Getting to Good Enough

Doing the easiest thing first (the low-hanging fruit) gets a bad rap. But it can actually make everything easier. In this episode Janine and Shannon discuss strategies around using low-hanging fruit to get stuff done. Discussion topics include: • Low-hanging fruit counts! • How allowing yourself to address low-hanging fruit first can help you get started • Starting with something easy and stopping...

In honor of next week's big in-person and virtual genealogy conference, RootsTech, we are re-running a 2018 episode about applying a good-enough mentality to genealogy research. Enjoy! Shannon and Janine are among the millions of people who enjoy doing genealogy research. In fact, as a genealogy blogger, Janine devotes a significant amount of time to it. In this episode, we discuss Shannon's...

Why are we so hard on ourselves? It's not a rhetorical question. This week, Janine and Shannon discuss self-compassion and treating ourselves as nicely as we treat our besties. Discussion topics include: • The folly of harping on your past mistakes in an attempt to avoid those mistakes again • How constantly reminding yourself of your mistakes makes it hard to do the thing you're trying to do • A...

Prior to recording this episode, Shannon and Janine listened to a podcast discussing the new book "The Perfectionist's Guide To Losing Control: A Path To Peace And Power." The podcast sparked this week's discussion of aiming for ideal rather than flawless, the more commonly used definition of perfectionism. To us, ideal feels much more attainable and healthy than flawless. Discussion topics i...

The anticipation and anxiety around starting a new adventure can be even more intense when you're dealing with perfectionism. In this episode, Janine and Shannon discuss a new adventure they're both embarking on and how they're preparing for it. Discussion topics include: • How Shannon is feeling good (not just better) at good enough! • Janine and Shannon's excitement to be starting the YNAB (You...

In what appears to be a new tradition, every other January we run this episode on Hobbies, one of our favorites. It first appeared in January 2019. Enjoy! Perfectionism can get in the way of starting or enjoying hobbies. This week Shannon and Janine talk about  their hobbies (and attempted hobbies) and share strategies for getting past perfectionism so you can enjoy your hobbies. Discuss...

Sometimes finishing up a project that you've put down can feel daunting, especially if you're concerned about doing it perfectly. But finishing can be so rewarding! In this episode, Janine and Shannon discuss how to start finishing--and how to decide something is finished. Discussion topics include: • Shannon's concern that she'll find it hard to remember that it's 2023 • The four-decades-long pro...

Getting dressed doesn't have to be hard. Embracing an effortless wardrobe can make everything easier. In this episode Shannon and Janine talk about the benefits of simplified dressing and how they go about making their wardrobe more effortless. Discussion topics include: • Is it a flock or herd of sheep? • Janine's recent closet clearing (including stats!) • Shannon's unhappiness with the lack of...

Just in time for the new year, we're re-running the second part of our 2018 short series on habits. We hope you find it helpful! Last week Janine and Shannon talked about creating helpful habits. This week, we look at the other side of the coin--letting go of bad habits. Shannon shares her view that all habits (even bad ones) are the result of good intentions and talks about how we can use that in...

The new year is a great time to think about creating habits that will make your life easier. Shannon and Janine discussed habits early on in the podcast--way back in October 2018. We thought now would be great time to re-run this episode.  When it comes to living an easy life, helpful habits are everything. In this episode Shannon and Janine discuss why good habits are important and how to cr...

A vision board is a great way to get clear on what's important to you and keep it in sight year-round. The good news is that it doesn't have to be difficult! Janine and Shannon got together on Zoom to create digital vision boards and recorded this episode right after we finished. We had so much fun! Discussion topics include: • We created vision boards together! • How Shannon used magazines to hon...

Self care never goes out of style. When we originally recorded this episode in January of 2019, we had no idea how important self care was going to become during the pandemic. This holiday season, we thought we'd share this important message again. Now that the holidays are over, it's a good idea to focus on taking care of yourself. This week Janine and Shannon discuss the importance of self care...

We all make mistakes. And sometimes it can be hard to figure out how to mitigate those mistake, especially if you let perfectionism get in the way. This week, Janine and Shannon discuss a Big Mistake Janine made and how she dealt with it, extracting some lessons for us all. Discussion topics include: • The mistake Janine made in buying discounted postage stamps and recommending them to her newslet...

We make so many choices each and every day and some are way more important than others. In this episode, Shannon and Janine discuss saving your brain power for the tougher choices and some strategies for making those choices easier. Discussion topics include: • The executive functioning drain of having so many choices to make • Letting as many decisions as possible being easy • Saving your executi...

It's officially winter holiday season, which can be stressful for many people. We want to help our listeners let it be easy! This week, we're re-running Episode 28, which we originally recorded for the 2018 holiday season. Our wish for you for this holiday season is less stress and more joy. The holiday season can be really hard on perfectionists, who often want to do it all and do it right....

Being content with your life is something most of us strive for. And it's so within our reach. This week Shannon and Janine discuss ways to be cultivate contentment while still being open to change. Discussion topics include: • Janine's unremarkable but happy-making dog walk • Noticing the things that are enjoyable and going well • Paying attention to problems vs consciously focusing on the things...

It is so easy for even the most ingrained habits to go by the wayside when you have a change in routine or other disruption. This week, Janine and Shannon discuss taking baby steps to reinvigorate your beneficial habits. Discussion topics include: • Janine's good-enough pre-Halloween raking of leaves • How disruption of routine can affect habits • Looking forward to the habits you need now, rather...

Being sick is hard. And perfectionism can make it even harder. In this episode Shannon and Janine talk with Jen Singer medical writer and author of the Just Diagnosed Guides. Jen has had her share of illnesses and she has used her extensive experience as a medical writer and a sick person to help other people diagnosed with illness, as well the people who care about them. Jen also shares how being...

It can be so rewarding to volunteer for a deserving organization. But it can difficult to find the right place. In this episode, Janine and Shannon discuss some considerations and strategies for finding an organization to donate your time or money. Discussion topics include: • Avoiding perfectionism in finding a place to volunteer • How Shannon found her volunteer gig at a pediatric ICU • Ways to...

Janine's father, Gene, passed away in August and she was the beneficiary of much help and kindness from her friends, including Shannon. This week, we discuss her experience and some of the things that have made navigating loss a little easier for Janine. Discussion topics include: • The beautiful fall weather that Shannon and Janine are enjoying this year • The passing of Janine's father, Gene Ada...

We're back! After an absence of six weeks, Janine and Shannon are happy to be back at our microphones! This week we're discussing Shannon's trip of a lifetime, her 217-mile walk along the Camino de Santiago. In the episode we learn all about her amazing trip, including how perfectionism sometimes reared its head. Discussion topics include: • Shannon's daily routine while she was walking the Camino...

It can be really helpful to let go of perfectionism when preparing for big things. Shannon is embracing imperfection in her preparations for her much-anticipated trip to Portugal. This episode Shannon and Janine discuss preparing imperfectly as a way to free yourself from stress. Discussion topics include: • Shannon's (imperfect) preparation for her month-long trip to Portugal • Shannon's itinerar...

Being authentic can be hard, especially if you want to project a perfect image. Back in October 2020, we talked all about authenticity and we wanted to share again. Enjoy! Shannon and Janine both embrace being authentic. But we understand that if you have a tendency toward perfectionism that it can be hard not to strive to appear perfect. In this episode, we discuss the value of authenticity and h...

Shannon is an avid gardener (Janine actively avoids it) and this year her gardening efforts got a very late start. In this episode Shannon and Janine discuss embracing good enough in the garden and acknowledge that an imperfect garden is better than no garden at all. Discussion topics include: • Janine's aversion to getting her hands dirty • Shannon's gardening-glove strategy • How Shannon finds h...

Perfectionists tend to want to have all their ducks in a row before getting started on a new project. That tendency can be paralyzing. And it's so unnecessary. In this episode, which originally ran in November 2018, Janine and Shannon talk about how just starting where you are can benefit you in so many ways. Discussion topics include: • Why things don’t have to be perfect in order for you to get...