I am cleaning the drawers in my desk. The task makes me feel productive—which makes me feel better. I have to remind myself that it’s also okay to do nothing. My husband, Jerry, read an article in The New York Times by a psychologist or psychiatrist who emphasized that message: All of us are feeling […]
The exhausting everydayathon
by resolutewoman on May 1, 2014 in stress, things-to-do, work
I’ve been busy this week. Of course, I’m not the only one who is too busy. Most people today are too busy, writes Brigid Schulte in the March 14, 2014, issue of The Washington Post. Schulte is the author of Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play When No One Has the Time. “Somewhere around the end […]
It’s time to play
by resolutewoman on October 4, 2012 in book, happiness, things-to-do
In his book Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul, Dr. Christopher Vaughan advises us to spend more time playing. Play, he says, is whatever you love to do, and spending more time doing what you love to do will improve your work and your relationships. “There isn’t any […]
The dog days of summer
by resolutewoman on August 18, 2012 in Joy, things-to-do
It’s hot in Dallas. The dog days of summer—“the hot, sultry period of summer between early July and early September”—aptly describes the season in Texas. My dog Ginger understands perfectly how to survive in the dog days of summer. She’s up early and ready for a morning walk, but she’s content to spend most of […]
“There is work to do”
by resolutewoman on July 10, 2012 in book, things-to-do, work
On December 1, 1955, when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white male passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, she signaled the start of the modern-day civil rights movement. Many people don’t realize that Parks had worked for equal rights many years before that day in 1955, and she continued […]
But or and?
by resolutewoman on November 29, 2011 in book, things-to-do
In his book A Whole New Mind—Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, Daniel Pink offers a number of simple exercises. The one we liked best is called “But Out.” If you have changes that you would like to make, but you think you’re blocked by obstacles, make a list of those changes and what’s keeping […]
Take time to look at the clouds
by resolutewoman on November 8, 2011 in Joy, things-to-do
I plopped down in my seat, pulled out my book and started reading while the rest of the passengers filed into the airplane. I probably wouldn’t have taken my eyes off my good book until the stewardess inquired about what I wanted to drink, but I suddenly heard an excited, small voice ask, “Are we […]
Three warnings for gulpers
by resolutewoman on October 4, 2011 in stress, things-to-do
We talked in our last blog post about my brother James’ observation that people can be divided into gulpers and sippers. Gulpers, he says, are thirsty for life. They enjoy life. Sippers, however, are afraid their good luck or wonderful experience won’t last. They are the type who sip slowly and conserve their drink. We […]
Is it time for vacation yet?
by resolutewoman on August 27, 2011 in Joy, things-to-do
As I explained in a recent blog post, I am trying to finish an assignment from a client, help my daughter move into a new apartment and get ready for vacation. Because I am feeling a little harried, I am trying a different approach every night when I write my to-do list for the next […]
A little advice from Shakespeare and Hamlet
by resolutewoman on August 23, 2011 in Joy, stress, things-to-do
As William Powers reminds us in his book Hamlet’s Blackberry, London during the late 16th and early 17th centuries was a bustling, chaotic place. People were bombarded with pamphlets, advertising placards, commercial and public documents. Soon they would be reading the first newspapers. How could people cope with this busy world? They used an innovative […]
What’s this site about?
We wrote our book and we’re writing our blog because we were frustrated. We were frustrated with experts who try to tell people how to lose weight, raise their children and improve their marriages—and be a success—in 10 easy steps. In three weeks. In one book.
Our self-help book and blog are for grownups—for women who know that there are no easy answers to life’s complex problems—that finding solutions requires some self-knowledge and self-searching and hard work.
We want to help women discover their own answers and live with them as their guide. We want to help you and other women Help Yourself!
We write about making changes and also about many other issues important to women, including families, friends, work and food.