Getting to Good Enough

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...

Sometimes we have to be persistent in order to settle disputes that arise. And that can be a source of stress. In this week's episode, Shannon and Janine discuss making resolution easier (and potentially more effective) by staying positive during the process. Discussion topics include: • The happy message on Shannon's chai latte • How Shannon's husband, Mike, has been a model of positive persisten...

We have all heard how important it is to stay hydrated. But for some of us, taking in the water our bodies need can feel challenging. This week, Janine and Shanon discuss some strategies for getting and staying hydrated. Discussion topics include: •How hydration is important year-round • The origin of this week's episode title • The importance of sipping water frequently, rather than chugging a lo...

We all get stressed from time to time, and some times are worse than others. In this episode Shannon and Janine discuss some stress-relief techniques, as well as some ideas for keeping stress levels low. Discussion topics include: • Janine's litany of things that are stressing her out right now • Shannon's husband's recent surgery and its resulting stress • How we feel stress in our bodies • Chron...

Shannon's robust meal-planning and food inventorying system that she shared in Episode 209 wasn't created in one fell swoop. In this episode we discuss how incremental problem solving can help you create systems that make you happy. Discussion topics include: • Monarch butterflies! • How complex systems are often built a little at a time • How incremental problem solving led to Shannon's system of...

Do you have a tendency to run late? Shannon and Janine used to run perpetually late, but no more. This week we discuss the strategies we've used to go from tardy to early (or at least on time). Discussion topics include: • Our past challenges with punctuality • How perfectionism played into it • Taking into account all the time it takes to get somewhere (door to door) • Building in a 15-minute buf...

Janine and Shannon love reading novels for pleasure and we have found ways to fit it into our busy lives. If you like to read but don't seem to have time to read as much as you'd like, this episode might give you some ideas for squeezing in some enjoyable reading. Discussion topics include: • Our usual complaining about summer weather • Reading: A great activity no matter what the weather • Gettin...

What's for dinner? Wouldn't you like to have a ready answer for that question? Shannon is living the meal planning dream and in this episode she and Janine talk about the benefits of meal planning and how Shannon goes about doing it. Be ready to be inspired! Discussion topics include: • Janine's challenges with meal planning (which revolve around the fact she doesn't cook) • Shannon's helpful husb...

It's the podcast's fourth anniversary! We published our first three episodes on June 15, 2018. On our third anniversary, we published a post called Three Pillars for Three years and this year we decided to add a fourth pillar for our fourth anniversary. It's Let It Be Easy, and it's focus of our episode today. Discussion topics include: • Our fourth anniversary! • The three pillars of good enough...

Shannon and Janine have experienced first-hand the challenges (and rewards) of caring for elderly parents. In this episode (recorded right after Janine returned from helping her father move into assisted living), we discuss ways to make it easier to help your elderly relatives when they need your help. Note: We had some audio difficulties with this episode, but felt the topic was important enough...

Back in 2020, Janine and Shannon had a robust conversation about our passion for the budgeting software You Need a Budget (YNAB). Our enthusiasm has not dimmed in the slightest, so we wanted to run it again. Money is a source of stress for so many people. One tool that both Janine and Shannon use to help them take the stress out of money and create financial peace is the software You Need a B...

Taking care of ourselves is always important. But it's especially important during stressful times. This week Shannon and Janine discuss prioritizing self care so it's there for you when you need it the most. Discussion topics include: • The fact that self-care doesn't have to take a lot of time • The fallacy that you will get more done if you skip self care • The reality that by taking care of yo...