May I say this. I truly enjoy your content. You are such a breath of fresh air. Every post is so timely and inspiring. You are never pushing products, just honest recommendations…..which I trust. You are one of the newsletters that I am always looking forward to reading. Now, everything feels so pushy and so buy this..here is the link. It’s exhausting. I deeply thank you for your content and thoughtful recommended inspiration.
Oh, Linda, the music one!! I love live music and supporting musicians. I think it’s so important, yet I don’t do it as much as I’d like! Sometimes it feels like it’s an energy problem (I feel too tired to go check out something I’d planned) as much as a time problem…?
The protein Pop Tarts got me to stop and stare in the supermarket aisle the other day. Love this piece bc it feels so current, resonated immediately, and I see this trend in the wellness world most of all. Miss the days of Dove soap and just going to bed. Time to step back. PS- LOVE that alarm clock ;)
I keep saying to all my family members who are so quick to look up how to do things, or search the name of that movie we forgot, or quickly google how to fix something, or ask AI how to plant the pack of seedlings we have... that we can actually sit in the unknowing space and work it out ourselves. Or we can ask an actual human being!! We can ask a neighbour for advice, or we can go into the garden centre for gardening help, or we can ask the mechanic we play pickleball with for advice on our old car.
I know this sounds maybe sounds a bit ignorant, but sometimes I'd actually prefer not to know something than to look it up on AI.
Anyway, I agree with you. Thanks for writing this. x
Thanks Courtney - I am also doing my best to ask actual humans for advice versus the online shortcut. Sitting in the unknown is becoming a lost art! xx
I can't believe how you have read my mind, Shira. Your argument is aligned to the brilliant 2020 book How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell, too. The bio-hacking is what grates me -- do we really need to optimize our morning walk? If I didn't see another "protocol" again I would be overjoyed. There is too much data being observed & not enough birdsong. My personal favorite non-optimized tool is stationery and a silky pen. (And cool stamps.) I still get excited when I get social mail in the mailbox. I also feel that our kids need to know some of these rituals we all grew up with: answering the door, calling a business, walking to the corner store, opening a dictionary... the list goes on. I want my girls to have these basic life skills if only to reconnect to their humanity.
Great and timely article, Shira! No New Things by Ashlee Piper is an excellent book and resource! I also like it on audio to listen to reminders sometimes as I take walks. Laura Fenton's article on delivery culture was eye opening for me and prompted me to make changes as well. I walk to the library to pick up my books and try to also walk to the small grocery store nearby for produce. Taking up birdwatching has been so helpful for me to slow down and stop trying to get everything "done" and tackling "to-do's" all of the time.
I first read the headline as "Stop Organizing Everything" and wondered what sea change had happened to you. I was shocked, shocked, I tell you. The real headline is even better. This is all delightful, and I'm enjoying the comments so much, too.
Hey if you have any similar recommendations please share! I love any sort of book about minimalism, simplifying, living intentionally, and generally combating the consumerism whirlpool 😆
So I'm pretty steeped in the concepts of Lean management and there are some really fabulous concepts that come from manufacturing that you can apply at home (it's the cornerstone of Sorted State)
If you're interested - try l check out Just In Time for today and tomorrow. It's a dense read but it will change the way you think about Everything at home (like inventory and efficiency for the sake of having more time for creative thinking)
May I say this. I truly enjoy your content. You are such a breath of fresh air. Every post is so timely and inspiring. You are never pushing products, just honest recommendations…..which I trust. You are one of the newsletters that I am always looking forward to reading. Now, everything feels so pushy and so buy this..here is the link. It’s exhausting. I deeply thank you for your content and thoughtful recommended inspiration.
Oh wow, thank you so much. xx
Couldn't agree more Tatiana!
I’ve been making a list too. A few from my list to add to yours are:
Take pictures with a camera that is not my phone- and have them developed.
Hand write a note and mail it.
Go to a movie in a theater.
Find live music whether in the park, pipe organ music at a church, the local orchestra or a stage at the local coffee bar.
Turn on a radio.
I love doing hand written notes. It's actually a way I use my kids daycare "art" - I write a note on the back and mail to family members
Kate, what a great idea!
That's a great idea!!
Brilliant! xx
Oh, Linda, the music one!! I love live music and supporting musicians. I think it’s so important, yet I don’t do it as much as I’d like! Sometimes it feels like it’s an energy problem (I feel too tired to go check out something I’d planned) as much as a time problem…?
Love this list - ty for sharing! xx
I choose the grocery store checkout line staffed by a human.
I write things I want to remember with a pen in a little notebook I carry with me.
I hand-write letters and walk to a mailbox to mail them.
I call people on the phone and talk instead of texting.
I brew coffee on the stove in a Moka Pot instead of pushing a button on an automatic drip coffee maker.
My brain feels better when I go analog!
Ooh I love having a little notebook and pen with me so I don't have to get out my phone. Thanks for the reminder! xx
The protein Pop Tarts got me to stop and stare in the supermarket aisle the other day. Love this piece bc it feels so current, resonated immediately, and I see this trend in the wellness world most of all. Miss the days of Dove soap and just going to bed. Time to step back. PS- LOVE that alarm clock ;)
It was the protein popcorn and the protein… SODA????? that got me. 😭 Like, what are we even doing?
WHAT ARE WE DOING!!??
100% - time to get back to basics! xx
Thanks for linking to my post about delivery culture!
Loved that post! And I am guilty as charged! xx
I love this!
I keep saying to all my family members who are so quick to look up how to do things, or search the name of that movie we forgot, or quickly google how to fix something, or ask AI how to plant the pack of seedlings we have... that we can actually sit in the unknowing space and work it out ourselves. Or we can ask an actual human being!! We can ask a neighbour for advice, or we can go into the garden centre for gardening help, or we can ask the mechanic we play pickleball with for advice on our old car.
I know this sounds maybe sounds a bit ignorant, but sometimes I'd actually prefer not to know something than to look it up on AI.
Anyway, I agree with you. Thanks for writing this. x
Courtney, I'm with you. I'd rather continue a conversation and wonder about something than have anyone get out their phone.
Thanks Courtney - I am also doing my best to ask actual humans for advice versus the online shortcut. Sitting in the unknown is becoming a lost art! xx
I can't believe how you have read my mind, Shira. Your argument is aligned to the brilliant 2020 book How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell, too. The bio-hacking is what grates me -- do we really need to optimize our morning walk? If I didn't see another "protocol" again I would be overjoyed. There is too much data being observed & not enough birdsong. My personal favorite non-optimized tool is stationery and a silky pen. (And cool stamps.) I still get excited when I get social mail in the mailbox. I also feel that our kids need to know some of these rituals we all grew up with: answering the door, calling a business, walking to the corner store, opening a dictionary... the list goes on. I want my girls to have these basic life skills if only to reconnect to their humanity.
Beautifully said! Back to stationary and a silky pen! xx
I only read print books, I use a paper and pencil planner, and I’ve never used ChatGPT. I also love to mail handwritten notes to people!
Sweet! xx
Practice to improve your signature like you did in middle school.
Ooh - GOOD ONE! xx
Great and timely article, Shira! No New Things by Ashlee Piper is an excellent book and resource! I also like it on audio to listen to reminders sometimes as I take walks. Laura Fenton's article on delivery culture was eye opening for me and prompted me to make changes as well. I walk to the library to pick up my books and try to also walk to the small grocery store nearby for produce. Taking up birdwatching has been so helpful for me to slow down and stop trying to get everything "done" and tackling "to-do's" all of the time.
I love how many people have mentioned birdwatching recently - a return to simple pleasures and nature. xx
I went into my browser and deleted all of my saved credit card information.
And I have a 24 hour cool off period before any checkouts online.
I wrote a whole series about this in December (Called combating consumerism) and I learned so much in preparing and researching for it!
I first read the headline as "Stop Organizing Everything" and wondered what sea change had happened to you. I was shocked, shocked, I tell you. The real headline is even better. This is all delightful, and I'm enjoying the comments so much, too.
Ha! No I am very much still on team pro-organizing ;)
They also have protein Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, I have seen those in the store also 🙈
Stolen Focus is such a good read!
They've gone too far!! And thanks for the book rec. xx
I love writing letters, cards, etc.
Also, as a book recommendation, have you ever read Carl Honore's In Praise of Slowness?
Ooh thanks for the rec! xx
I love this book! I had to read it for a class in college. (Ahem 20 years ago)
Hey if you have any similar recommendations please share! I love any sort of book about minimalism, simplifying, living intentionally, and generally combating the consumerism whirlpool 😆
I just published this one today: https://sortedstate.substack.com/p/enough-is-fewer-sheets-than-you-think?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=wfbxd (I don't like to self promote on someone else's publication, but it's a good example of how an inventory reduction impacts our lives for the better
So I'm pretty steeped in the concepts of Lean management and there are some really fabulous concepts that come from manufacturing that you can apply at home (it's the cornerstone of Sorted State)
If you're interested - try l check out Just In Time for today and tomorrow. It's a dense read but it will change the way you think about Everything at home (like inventory and efficiency for the sake of having more time for creative thinking)
What's the name of the book you're recommending? I'd like to look for it.
https://www.amazon.com/Just-Tomorrow-Japanese-Management-English/dp/0915299208#:~:text=Product%20information%20*%20%233%2C057%2C309%20in%20Books%20(See,*%20%23194%2C461%20in%20Textbooks%20(Special%20Features%20Stores)
It's pretty hard to find new. I have a very old copy from when I was doing my masters
Thanks. I have Toyota Kata but will look at the others.
This is the more famous one: https://www.amazon.com/Toyota-Production-System-Beyond-Large-Scale/dp/0915299143
Easier to find too!!
Love this Shira. It’s definitely time.
I’m a huge fan of sending a note or writing a thank you card. My fiancé was baffled when I told him that I keep a stack in my office!
But I love sending an unexpected surprise in your mailbox. It takes time. It takes effort. It can be so meaningful and brighten their day.