Jessica's Friday Five: 20 gift ideas, year-end reflection tools, and winter holiday books
Hi Reader,
I'm simultaneously baffled that 2023 is nearly over and also surprised that it's still not time for winter break to begin. It's weird that both of those things can be true at the same time. Over 600 of you have joined since I sent the last Friday Five a week ago - welcome if you're new! So glad to have you here. We do 5 tips/tricks/hacks for your life every Friday. I hope it's helpful. Let's get into it:
- 20 Gift Ideas: Put my best ideas for gifts to give here: https://www.jessicaeastmanstewart.com/giftguide. I meant to have this out weeks ago, so sorry for the delay (especially those of you gift for Hannukah!), but I hope it's helpful for anyone still needing gift ideas or wanting to get a little something for yourself.
- Free Year-End-Reflection Tools: If you want to do some year-end reflection, here are two great tools. The first is YearCompass, and it's a free downloadable workbook. Also free is Susannah Conway's Unravel Your Year workbook. Laura Vanderkam also recently blogged about envisioning yourself a year from now.
- Getting Organized for 2024 Next Week! I'm so excited for next week's Get-it-Done week for everyone who has my Polish Week Course (which is all about finding a little time to "polish up" your work systems. We'll be doing a little Zoom coworking, a little raffling of prizes like my fave books and pens and snacks, and some private Facebook grouping to ask Qs and celebrate progress. Get the course if you wanna join us, and if you've already got it, look for the email I sent you yesterday for all your deets.
- Partnership : Simplicity was created to support people in simplifying their lives. Through a focus on core values as well as actionable coaching and accountability tools, Brad has helped hundreds of people create lives full of what of what matters most to them. If your life ever feels out of balance, overbooked, or just in need of something different - take control of your life, and live on purpose. Reach out for a free, no-pressure discussion. They also have a free email challenge. (Partnership : Simplicity is one of our Friday Five sponsors - thank you to them for keeping this newsletter free for readers!)
- If you've got kids in your life: Two tips for this time of year - the first is to help them understand all the incredible holidays that happen this time of year, especially those that might be outside of your family's culture. Here are some books we have in our home that help us with this. The other tip is: if your children will be receiving gifts this holiday season, this weekend you might consider having them choose toys and books that no longer are their favorites to donate so that you can clear space for the new gifts.
P.S. Here's a question for you. I've had two friends in the last month ask for suggestions for paper notebooks that transfer well to digital notes. Years ago I tried out Rocketbook for this, but certainly there are newer cooler things for this? If you use one, can you share? I'll put any tips you suggest in next week's Friday Five so we can all be in the loop.
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