Jessica's Friday Five

Hi Reader, If you're in America like me, are you anxious about election results? I certainly am. It feels like the next 10 days are going to be the longest year ever (and there's a good chance we won't know all the outcomes we care about for days or weeks after that). Hang in there! I decided, with dropping temperatures and election anxiety, that it was time to get out my weighted blanket again (I have this one, my kids have this one, and this one was just added to my wishlist after my friend...

Hi Reader, This week, I spent some time "polishing up" some of my personal and work systems to finish the year strong. If you're feeling like inputs are coming at you from a whole bunch of directions, that's probably because it's true. We live in a busy environment! The top two tips in today's Friday Five are for you if you feel like this, too. When you're feeling scattered: The best thing you can do when you're feeling like there's too much to do and it's coming from all directions is to get...

Hi Reader, This week, I got the chance to facilitate 5 different experiences for many incredible leaders across the globe, from education leaders in America to nonprofit leaders in Europe, and the final session of the current cohort of Joyfully Managed Worklife. I, like many of you, have a worried eye on the hurricane-related devastation happening in Florida (which is where I was born), and I'm sending so much love to everyone who is dealing with this tragedy and losing loved ones and beloved...

Hi Reader, Lately I've been thinking about how I want to invest more time into hobbies - things that I can do just for me. I've even purchased a few things to try to make this happen (like a home pottery kit), but I never actually make time to do the thing. My local Parks & Rec Department put out their winter activities guide this week. There's a painting class there that happens on a weekday morning. Instead of being annoyed that it's not offered at night, I decided - what if I signed up...

Hi Reader, Hurricanes, floods, high-stakes elections, and more. Leadership is rarely easy, and it seems like there's tremendous pressure right now on those who are leaders at work. I'm hoping today's issue provides resources to support you. If you're new here, I'm Jess, and this free monthly newsletter is intended to provide you all (a community of just over 5,000 managers at work) with practical resources to inspire more joy, ease, and effectiveness in your leadership. Let's get to your...

Hi Reader, How in the world are there only 96 days left of 2024?! Goodness. And just 5 more issues of Friday Five before we will reach the US presidential election. Time feels like it's flying over here! This week, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the official Facilitator Training for the Fair Play Method, which is all about creating a more intentional and equitable division of labor in our homes. I can't wait to begin creating opportunities to share these approaches with...

Hi Reader, I've had a chance to connect with so many of you this week - the Joyfully Managed Worklife cohort continues to rock along and we got to see some alumni of the program in a bonus session this week, the best practices of excellent managers session was a joy despite tech challenges that tried to derail us (we persevered!), and all of that reminded me how critical connection is. As an introvert, I can sometimes forget how important it is to be in a community with others. But rarely do...

Hi Reader, This week, we got some special film installed on the windows in our house that get the most sun during the day, and wow, it has made a huge difference in keeping those rooms cooler. I wish I'd done this many months ago. The local company calls it "glass tinting," and as our climate warms, it might be worth checking out if you are also in a place where there are super hot days in the future. Let's get to your Friday Five! Best to-do list app: I really trust Wirecutter's...

Hi Reader, This week started with an incredible group of leaders joining the newest cohort of Joyfully Managed Worklife. The next cohort will either start in November or January - put yourself on the waitlist here if you're interested. I also launched a new free resource about appreciation at work and am playing with some ways of potentially starting a podcast for all of you. If I could get the weather to cool down a few dozen degrees so I can start wearing sweaters, things would be really...