1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: Hi. This is Laura Vandercamp. I'm a mother of five, 2 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: an author, journalist, and speaker. And this is Sarah Hartunger. 3 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: I'm a mother of three, a practicing physician and blogger. 4 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: On the side, we are two working parents who love 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: our careers and our families. Welcome to best of both worlds. 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: Here we talk about how real women manage work, family, 7 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 1: and time for fun, from figuring out childcare to mapping 8 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: out long term career goals. We want you to get 9 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: the most out of life. Welcome to best of both worlds. 10 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 1: This is Laura. This is episode two hundred and thirty six, 11 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: which is going to be a hodge Podge episode, a 12 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: few mini life updates, a discussion of time tracking, and 13 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: some listener questions because we keep getting awesome ones and 14 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 1: want to get to as many as possible. So, Sarah, 15 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 1: why don't you update us a little bit on life 16 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 1: right now? Which we are recording this in late January 17 00:00:55,800 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: of twenty twenty two. Yes, okay, so I've recently created 18 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: an elaborate screen time rationing I don't know, allocation system 19 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 1: for the kids. I think this happened after one of 20 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: my husband's call weekends when everyone was basically just stretched 21 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: out on the floor on their devices for like a 22 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: million hours. I'm not gonna say I felt guilty, but 23 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:21,119 Speaker 1: I just I had the sense that when I forced 24 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 1: them to go off, that they were losing the ability 25 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:25,919 Speaker 1: to be able to entertain themselves in any other way, 26 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: and I just it was too much for me. So 27 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 1: I decided to just create a little bit more structure 28 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 1: around it. And this is not like a minimalist screen 29 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 1: time system, but more just so they know what they 30 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,479 Speaker 1: can do, and also to tie certain behaviors to screen time. 31 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: And so for the nuts and bolts of the system 32 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: on week days, we're sticking to just like TV shows, 33 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: only because once they start playing video games it's just 34 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 1: too addictive. They get sucked down, they get more hyper 35 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 1: like I can't on weekdays. But on weekdays, once they've 36 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: done their homework and had dinner, taken a bath or shower, 37 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: I think that's pretty much it they watch. That usually 38 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: means that because they have activities a lot of days, 39 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: that doesn't happen until six forty five anyway, so it's 40 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: perfect they get and then they can watch until seven 41 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: thirty and that's like the cutoff time on the weekdays. 42 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 1: On the weekends, they and I type this all out 43 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 1: with Annabel's help, by the way, so that the kids 44 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 1: had like buy in and that I can refer to 45 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: it and like I put it up on the wall. 46 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: On the weekends, they get ninety minutes as a baseline, 47 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:25,520 Speaker 1: but they can earn up to ninety minutes more for 48 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: a total of three hours, so they can get from 49 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: one thirty to four thirty on screens if they've like 50 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: done various things throughout the week, which they seem pretty 51 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 1: motivated to do, and that screen time can be spent 52 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: doing anything, playing video games, doing whatever. And this is 53 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: our first weekend on this new system, so I will 54 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: have to report back. They're pretty good actually about knowing 55 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,119 Speaker 1: that they're not going to get it before a certain time, 56 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: like we always had one or one thirty as our 57 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: cut off time, and like I guess I've just been 58 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: firm enough that they're not going to ask me at ten. 59 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: The hard part is getting them off, So it's the 60 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 1: four thirty that's going to be like a hard sell. 61 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 1: But I just I've gotta make sure they can do 62 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: something else that's self directed other than that. That's just 63 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:09,919 Speaker 1: my feeling on it, so we'll see how it goes. 64 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: I wonder if having something that's gonna happen around four thirty, 65 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 1: like right like you're gonna go out for a bike 66 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 1: ride or we're you know, we're gonna go find a 67 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: friend might help with the incentive part there. Absolutely, I think. 68 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 1: So I think we're gonna have to If they don't 69 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 1: want to do that thing, then fine, then you can 70 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 1: do your other quiet indoor activity like whatever else nonscreen. 71 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: But like having an option, we're gonna and I think 72 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 1: maybe making it social so that they're if they're meeting 73 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: up with a friend or like going to the playground 74 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: to see somebody, that might be more enticing. So definitely. 75 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: And I was just going through your life updates. You've 76 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: listened here my life updates lists. Okay, yeah, my second 77 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: life update is really boring. I've been going to bed 78 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 1: really early. I think it's the winter, like winter is 79 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: just and it's not even cold like here, it's not 80 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: even cold, although my phone keeps giving me these like alerts. 81 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: There's like freeze warning is coming, like it's going down 82 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: to thirty five, and I don't know, probably it's like 83 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: a plant thing, like maybe people's plants might die down here. 84 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: I don't know, but it's kind of exciting. That's really coold. 85 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 1: Yeah we don't get that, but yes, so cold. But 86 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: having the kids on a better schedule, like making sure 87 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: their devices are off by seven thirty and going upstairs 88 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: means that they go to bed, and then I go 89 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: to bed, like I don't have any energy after that, 90 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 1: so whatever, it's been great. And then my third update 91 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,559 Speaker 1: is that I remain off of all social media, which 92 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: I actually might be a lifetime I don't know. I'm 93 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: just now that it's gone. I'm like, I don't miss 94 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: it at all, and I feel like there were some 95 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: negative feelings that I had when I would scroll Instagram 96 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: that were not worth the positives that got out of 97 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 1: I got out of it. I still read blogs. I 98 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: like to comment on the other people's blogs. That doesn't 99 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,279 Speaker 1: seem to bother me at all. I subscribe to podcasts. 100 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: I am on a couple of Patriots. It's not that 101 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 1: I don't want to interact with people online. I just 102 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 1: don't want to do it via an like Instagram. So 103 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 1: I'm off of that. And then finally I'm really enjoying 104 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,559 Speaker 1: wordle now by the time this airs. Probably the entire 105 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,040 Speaker 1: country will be doing wordle because it seems to have 106 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: taken off like wildfire except for Laura. Yes, I'm not 107 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: doing wordle. I don't know. I'm not really tempted right now. 108 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: I don't need you know, it takes five minutes, right, 109 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: and that's all you get. Sure, it's a great thing, 110 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 1: Like I totally support it for other people, Like I 111 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 1: think it's a great thing to do in a small 112 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 1: bit of time. And you know, there's only one a day, right, 113 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 1: like I get so it's you know, you can't spend 114 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 1: that much time on it. It's like a little treat 115 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: every single day. But nope, not doing it yet. Yeah, 116 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 1: my life updates. You know, we just did the whole 117 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: episode on moving, so people don't need to hear about that, 118 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 1: but we are. You know. I've been turning in the 119 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: next round of edits on Tranquility by Tuesday, choosing covers. 120 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 1: So that's what's going on workwise right now. So pretty 121 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 1: excited about that. I got a tiny cover sneak. Yeah, 122 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: well we're doing different ones. Sorry, Oh that's okay. Yeah, 123 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 1: I don't even remember my feedback. Yeah, I decided I 124 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: didn't like the one that we were going with, so 125 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 1: you did new ones. Well, we'll see how it goes, 126 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:08,720 Speaker 1: but it's been complicated. Another life update. We recently did 127 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: the time Tracking challenge, so had about four thousand people 128 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: tracking their time as part of the twenty twenty two 129 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 1: Time Tracking Challenge. It was great, and I'm getting logs 130 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:21,720 Speaker 1: people have been sending in logs. It's hard to get 131 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: through all of them because there's a lot of them, 132 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 1: and I'm trying to respond thoughtfully to all of them. So, 133 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: you know, still going kind of do a couple every 134 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: single day, much like the boxes, unpack a few boxes, 135 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: send a few emails about the time logs. I will 136 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: get through all of them. It just takes a bit 137 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: of time. But you did the time tracking for a while, right, 138 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: like you're a day or two couple days. I did 139 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:42,359 Speaker 1: it for like most of a week, but then I 140 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 1: had a really bad day and I was like, I'm 141 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 1: not I just I don't know. It's emotionally unable to timetrack, 142 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 1: which is a bad excuse because you've done it for 143 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 1: six years, and I'm sure you've had a few or 144 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,040 Speaker 1: eight year I don't even know. I'm sure there's been 145 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: a few bad days in there. Well, I'm so I'm curious, 146 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: like what was the making you feel like you didn't 147 00:06:57,960 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 1: want to? Like it seems to me that that's sort 148 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 1: of separate. I had some it is totally separate, but 149 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: like you know how you have like such a bad 150 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:07,160 Speaker 1: I had a very work stress related day and I 151 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 1: was just so upset about some things. I just like 152 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: I didn't want to do anything. Yeah, didn't, And so 153 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: you wouldn't. Just see when I get like stuff like that, 154 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 1: I often just don't put any notes and just be work, work, work, 155 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: work on the thirty minute thing. And I'm not saying 156 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: anything about it. I'm just saying like this, I was 157 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: at work, I was working whatever. I mean, you could say, yeah, 158 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 1: you were just at work, and like I could have. 159 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: There's no reason that I didn't. I think I just 160 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 1: like I didn't fill out my planner that day either, 161 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: Like I was just sort of like, yeah, I hate 162 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: like everything. I don't know, yeah exactly. Sometimes sometimes that happens. 163 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 1: I think I do a lot of time tracking, like 164 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: halfway organically, because I often set up my planner with 165 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: like a little timeline and I write in my kind 166 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: of hardly landscape stuff and then I tend to like 167 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 1: write in as things are happening, like what else is happening, 168 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 1: so like to some extent, I do time tracking. I 169 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: don't feel like there's a lot of surprises in how 170 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: I spend my time, especially that I'm like off of 171 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: social media and that definitely helps. And I'm kind of boring, 172 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: like a lot of my days are very similar. I 173 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 1: like my morning routine, I like my like nighttime routine 174 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: where most nights I'm just like putting the kids to 175 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 1: bed and reading and I'm fine with that. So I 176 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: don't know, I think it's a great exercise, though, I 177 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 1: do think it's especially if you're kind of like not 178 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: sure which routines are serving you or how long things 179 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: really take, Like I feel like I have a handle 180 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 1: on that right now, but maybe like after the move 181 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: or when the big kids go to camp, like when 182 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: things change, I'll want to do that again to just 183 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:34,679 Speaker 1: be like, Okay, are there new opportunities now, perhaps to 184 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:37,680 Speaker 1: take advantage of pockets of time that weren't there before. Yeah, 185 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:40,560 Speaker 1: I no, that's definitely a good idea. It's been interesting 186 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 1: seeing people's logs, like what comes in if I'm County 187 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 1: everyone who sends it in like, well, not everyone, but 188 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 1: a lot of people like this was not a typical week. 189 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 1: I was like, well, that never is, you know, that's 190 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: the sort of life. We have a picture of what 191 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 1: our life should look like, and life never quite looks 192 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,079 Speaker 1: like that because life happens. And then we're like, oh, 193 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 1: that wasn't a typical week. It's like, well, yeah, probably 194 00:08:56,480 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 1: whatever it was, it was more typical than atypical. It's 195 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: since the you know, life never does go completely as planned. 196 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: You know. These are people who subs for most of part. 197 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: These are people who subscribe to my newsletters, so there's 198 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 1: a lot of like great stuff going on there in time. 199 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,440 Speaker 1: Like these are people who are into productivity, like you know, 200 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: so there's a lot of people with these impressive morning 201 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,559 Speaker 1: routines or they're you know, doing two workouts a week 202 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 1: during their lunch break and then the two on the 203 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 1: weekend so they've got their four you know, and like 204 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 1: there's just it's fun to see how much awesome stuff 205 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:28,679 Speaker 1: people have going on in life. But I would say 206 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:31,079 Speaker 1: that one thing that's coming up a lot and might 207 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 1: be surprising to people is that I really do I 208 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: wind up suggesting a lot that people come up with 209 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 1: some sort of outside of work and family commitment or hobby, 210 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 1: because what winds up happening is it looks on the 211 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 1: timelog like the person could theoretically have the time right, 212 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 1: like there's you know, an evening is you know, they 213 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 1: have older kids, for instance, the evening is mostly just 214 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 1: like screen time for instance, or on the weekends, you know, 215 00:09:57,640 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 1: there's some stuff, but then there's also a lot of 216 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: period of time or they're doing chores or they're doing 217 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: you know, screen time because there's not something else there, right, 218 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:08,679 Speaker 1: And I think what happens is people have you know, 219 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 1: been so busy through their lives, like they've you know, 220 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: been dealing with work and you know, with young kids 221 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: and all this stuff, and then there comes a point 222 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: where some amount of time opens up. But if you're 223 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: still operating with the story that I have no time, 224 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:24,200 Speaker 1: like you don't think about what you're going to do 225 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: with it, and that the time keeps passing, and so 226 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:28,599 Speaker 1: you do something. And so I wind up suggesting to 227 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: a fair number of people like, think about it, well, 228 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,599 Speaker 1: what what would you like to do? Like if you 229 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: said I'm going to find you know, I'm going to 230 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: devote two to three hours a week to something that 231 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: I think would be really fun for me. What is 232 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:43,440 Speaker 1: that thing? And you know we'll see people wind up 233 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: doing it, but I just I my mission tell everyone 234 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 1: they need a hobby something else. So you're you know, 235 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: at least one night a week looks different or one 236 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 1: chunk of weekend time looks looks a little different, and 237 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: to challenge people to think that they might have space 238 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 1: for it in their life. All right, So let's uh, 239 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:05,719 Speaker 1: let's get to our questions because we have a lot 240 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 1: of really good ones. We can go ahead and way, 241 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: let's take a break first. Okay, Okay, we'll do the 242 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 1: break east and we'll be right there. All right, Well 243 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: we are back with our Hodgepodge episode. Now we're going 244 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: into the question chunk of it where we're gonna have 245 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: a couple of questions because we've got a lot of 246 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 1: great ones we can we could do like all mile 247 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 1: bag all the time, but we try to mix it 248 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 1: up a little bit, all right. So this one is 249 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: particularly for Sarah. So she is a junior physician who 250 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:46,599 Speaker 1: is applying for a leadership position in a local organization. 251 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 1: She's already on the board, so it makes sense However, 252 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:51,679 Speaker 1: it's going to be competitive, and so she is struggling 253 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 1: to figure out how to tailor her application and her 254 00:11:55,240 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 1: pitch of this. The organization values equity, diversity, inclusion, so 255 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 1: she's hoping that she's you know, not necessarily a traditional physician, 256 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:10,680 Speaker 1: meaning not a white man, but so but so, she says, 257 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:12,440 Speaker 1: she's not going to be automatically out of the running. 258 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: You know that this organization is open to this sort 259 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 1: of thing. However, she's concerned about how she can be 260 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: confident and sell herself for it. So what advice do 261 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: we have for her? So I am no expert because 262 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 1: I don't think I've ever done a hiring for something 263 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 1: like this high up, but I definitely do a lot 264 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: of interviewing for other types of positions, whether that's you know, 265 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 1: other physicians on our faculty and about nine million residency interviews. 266 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: So I got to say, enthusiasm and energy often sells itself, 267 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:45,200 Speaker 1: like just bringing your all to the table, and you 268 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 1: may actually benefit from having a unique energy compared to 269 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 1: maybe some of the older white male physicians that might 270 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 1: be applying for the same job. And you can discuss 271 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 1: in kind of an excited positive way, how your unique 272 00:12:57,760 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 1: perspective is likely to bring in fresh ideas to this 273 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: role that others may not be able to bring it 274 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 1: to the table. I think having a lot of you know, 275 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 1: well that's more Lara's tips, but preparing yourself really well, 276 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 1: like you know, being able to ask really knowledgeable questions 277 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: so that they understand that you're really passionate about what 278 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 1: the role entails can help. And yeah, I mean I 279 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: think the fact that you are thinking about it enough 280 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 1: to write this email bodes really really well because you're 281 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 1: thinking about what are they looking for, Like how do 282 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 1: I make this feel like a great deal for them? 283 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 1: That wow, this person falls into our lap and they 284 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:36,079 Speaker 1: get like points for including someone who isn't the traditional 285 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 1: applicant as well, So best of luck. I think you 286 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: have a lot going for you here. Yeah, and especially 287 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 1: since you're already on the board, you know the people 288 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,199 Speaker 1: who are making the decisions, which means that you can 289 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 1: talk to them like, I mean, you can talk about 290 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:53,319 Speaker 1: like what they're thinking about the direction the organization wants 291 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 1: to go, and then you of course speak to how 292 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: you will lead the organization in that direction, right, Like 293 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: that's what you're trying to solve their problem? They have 294 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:03,959 Speaker 1: a problem and you are coming in as the solution 295 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: to that problem. And just to invoke one of our 296 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: previous guests, we had Kinder Hall on a few weeks ago. 297 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,720 Speaker 1: But the idea that storytelling really does help. And I 298 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 1: know that stories are often very packaged and you know whatever, 299 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 1: but if you could come up with a good narrative 300 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: and a good authentic narrative about why, you know, the 301 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: story of this organization, the logical next step is to 302 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 1: have you lead it right that that makes total sense 303 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 1: with the story that they've got this you know problem 304 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: that's been building and now you can come in to 305 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: solve it, or this direction that they've been going that 306 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 1: you have also been going and now to gather you 307 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:42,840 Speaker 1: will go there. But something that is very a specific 308 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: that has the narrative format can be incredibly powerful. So 309 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 1: practice that definitely quite a bit as you are talking 310 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: about this and you know, just explain why you want it. 311 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: But I think it helps to remember ultimately you cannot 312 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 1: control what others do, so you may or may not 313 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: get the job, but at least you can be clear 314 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 1: to yourself and in making your case why you think 315 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: you are the right person, Like clearly you do think 316 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 1: you're the right person there, you wouldn't be applying it. 317 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 1: So say that, say why you think you are the 318 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: right person and whatever comes out of it. I mean, 319 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 1: it's it's not going to be bad that you did this, Like, 320 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: there's no downside to doing this, because you will elevate 321 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 1: your career a lot. You will put yourself in front 322 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 1: of a lot of decision makers, you know, put your 323 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 1: name out there as somebody who will be who you 324 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 1: should look to for the future for various things. So 325 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 1: I'm really glad you're doing this. Yes, Oh, well, you'll 326 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 1: have to update us. Best of luck and you know 327 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 1: we'll see. But you're right, that's it's going to put 328 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: your you as an eye, as a leader, in the 329 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:43,880 Speaker 1: eyes of these people. So if it doesn't work out 330 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: this time, it'll probably work out next time. Yeah, exactly, 331 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 1: all right. Next listener question. This listener is going out 332 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 1: on sixteen weeks of maternity leave. This person's husband will 333 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: also be off work, has a long paternity leave in 334 00:15:57,280 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: his industry, which is great. Their first child is in 335 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 1: full time pre kindergarten and they moved six months ago, 336 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 1: so there's not a ton to declutter or organize. Neither 337 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 1: of them can work while on leave without jeopardizing their benefits. 338 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 1: They're prioritizing savings for some house projects. They don't want 339 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 1: to spend money. We don't sit still, well, she says, 340 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 1: with our first we both actually got bored enough that 341 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 1: we went back to work a few weeks early. So 342 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 1: help us be more interesting this time around. All right, Sarah, 343 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: what should they do to be more interesting? You know, 344 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 1: once they've sort of settled in with the new baby 345 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks in and they can start having 346 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 1: a bit more capacity to do stuff, what should they do? Yeah, 347 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: this is such a fun question. I like doing the 348 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: thought experiment myself. I mean the first thing that came 349 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: to mind for me was some kind of class, some 350 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: kind of kind of course that like normally you wouldn't 351 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: really have time for, that might be incremental and you 352 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 1: could dedicate a certain number of hours to it every day. 353 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 1: I mean, it could be in anything I was thinking about, 354 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 1: like yoga, teacher training, guitar learning to code, calligraphy art. 355 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 1: I don't know anything. So whatever is in your passion 356 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: that you always thought you'd sue when you have more time, 357 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: well you probably will have a little bit more time 358 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 1: at least for some of those weeks. Again, especially with 359 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: your partner home as well. That is such a fantastic setup. 360 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 1: I also like the idea of a reading challenge. I 361 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:14,200 Speaker 1: like the idea of reading challenges anyway. But you could 362 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 1: decide to read all the works of one author. You 363 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,640 Speaker 1: could decide to like explore different genres that you don't 364 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:23,919 Speaker 1: normally follow. I read about a reading challenge recently that 365 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:26,440 Speaker 1: someone did. This one's a little much for sixteen weeks, 366 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 1: but she read one book from each year from the 367 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:35,639 Speaker 1: years of like nineteen nineteen to twenty eighteen or something 368 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,640 Speaker 1: like that. Oh my goodness, Like what an ambitious project, 369 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 1: and like you would learn so much history and how 370 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 1: the different thought anyway, So I thought that was super cool. 371 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 1: So something like that, maybe a mini version, and then 372 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:48,640 Speaker 1: finally making a list of little adventures in your area 373 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 1: and like, you know, just kind of like a bucket 374 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: list of things to do either with your kid or 375 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 1: shorter trips to do while your kid is in school. 376 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 1: I mean my first thought was like a longer haul 377 00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: travel experience, like yes, of course traveling, you know, being 378 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:01,959 Speaker 1: in a hotel with a new war and that might 379 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:03,920 Speaker 1: not be fun but if you kind of decide to 380 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: go somewhere for an entire month, and you're renting a house, 381 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 1: so that's just like new surroundings, like that could be 382 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: a really fun time to do it. Yeah, no, that 383 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 1: could work. I mean it's pre k. It's not you know, 384 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 1: school where you can't miss it, so they could pull 385 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:18,639 Speaker 1: themselves out. But yeah, I love the idea of a 386 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 1: mini challenge, like you could read War and Peace or 387 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 1: start a blog, or you know, just generally set a 388 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 1: pace for one big adventure and one little adventure each week. 389 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:27,639 Speaker 1: And an adventure I mean big adventure, I mean like 390 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:30,440 Speaker 1: four hours, so could totally do while your big kid 391 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 1: was in school. The newborn's pretty portable, so go hike, 392 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: go to a museum, but you know, try to do 393 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:37,880 Speaker 1: at least one per week so you are feeling interesting, 394 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 1: all right. So the next question, this person was writing 395 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 1: specifically to Sarah because their four year olds are a 396 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 1: few weeks apart in age, so she loves her Genevieve stories. 397 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:52,199 Speaker 1: She said, okay, well, as happens with this age, we 398 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 1: are losing the afternoon nap with our daughter. You know, 399 00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:58,920 Speaker 1: she's excited for what's to come. However, she does need 400 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 1: afternoon time to decompress. She'd get rejuvenated by a nap, 401 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 1: but I'm hoping to find a non screen activity to 402 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 1: do the same for quiet time. So this listener had 403 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:12,199 Speaker 1: heard in the past about doing things like podcasts and 404 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:15,719 Speaker 1: audiobooks for young children who obviously can't read yet but 405 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 1: aren't going to nap. And if you're trying to come 406 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:20,160 Speaker 1: up with something that's not you know, video games for 407 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: the two hours or hour in the afternoon that you 408 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:24,879 Speaker 1: hope in their decompress. So that's maybe an option, but 409 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 1: she wonders if there's anything else, like what what has 410 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 1: Sarah been doing for Genevieve in this post nap but 411 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 1: not yet reading stage. Yes, so we haven't had a 412 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:39,439 Speaker 1: nap in our house for more than a year now 413 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: because my kids usually ride around three. If they are napping, 414 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:46,920 Speaker 1: they are not going to sleep anywhere at an acceptable time, 415 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:48,639 Speaker 1: like they'll want to be up at ten or eleven, 416 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 1: and I refuse. So we tend to be an early 417 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 1: We encourage the loss of the nap early, even though 418 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:58,920 Speaker 1: that sort of seems backwards. I gotta admit, like right 419 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 1: now and this is don't really it's not really for 420 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:05,920 Speaker 1: her to decompress necessarily, although to some extent just sitting 421 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 1: around and watching a more peaceful show can be a 422 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 1: little bit of a break and a decompression. It's more 423 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:12,680 Speaker 1: to give myself a break and my husband a break, 424 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 1: and for all of us to have some downtime usually 425 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:18,399 Speaker 1: because we've had an active morning. And so, yeah, screen 426 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 1: time is our normal answer, I mean our normal weekend template. 427 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:25,720 Speaker 1: During the week, it's not really an issue. She goes 428 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:28,680 Speaker 1: to school until three pm, so when she gets home, 429 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:30,680 Speaker 1: I don't know. We're busy, and then she goes to 430 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 1: bid by seven thirty, so it's fine. I don't notice 431 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 1: like that need for downtime necessarily. Maybe she gets it 432 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:37,439 Speaker 1: in the car. I think sometimes she takes like a 433 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:40,880 Speaker 1: five minute nap literally in the car. But on the weekend, 434 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:43,480 Speaker 1: usually we're like active in the morning, and then we 435 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:45,880 Speaker 1: have lunch, usually at home or out if we're somewhere, 436 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 1: and then my kids all know, like around one thirty 437 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 1: they're allowed to start screen time, and she's included in that. 438 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:54,720 Speaker 1: She doesn't always want the screen time from the entire 439 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 1: block with the other two because you know, she'll wander 440 00:20:57,320 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: around and start playing with other toys and things, which 441 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 1: is but that does give everybody a break. It seems 442 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 1: to be calming enough. I think some shows can be 443 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 1: more calming than others, so you can think about what 444 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:10,160 Speaker 1: kind of content they're consuming. And I love the idea 445 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:12,119 Speaker 1: of like an audiobook. I think that might be another 446 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:15,919 Speaker 1: good option, especially if you know the other kids are 447 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:18,119 Speaker 1: watching something that she's not interested in, and then I 448 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:21,440 Speaker 1: could just like put something audio or podcast on while 449 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:25,200 Speaker 1: she plays with, like Calico Critters or whatever. That could 450 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:27,399 Speaker 1: totally work as well. But I don't have a series 451 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:32,400 Speaker 1: in mind right now, so if listeners do, let us know. Yes, sorry, 452 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:35,159 Speaker 1: I'm managing a crisis. Somebody missed the bus for the 453 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:39,239 Speaker 1: half day. I'm hopefully that's gonna hofe somebody else can 454 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: deal with it. We need to leave that in. Yeah, 455 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:43,359 Speaker 1: this is real life everyone. Yeah, I don't have a 456 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: We've just done screen time too. I mean, you know, 457 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:48,080 Speaker 1: it's not the end of the world. Everyone needs a 458 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 1: brain big eventually. That is kind of life, all right. 459 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 1: So then the last questions from multiple people is where 460 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:01,160 Speaker 1: do you put the lego projects after you are done? 461 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 1: So just a little background it here. We you know, 462 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 1: I've written a lot about doing legos with my big kids. 463 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:10,239 Speaker 1: That there's you know, it's a fun thing to do 464 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: with a preteen child. That's something you can both get into. 465 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 1: It takes a little bit of time every night, so 466 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:17,240 Speaker 1: you don't have to do too much, but there's you know, 467 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:19,360 Speaker 1: very straightforward thing to do. So we've done a lot 468 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,240 Speaker 1: of these. Of course they add up, like there's a 469 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 1: lot of legos around the house, so it depends my 470 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 1: daughter tends to like play with hers more after they've 471 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:30,240 Speaker 1: been built. But then of course they fall apart because 472 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:33,200 Speaker 1: they're being played with, So a lot of those tend 473 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:36,920 Speaker 1: to wind up in a lego bin, just extra pieces 474 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:40,920 Speaker 1: that they could be repurposed for something eventually. The boys, 475 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 1: we've we've tended to make more of those sort of 476 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,199 Speaker 1: display type things, like it's actually really meant to be 477 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:50,440 Speaker 1: done as like an artwork that you display, so it's 478 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:53,439 Speaker 1: a you know, an option just put it up on 479 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:55,640 Speaker 1: their dresser. If you haven't done a million of them, 480 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: then you know, you could do a couple that you 481 00:22:57,040 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 1: could display. The seasonal ones we put away as Christmas decorations. 482 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 1: We pull out our lego gingerbread houses and put them 483 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 1: up as Christmas decorations. So yeah, I mean you don't 484 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 1: have to get rid of all of them. I mean, 485 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:09,160 Speaker 1: certainly you don't have to keep all of them either, 486 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:11,399 Speaker 1: But I don't think there has to be a universal 487 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:12,919 Speaker 1: answers kind of like do you like looking at it? 488 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:15,919 Speaker 1: If so, treated as you would like a vase, you know, 489 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:18,159 Speaker 1: a framed photo or whatever, put it up somewhere in 490 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 1: the house, and if you're not that excited about it, 491 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:21,959 Speaker 1: then you know, have a Lego bin somewhere. I think 492 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 1: a lot of families wind up with a Lego bin 493 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:27,680 Speaker 1: somewhere where all the pieces go. This could be great 494 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 1: for like a neighborhood swap or like buy nothing, like 495 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: if your kid has like a ton of them, and 496 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:33,399 Speaker 1: they have some they're ready to let go of, like 497 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: especially if you could find the manual somewhere, like throw 498 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:38,320 Speaker 1: it all in one plastic bag, and I'm sure somebody 499 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:39,919 Speaker 1: in the neighborhood would like take the whole thing off 500 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 1: your hands happily, yes, exactly, or they could treat yeah, 501 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:45,199 Speaker 1: even duplos, I mean, like doupos kids will plothe for 502 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:47,200 Speaker 1: a long time in there. There's always young families who 503 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 1: could use them. So all right, Love of the Week, 504 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:51,359 Speaker 1: Sarah what do you What do you have this week? 505 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 1: My love of the week is charging cords specifically, and 506 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:59,679 Speaker 1: this is a non spawn. The Anchor brand is just 507 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 1: such a workhorse brand. You can get it on Amazon, 508 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 1: super inexpensive. I never had enough charging cords, and I 509 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:09,600 Speaker 1: was like, I'm buying fifteen charging cords, and Mike and 510 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:11,639 Speaker 1: we decided that we'd each have a color. So I 511 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:13,640 Speaker 1: have red cords and I have like one silver cord 512 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:16,719 Speaker 1: form my computer, and I'm just corded up. And I 513 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 1: love it because, like after a while, though Stoll, you 514 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:21,440 Speaker 1: know the app the even the original ones will fray sometimes. 515 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:24,120 Speaker 1: So it's one of those things you should not put 516 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 1: up with a non working charging cord or like halfway 517 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:30,399 Speaker 1: working charging cord. For years, I've done it. It's a 518 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:33,240 Speaker 1: very easy to remedy buy some new chord nice, yes, 519 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 1: solve that problem. Since we were talking Legos, I would 520 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 1: say that we are recording this on Thursday, you know, 521 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 1: January twenty seventh. Apparently Friday, January twenty eighth, there's actually 522 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: Lego Day, like National Lego Day or something, so we 523 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:48,320 Speaker 1: can we can celebrate that. You know, they're fun. I 524 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 1: actually really like the Lego friends We've gotten a fair 525 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:54,119 Speaker 1: number of the Lego Friends sets for Ruth. You know, 526 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: I don't like the idea of they're being separate girl 527 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 1: and boy toys. And certainly, obviously girls can play with 528 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:00,240 Speaker 1: any Lego sets they wish, and boys can, you know, 529 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:02,400 Speaker 1: have Lego Friends as well. But I think Lego thought 530 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 1: about it, like they didn't just make it pink like 531 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 1: it's they thought about their characters. I'm like, there's Olivia 532 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:12,880 Speaker 1: and you know Emma, and they repeat from set to set, 533 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 1: and so you you know, have them as characters that 534 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:16,919 Speaker 1: you can play with, and you know, she kind of 535 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: like has them do stuff in there and you know, 536 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:21,159 Speaker 1: whereas I think the boys have been more focused on 537 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:22,960 Speaker 1: like let's get it done, like get through this set, 538 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:25,199 Speaker 1: you know, and so it's just you know, kind of 539 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:28,000 Speaker 1: you know, obviously children are all over a range and 540 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:31,679 Speaker 1: bell curves and whatever. But I don't think Lego, you know, 541 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 1: when they wanted to get more girls playing with their sets, 542 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:36,640 Speaker 1: they didn't just say, like make them pink and it'll 543 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:39,359 Speaker 1: be great, like they actually I think watched girls play 544 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,960 Speaker 1: and thought about it, and I think that's apparent. And 545 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,520 Speaker 1: a lot of the Lego Friends designs so you know, 546 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:49,000 Speaker 1: I'm a fan of that. I love it. I'm just 547 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:50,720 Speaker 1: going to add one thing, which is that my kids 548 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:54,120 Speaker 1: had a very interesting debate about what was better Legos 549 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 1: versus Minecraft in terms of like, well this is more flexible, 550 00:25:58,040 --> 00:25:59,879 Speaker 1: but this is textile and you can hear it and 551 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 1: feel it, and you know, they ultimately decided on Minecraft, 552 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 1: with one of the arguments being that it was better 553 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 1: for the environment. Well there we go, all right, Well, 554 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:12,120 Speaker 1: this has been Best of Both Worlds a Hodgepodge episode. 555 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 1: We will be back next week with more on making 556 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:18,360 Speaker 1: work and life fit together. Thanks for listening. You can 557 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:21,880 Speaker 1: find me Sarah at the shoebox dot com or at 558 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:25,439 Speaker 1: the Underscore Shoebox on Instagram, and you can find me 559 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:29,719 Speaker 1: Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. This has been the 560 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:33,200 Speaker 1: Best of Both Worlds podcasts. Please join us next time 561 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 1: for more on making work and life work together.