for each month of this year (I started in March), I’m going to be doing a monthly challenge, where I practice something NEW for the entire month (about 30 days). I didn’t want to preselect all the challenges for the entire year, because I’m always changing and there are always areas of my life that change and some need more help than others at certain times.
let’s start with a recap of the last month and then get into this month’s challenge!
august’s challenge: recap
august’s challenge was to use less paper towels. aside from taking a daily walk outside each day challenge, this was my favorite. I quickly realized how many paper towels I was using (I was ordering a pack of 18 rolls each month – it was HORRIBLE!) and the paper towels weren’t even effective in cleaning up a lot of the messes I was making, especially with Luca (baby led weaning is messy, guys.)
literally, my life is changed. for the better. I don’t know if it’s more environmentally friendly or not, because now I have to wash the washcloths I got (which, before, I didn’t need to use water to clean – because paper towels are disposable), but I’m definitely saving money, cleaning better, and producing less WASTE, which is what I was trying to do.
I got these microfiber washcloths. I use them for everything – they clean Luca up much better than paper towels ever did. I still use paper towels for grosser cleanups (like, spit up) or for drying baby things (like pacifiers and bottles) and I use paper towels for drying food (like if I rinse fruit.)
I go through a roll a week now, as opposed to a roll every day – I am so happy with how this challenge went!
and yes, I’ll be continuing to clean my home with microfiber washcloths like this, even post-challenge.
september challenge
listen to a podcast every day (well, monday through friday, during working hours.) I listen to a lot of music during work, and I always tell myself, “you should listen to a podcast!” HOWEVER, I can’t type and listen to a podcast, so I just have to find the time of day when I’m not typing (for instance, cooking in the kitchen) and listen to the podcast then.
so let me ask you – any good podcasts you suggest? I want something that will help me grow as a business person. let me know!
what will your september challenge be?
KT M
you must must MUST listen to Candice Kumi’s podcast Wabi Sabi- The Perfectly Imperfect Podcast. I feel like you could totally get down her vibe, shes is the cooking and entrepreneurial space as well so I hope this is what your looking for! I am in neither of those fields and find everything she has to say is gold!!
LP
Modern Love and Beautiful Anonymous are my favorites. Absolutely love Chris Gethard and his conversations on Beautiful Anonymous. Modern Love is based on the NYT column which is also amazing.
Amanda B
Kalyn’s coffee talk! Look forward to it each week; she is wise beyond her years and really sets you up for the week!
Kara
Business Podcast recs: Boss Files with Poppy Harlowe, How I Built This from NPR, Masters of Scale w/ Reid Hoffman and Goal Digger Podcast from Jenna Kutcher.
I tend to make myself crazy by only listening to business podcasts, so I’ve started listening to Happier with Gretchen Rubin on my daily commutes in the office. This has an amazing effect on my mindset before I dive into a busy workday and I can’t recommend it highly enough!
I also have enjoyed For the Love Podcast with Jen Hatmaker. She did a mini-series on parenting last month, which I highly recommend. Jen has five children (bio and adopted) and I found her stories and advice both uplifting and hilarious.
If you are a Bachelor-junkie like me (#guiltypleasure) then try either Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe or Babes & Babies with Jade and Carly. Both are mindless podcasts that make me LOL.
Happy Podcasting!!!
Kat
HBR Women at Work is a great podcast series
Lara
Wall Street Journal’s Secrets of Wealthy Women! They are short, 20 minute interviews with some badass business ladies! And for fun, My Favorite Murder is a no-brainer.