Getting to Good Enough

Janine and Shannon have made the difficult decision to stop recording the podcast. In this episode, we discuss how we came to that decision and how life-changing the podcast has been for us. We are so grateful to our listeners for their attention and support over the five years of this podcast. We hope that you've benefited from listening. Our plan is to keep past episodes of the podcast available...

Getting a great night's sleep can be elusive, especially as we get older. Shannon and Janine have tried a lot of things to improve the quality of their sleep and we're excited to discuss them in this episode. We provide lots of great links with this one! Discussion topics include: • The good old days when we could get a good night's sleep and not even notice • The app Shannon uses to check her sle...

Why is it so hard to acknowledge our small victories? In this episode, Janine and Shannon discuss taking the win and how it's good for our productivity (and our health!). Discussion topics include: • How it can be hard to accept that what you've done is valuable and counts even if it's not perfect • The (erroneous) idea that if you feel good about what you've done you might slack off • Would you p...

Shannon's back from Italy and we're running some episodes we recorded before she left. This week, Shannon and Janine are talking about the beauty of taking a simple approach to starting something and how that can be challenging for perfectionists. Discussion topics include: • Our virtual retreat to plan our YNAB coaching practices (simpler than trying to figure out how to work together in person)...

It's our 250th episode! This week we're re-running an episode from May 2021, almost exactly two years ago. Next week, keep an eye out for a new episode. Getting comfortable with stopping at good enough (rather than pursuing perfection) can be tough for some people. But it can also be really beneficial. This week Janine and Shannon talk about how and why to feel good about good enough. Discussion t...

This week we're offering a repeat from January 2020. Shannon and Janine are living the "less is more" mantra this year as Shannon makes it a focus of her 2020 goals and Janine focuses on helping her organizing clients let go of excess. In this episode, they discuss how less stuff can add up to more freedom and happiness. Discussion topics include: • One of Shannon’s focuses for 2020: Letting go of...

We first published this episode back in February 2019. It feels more relevant than ever in our post-pandemic world. If you feel you should be running at 100 percent capacity, you're not doing yourself any favors. This week Janine and Shannon discuss personal capacity and how making sure you're giving yourself plenty of room capacity-wise can help you be happier and less stressed. Discussion topics...

Shannon's on vacation, so we're rerunning some favorite episodes for the next month or so. This week, we're revisiting Janine's bad day in 2021 and how Shannon helped her (and, we hope, you) turn it around. Everyone has a bad day some time. On the day we recorded this episode, Janine was experiencing a bad day that left a dark cloud hanging over her head. Shannon was able to make suggestions that...

Bothered by an overabundance of paper and email? This episode is for you. Last week, Shannon and Janine discussed working through backlogs and this week we share some strategies for creating systems so those backlogs don't come back. Specifically we talk about ideas for email, snail mail and paper in general. Discussion topics include: • How having a system allows you to bounce back when stuff pil...

We published this episode back in February 2020 and unfortunately backlogs are not a thing of the past! We thought we'd rerun it for those who are still dealing with this challenge. When stuff piles up in your home or office it can overwhelming to contemplate plowing through it and getting rid of the backlog. Add perfectionist tendencies to the equation and it can be even more challenging. In this...

Squee! Janine and Shannon have exciting news to share: We've both completed a training program to earn the certification YNAB Certified Budgeting Coaches. We're very excited to coach people so they can benefit from this unique budgeting methodology and software as we have. This week we talk all about why we love YNAB (You Need a Budget). Discussion topics include: • We've finished our certificatio...

Having fun is important! In this laughter-infused episode, Shannon and Janine have fun discussing how to prioritize fun and adding fun to every day life. Discussion topics include: • Our criterion for continuing with our podcast: We'll keep doing it as long as we're having fun • How fun is different for different people • We agree: Things are fun when laughter is involved • Things can be fun witho...

One of the hardest parts about perfectionism is that it can mess with your feelings of self worth. In this episode, Janine and Shannon discuss how your value as a person has nothing to do with how perfectly you do things. Discussion topics include: • Early spring in Portland and St. Louis! • One of the difficult things about perfectionism: Feeling bad about not being able to be perfect • How some...

Life can get so frazzled when you don't build in buffers. In this episode Shannon and Janine discuss the value of buffers and some different ways you can build them into your life. Discussion topics include: • Janine's current frustrations about her busy schedule • The culprit: She's not scheduling the desk time she needs • How Janine gets cranky when her schedule is too full • Being realistic abo...

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...