I didn’t plan it. One day I just didn’t feel like opening Instagram—and then that day turned into a week… and eventually, a month. What started as a random pause became one of the most eye-opening little experiments I’ve done on myself.
Here’s what changed in just 30 days off the ‘gram:
🧠 1. My Mind Felt… Quieter
No constant scroll. No subconscious comparisons. No noise. I didn’t realize how much mental space those quick checks were taking up until they were gone.
⏱ 2. I Got Time Back
Those “just 5 minutes” moments add up. I started filling that time with things I’d forgotten I loved—like reading, going on walks without my phone, or even just sitting still (wild, right?).
🧍♂️ 3. I Felt More Present
Instead of snapping photos for Stories, I lived in the moment. A sunset was just a sunset—not content. And honestly? It felt more beautiful that way.
💭 4. My Self-Worth Wasn’t Tied to Likes
I stopped measuring good days by how much engagement I got. That’s a shift I didn’t know I needed until I made it.
🤳 Will I Go Back?
Yes, but differently. With limits. With purpose. Because now I know I don’t need it—I just like using it when I want to.
So, should you try it too? If Instagram (or any app) feels more like a habit than a joy—give yourself a break. Not forever. Just long enough to remember what life feels like without it.
Let’s be real—AI sounds like either a robot apocalypse or something only tech nerds care about. But the truth? There are actually useful AI tools that save time, boost productivity, and make life easier—without feeling like you’re talking to Skynet.
Here are five that even your grandma (or your group chat) could get into:
⚡ 1. ChatGPT – Your Brain’s Backup
Need to write an email, brainstorm a birthday message, or summarize a meeting? Just type a prompt and it does the thinking with you. It’s like a helpful coworker who never sleeps (or eats your snacks).
💡 Try: “Summarize this 10-page doc in 3 bullet points.”
✍️ 2. Grammarly – Your Writing Wingman
Whether you’re sending a professional email or updating your LinkedIn, Grammarly catches typos, fixes grammar, and even helps you sound smarter (and nicer).
💡 Bonus: It works across Chrome, Gmail, and Google Docs. Magic.
📅 3. Motion – The Calendar That Plans for You
Motion combines your to-dos and meetings and automatically schedules your day. It shifts things when new tasks come in—perfect for busy bees who hate time-blocking.
🧠 Like Google Calendar… but with a brain.
🎨 4. Canva Magic Studio – Design Without a Designer
Want a logo, a social post, or a clean presentation? Canva’s AI can now generate visuals, layouts, and even write captions. No design degree required.
🎯 Good for: Solopreneurs, students, content creators.
🔊 5. ElevenLabs or Descript – Turn Text into Voice (or Vice Versa)
Create voiceovers, transcribe podcasts, or edit audio like you’re cutting a Word doc. These tools are surprisingly accurate and oddly fun.
🎙️ Imagine changing a sentence in your video by just typing it.
✅ Final Thought
AI isn’t here to steal your job. It’s here to handle the boring parts so you can focus on the cool stuff. You don’t need to be a tech genius—just curious enough to give it a shot.
Try one. You might just buy yourself back an hour a day.
Summer vacation is a great time for kids to explore, have fun, and learn new things in a more relaxed environment. Here’s a mix of fun, educational, and skill-building ideas that children can learn during their summer break:
🎨 Creative & Artistic Skills
Drawing & Painting – Explore different mediums like watercolor, crayons, or digital art.
Walking is more than just a physical activity—it’s an opportunity to reconnect with yourself, clear your mind, and find inner peace. However, distractions like people around you, noise, and wandering thoughts can take away from this experience. In this guide, we explore how to transition from being distracted by external surroundings to fully immersing yourself in mindful walking.
Why Do We Get Distracted While Walking?
When you’re out for a walk, it’s easy to be bothered by people running past, chatting loudly, or even just being present. Our brains are wired to process external stimuli, making it challenging to focus inward. The key to overcoming this is to train your mind to stay present and engaged with your own experience.
How to Stay Focused While Walking
1. Shift Focus Inward
Use Earphones (Even Without Music): This creates a personal bubble, signaling to your mind that external noise is irrelevant.
Breath Awareness: Focus on the rhythm of your breathing—inhale deeply, exhale slowly.
Count Steps or Rhythms: Counting each step (1-2-3-4) can keep your mind engaged and prevent distractions.
2. Mental Anchors
Set an Intention: Before stepping out, remind yourself: “This walk is for me. I am here to refresh, not to be distracted.”
Mantras or Affirmations: Silently repeat phrases like “I am calm and centered.”
Use Visualization: Imagine yourself walking in a peaceful place, like a quiet forest or along a serene beach.
3. Visual Control
Soft Gaze Technique: Instead of looking directly at people, focus slightly ahead or on the horizon.
Find a Focal Point: Pick an object in the distance (a tree, a lamppost) and let it guide your attention forward.
4. Reduce Engagement
Avoid Eye Contact: This helps minimize social distractions.
Accept & Ignore: Recognize that distractions exist, but remind yourself that they are background noise, not your focus.
Mindful Walking Routine: A Step-by-Step Guide
To make mindful walking a habit, follow this structured routine:
🌿 Stage 1: Ground Yourself (First 2-3 Minutes)
✔ Take slow, deep breaths (inhale for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts). ✔ Notice how your body feels—the movement of your legs, the air on your skin. ✔ Walk with a relaxed posture, keeping your shoulders down and chest open.
🚶 Stage 2: Find Your Focus (5-10 Minutes)
✔ Count your steps (1-2-3-4, repeat) to maintain a steady rhythm. ✔ Repeat a calming mantra like “I am present in this moment.” ✔ Keep your gaze forward, avoiding direct eye contact with others.
🔍 Stage 3: Engage Your Senses (10-15 Minutes)
✔ Listen to natural sounds (wind, birds, leaves rustling) instead of conversations around you. ✔ Feel your footstep patterns and observe your walking rhythm. ✔ Notice the temperature, the scent of the air, and how your body moves.
🧘 Stage 4: Deep Focus Mode (15-20 Minutes+)
✔ Visualize yourself in a calm place, such as a quiet trail or open meadow. ✔ Let thoughts come and go without attaching to them—observe them like passing clouds. ✔ Walk steadily, absorbing the moment without rushing.
Tips for Avoiding External Distractions
✔ Use earphones (even without music) to create an invisible barrier. ✔ Stick to a familiar route to reduce unpredictability. ✔ Walk during quieter hours to minimize external disturbances. ✔ Accept distractions but don’t dwell on them—just let them pass.
Mindful walking is a skill that improves with practice. The more you train yourself to focus inward, the less external noise will affect you. Try this approach on your next walk and experience the difference!
In today’s fast-paced work environment, meetings are essential but can often feel unproductive. However, by applying a few key principles, you can transform your meetings into powerful tools for collaboration and decision-making.
In this guide, I’ll share the most effective strategies for running meetings that drive results, highlighting key lessons we can learn from Chris Donnelly’s Ultimate Meeting Cheat Sheet, which you can explore below.
1. Bezos’ 3 Golden Rules for Meetings
Jeff Bezos’ meeting strategies provide valuable lessons for keeping meetings small, effective, and focused. These rules can dramatically improve how your team collaborates:
The Two-Pizza Rule: Keep your meeting size small enough that two pizzas could feed everyone. This ensures discussions stay focused.
Ditch the PowerPoint: Instead of using slides, embrace detailed narrative memos. Written thoughts encourage deeper understanding and meaningful conversation.
Embrace Silence: Begin with a 30-minute silent reading session of the memo, allowing participants to fully absorb information before discussion.
2. 6 Best Practices to Elevate Your Meetings
To ensure your meetings are as productive as possible, consider adopting these best practices:
Define a Clear Purpose and Agenda: Always know the goal of the meeting and share the agenda with attendees ahead of time.
Encourage Active Participation: Create an environment where everyone feels comfortable contributing.
Empower a Skilled Meeting Leader: A good leader keeps the discussion on track and ensures objectives are met.
Conclude with Action Items: Summarize the key takeaways and assign clear next steps.
Explore Alternatives: Not all collaboration needs to happen in meetings—consider alternatives like collaborative documents or asynchronous discussions.
Seek Feedback and Improve: Regularly assess your meetings and seek ways to enhance them over time.
3. Proven Tips to Reduce the Number of Meetings
Cutting down on unnecessary meetings allows for more focused, uninterrupted work time. Here are three proven ways to reduce your meeting load:
No Meeting Days: Establish specific days where no meetings are allowed, giving your team time to focus.
Ruthlessly Audit Your Calendar: If a meeting lacks a clear purpose, cancel it. Time is better spent on high-impact tasks.
Leverage Asynchronous Tools: Use tools like email, shared documents, or video recordings to collaborate without needing to schedule a meeting.
4. Meeting Hacks from Industry Leaders
Some of the most successful business leaders have unique meeting strategies that you can easily incorporate:
Steve Jobs’ Walking Meetings: Break formalities and spark creativity by conducting meetings while walking.
Richard Branson’s Stand-up Rule: Short, energetic meetings happen when everyone is standing.
Warren Buffet’s 5-Minute Rule: If you can’t cover an agenda topic in 5 minutes, schedule another meeting.
Elon Musk’s 80/20 Rule: Only invite participants who will contribute 80% of the value in the meeting.
5. Leverage Tech Tools to Improve Meetings
You can streamline your meetings and improve efficiency by integrating technology. Here are a few tools that Chris Donnelly recommends:
Otter.ai: Real-time transcription for capturing conversations while staying engaged.
Loom: Record your screen, voice, and face to share video updates for asynchronous collaboration.
Tactiq: Generate meeting agendas automatically and export them to various tools like Notion or ClickUp.
Canva GPT: Easily design visuals to support your meetings, including presentations and diagrams.
Chris Donnelly’s Meeting Cheat Sheet
Below is Chris Donnelly’s Ultimate Meeting Cheat Sheet, which highlights key strategies and tools for running effective meetings. Download the full high-resolution version from his newsletter here.
Chris Donnelly – How to Have Effective Team Meetings Cheat Sheet Guide
