Welcome to a collection of tools, books, and resources that have helped shape how I think about productivity, mindset, habits, leadership, simplicity, and wellbeing. These are my personal favourites — the ones I keep coming back to, recommending to clients, or gifting to people who are on a growth journey. If you’re ready to learn, reflect, and build new habits, you’ll find something here that speaks to you.
1. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
A powerful reminder that focusing on less but better creates clarity and direction.
2. Atomic Habits
One of the best, most practical guides on how small changes add up to remarkable results.
3. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
A modern classic on habits that shape success, grounded in timeless principles.
4. Your Brain at Work
Insights into how our minds really work — and how to make them work better for us.
5. Deep Work
Essential reading for anyone who wants to protect focus in a world full of interruption.
6. & Dare to LeadDaring Greatly
Two transformative books on courage, vulnerability, and leading with heart.
Click here for Daring Greatly>>
7. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Explores how our beliefs about ability and intelligence shape everything we do.
8. The Highly Sensitive Person + Highly Sensitive Parenting Guides + Highly Sensitive Child
Essential tools for empaths and caregivers navigating a world that can feel overwhelming.
Click here - Highly Sensitive Person>>
Click here - Highly Sensitive Parenting Guides>>
Click here - Highly Sensitive Child>>
9. Simplicity Parenting
A gentle guide to creating calmer, more secure childhoods through simplicity.
10. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari & The 5AM Club
Inspirational reads that blend life philosophy with daily practice.
The Five Minute Journal
A beautifully simple tool to build gratitude, reflection, and intentional habits.
Moleskine Classic Notebook
Your best companion for thoughts, plans, reflections, and brainstorms.
Capsule Reuse Kits
Small sustainable choices I love for reducing waste in everyday routines.
-As we enter the summer season, many of us are looking to simplify our lives and create more space for what truly matters (hello fun!). One way to do this is by decluttering our wardrobes. I first learned about capsule wardrobes from Courtney Carver's Project 333 method. Project 333 provides a clear system to help streamline your wardrobe and create a capsule collection of versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits.
What is Project 333 and a Capsule Wardrobe?
Project 333 is a minimalist fashion challenge created by Courtney Carver, where participants select 33 items from their wardrobe (including clothing, accessories, and shoes) and commit to wearing only those items for three months. This approach helps you focus on quality, versatility, and intentionality in your wardrobe choices, ultimately leading to a more streamlined and functional closet.
Benefits of a Capsule Wardrobe:
· SimplifiedDecision-Making: With a curated collection of key pieces, getting dressed becomes easier and quicker, saving you time and reducing decision fatigue.
· Clutter-Free Closet: By decluttering and organizing your wardrobe, you can create more space and eliminate visual chaos in your closet.
· Cost-Effective: Investing in high-quality, versatile pieces for your capsule wardrobe can save you money in the long run by reducing unnecessary purchases.
· Environmental Impact: A minimalist approach to fashion helps to reduce your environmental footprint. The environmental damage caused by fast fashion is real and we can easily do something about it.
How to Create Your Capsule Wardrobe:
· Start by decluttering your current wardrobe and identifying pieces that you love, fit well, and suit your personal style.
· Select 33 items for your capsule wardrobe, including tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, shoes, and accessories.
· Mix and match these pieces to create a variety of outfits for different occasions, focusing on versatility and cohesion.
· Store or donate the items not included in your capsule wardrobe to keep your closet clutter-free.
· Embrace the challenge of wearing only these 33 items for the next three months and see how it simplifies your daily routine.
Taking on the mindset of “I am trying this out as an experiment” can really be helpful. It can be overwhelming, and sometimes even a little sad, to put away the majority of your clothes. When we try something out as an experiment, that means that it is only for 3 months (or even a 1 month experiment if 3 months seems like too much). Try it out and see what works and what you might shift to make it work for you.
To learn more about Courtney Carver's Project 333 and how to implement a capsule wardrobe for your summer style, visit her website here: Courtney Carver's Project 333.
Nourishing your body well during the summer can sometimes get a little challenging. With kids out of school and schedules changing, it can be difficult to stay on top of meal planning. However, with a little bit of organization and some helpful tips, you can simplify your summer meal planning and make sure you and your family are well-fed with nutritious food all season long.
One of the best ways to simplify your summer meal is to plan ahead. Instead of trying to figure out what to make for dinner each day, take an hour or two to plan out your meals for the entire summer. Start by creating a list of meal ideas for each month, along with the corresponding grocery list. This way, you only have to do your meal planning once, and you can easily repeat it for June, July, and August. I often use this tool to help plan out my meals.
To help make this process even easier, Chat GPT, an AI-powered chatbot, can help you generate meal ideas and grocery lists with just a few prompts. Simply enter in the types of meals you want to make (e.g. vegetarian, kid-friendly, quick and easy), and Chat GPT will provide you with a list of meal ideas along with the ingredients you need to buy.
A prompt you can use is:
“Create 1 month of summer dinners that include vegetarian on Mondays and Wednesdays, Taco Tuesdays, BBQ and salad on Thursdays and the weekend meals can be easily made at home or camping. Include grocery lists for each week”.
Another tip is to prep ahead of time. Consider marinating some of your proteins in the sauce and then freezing them. This way, they are ready to throw on the BBQ when you're ready to cook. You can also pre-chop vegetables and portion out snacks ahead of time to make meal prep faster and easier.
For adventure snacks, making a giant batch of healthy energy balls can help ensure the energy levels stay high enough to avoid meltdowns. These delicious bite-sized snacks are packed with nutritious ingredients like oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. They are perfect for taking on hikes, road trips, or any summer adventure.
By taking the time to plan ahead, using tools like Chat GPT, and prep ahead of time, you can simplify your summer meal planning and make sure that you and your family are well-fed and happy all season long.
When things get busy, we can often find ourselves juggling multiple responsibilities, trying to maintain a balance between our professional and personal lives. However, sometimes things seem to just not add up and everything can start to seam harder than it is.
The stress of managing work, family, and personal life can become overwhelming, leaving us feeling drained and unable to be the best version of ourselves. In such situations, it can be time to start subtracting. By simplifying our mindset, calendar, to do list and our stuff, we can live and work within our own capacity.
Here are 5 ways to start subtracting, plus a bonus to help you recharge:
1. Prioritize and Delegate
One of the first steps to simplify your life and work is to prioritize your tasks. Create a list, if you haven’t already. Then determine what is most important, what can be delegated to others, what can wait for later and what can be eliminated. As humans, we often take on too much, trying to do everything ourselves. However, by delegating tasks to our partners, children, or colleagues, we can free up time and energy to focus on what truly matters.
2. Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Establish clear boundaries between your work and personal life, and communicate them to your colleagues, friends, and family. This may involve setting specific work hours, turning off work notifications during personal time, or designating a specific space for work. By setting boundaries, you can create a more balanced and less stressful life.
3. Declutter Your Space
A cluttered workspace or home can lead to a cluttered mind, making it difficult to focus and be productive. Take some time to declutter your space, getting rid of unnecessary items and organizing the rest. This will not only create a more peaceful environment but also make it easier to find what you need when you need it.
4. Limit Distractions
Distractions can significantly impact our productivity and ability to focus. Identify the distractions in your life and work, such as social media, excessive email checking, or unnecessary meetings, and limit or eliminate them. By reducing distractions, you can increase your focus and productivity, allowing you to live and work within your capacity.
5. Learn to Say No
Sometimes, we take on too many responsibilities, thinking that we can handle everything. However, this can lead to burnout and decreased productivity. Learn to say no to additional tasks or commitments that don't align with your priorities or that exceed your capacity. This can help you maintain a more manageable workload and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
6. Embrace Self-Care
Self-care is essential for maintaining our physical and mental health, which in turn helps us be more present and more effective in our work and personal lives. We sometimes think of self-care as a day at the spa, but self-care can be as simple as making sure you get in your daily walk. Make time for regular exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate sleep. And if you can, set aside time for hobbies and activities that bring you joy and help you relax. When we take care of ourselves, we can better manage our work and personal lives and the thoughts and feelings that come with it. We can also show up better for those most important to us.
Remember, simplifying your life and work is an ongoing process. It's important to regularly reassess your priorities and make adjustments as needed. By removing the clutter and focusing on what truly matters, you can live and work within your own capacity, leading to a more fulfilling and balanced life. So, when things aren't adding up, start subtracting. Your future self will thank you for it.
In a fast-paced world filled with distractions, living an intentional life has become a paramount aspiration for many individuals. Embracing intentionality means being the leader of your life, making deliberate choices, and aligning your actions with your values and goals. It involves being mindful and purposeful in every aspect of your existence, leading to greater fulfillment and a sense of accomplishment. In this article, we explore the benefits of living an intentional life and discuss practical tips to cultivate intentionality in your daily routine.
Living an intentional life begins with self-reflection and defining your core values and goals. Take time to identify what truly matters to you, both in the short and long term. Consider your passions, beliefs, and aspirations. By gaining clarity about your values and goals, you can actively shape your life based on what is truly meaningful and purposeful to you.
Embracing intentionality requires decluttering your life not only in the physical sense but also in the digital and emotion sense. Simplify your living spaces and remove unnecessary possessions that do not serve a purpose or bring you joy. Assess your commitments, relationships, and activities. Identify what truly contributes to your growth, well-being, and happiness, and be willing to let go of what no longer aligns with your intention.
Practicing mindfulness is an important component of living an intentional life. By focusing on the present, you can deepen your connections with the people around you, enhance your experiences, and make more conscious decisions. Incorporate mindfulness techniques such as meditation or journaling into your routine to cultivate awareness and strengthen your intentionality muscle.
Living an intentional life involves setting healthy boundaries in every aspect of your life. This applies to your relationships, work, and personal time. Clearly communicate your limits and priorities to others, and learn to say no to activities or commitments that do not align with your values or goals. Establishing boundaries empowers you to remain focused on what is truly important to you without feeling overwhelmed or stretched thin. Often, those that have the biggest impact on the word and are the most giving, have the biggest boundaries.
Taking care of yourself is a essential element of living an intentional life. Prioritize self-care and well-being to ensure you have the energy and resilience to pursue your goals and act in alignment with your intentions. Incorporate activities that nourish your body, mind, and soul, such as exercise, engaging hobbies, spending time in nature, or seeking support from loved ones. Remember, you cannot pour from an empty cup, and self-care is essential to cultivate intentionality sustainably.
Gratitude is a powerful tool for embodying intentionality. Cultivate a habit of expressing gratitude for the gifts and opportunities in your life. It helps shift your focus towards the positive, enhances your overall well-being, and reinforces your commitment to living intentionally. Consider starting a gratitude journal or engaging in regular gratitude reflections to foster a mindset of abundance and appreciation.
Living an intentional life is a transformative journey that empowers you to take control of your destiny and make the most of your limited time here on earth. By defining your values, decluttering, cultivating mindfulness, setting boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and practicing gratitude, you can unlock the potential within and live a life of purpose, fulfillment, and joy. Embrace intentionality and witness the profound impact it has on all aspects of your existence. Remember, life is too precious to be lived on autopilot. Be the leader in your own life.
