Thought of the week – Live the Pareto Principle Lifestyle

Greetings all!

I was recently thinking about the Pareto Principle in the context of how we often stress ourselves out and spread ourselves thin: by going down the rabbit hole of internet (even in the name of research!), or being unable to say no, or hanging out with people who no longer spark joy. You can probably relate, no?

Image from https://library.cod.edu/consumer/stress 

The Pareto Principle is also known as the 80/20 Rule, which specifies that 80% of consequences come from 20% of the causes. Here is a great quote that I love by James Clear that talks about living Pareto Principle lifestyle:

“Relationships. Who are the few people that have the most positive impact on my life? Spend more time with them.

Priorities. What are the few actions that have the most positive impact on my day? Prioritize them.

Learning. What are the few information sources I learn the most from? Focus on them.

Stress. What are the few sources that cause most of the stress and friction in my life? Eliminate them.”

What did you think? Drop me a line! 

Sources:

• https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/may-25-2023
• https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/paretoprinciple.asp

Random: The Oldest Thing

Greetings all!
 
I was recently thinking about how small we are in the grand scheme of things. Why was I thinking about it, you might ask?
 
I was looking at the pictures from my recent trip to Norway, and one picture kept catching my eye (and my mind). In the Botanical Gardens of Oslo, I touched a pink rock that might be between 400 and 250 MILLION years old. How about that? Goes without saying, that was the oldest thing I have experienced in my life! 

What did you think? Drop me a line!

Selection of Creative Kids’ Halloween Costumes

Source (and more!): https://www.aol.com/111-kids-won-halloween-creative-070045909.html

Halloween Sangria

Greetings all!

Look how cute this drink becomes with the addition of gummy worms – so creative!

Image and recipe from 

https://www.totalwine.com/cocktail-recipes/halloween-sangria

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle red wine (750ml)
• 3 oz. Brandy
• 1 orange, cut into wedges
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 cups ginger ale
• 1 dash grenadine
• 1 cup gummy worms 

Instructions:

• Pour wine into a pitcher.
• Add Brandy into the pitcher.
• Squeeze the juices from the lemon and orange into the wine, then place the lemon and orange into the pitcher.
• Add the sugar and stir until it dissolves.
• Chill overnight.
• Add club soda, grenadine and gummy worms before serving.

Bon Appetit! Let me know how you like it!

Are You Taking Better Care of Your Phone than Your Mind?

Greetings all!

“Are you taking better care of your phone than your mind?” – this was the subject of an email I received recently, and it gave me pause - because ironically, I was charging my phone while going through my inbox! 

Read on for the CALM remember-reflect-reframe tips (I always love the reframe one!) and very doable suggestions on how to recharge your mind.

Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/serenity-nature-flower-zen-calm-1851950/

“When was the last time you charged your phone? What about your mind? Most of us wouldn’t dream of draining our phone battery to zero, but when it comes to our minds, we’ll often let them run on empty.

You can choose to take care of your mental health by recharging your mind like you charge your phone — regularly and like it won’t function without it (because it won’t).

Remember: You’re not a robot. Please rest before your battery is empty.

Reflect: What’s one small thing you can do each day to keep your mental health battery topped up?

Reframe: “I’m too busy for a break” → “Taking breaks boosts my productivity and wellbeing.
 
Here are the brain-boosters you can try:

• Recharge your mind with sleep

• Unplug from stress and anxiety with meditation (my tip is to just UNPLUG!)

• Charge your mind with the breath

• Drink a glass of water (no seriously, do it)

• Get some daylight on your eyeballs

• Go for a walk. Even walking around your kitchen table is better than nothing."

Do not let your battery drain! What did you think? Drop me a line! 

Source: CALM

Around the World in 11 Desserts

Greetings all!

On Sunday, I woke up to the pleasant news that Monday, October 14, is a National Dessert Day in the United States! But why limit ourselves to one country? Here are some delicious desserts from around the world! 

Chocolate Chip Cookies, United States / Shutterstock

Gelato, Italy / Shutterstock

Baklava, Turkey / Shutterstock 

Cannoli, Sicily / Shutterstock

Crème Brûlée, France / David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS/Getty Images

Dan Tats, Hong Kong / Shutterstock

Gulab Jamun, India / Shutterstock

Eszterhazy Torta, Hungary / Shutterstock

Flan, Latin America / Bob Fila/Chicago Tribune/MCT/Getty Images

Medovik, Russia / Shutterstock

Snow Ice, Xue Hua Bing, Taiwan / Shutterstock

What is your favorite dessert? Drop me a line!

Source (and more desserts!): https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/world-50-best-desserts/index.html

Selection of Funnies: Dinosaur Couch Comics

Source (and more images!): https://www.boredpanda.com/funny-relatable-comics-dinosaurcouch-part-4/