The secret to making 2023 "your year"
will not be found in this newsletter. (In the way that you expect.)
It’s January 12, and What I’d Rather Be Talking About is my new planner. (Am I the only one who geeks out about the annual purchase of a calendar?) So far, I’m very happy with this year’s selection - a sleek little grey number by Sugar Paper. It’s on par with the one I had last year from Wit & Delight. (Wormhole warning for both companies if you love paper products.)
Speaking of planners, let’s talk about plans. I’ve got a lot of them for the upcoming year, so I’m trying my best to put the work in and surround myself with positive energy and people that can help make them happen. I've found that when I focus intently and positively on the things I want to happen… they usually happen. Positive visualization is what the experts call it, and I’ve had great success with it. Of course, every single thing I’ve wished for hasn’t come true, but the trick I discovered is that the more focused I remain on good things happening… the more good things actually happen.
That’s my hot tip for this issue, and maybe a way to make 2023 “your year” (in a non “cover of Oprah” kind of way).
On that note, let’s get to it.
Abbey
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:
PODCASTS- Being Boss - Whether you’re your own boss, the boss at work, or simply like to boss people around, give this podcast a listen for some insight into bossing in the New Year. I love it when former co-host Kathleen Shannon reunites with current Being Boss host Emily Thompson. In this episode, Kathleen & Emily review 2022 and set intentions for 2023.
And, while we’re being bossy… are you wondering how to be boss and do something big this year? Give this week’s episode of Best Friend Energy a listen, where Drew Barrymore is as lovely as always and gives some of the best career advice I’ve ever heard.
WHAT I’M STREAMING:
An oldie but a goodie on NETFLIX - New to Netflix’s lineup in January -This Is 40. I could watch this 2012 Judd Apatow romantic comedy all day long. (And if you’ve already seen this movie and have wondered about a This is 50 sequel… you may be in luck, just not sure when.) Forbes has a summary of more new but old movies on Netflix this month.
Sweet dreams are made of YOUTUBE- Do you have trouble sleeping? Does your monkey brain go into overdrive creating imagined worst-case scenarios the moment your head hits the pillow? I’ve got a trick. Keep earbuds and your phone near your bed, and when Z’s elude you, head to YouTube for a sleep meditation tailored to you. My favorites are meditations by Jason Stephenson (he’s got a soothing voice that doesn’t sound like he’s going to lock me in his basement), Luna Yes (she is so good that I want an awake person to analyze just what she’s saying. Her meditations take me to dreamland in three minutes flat), and I also love meditations by The Honest Guys because of their cool accents and the fact that they sound like they’re guiding me through Disney World’s Haunted House.
WHAT I’M READING:
If you’re struggling to find your focus, here’s a great book that will help you concentrate on what’s most important - The One Thing by Gary Keller, with Jay Papasan. I’ve had this book since 2014, and often pull it out when I feel the need to figure out the direction my life and business should take. The back cover description says it all, “You want fewer distractions and less on your plate…. And you want more productivity from your work.” Yes, and yes. This is a quick read with a ton of valuable info.
WHAT I’M EATING, DRINKING, AND BUYING & WHERE I WANT TO GO IN 2023:
I follow a mostly plant-based diet, but as my friends know, I brake for salmon, manchego cheese, calamari, and hard-boiled eggs. (So, I’m basically plant-based except for when I’m in Spain.) Here are a few YouTube channels I follow with great recipes. Alexandra Andersson has fun content and is currently running a (free) Plant-Based Challenge. If you’d like to try and be more plant-based, check out this episode of Rainbow Plant Life where host Nisha shares her tips for balanced eating all week. Check out her channel for more great recipes.
Does anyone else live for breakfast? It’s truly my favorite meal of the day, but lately, I’m getting tired of my daily staple (coconut yogurt with heated blueberries & nut butter drizzle). My goal this coming week is to make overnight oats. I found some delicious options here. Check them out!
One of my favorite things to do while working from home is to make multiple warm beverages all morning. But you can imagine how nuts I’d be if they were all coffee, and a girl can only drink so much tea. Glad I found Dandy Blend - it’s caffeine free and has just four ingredients - roasted barley extracts, roasted rye extracts, roasted dandelion root extracts, and roasted chicory root extracts. Plus, it tastes just like coffee and comes in handy instant packets.
I’m pulling out all of my manifestation techniques to find a yoga retreat in Spain and a story assignment to boot. So far, I’m looking into these options: Suryalila Retreat Centre, a glorious yoga wellness retreat in the Canary Islands, an active 8-day retreat in Fuerteventura, or an 8-Day Chakra Balancing Yoga Retreat in Ibiza. Or all of the above. Does anyone have a retreat they’d recommend?
AND, ON A SERIOUS NOTE
I mentioned that Drew Barrymore had some great career advice in the Podcast section above. But, in case you don’t listen (which would really be a shame, just sayin’) here’s what she said, in a nutshell. Drew was talking about career advice she got from her kids’ grandfather, who was an ad man in the ’60s. He worked in a big ad agency on the Chanel account and ended up leaving his agency to lead Chanel. (So he had a lot of experience with brands and the biz.) Because of this, Drew was picking his brain about an opportunity she wanted to pursue. He listened to her and then said, “Well go out there and tell me everything you see related to your business - what’s this, what’s happening here, etc.” She reported back the things she’d noticed. He replied, “That’s everything you see, right? That’s what’s happening out there. Now tell me what you don’t see, and go out there and do that.”
BAM.
Podcast Mic Drop.
Personally, I don’t think I need any other career advice for the year or my life. Tell me what you don’t see, and go out there and do that.
What a great piece of advice to follow to make 2023 YOUR year, and no one else’s.
Let’s go do that.
Until next week,
Abbey
P.S. Thank you so much for reading! If you like what you see, I’d love it if you’d send it to a friend! And, don’t forget to hit the subscribe button! :)