It's Time to Share!
Welcome to the first edition of Shareables from The Slow Sip.
I forage for good content the way some people forage for great bargains in a second-hand clothing shop. It’s a lot of work and I love it. Every once in a while, I find a gem and think, “This is Slow Sippin’ good!” After collecting over 100 of these nuggets, I decided, it’s time to share.
Enter, Shareables from The Slow Sip.
Photo: Kids Sharing Ice Cream by Darren Baker
Each month(ish), I’ll send you my best finds. Great wisdom, inspiration, tips, and resources from some of my favorite writers. I’ll also highlight some of the amazing writers I’ve found here on Substack.
For those of you participating in The Practice, you’ll find resources in Shareables related to our theme of the month. If you’re curious about The Practice and would like to know how to join, you can find out more here.
This month’s theme is Discern.
In 20 years of coaching, the most common issue plaguing my clients was this relentless time and productivity deficit they felt. This haunting sense that they were always falling behind and there was never enough time to catch up. The stress could be crippling.
The key to relief is not to work harder, or faster, or longer. It is to learn the really difficult skill of discernment. It’s the skill that enables you to distinguish between signal and noise. And trust me, most of it is noise.
Being discerning is more than deciding what needs to get done and what doesn’t; it’s also discerning what makes you feel alive and what brings you joy and delight.
Okay, Harsh! But True?
If you want a reality check on how discerning you are, Shane Parrish, author of Brain Food, a newsletter that is a staple for me, recommends you take a good hard look at your calendar.
"Your calendar is the most honest autobiography you'll ever write. It doesn't matter what you say your priorities are; your calendar reveals the truth. Each block is a decision about what matters, stripped of pretense and rationalization.
Your calendar isn't just recording your time—it's exposing your lies."
I think this is a fair statement for those of us who have a measure of autonomy and choice over how we spend our time. And most of us have more choice than we believe we do. Wherever you fall on the autonomy spectrum, however, examining your calendar and how well it reflects your values is a worthwhile and illuminating exercise.
To Discern, First You Must Slow Down.
I think the king of useful nuggets on this topic, is author Greg McKeown. Check out this short post on LinkedIn called, Why Slowing Down Might Be Your Fastest Move.
Greg McKeown’s book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, is the one I most frequently recommend to clients who are struggling with overwhelm. If you’re looking to develop essential skills for a more meaningful and impactful life, there’s no better place to start.
From The Slow Sip Archives
Separating signal from noise is not enough. You still need to act on what you learn. Here are two of posts from The Slow Sip archives that contain simple, practical approaches to creating space and focus for the things that matter most.
Hidden treasures and practical tips on Substack
For someone whose two favorite activities in life are writing and reading, Substack is like a theme park - so much to explore. But I feel a tinge of guilt encouraging you to jump on this ride because it can quickly become overwhelming.
If you’re subscribed to just a fraction of the great newsletters on here, you may notice they are making your inbox explode. Here’s a very entertaining and helpful article by
, called How to Subscribe to All the Substacks You Love Without Losing Your Mind. is where I go to find inspiration to get up out of my nest and get out and explore the world. While Jenn is an all-season inspiration, I love her winter adventures. For many of us, winter brings hibernation, smelly sweatpants, and a nasty case of extreme lethargy. Jenn dives into winter with gusto and her energy is infectious.Her stories of cross-country skiing and winter hiking adventures, complete with beautiful photography make me want to put on my boots and go play in the snow. Check out her latest post, A postcard from Obertilliach in the Dolomites: a true Austrian adventure destination.
And if you’re a runner or a wannabe runner, a great place to start is Jenn’s, Running on Substack: A Directory of Substack Newsletters Devoted to Running.
at We Are All Getting Older (aka WAGO) is a kindred spirit who explores the rich and creative territory of mid-life. She describes herself as, “Former corporate climber turned writer (the girl's gotta dream!). Chasing the joie of vivre in life's second half.”Here’s the post that had me declare her an honorary slow sipper, In Its Own Time: Why Not Everything Needs to Be Fast And while you are poking around WAGO, don’t miss this thought-provoking essay, “Pre-gretting.”
And finally, because I’m not above shameless self-promotion, in case you missed it, here’s her profile of me, Cathy Jacob: In Profile - We're All Getting Older.
What have you found worth sharing this month?
Thank you for the shout-out, Cathy! This post seems like a labor of love. I appreciate your efforts 🩵
Thank you for sharing some finds, Cathy. Recommendations have been my best guidebook to Substack! I connected with the reminder to check your calendar to observe what you are making priority in your life. I remember an exercise in the days of focusing 'how to be more productive' with your time. You wrote down in percentages 'what people/activities were the most meaningful/important in your life.' They you kept track of how you spent your time for a couple of days in detail by blocks of time. It was a helpful reminder to try and bring that balance into your life, or make some changes.