30-day challenges for a year

Taking the "Me" Out of Social Media • "30 Days of Focus" Day 4

Taking the "Me" Out of Social Media • "30 Days of Focus" Day 4

Yesterday, I stuck to my guns with my new rule of only checking Facebook and Instagram twice a day. I’m not a big Twitter user, so that one’s a little easier to get under control.

Social Media, I Just Can't Quit You • "30 Days of Focus" Day 3

Social Media, I Just Can't Quit You • "30 Days of Focus" Day 3

Like many people, I have a love/hate relationship with social media. I love checking in to see how family and friends are doing. I love posting funny things that I find or that happen in my life. I love seeing what’s going in on in the storytelling world and as someone who’s immersed in this industry personally and professionally, Facebook is, without a doubt, the go-to.

I'm Renaming My Phone "Phony" • "30 Days of Focus" Day 2

I'm Renaming My Phone "Phony" • "30 Days of Focus" Day 2

Quite often when I talk to my Dad on the phone, I’m doing my dishes. I know how unbelievably loud that can be, so I either have the water on low and I try to move the dishes quietly or I put him on mute at points during our call. The latter means I’m constantly wiping my hands off to turn the mute button back so he can hear me, which I’ll admit is a little ridiculous.

3 Surprising & Simple Phone Hacks • "30 Days of Focus" Day 1

3 Surprising & Simple Phone Hacks • "30 Days of Focus" Day 1

OMG. This month’s 30-day challenge completely snuck up on me. It wasn’t until yesterday morning when I was writing the blog that I realized I had a new one starting immediately. You would think that it would be obvious given that it was April 1, but au contraire, mon frère.

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 30: How I Avoided Going In Over My Head

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 30: How I Avoided Going In Over My Head

When I was three, I started taking dance classes and loved them so much that I stuck with them for almost 20 years.

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 27: The Secret to Bringing My A Game

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 27: The Secret to Bringing My A Game

After living in New York City for almost (gulp) 19 years, one of the things that I love is bumping into people I know or haven’t seen in a while in any number of places. At a show, on the subway platform, on the street, you name it. It should be noted that the only place this rarely happens is in Times Square because locals avoid it like the plague.

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 26: It Can't Hurt to Ask

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 26: It Can't Hurt to Ask

Quite often, I work with clients who become friends or friends who become clients. I love it, but sometimes things can get a little tricky, especially when it comes to money.

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 24: Sick Days and The Showcase Showdown

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 24: Sick Days and The Showcase Showdown

When I was a kid, I rarely took a sick day. It may have only happened once or twice and when it did, you better believe watching “The Price is Right” was on the agenda.

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 22: So Tell Me What You Want, What You Really, Really Want

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 22: So Tell Me What You Want, What You Really, Really Want

I try my best not to be difficult or complain too much and no where is that more apparent than at a restaurant. I hate to send food back. For one, I don’t want to be fussy, and I don’t want to make everyone I’m eating with wait for me at the end.

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 21: My Version of March Madness

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 21: My Version of March Madness

I’m heading to the airport at 7:30 a.m. to surprise my mom for her 75th birthday in Florida. My father, two younger sisters and I have tried to surprise her in the past with limited success. She’s pretty smart and picks up on the subtlest of things.

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 20: I Should Have Namaste-d Home

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 20: I Should Have Namaste-d Home

I’ve taken a fair number of yoga classes in my life and have seen all kinds of instructors. Last week was the close talker, which I understand will happen when they’re teaching, but she did this before class started. It was a packed class, so as she got closer and closer to my face, I felt trapped. I had nowhere to go. Luckily, she didn’t have coffee breath.

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 19: I Am Not a Flake

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 19: I Am Not a Flake

I hate to cancel on anyone. If I do it, it’s usually for good reason and I’m honest about it. If I have to reschedule more than once, I do my best not to. Even though people are generally pretty understanding, I still try to work it out no matter how busy I am, especially if it’s a new person that I’m trying to meet up with.

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 18: What You Talking About, Willis?

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 18: What You Talking About, Willis?

About a month ago, the Wienermobile was in the news because they were looking for the next round of Wienermobile drivers aka Hotdoggers. As a former Hotdogger, friends posted this news from various media outlets all over my Facebook wall and I loved it. I also get a lot of ice cream news posted on my wall, which is very sweet (pun intended).

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 15: Roxane Gay Made Me Do It

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 15: Roxane Gay Made Me Do It

I’ve heard that multitasking can make you less productive, which is a bummer. I try to be as productive as possible, especially when it comes to phone calls.

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 14: Step Back Before You Do Something You'll Regret

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 14: Step Back Before You Do Something You'll Regret

I try my best to respond to people as quickly as I can and be helpful whenever I can. However, my desire to help people out can get me into trouble sometimes. I know that seems counter-intuitive, but hear me out.

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 12: Spring Cleaning My Inbox

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 12: Spring Cleaning My Inbox

As I pointed out in yesterday’s post, I realized that I’ve been saying more to things that are distracting me than telling people no (although I’m doing that, too.) See? That’s the beauty of doing a challenge like this. You see what unfolds and how it applies to different areas of your life.

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 11: How I Stopped Spinning My Wheels

30-Day Just Say No Challenge Day 11: How I Stopped Spinning My Wheels

When I started this month’s challenge about saying no, I thought it was going to be mostly me literally saying no to people. What I’ve realized after doing it for 11 days is that a lot of it is about simplifying things in my life. Saying no to invites, events and really anything that pulls my focus.

30-Day Trust Challenge Day 10: Late Night (Snacking) With Robin Gelfenbien

30-Day Trust Challenge Day 10: Late Night (Snacking) With Robin Gelfenbien

When my Mom was pregnant with me, she had a hiatal hernia, so the doctor told her not to eat solid foods at night. That’s when she turned to ice cream and who could blame her? Every night she’d watch the 11:00 news and let that cool sweet creamy nectar slide down her throat, into her belly and into my bloodstream.