Better @ Work

Start your day like a leader, not someone chasing notifications.

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The “First 15” Rule

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If the first thing you do each morning is open your inbox, congratulations - you just outsourced your priorities to everyone else.

Your inbox is a to-do list written by other people. And if you don't protect your own bandwidth, someone else will fill it with theirs.

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✅ How-To:

• Before opening email, Slack, or Teams, spend your first 15 minutes doing one thing that you chose.
• Write down your top goal for the day.
• Take a micro-action toward it: draft a paragraph, outline a pitch, send a voice note, etc.
• Then - and only then - check messages.

Think of it as emotional airspace control: you're choosing to fly your own plane before air traffic control tells you to hold.

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🎯 Takeaway:​
You can’t lead if you’re always reacting. Block those first 15 minutes like your career depends on it—because it kinda does.

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🔥 Try This:​
Put a sticky note on your laptop that says:
​“Who does my day belong to?”​
If the answer isn't “me,” you’ve already lost the plot.

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🧠 Reflection:​
What’s one thing you could do tomorrow morning before checking messages that would make the rest of your day feel like a win?

Better @ Home

5 Subtle Home Upgrades That Whisper “I Summer in Capri” (Even if You Just Got Back from Target)

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The “Bougie on a Budget” Upgrade Guide​
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If your home still looks like it was designed by IKEA and trauma, it might be time for a glow-up. The good news? You don’t need a trust fund or a second mortgage. You just need taste… and maybe a throw pillow.

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✅ How-To:

1. Swap Your Lighting (aka Mood Money)​
   Replace harsh overheads with warm bulbs or a statement lamp. Add a dimmer switch if you’re feeling fancy. Lighting sets the vibe - “soft and intentional” reads wealthy, “fluorescent dentist office” does not.
2. Decant Like a Michelin Chef​
   Put your dish soap, olive oil, and even laundry detergent into glass containers. Suddenly, your countertop says “elevated domesticity” instead of “gas station convenience store.”
3. Go Big on Wall Art​
   One large piece beats 17 little ones that say “starter pack.” You can DIY a textured canvas or buy a printable download and get it framed. Bigger = bougier.
4. Add a Luxe Throw or Pillow​
   Think velvet, boucle, or faux fur. Toss one on your sofa and it’s immediately 30% more photogenic -and you’ll look like someone who drinks tea from actual cups instead of mugs that say “World’s Okayest Employee.”
5. Commit to Color Cohesion​
   Pick a neutral and build around it. Creams, greys, sage, camel. Monochrome rooms feel curated and $$$. Even if everything came from HomeGoods, no one has to know.

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🎯 Takeaway:​
Upscaling your space isn’t about blowing cash - it’s about intentionality. These small moves shift how your space feels and how you feel in it. Wealth is a mindset… and a matte-black soap dispenser.

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🧠 Try This:​
Pick one room in your home - maybe the one you spend the most time in - and give it one bougie upgrade this week. Whether it’s a lighting swap, a thrifted art piece, or matching containers for your pantry, give yourself that little spark of “Damn, I live here.”

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🪞 Reflection:​
What’s one space in your home that doesn’t reflect who you are now - and what’s one small change you could make this week to fix it?

Even rearranging your furniture to feel like the main character in a Nancy Meyers movie counts.

Better @ Life

Solitude shouldn’t feel like punishment.

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The Art of Being Alone (Without Feeling Lonely)​

In a world built to keep you constantly connected, choosing to spend intentional time alone can feel… weird. But mastering solitude isn’t just peaceful - it’s powerful.

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✅ How-To:

• Schedule Solo Time Like It Matters (Because It Does): Block off 30–60 minutes for something that’s just for you—no multitasking, no notifications.
• Make It a Ritual, Not a Gap-Filler: Sip tea while people-watching. Doodle. Sit on your porch and do nothing. It’s not wasted time. It’s mental renovation.
• Reclaim the Soundtrack: Play something that feels cinematic to you. Lo-fi beats? 90s acoustic? Cinematic jazz? Make the main character moment real.

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🎯 Takeaway:​
Being alone isn’t about escape—it’s about return. To your thoughts. To your breath. To the version of you that doesn’t perform for an audience.

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🔥 Try This:​
Tonight, skip the Netflix scroll and light a candle. Set a timer for 20 minutes. Just sit. Write. Think. Or don’t. Just be. See what bubbles up.

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🧠 Reflection:​
When was the last time you were alone—and truly enjoyed it?