etc..  The genius part of it -- when you get that email with your hotel or flight confirmation, you simply forward it to your Trip-It email, and it puts all those details into your online itinerary. Then it’s all available in the app on your phone as well. You can share it with all your fellow travelers or anyone you like. The free version is very robust and I’ve never needed more, but there is a premium version for $49 per year that adds alerts and features like flight tracking. 

What I’m Consuming

NPR

NPR is kind of the soundtrack of my life - I’m crave that comforting background sound of quiet smart people talking. I’m a fan of this weekly show/podcast: “It’s Been A Minute with Sam Sanders”. It’s news and culture in a less traditional format and brings fresh perspective to things going on in the world. Two wonderful signature elements: His Aunt Betty’s introduction every week, and his closing montage of listeners telling us the best thing that happened to them all week.

News About StepOne

Productivity Services

Do you struggle managing your time? Do you have a million projects swirling about at work or at home that you can’t seem to get traction on?  Still trying to find that elusive work-life balance? I can help. I now offer productivity consulting services to help you with prioritizing your tasks, establishing routines, organizing your space and your time to help you get more done.  Over a series of six online sessions, we find the tools and techniques best suited for you to help you get and maintain that ‘productive day feeling’. If you’d like to learn more, you can schedule a free discovery call with me here.

COVID Protocols

I am thrilled to report that I am fully vaccinated!  I am continuing to serve both organizing and productivity clients in-person and virtually.  When working in person, I will respectfully follow whatever protocols make you feel most comfortable. There are also many instances where I work independently in a space, conferring with clients only at the start and end of a session or via phone or video. Virtual organizing and productivity consulting are excellent alternatives, with clients working hands on with step-by-step guidance from me along the way.  Questions about working together?  Send me an email, let’s chat!

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