Routines Archives - Jennifer A Douglas

Progressive Christmas Decorating: Getting your Home Decorated While Preserving Your Energy!

Jennifer Douglas — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:47:03 +0000

Progressive Christmas decorating is all about prolonging the enjoyment of making the home festive, and also preserving your energy. It has been my secret for decorating the home for Christmas for years (even before breast cancer).

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When Mastery Creates Margin: Rebuilding Routines and Rethinking Productivity After Breast Cancer

Jennifer Douglas — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 17:30:17 +0000

Productivity after breast cancer involves rebuilding our routines and embracing margin when we have time to rest. Do we add one more thing to our list, or do we choose to relax with the extra time we have?

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Managing Home Life During Breast Cancer: The Mental Load Doesn’t Pause for a Diagnosis

Jennifer Douglas — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 02:23:50 +0000

Breast cancer doesn’t press pause on the laundry, dinner, or school drop-offs. If you’re overwhelmed by the mental load of managing home life during treatment, this post offers honest reflections and simple ways to share the load—without guilt.

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Choosing Where My Energy Goes After Breast Cancer

Jennifer Douglas — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0000

After breast cancer, I realized I no longer had the energy to do everything I once did. The “both-and” life I used to manage became “either-or”—and that shift changed everything. In this post, I’m sharing how I began honoring my energy, making intentional choices, and letting go of the pressure to do it all.

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The Sunday Reset That Changed My Week

Jennifer Douglas — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0000

I used to reset my week on Mondays—until I discovered the peace of a slower Sunday reset. Here’s how one small shift helped me start the week peacefully.

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New Year, New Word: Focus

Jennifer Douglas — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 18:57:00 +0000

I’m not a New Year’s Resolution type of person. I don’t resonate with beginning-of-the-year goal setting. But, I have developed a practice over the last few years of choosing a word of intention to guide me as I enter the new year. In 2025, I’ve chosen focus. In 2024, I didn’t choose a word of intention. This was pretty fitting, especially as I reflect on a year full of many unforeseen challenges. As I find ways to reestablish rhythms and routines, I am inspired to choose a new word for this year. I’ve chosen “Focus” as my word for the year. Finding Focus after a Year of Unexpected Challenges 2024 was full of unexpected challenges. We took some amazing vacations, which were the highlights of the year. But life in between the vacations didn’t look anything like we had expected. The circumstances and challenges were overwhelming, confusing, and, at times, devastating. 2024 was a hard year, and I’m glad it is over. As I look ahead to a year that will bring its own challenges, I long for focus in my actions. Whether I’m sitting down to write a post, work on a project, share some thoughts on social media, or care for the things around the home, I want to fully focus on what I’m doing at the moment. In many ways, last year’s circumstances highlighted how important focus is. There were quite a few times when my family needed my full attention. I needed to cancel all my other obligations and be completely present. I’m grateful for the family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and community who supported me when those times came. This year, I hope to harness the power of focus I learned during challenging times and apply it to my everyday life. Distraction is easy, especially digital distraction. Our phones are constantly with us, allowing us to easily divert our focus from the people and situations we are in. In 2025, I’m looking to find more focus in my everyday life. Setting the Stage for Successful Focus It is one thing to want to find focus in my life, but how do I set the stage for success? How do I ensure that I have the best opportunity to focus on each of the situations I’m in? It starts with understanding what I need in each of the situations I’m in. If I’m doing a routine task, like emptying the dishwasher or folding clothes, I can do that while holding a conversation, listening to a podcast, or watching a show. But, if I’m doing anything creative, such as writing, content creation, design, breast cancer support, or client work, I need to be engaged and focused at a much higher level. I lose my focus very quickly when there is any noise around me. In order to set the stage for successful focus, I need to understand what I need before I start the task. Do I need to turn off my notifications? Do I need to go somewhere and put in my headphones so I’m not distracted? Do I need to let my family know that I will be busy and unavailable for a certain period of time? Do I need to be intentional about when I am choosing to focus on a particular task? For me, when I choose to do a task can be critical to its success. I don’t write and create well after lunch. It is not my most creative time. And so if I put creative time after lunch, like writing, I will struggle. I can do other things like designing, house chores, meal planning, and meetings. But, if I want to create something out of nothing, I need to be intentional about when I do that. And so, for me, that’s before lunch. To set the stage for successful focus, I need to understand what will help me be the most effective with the time and energy I have. Circumstances Can Change Our Focus In 2024, circumstances changed my focus in unexpected ways. I began the year with a desire to write a second book. I even drafted a paragraph outline and started working on some chapters. But then, things drastically changed in February. My family required my full attention. The writing stopped, and my circumstances were no longer conducive to writing the book I thought I would write. I was frustrated with the challenges and my inability to keep up with the plan I had set in motion. I could not focus on my writing because I had more urgent matters to attend to. I was forced to focus on different things. And it was absolutely necessary. This fall, Dave was diagnosed with skin cancer after experiencing months of a missed diagnosis. Not only were we frustrated and angry at the circumstances that led to the situation, but he was now facing a much more involved treatment because it had progressed the entire year. Cancer changed our circumstances and our focus. Instead of having hours to write at my desk, I was navigating new doctors, travel time, radiation side effects, and processing my emotions about Dave’s treatment. I could look back at 2024 as the year I didn’t finish that book I wanted to write and shame myself for a “lack of productivity or drive.” But that wasn’t what happened. 2024 was a year our family showed up and met extreme challenges together. We came together, shifted focus, made difficult choices, and supported one another through it all. We focused on the circumstances as fully as we could. Tools for Focusing As I reached the end of 2024, I was exhausted from planning. I didn’t have the energy to write anything down. It was as if my “planning brain” was offline. The routines I’d established for work and home had been shelved during Dave’s radiation treatment. He was on medical leave and going to appointments every day. It felt hopeless to plan anything because I wasn’t sure it would happen. Trying to think and be strategic exhausted me. I had no energy to focus on anything other than getting through Dave’s treatment and Christmas. In fact, I didn’t buy a single gift until mid-December. Now that Dave has healed from the radiation and is headed back to work, I can feel my planning brain coming back online. I’m ready to reach for my tools again to help me focus. This morning, I sat down, took out a paper planner, and wrote down some goals for the next few months. Many years, I will use GoodNotes and set up a digital bullet journal. As I reflected on what would help me be intentional and focused, I kept feeling drawn to an analog tool. All too often, I get digitally distracted and end up scrolling posts on Instagram instead of focusing on my intentions for the day. A paper planner doesn’t send me notifications. And for me, right now, that is the kind of tool I need to help me focus. The tools and methods I use are less important than the consistency. Focus & Routines As I set the stage for focus in the new year, I have a strong desire to reorganize my weekly routines. I have often found that my weeks are really bunched up towards the end of the week. A lot of the work ends up landing on Fridays. I get to the end of the day on Friday much more exhausted than I’d like to be. But it doesn’t have to be that way. I can reorganize my weekly structure to have a more open schedule on Fridays. My routines should help support me, not imprison me. I don’t know exactly how I will reorganize my routines, but I know I’d like them to support me as I focus on creating and writing. The more I focus, the more I experience joy and purpose. Focus also lowers my anxiety. When I’m scattered and unfocused, I worry about what might happen. But when I take the time to focus on whatever is in front of me, I feel more empowered. I’m curious to know what you’re focusing on this year. Do you have a word of intention for the year? Do you prefer to set annual goals or resolutions? Perhaps you are where I was just a few months ago, and the idea of being intentional is exhausting. That is okay, too! Sometimes, success means getting through the next few minutes or hours. However you are approaching this year, I hope you feel encouraged and supported in your journey.

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Feeling Overwhelmed? How to Carve Out Peace During Challenging Seasons

Jennifer Douglas — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 17:51:23 +0000

Some seasons in our lives are overwhelming. How can we carve out peace and maintain some semblance of well-being when life feels so challenging?

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Living in the Pause: In-Between Journeys

Jennifer Douglas — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 22:13:22 +0000

What is it like to live in the pause? What if we are in-between journeys? Why does it feel so uncomfortable? Aren't we supposed to celebrate the end and then ride that emotional wave to the next journey?

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My Dirty Shower Was Yelling at Me- So I Fired (Promoted) Myself and Shut It Up

Jennifer Douglas — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 23:53:05 +0000

Every time I got in the shower, it yelled at me. The scum on the tiles, the grime in the grout lines, and the water spots on the door spoke words of worthlessness. “You’re not good enough. You don’t deserve to have a clean shower. You’re a terrible housecleaner.” I would close my eyes, breathe in the rose-scented soap, and try to ignore them.

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How to Create a Sticker in GoodNotes

Jennifer Douglas — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 14:00:00 +0000

Have you ever found yourself writing a list over and over again? Maybe it’s a weekly routine you do at home or work. Or perhaps it’s a procedure you do every once in a while, but you don’t want to miss a step. Wouldn’t it be great if you could shortcut the time it took to write the list down? Stickers in GoodNotes are a great way to do just that!

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Escape From Routine Prison

Jennifer Douglas — Tue, 31 May 2022 14:30:00 +0000

Routines are great until they become a prison that we’ve trapped ourselves in. When routines get bloated, rigid, or oppressive, it is time to break free from routine prison. So how do we recognize we are in routine prison, plan our escape, and avoid putting ourselves back into routine prison?

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Encouraging Reads: At Your Best by Carey Nieuwhof

Jennifer Douglas — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 18:59:33 +0000

Recently, I read At Your Best by Carey Nieuwhof. It has had a significant impact on how I think about my time and energy. I’m excited to share this book as the first in my Encouraging Reads series.

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Change the Environment: How a $6 “Red Thing” Solved a Big Problem in the Kitchen

Jennifer Douglas — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 21:43:10 +0000

How a $6 red thing in the sink solved a big problem in our kitchen. Change the environment to inspire change in others.

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Faire Une Petite Pause- The Power of Little Breaks

Jennifer Douglas — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 11:00:00 +0000

Little breaks throughout our workday can help us to refocus our brains. There is a French expression- “faire une petite pause” that emphasizes the active nature of this break and reminds us that we will return to work after just a little pause.
 

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Monday Morning Meal Planning- Keeping the House Stocked and Ready

Jennifer Douglas — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Every Monday morning, I sit down with my iPhone and plan the meals for the week. This meal planning routine helps me keep the house stocked and ready with food, which is essential since we haven’t been eating out for the last year.

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Mixing up the Morning Routine

Jennifer Douglas — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Over the last few weeks, I have been mixing up my morning routine. Changing the order of my tasks has helped me increase my productivity and focus on what is essential. I’m still doing many of the same things, but the order is a little different.

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Homeschool : Our 10 AM Read-Aloud, Snack, and Recess Time

Jennifer Douglas — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 12:00:00 +0000

When my boys were in elementary school, we had a 10 AM read-aloud, Snack, and recess time. This was one of our favorite times during the virtual school day because we got to cozy up on the couch and enjoy some wonderful stories together.

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Re-Entry Strategies: Back to School and Work after Vacation

Jennifer Douglas — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Re-entry back into school and work after a vacation can be challenging. Here are some strategies which will help make re-entry smoother.

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Welcoming Home Atmosphere

Jennifer Douglas — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 12:00:00 +0000

Would you love to have a welcoming home all the time? Doesn’t it sound like a dream to have a peaceful and picked up home? As we begin to see the light at the end of this pandemic tunnel, we can start to dream of a time when we can welcome others into our home again.

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Design a Peaceful Evening Routine

Jennifer Douglas — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 12:00:00 +0000

A peaceful evening routine will allow us to prepare effectively for the day ahead. How do we design an evening routine that will work well for ourselves?

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Tackle Your Hated Chores

Jennifer Douglas — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 11:00:00 +0000

How do we deal with chores we hate? We all have certain tasks around the home that we hate doing! Those are the homemaking items that never seem to make our daily to do list. Then, we end up getting frustrated because they are so behind.

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3 Steps to Cultivate Contentment

Jennifer Douglas — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 11:00:00 +0000

I have three steps to share which will help you cultivate contentment in your life. These are easy practices that can improve your wellbeing.

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Digital Bullet Journal: Flexible, Customizable, Searchable

Jennifer Douglas — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 15:00:00 +0000

My Digital Bullet Journal has really helped me be more productive. It is flexible, customizable, and searchable. Learn how I use my iPad to Bullet Journal.

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4 Components of Summer Mode

Jennifer Douglas — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 15:00:00 +0000

When school ends in your home, how do you switch into summer mode? I'm going to share 4 components of summer mode in our home to give you some ideas!

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3 Reasons to Schedule a Midday Break

Jennifer Douglas — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 15:00:00 +0000

Do you end your day feeling spent and overwhelmed? Is getting to dinner and bedtime like running a marathon? I get it! I have been there! And some days, it is still a huge challenge to remain positive and encouraging all throughout the day. We all need a mid-day break!

Today, we are going to talk about 3 reasons you need to schedule a break in your day.

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Virtual School Tips : One Lesson Per Day

Jennifer Douglas — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 08:00:00 +0000

To all of my fellow parents who have are joining me in the realm of schooling at home, welcome to the adventure. You didn’t ask for this, but the schools might stay closed in the fall! Now what?

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Sleep is Essential

Jennifer Douglas — Sun, 31 May 2020 07:01:44 +0000

Sleep is essential and critical to our well being. Without sleep, our bodies break down and we risk getting sick and stressed out.

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Effective Morning Routine : Easy, Efficient, Enjoyable

Jennifer Douglas — Sun, 31 May 2020 06:19:59 +0000

An effective morning routine is a key that allows you to unlock better days. When we start our day with rituals that are easy, efficient, and enjoyable the rest of the day goes so much smoother.

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