One small change that changes everything, with coffee

Hey readers, It's February now, which means those of us in the northern hemisphere are in the thick of winter. It's grey, it's bleary, it's flu season. This morning in my Episcopal church, for the first time in my memory, we prayed for those who are sick and those who are anxious about getting sick. That's why each year at the beginning of February we get together on Modern Mrs Darcy to share the things that are saving our lives right now. I published my reflections last Monday, noting a whole bunch of things I rely on this time of year, and [sharing specific things that are getting me through this winter](). I included a quick mention of a recent huge win: Friday coffee planning meetings. With a simple tweak, I'd transformed a regular work activity from a chore into something I LOVE. I didn't think the details mattered, so I didn't share any. This is a huge deal for me, but also pretty mundane. I bet some kind of coffee-planning combo is unfolding at 90% of coffee shops in my country right now. What could you possibly find interesting about my own routine? I should have known better: you all left me fifty comments saying I need to know the details of your Friday coffee planning! My little tweak may have been simple, but you reminded me that it's not easy to arrive at simple solutions. So here goes. The story really starts back in the summer, maybe even before that. I realized that I needed to carve out time for long-term, big-picture business planning. And I needed a time to focus on the nitty-gritty details. (I get more excited about the former than the latter. I doubt you're surprised.) Many of these conversations need to happen with one of my team members. Fridays are a great time for me to focus on this stuff, but I never wanted to. For many months, we talked vaguely about how we should make this a regular thing and planning should be a priority, but we struggled to actually make it happen regularly. These sessions always felt like a chore, and an interruption, because come Friday I'm desperate to cross a few more things off my to-do list before the weekend. Too often I'd cancel the meeting, or cut it short. But then. One day, a couple of months ago, we foresaw we had an especially long list of dreams and details to get through for one of these Friday sessions. We decided a change of scenery might be nice, so instead of meeting at my house, we moved our session to a local coffee shop. All we did was change the venue—and I couldn't believe what a difference it made. ***** ***** ***** Of course we all want to make one easy upgrade that changes everything. The challenge is in seeing the opening, and knowing what to do next. Let's take a look at why this new routine works: 1. We automated it. These regular meetings are key to us doing great work, so we've gotta make them happen. Now we plan to meet on Friday afternoons, with a recurring calendar appointment. If someone has a scheduling conflict, we can work around it, but the default is Friday afternoons. We each keep a running list in our journals and show up with paper and pencil, no laptops. We tackle the big picture plans first, then, when we're already on a roll, we knock out the nitty-gritty details. 2. We acknowledged this meeting time is an investment. Sometimes you've got to take time to make time. (Thanks for that great phrase, Laura Vanderkam!) Friday planning doesn't feel urgent at the time; it feels like I could be knocking out my to-do list instead. But everything runs so much more efficiently when we take time to talk things over. 3. We made it FUN. We both love coffee, and we built that into our rhythm. We've visited a healthy mix of familiar coffee shops and new ones we've wanted to try. 4. We splurged a little. Sure, we could have these meetings at my house. We could even meet by video! But these meetings feel special—and important—in part because we're getting out, drinking good coffee (and sometimes enjoying sweet treats, too), and ordering whatever we want. Sometimes, if we're on a roll, that even means a second round of lattés. That feels like SUCH AN INDULGENCE to this naturally frugal girl, but I am 100% it's worth it. (An interesting side note: I learned in the course of writing [my new book]( that so many people who don't otherwise consider themselves to be overthinkers struggle mightily with decisions—small or large—involving money.) When I made this change, I relied heavily on principles from my new book Don't Overthink It. I'm so grateful I now have them in my toolbox. I once wrote a blog post asking the question, [What's your unfair advantage]()? These days, I honestly feel like my unfair advantage is that I spent a couple of years of my life immersed in the topic of overthinking, which runs deeper and wider in our lives than I'd realized: I learned about rumination and worry, sure. But I also learned how to lay a firm foundation for solid mental processes. I learned how to bring my priorities and my calendar into tighter alignment. I learned how to make simple changes that save me serious headaches. I learned how to better handle spontaneity and get over my hang-up about spending money on stuff I don't "need." I learned how to be a better boss, parent, and friend. I can't tell you how much these lessons changed the way I navigate my days, and I can't wait to share what I know and what I've learned with you in LESS THAN A MONTH when [Don't Overthink It]( hits shelves on March 3. I doubt that the one change you implement has to do with Friday coffee. But I'd be willing to bet that you have openings in your own life—places where one easy upgrade could change everything—that are ripe for transformation. The challenge is in seeing the opening, and knowing what to do next. I believe this book can help. [Preorder your copy of Don't Overthink It wherever new books are sold](. [Click here for details on where to order](, including how to get signed copies or the special bundle from Page 1 Books. That link also has information on the awesome preorder bonuses we have for you, including the Don't Overthink It course we put together. This fast-paced and FUN video-driven course was created to be used alongside the book, and the good news is that when you preorder and claim your bonuses, you get INSTANT ACCESS. So you don't have to wait till March 3 to start reaping the benefits. I'm also heading out on the road to hopefully meet YOU in person, starting in less than a month. (How did that happen?!) [Click here for all my book tour news](. I would love nothing better than to hang out with you this spring. Happy reading! Anne P.S. We've had some great book lists on the blog recently! Don't miss: - [30 books featuring happy couples who met past age 30](=) - [65 recommended reads for those traveling to England (or who want to)](=) - [Get hooked on a new mystery series with these 10 addicting audiobooks](=) Do you have a friend who would enjoy getting these emails? Please forward this email on to them. [Modern Mrs Darcy](=) | 6000 Brownsboro Park Blvd Ste H, Louisville, Kentucky 40207 [Opt Out of MMD Newsletters Only](=) | [Unsubscribe from all MMD emails](