I have several Sterilite containers full of holiday decorations in my attic, but I don't have the desire to really decorate. In the past, my friend, who worked in retail for several years, didn’t want to put up her own tree once she got home from work. This year, she decided to haul out the holly. She encouraged me to put out at least one thing. I set up a mini tree, hung a wreath and swapped my throw pillows. It was a little, but it has made a huge difference.

Her gentle prodding was a good reminder to take 15 minutes for me. I know not everyone puts up a tree or has positive memories this time of year; however, I do hope that you can carve out a little time to do something nice for yourself, whatever that may look like.

Until next time, stay safe and be well.

The Power of Hope

There are a lot of ways we describe hope, but I’ve never heard of it as a strategy for organizations. That is, until I read Jamil Zaki’s piece in Harvard Business Review.

A psychology professor and author of a book on hope, Zaki’s outlook is refreshingly different. He explains that many businesses adopt a play it safe mindset. That mindset can help minimize exposures, but it’s not a strategy for long-term growth or success.

Zaki writes: “Think of what happens in sports: If you play a game fearfully and focus simply on not losing, you’ll narrow your focus, which in turn will reduce your creativity and make it hard for you to recognize opportunities. You may avoid losing, but you probably won’t win much.”

That’s where hope comes in. The buoyant belief in something, coupled with planning and kindness, brings out the best in us. That can have cascading effects, including creating a psychologically safe workplace where employees feel supported enough to share their ideas and be their true or authentic selves.

Zalik’s thoughtfully articulated and research-backed article makes me hopeful. I encourage you to read it here.

Productivity’s Dark Side

If you’ve read this column for a while, you know that I am always focused on productivity and efficiency. That’s why I had to read Stephanie Vozza’s piece, “3 productivity habits that are actually toxic.”

I’m ashamed to admit I practice all three of these habits. In the past couple weeks, I noticed that some of my habits were causing me to feel more exhausted than refreshed. For example, I idly perused Facebook Marketplace while watching a movie. Sitting down to watch the movie was supposed to be a treat, but I felt less relaxed and more tired afterward. It seems multitasking made all things worse.

“Most of us are willing to accept the toxic side effects of productivity, thinking that they’re the norm,” Vozza writes. However, the fallout from these habits could impact your physical well-being, emotional health, and relationships.”

Oof. That observation hit me like a punch to the gut.

The article describes some alternative, healthy habits to try. As you may expect, they center around doing less, being more present and entering into states of deep focus.

It makes sense when I really stop and think about it. The goal of productivity is to get more done. Well, since we’re not robots repetitively performing a task, we can’t expect consistently high output, especially if we’re burning the midnight oil. We need to rest regularly in order to do and feel our best.

Read the full article here.

Restorative Efforts

I never expected to feel so hopeful after reading an architectural critique, but here we are. Michael Kimmelman’s piece in The New York Times about Notre-Dame’s restoration journey buttresses my faith in humanity.

I remember when the cathedral caught on fire in April 2019—though I hadn’t believed it’s been that long. It felt like millions were collectively holding their breath watching flames engulf the roof and spire. It was a relief to see the cathedral remain standing, though it was unclear how, if or when Notre-Dame could be restored to its fully Gothic glory.

I am simply in awe of the photos and renderings of the restoration efforts. Kimmelman astutely captures the scene during a visit over the summer: “I can’t recall ever visiting a building site that seemed calmer, despite the pressure to finish on time, or one filled with quite the same quiet air of joy and certitude. When I quizzed one worker about what the job meant to her, she struggled to find words, then started to weep. … Those artisans and conservators I met spoke so movingly about working in concert on something larger and longer lasting than themselves.”

Notre-Dame is a feat of engineering, beauty and grandeur, though it is surely a sight to behold. But more than that, it symbolizes what we can do when we all work together, treat each other with respect and carefully consider the consequences of our own actions.

I hope to one day see Notre-Dame in person. For now, I will simply marvel at what’s possible.

Read the full critique, along with photos, visualizations and animations here.