the December note.

Hey hi hello,

I hope November was good to you and that you took advantage of the sidewalk smile when you could. As we’re entering the last month of 2024, you might be thinking this is the time to slow down. While it is, also consider your moves for the coming year. 

Things you will need: a pen or pencil, and a planner. 

There’s nothing worse than feeling frazzled when you could have planned ahead and feel certain about your next steps. In that case, let’s prepare that planner for 2025. Do not wait until after Christmas, friend. Outline all the regular occurrences; what classes you plan to take, make a list of goals or projects you’d love to start or finish, plot in loved one’s birthdays, anniversaries, or your 6 monthly dentist appointments. Ensure they are items that are important but do not require active space in your mind. The idea is to reduce the need for active recall of tasks, such as grocery day or work shifts. Make room for every day! 

* * *

While our brain is a glorious and incredible organ, it has its limitations. For instance, have you ever heard of “Information Overload”? Yep, it’s an actual thing. Information overload occurs when there are too many pieces of data to respond to at once. Arnold et al. (2023) explains that the information produced now, in one day, is equivalent to that of the content created from the beginning of human civilization to around 2004 (think any type of media: books, film, TV, plays, technology). Isn’t that wild!? No wonder people feel so distracted and tired, looking for their health fix, or suffer from decision paralysis. When you take in more information than your brain can process, you become fatigued and your brain ends up releasing a bunch of the stress hormone cortisol and you begin feeling overwhelmed.

Oh, you might be wondering, where is this happening…? The answer is, everywhere! So to put this into context, imagine all the tasks or elements of your day, then your week, and consider how many things there are for you to recall at any point of the year. It’s a lot, and we all know that every day we experience alters how we approach the next. Sure you can write a daily to-do list or have weekly goals, but what if all of that could be in one place? 

Well, well, well…

That’s where our planners come in, if used correctly, yours will be your best friend, something you consult with each morning. One I have used for 2 years is the weekly diary from Kmart, It has the weekly layout on one side, and on the other are to-do lists, and space for notes and if you’re present on Instagram you would’ve seen that I also created my habit tracker. Anyone can rule up a table and write in some non-negotiables, but if you’d like a little idea of how I do it, check out TheBdrop on Instagram. This way you can be PREPARED, there is nothing worse than stepping into the year, the week, or the day, still contemplating what it is you’re going to do first because there’s so much that you want or need to get done/do. 

* * *

Did I mention that this phenomenon is ever so closely linked to Burnout?! With the former, leading to the latter. By taking a moment at the beginning of the week to do I quick overview and a short moment at the beginning and end of each day to consult and make changes. You can become more organised and decrease the chances of burnout. 

It is important to mention, that planning does not have to take place in a book. Perhaps you create a shortcut on your phone or tablet to input plans in a calendar efficiently, as they arise.

However you do it, I hope you plan earlier!

yours truly,

the November Note.

Hey, hi, hello,

I hope your month has been well!

Today we’re talking human connection. 

Human connection, we all need it. Some might say it’s as innate as it is essential, and you’ve probably heard that humans are social beings. Even if you do get tired of being around people from time to time, we all do, but that doesn’t change fact… it simply means that you are normal. 

We grow in families, then we branch off to create our own, in the form of friends and eventually significant others. We go from our blood and chosen families to other groups. Through work, sports or other activities, for instance, grocery shopping of all things... These people that we interact with during activities outside of our homes mightn’t hold close bonds with us, perhaps they do). Either way, they help us to learn about integral elements of life through trial and error. Every interaction we have with another impacts both lives with such importance within the moment of its occurrence and more noticeably after. We learn so much about society and ourselves by being around people we know, and those whom we don’t.

Being a little bit social helps our minds and bodies in so many different ways, so I’m going to tell you about a few. When we interact with others, we are attaining a healthy amount of those ‘happiness’ hormones you may have heard about, you know, like dopamine (the most popular), serotonin endorphins and oxytocin. That’s just the feel-good chemicals for your brain, there are more benefits for your body that are brought about by human interaction. Did you know, that when we laugh, we are enhancing the intake of oxygen-rich air, many muscles and vital organs are stimulated by this, including the heart and lungs which organise the use and movement of oxygenated blood.
So, this month try to embrace the sidewalk smile. It’s good for your health. 

Also, I would like to mention, it’s easy to feel alone in today’s society, with smartphones in everyone's pocket, or more likely their hand; whether that be on the train, in waiting rooms, on sidewalks and even at dinner tables. Every once in a while (as regularly as possible) we need to use our smartphones to organise interactions with people we care about, if you’re super far from them use the technology that we have to connect yourself with your people. Anything can be a good reason to reach out. Something that has recently worked for me is a cookbook. I know that doesn’t make much sense, but I’m writing one with and for my family. It‘s nice to be able to collaborate on something that we all love and be able to work on it at our own pace wherever we are. Generally speaking, I will call my family and be working on it while we chat away– that reminds me, it’s okay not to be a chatty Cathy and I think lots of people need a reminder of that, TheBdrop included.

Have a beautiful November and I’ll be back next month.

Yours Truly,