I finished recording the audio for my new book a day early, which meant that the day after the U.S. election, I had nothing scheduled on my calendar. Lying in bed and weeping seemed like a good idea, but the kids needed breakfast, the dog needed a walk, and I remembered I was on a deadline for a few articles.
Here’s what I did instead: I made the bed. I moved my body. I brought flowers to our neighbors. I broke down the cardboard boxes by the back door and wiped down the kitchen counters. I bought a tiny spoon for our bowl of flaky salt and ordered the cheerful wallpaper I’d been eyeing for months. I cried alone in my car, and then I took myself to my favorite co-working space, where I wrote and wrote and wrote.
I have always found action to be the antidote to despair, and it felt good to do these small things, along with dropping off a bag of donations. If you need a little mood boost—now or anytime—consider trying one of these simple micro-wins:
Get Something Out of Your House – a shop return, a bag of donations, or that roasting pan you borrowed from your neighbor.
Clean Something – your refrigerator, your dusty bookshelves, anything that could use a little refresh.
Fix Something – mend or repair something that’s broken.
Make a Simple Treat – make something small and easy, like warm oatmeal with a sprinkle of cinnamon or toast with your favorite toppings.
Bring the Outside In – gather a few flowers or some greenery from outside (or your yard) and arrange them in a small vase or jar on your nightstand.
Help Someone – do something kind and meaningful for someone else.
Hope you’re all finding small ways to find comfort today and every day. Sending big hugs. x
PS. I am committed to keeping my platform a safe and inclusive space, free of political sparring. I’m well aware that our country is deeply divided - this post is intended to soothe the many people who are scared and suffering right now. If it doesn't resonate for you, I hope it will be helpful at another time in your life. x
Just Published: I wrote this article for TIME magazine on the galvanizing power of micro-wins. Read it here.
I love
’s simple two-part solution for when you’re not sure what to do. Read it here.11/18: Meet me at Marché - a curated holiday marketplace celebrating women-owned brands (SF Bay Area). I’ll be posted at the Saffron and Poe booth signing copies of Minimalista and Organized Living and gifting exclusive advanced copies of LifeStyled every hour! Tix here.
12/3 NYC Book Launch News: Save the date for my NYC book launch party December 3rd at 7pm at Williams Sonoma in Chelsea. Join me for bubbly, book signing, and a discussion moderated by podcast host Katie Fogarty. Tickets available soon (promise to share here first).
12/6 SF Bay Area Book Launch Celebration: Only a handful of tickets left for my book launch party at the Erica Tanov design studio + showroom with curated holiday shopping and sips from Sophie James wine. Join the fun.
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My daughter told me what she did yesterday. As usual, she got her six year old to the bus stop and prepared to work from home. But, first, she brought her mother-in-law (who lives nearby) a bouquet of flowers. Then, she listened to a voicemail that her grandmother (my mom) had left for her during a difficult time. Her Grandma told her that she loved her, and she wished she were there to give her a hug. My mom died eight years ago at 93. I had no idea that she kept the voicemail.
Then, I cried.
As always, thanks for your wise words. I was so optimistic on Tuesday morning, so the evening results hit hard. Woke on Wednesday in a fog, then finally started moving! We will get through this detour, even though we did not choose it.