61 - The Boundaries of Real Life
The Boundaries of Real Life
If I had not clearly established a self-imposed deadline of Monday morning at 8 a.m. eastern for publishing this newsletter, it is safe to say that I’d publish one out of maybe every 10 weeks. I require deadlines to do things - often even when I want to do them.
Hence, on Saturday night, I was seated on the couch putting the finishing touches on my taxes. Technically, they were submitted ahead of the official deadline since it’s not until the 18th this year but I did submit them by April 15th which is always my goal.
Deadlines are one of those boundaries we use to give ourselves needed structure. I would like to reinvigorate undergraduate student Kara who worked ahead on nearly every project and often completed projects weeks ahead of deadlines. Deadlines, when used in that way, can give us significant freedom. Freedom to know when we are safe to spend time on other things and when we have to really buckle down and get things done.
Budgets are another one of those boundaries we can use to enhance our freedom. For many, many years I felt like a budget was constraining but as I’ve had to live within a budget much more over the last year, I’ve found how freeing it can be. I know I can still enjoy vacations, go shopping, eat out, and do things with friends.
Where have you found that a real life tool has helped you feel more freedom even while forms a natural boundary for your behavior and activities?
Where’s Kara?
IN THE REAL WORLD
A quick summary of where I’m going to be hanging out online and IRL over the next few weeks. Join me, and if I’m visiting near you, hit reply and let’s meet up!
April - A quick trip to Florida is on the horizon at the end of the month. Yes, we’re staying at Disney but it’s at a place we’ve never stayed before - the Fort Wilderness campground in one of the cabins.
June or July - I am (still) waiting on all the signatures but I may get to North Carolina later in the summer
July/August - A Northern European Cruise!
September- College Park, MD for a conference with one of my clients.
November - A yet undisclosed location for a conference with one of my clients.
AROUND THE VIRTUAL WORLD
LAST CHANCE TO JOIN AT THE LOWEST PRICE EVER FOR A LIVE COHORT - The Facts of Life LIVE Cohort - You will often find me hanging out in the course and community for my course “Facts of Life Book”. The first ever live cohort is underway with virtual sessions every Friday afternoon during that time period. (Can’t make the virtual sessions - no worries - they will be recorded). What is the Facts of Life Book? Do you need to organize your most important stuff for life’s most important moments? If so, then the Facts of Life Book course is just for you. With loads of templates, tools, and guides I’ll help you get your most important information organized. Join now and you’ll get access to all future updates as well as any additional future live cohorts I run. Use coupon code FRIEND1 to get 50% off of the cost of the course. This is the LOWEST price I’ll ever offer this live course for and it’s the last week to sign up! The price will go up in early June so be sure to get in now before the price goes up and the discount ends.
Quarterly Retreat - Sign up for the Quarterly Retreat All Access Pass or the Quarterly Retreat Workshop. Visit https://karamonroe.podia.com and check out all of the offerings. The workbook is always free.
R.J. Nestor’s Action Powered Productivity Community - My friend R.J. has moved his community to a subscription model and you get access to all of the workshops for just $9 a month. This is an awesome community and I’m giving my first workshop on Mac and iOS automation the first week of May. Come and join us!
Creative Work Hour - Every single day of the week, at 10 a.m. eastern, a group gathers online in Zoom to do a quick check in, a brief meditation, work for about 50 minutes on whatever they want to do, and then check out with one another for 5 minutes. Creative Work Hour is one of my favorite places to hang out online and I’ve been there every single day that I could be there since about March of 2022. Come as often or as little as you need to get projects done. To register for the sessions (they are free but you have to sign up to get the zoom link) and to learn more, visit https://lu.ma/CreativeWork.
Photos of the Week
Kona is due for a grooming which, if you’re reading this right after it publishes, he’s getting as you read. One of my clients is the Butler University Transformation Lab so I had the privilege of being on the Butler campus this week. And, I had two surprise conversations with Clifton and his baby brother Gene this week. This one was by iPhone but the other one was a surprise in person visit. Love seeing the kiddos on the phone but even more so in real life.
Diversion
If you’re looking for a fun series to binge, definitely check out Kaleidoscope on Netflix. It is dramatic and there are quite a few violent moments but I love a good heist show and this was exceptional. The principle behind the show is that you’re not supposed to watch it in order. Gayle and I watched way out of order and it was exceptionally fun.
Ways You Can Support Me
Purchase one of my digital courses and/or products
I offer courses and digital products focused on organization, planning, productivity, technology, and personal development. Check out all of the offerings currently available at https://karamonroe.podia.com.
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Readwise is an incredible service that takes all of the highlights you take on Kindle, on various web sites, and in so many other places and stores and organizes them for you. It generates a daily (or more often/less often as you prefer) set of highlights for you to review so that you can better remember what you read. Readwise also syncs with all kinds of apps including Evernote, Notion, Obsidian, Roam Research, Log Seq and more. If you’d like an extended 60 day trial, use my link https://readwise.io/kara
Affiliate Links
I do use affiliate links (a link that you click on and then if you purchase the tool, I may receive a little money or service in return) for products that I use and recommend.