restful productivity to live deliberately & avoid overwhelm 

How to Be Kind to my Future Self

How to Be Kind to my Future Self

What can I do today that will help me tomorrow? How can we be kind to the future version of ourselves who is tired and worn out? How can we do the thinking right now so that we do not have to do that later? The difficult part of tasks is often the thinking and…

How I Inherited a Love for Hobbies & Insouciance

How I Inherited a Love for Hobbies & Insouciance

We all come from generations of people who worked hard and then had lots of interests so that they could live abundant lives. They did not wait until they had all the knowledge or watch all the YouTube videos. They just tried stuff. When I think about all that my grandparents were able to do…

The Moving Finish Line of “Done”

The Moving Finish Line of “Done”

As an overachiever, I can be my own enemy. My own critic who raises expectations. I constantly move the finish line after I accomplish a goal or a difficult milestone. I do not stop and enjoy the achievement. I tell myself that I will. I say to myself in the hard moments when I have…

How I Read Every Day

How I Read Every Day

Why Getting A Lamp and Taking My Shoes Off Helps Me Read. I have a deep love for reading. I have worked to cultivate the consistent habit of reading for as long as I can remember.  When I arrive home from a family vacation I am annoyed that there was no time to read. I…

Tips for Moms with Mental Fatigue

Tips for Moms with Mental Fatigue

Parenting is hard. The learning curve of new parenting skills is always moving forward. There is an exhaustion that sets in from constantly thinking about small things, worrying about big things, and making decisions about what your children need. Each phase is radically different than before. Every few months there is a new skill to…

Encouragement for the Mom of Young Kids

Encouragement for the Mom of Young Kids

To the mom of young kids, I see you.  I hear your need to just sit in silence without anyone touching you. I get it that the laundry situation is impossible. I understand that the floors need to be swept and that you can’t even think straight. Tiny humans are hard in so many ways. …

Gaining Control When I’m Overwhelmed

Gaining Control When I’m Overwhelmed

How to gain control when my head is spinning. Productive tips for moms, humans, and homemakers about what to do next. Article Outline: My Story Questions to Ask Practical ways to solve overwhelm Simple Checklist My Story The kids were gone at Home Depot with Jim. I had at least an hour to myself to do whatever…

Why Hobbies Matter

Why Hobbies Matter

My Story –   I have found that hobbies have become an important part of being “just April”. Myself. Just me. Not all the roles I play and things I do. But just me, creating something for the sake of creation. I used to tell myself that I will have hobbies when my kids are grown,…

Morning Routines for Moms

Morning Routines for Moms

Spring and early Summer is a time that I focus on having a consistent morning routine. I have found much value in starting the day on my terms. I need some time to be alone, shower, get fully dressed, have some coffee in a dark kitchen and read. It does not go well if my…