Decisions, time & eclipses. Oh my.

Welcome to this month's edition of The Goods, which is coming at the beginning of the month for a change 😉

As we make the gradual shift out of summer and into cooler, shorter days, the themes of autumn are revealing themselves. One of my favorite fall contemplations is TIME, and weaves deeply with how we feel about MAKING DECISIONS. 

I’m going to devote the rest of this month’s Museletters to these themes, and today I’m sharing some resources to support precision, discernment and confidence in your ability to navigate those precious 24 hours in each day.

As one of my mentors said, “you have the same number of hours in a day as Beyoncé.”

Touché. 



✍️ The “Make a decision” pad from Knock Knock
They make all sorts of cheeky little books, note pads and helpful pre-made list pads. This one is golden. I love sending it to clients. And yes, I have actually used it to make decisions before!


🎨 Any and ALL of Austin Kleon's books
EVERY creative person, entrepreneur and leader should have Steal Like An Artist, Show Your Work, and Keep Going in their library. I love to read them all once a year. He inspired me to create more analogue solutions in my life and office, which have not only created more spaciousness in my workday, but also more play! 


✅ The Checklist Book by Alex Franzen
I still love this book, and I still love my daily checklists. I am endeavoring to find more ways to weave analogue productivity and creativity into my daily flow (inspired by Austin Kleon as mentioned above). And hey, don’t knock the checklist until you try it! Want to be a super geek like me? Put your checklist on a clipboard and hang it next to your desk.


⏳ Pomodoro Technique Timer
I’ve been doing Interval Timer work sprints for many years now. I teach it in most of my curriculums and it’s the foundation of any coworking call I’m part of. I've met for years on Fridays with my friend Quiana and we flow together through 4 rounds of 25 min work > 5 min break. I finally found a timer that can sit on my desk and keep time without me having to pick up my phone or deal with an app on my computer. The simpler, the better. Perk: this timer is also great for meditation or taking healthy breaks from work. 


Sankalpa - A Fresh Perspective on Bucket Lists
In this episode of The Vedic Worldview podcast, teacher Thom Knoles lays out an illuminating teaching on the Pali word “sankalpa” that speaks to the origin and purpose of desire: “Desire is a mechanism that cosmic intelligence [nature] uses to get individuals to move from A to B in a way that is going to bring about kriya, or spontaneous right action.” Knoles reminds us that the equation “If I fulfill XYZ desire, then I will gain fulfillment” is a false one. To disprove this belief, simply recall a child begging for a toy—once acquired, they quickly lose interest, fixating on their sibling’s toy instead. We also experience this as adults, believing fervently that that job, that partner, that certification, that salary, will finally give us the validation and satisfaction we need to feel happy, worthy and whole. When it comes to how we choose to spend our time, I found this podcast illuminating.


🌖 Also, it's eclipse season...
This week I listened to two podcasts—Chani's Astro of the Week and Tarot for the Wild Soul's Monthly Medicine—which both echoed similar themes... it's eclipse season, so hunker down. You might refrain from efforts to quantum leap or put out big manifestation energy. Be humble. Simplify. Let it be easy. Generally, I don't plan my life around astrological movements or tarot pulls, but I do appreciate the cosmic and mythic perspectives. I also listened to Ezra Klein's latest episode, which wasn't great news, so... let's be in it together. It's a challenging, mysterious season that calls for community, friendship, allyship and solidarity. I'm with you.

Blessings during this seasonal transition, Britta.

Also, shout out to all the teachers and parents of young ones! It's back to school season, and class is in session.

See you on campus,

PS.

I’m feeling a nudge to offer a fresh iteration of my free “Time is your Ally” workshop this fall, and I’d love to make it ridiculously helpful for you.

So please hit reply and let me know...

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to time?