If you love #5SmartReads, would you be open to sharing them? You’ll get perks if you do! Set up your unique share link below and share #5SmartReads with anyone you think would enjoy them! This word is a bit of a double-edged sword, and I am NOT talking about personal accountability when it comes to the things we say and do and the consequences they may bear. I’m talking about the other version - the kind of accountability that helps you establish habits, build a different lifestyle, and achieve your goals. Two years ago, my Dry January accountability groups helped me take a much-needed break from that evening glass of wine that crept into 2, then 3 during the first year of the pandemic. That experience - and repeating Dry January again last year and this year - are helping me establish a different relationship with drinking that feels aligned with who I am and who I want to be. While I was writing and editing We’re Speaking, my friend Rebecca was hard at work on The Modern Loss Handbook. We checked in daily over text about our word count or goals for the day, and sent supportive messages to each other to help us stay focused and on task. I can’t speak for Rebecca, but I still revisit screenshots from some of her texts that were so kind and motivating. I have a million other examples of how accountability or core groups have helped me achieve any goal (small and big ones alike). And when I think about what I want this platform and community to stand for, helping one another live their best lives - on their terms - is at the core of it. I’m really excited to be partnering with obé this month, and part of the collaboration is hosting an accountability group for those who want to build or grow their fitness practice. This group will be hosted on WhatsApp - you can pick whichever program that fits your interest or goal (I’m personally doing the Gym Program and the Core Challenge), and we’ll have regular check-ins to help one another stay on track. If you want to join this group, just hit reply and let me know! We’ll kick things off on Monday morning. If you have a different goal (Dry January, eating more nutritiously, sleeping more, reading more, or something I haven’t rattled off), I’m using the subscription feature on Instagram to host accountability groups there (the subscription is $2.99/month). On this platform, participants will get daily check-ins via Instagram Stories (only for subscribers), small DM groups based on common goals, and exclusive Q&A with me (every question will be answered and you can DM me if you’d like to ask it privately). You can subscribe here, and things will be kicked off on Monday. And for the sake of transparency, here are some of my goals and the linchpin habits (habits that have a positive spillover effect) that I’m focused on building to live with more ease (my word of 2023): My focus for Q1 this year is to improve my health (to keep my A1C levels in healthy range and to be able to keep up with my very energetic kids). Here are the linchpin habits I’m establishing to achieve that goal:
If you want some extra support to build your best life on your terms, I hope you join us! There’s a whole cliche about a goal without a plan is just a dream, but it rings true for me. I want all of us to succeed and I know we can - especially if we help one another. Cheesy? Yes. But I’m a cheeseball and I’m not afraid to admit it. What I Read This Week
What Everyone Else Read This Week
Top #5SmartReads Of The Week
The rest of the week’s reads + last week’s (and conversations!) are below: Monday January 2, 2023 Your Questions, Answered What’s your hype song of the moment? Your favorite travel bag? Luggage - my Away carry-on is still going strong, nearly 8 years later. So is the iFLY Luggage set I got 5 years ago. My husband and cousin (both travel A LOT) swear by the Briggs & Riley Baseline, which has one of the greatest warranties. Would you invest in real estate right now? Thoughts on the market! By invest in real estate I mean buy an apartment. Just got married and tired of renting! Thank you! Ramit has so much good content about buying vs. renting that I would recommend you and your partner watch/listen to together. There are benefits AND downsides to renting and homeownership. How you weigh them as a couple is up to you both. While housing prices are stabilizing, interest rates are higher than they were a couple of years ago and I don’t know how long they’ll remain this level or potentially increase. Places in the US except Orlando to visit with 3-4 year old! New York (very kid friendly) European county to visit with 3-4 year old! Copenhagen Have you been using your self care menu? Part of me views last year as the ultimate career year, and if I never meet or exceed the accomplishments that I had last year, I’d be happy still. This post details more about my menu of self-care (something I learned from Amanda Nguyen) and is an incredible toolkit for when you don’t have a lot of time or energy but need to take care of yourself (bookmark it for future reference!) Which iron supplements do you take? How do you take iron with AG? I take my iron when I drink my Athletic Greens every morning- AG1 is an incredible nutritional drink, but I need more iron than it contains. My physician cleared this routine for me, and please always talk to yours before starting any supplement! What podcasts are you listening to nowadays? If the subject or interview interests me, I’ll jump into Tim Ferris’s or Ed Mylett’s podcast. I’d also recommend following the Smart Whatever Show (hint hint). Go to beach bag? Thoughts on the transition from 1 to 2 kids? Looking back on it now, I’m incredibly grateful for my family and my amazing support system who jumped in a helped however I needed them to help (and were receptive when I shared a postpartum plan that my therapist and I made to support my mental health during that vulnerable time). I had the insane privilege of SO much help, which made that fourth trimester period really enjoyable, honestly. My friend Catherine Brown is a new mom of 2 and shares so much amazing content and reflections of this period of having a toddler and a newborn (as well as so many smart things as well). I highly recommend following her in general, but especially if you want to see what the transition REALLY looks like. Newly engaged and looking for wedding planning resources. Any recommendations? I don’t know how I ended up on WeddingTok but TikTok has some amazing wedding inspiration ideas or content. I also love Vogue Wedding features- they’re stunning and a great place to find some inspiration. I also think following some wedding photographers is a great start- Dorothee and Annabel, Laura and Time Sullivan, Charmi Patel Pena are artists I would book in a heartbeat when we do a vow renewal. My wedding photographer Gabriel Gastelum is amazing but does more editorial work these days. Thoughts on the IG algorithm and how reach is hard for content creators? I follow Brock 11 Johnson and Jera for best practices on how to create compelling content and growing your audience- highly recommend their accounts and their content! How do you feel about the speaker nonsense? Foreboding or entertaining? We cannot get the job of governing without the House of Representatives sworn in. It’s a scary preview of the dysfunction to expect over the next two years. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your weekend, and an even better week! xo, You’re a weekly subscriber to #5SmartReads. To get the daily newsletter, enter your email here.
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