2022 was a busy year for me. I completed a GradDip in Applied Psychology, which with a full-time job (and family), was a full-on endeavour, and I didn’t read as much as I usually would. But books were/are my go-to sanctuary when I tuck myself into bed for the night, and I really only have one criterion - it has to be an enjoyable read. The consequence is that I move from book to book, and many of them, while I enjoyed them while reading them, I can’t even remember several months later. The post My Year in Books (2022) appeared first on Musings of a Xennial ..read more

(And why I am choosing to declare 2023 the year (the first one ever) of not obsessing about my weight) Just a few days ago I was reviewing the books I read in 2022 and was surprised shocked to find out that 17 out of 47 books I read this year were on losing weight or eating better/healthier (but really about being slim). The post How I Didn’t Lose Weight After Reading 17 Weight Loss Books in 2022 appeared first on Musings of a Xennial ..read more

But often, it seems to me (and I have been there) these tools stop being means to an end, but they become an end in themselves. Too many bells and whistles, and you end up working for those tools rather than the other way around. I gave up long ago (although it is tempting) on constantly updating and prettifying my tools. The post How to Clearly Define Your Digital Workflow Needs appeared first on Musings of a Xennial ..read more

Recently I took a short training at work called “Listen More, Talk Less” and it all seems to come down to - not sharing - but asking better, more powerful questions. When we focus on listening (rather than waiting for an opportunity to speak (guilty!)), we can come up with good questions that can keep a conversation going. I am definitely going to practice this skill. The post Powerful Questions for Better Listening Skills appeared first on Musings of a Xennial ..read more

Reflexive practice is when we reflect on what we have learned (from a situation, but also from a book, research or a conversation) and how this learning applies to our broader social context. Reflexive practice can help us develop critical thinking and become aware of how our social positioning may influence our opinions and observations. The post How to Achieve Self-Awareness Through Reflexivity Practice appeared first on Musings of a Xennial ..read more

Reasons to keep a personal blog - In retrospect - I should have just kept on with writing - for fun, to relax, to share, but mainly - for myself. The post Reasons to Keep a Personal Blog appeared first on Musings of a Xennial ..read more

Their websites have a very clean, minimalist look. Many you wouldn’t find unless you knew they existed (they are hardly fighting for SEO rankings - which is kind of refreshing) They are just there, for their owners and the rest of us who like a peek into that semi-private sphere and who like to get new ideas from others **(that is, literally, how I procrastinate)**. The post The Rise of Digital Gardeners appeared first on Musings of a Xennial ..read more

Next time when that not so exciting neighbor invites you to a barbecue, just say yes and don't dwell on it. If you don't feel like going... go anyway. It is not self-love to say 'I'd rather stay at home' and deny yourself social contact but it is self-love to meet some new people or rekindle old friendships, relax and have fun. No man is an island, after all. The post Why You Should (Almost) Always Say Yes To Social Commitments appeared first on Musings of a Xennial ..read more

Over the years I collected an enormous amount of other people’s wisdom. I gathered snippets from books, movies, shows, blog posts, conversations (I actually write those gems down) and even social media. And I saved it all. Much of it is all over the place, but most of it is sitting somewhere in the dark corners of my faithful Evernote. (Evernote and I go way back to 2011) Anyway, that introduction was necessary because what I am going to share is not mine, I picked it up along the way and saved it. I used it for years (on and off) so much, it actually feels like it IS mine. It is an important ..read more

This is a guest post written by: Anya Willis of Fitkids.info. Reservations. Check. Suitcases. Check. Tank full of fuel. Check and double-check. These are great first steps when traveling with kids, but before you strap everyone into the backseat, there are a few other things to prepare. And if you’ve never wandered the open roads with the 10-and-under crowd before, you should know that it is not as easy as when you go solo. Here are some quick tips from Fitkids.info, on how to get you and your crew out the door and on your way whether you’re taking a road trip in your state or takin ..read more