Sunday Brunch Round-up | June 20-26th
READ
Are you too hard on yourself when you make mistakes at work (or outside of work)? The Harvard Business Review’s Stop Being So Hard on Yourself is just the read you need.
“Ben is what I call a sensitive striver — a high-achiever who is also highly sensitive. He is driven and demands excellence from himself at all times. But when he falls short of those impossibly high expectations, his innate sensitivity and thoughtfulness cause him to spiral into self-recrimination. If you can relate to Ben’s reaction, then you also may be too hard on yourself. This can take the form of harsh, punitive judgements, overanalyzing your shortcomings, rumination over minor missteps, worry, and assuming fault.
Perhaps you have thought that self-criticism is what keeps you sharp. Sensitive strivers like Ben often use it as a form of motivation, hoping that if they’re tough enough on themselves, they’ll be compelled to perform. But research shows that self-criticism is a poor strategy. When used excessively, it is consistently associated with less motivation, worse self-control, and greater procrastination. In fact, self-criticism shifts the brain into a state of inhibition, which prevents you from taking action to reach your goals.”
Have you been wanting to get rid of your Amazon Prime account? I’ve been toying with the idea for a while now and I really appreciated The Good Trade’s post, How To Officially Break Up With Amazon Prime (It's Hard, We Know!).
“I canceled Amazon Prime, and it wasn’t me—it was them. Between Amazon’s negative impact on the environment, concerningly inhumane working conditions, and harm on small businesses, I could no longer justify the perks of two-day shipping. I’d always believed that we vote for the world we want with our dollars, but what did it say if I was continuing to support a conglomerate like Amazon, especially if I didn’t need to?
Since I cancelled a few years ago, I haven’t looked back. Whenever I bring this up with friends or family though, I’m met with astonished looks and questions about how I survive without it. The answer? It’s easier than you’d think!”
LISTEN
I really like Alina Alive’s meditations and although I didn’t listen to this Guided Meditation Full Moon June 2021🔮✨ during the full moon, I still think it is worth a listen. She has a calming voice without being too hokey or put upon and her videos are a very manageable length.
WATCH
Summertime to me means BBQ! I’m from Virginia and I miss getting some good, Southern BBQ. If you want your (visual) fix, you have to check out The American Barbecue Showdown on Netflix. They have really interesting challenges and have to work with ingredients you don’t typically see on a BBQ throw down. It doesn’t hurt that the contestants are generally supportive of each other, either. It’s a finger-licking good binge for your weekend.
TASTE
Summer fruit and veggie season is one of my absolute favorite times of year. Did you know that eating what’s in season helps support your local economy and the planet? I’ll be posting more on that in a deeper dive blog post in July, but for now, browse this list of What’s In Season In Summer? and enjoy to your heart’s content.
SMELL
I promise, I am not paid to promote Trader Joe’s. However, their Peach Black Tea candle? I almost didn’t want to include it in this week’s post, because I plan to go by their store to scoop up at least three more. It smells absolutely divine. Perfectly summer, rich, but not too overpowering. If you head to your local TJ’s, you should find it on one of the “new items” end caps. Mmm.
in warmth,
