Hi there,

I’ve been thinking about what it means to stay focused on only the 1-3 things that matter each day — I don’t know about you, but that practice is simple to understand but incredibly tough to master. I’ve got a project I’ve been working on for years, and I’ve been wracking my brain lately why I don’t make more traction on it — because it is super important to me. Why don’t I cross the finish line?

As always, an epiphany came in the shower last night: I think in order for me to finally finish the thing, I need to cultivate the habit of not needing immediate feedback or instant gratification. Our “easy everywhere” culture has trained my brain to want dopamine hits all day long, and yet long projects don’t see their reward for a long time until after they’re completed. I need to relearn what it means to find satisfaction in the day’s work being done, and that’s it. I’m accidentally addicted to the dopamine treat of approval after the tiniest of daily dog tricks. I’ve become a puppy in my need of a reward.

The work that lasts is usually the work that takes its time.

5 Quick Things ☕️

1. 👉 New episode of A Drink With a Friend! 👈 When you grow up hearing that this world will one day fade away, it’s hard to reconcile why, then, there’s so much astounding beauty everywhere. Seth and I unpack why our invisible souls aren’t the only things that matter.

2. This essay posits a really good idea for handling that “background hum of stress, but is just sustainable enough that you can keep it up for years.” 20% less might be my goal next year.

3. I’ve never heard of the term “skinimalism,” but I definitely love my years-long, almost-nothing skincare routine and I’m routinely asked what I do because my skin looks healthy. (The answer is disappointingly easy.) Why do we do so much to ourselves?

4. How do you know when your work is ready? I like these three questions.

5. And finally, here are ten photography tips that are simple to remember but hard to implement. (I definitely do #10 the best.)

Currently Reading, Watching, Listening 📺

• Supernatural (because apparently this show’s been around forever with 300+ episodes and I’m only just now checking it out)

Quotable 💬

“Don’t just do something, sit there.”

— Sylvia Boorstein #

Inside The Commonplace 🏡

The above quote was from Commonplace subscriber Rachel, in answer to my request for timeless wisdom this week. As always, you guys did not disappoint:

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You Might Like To Know… 🙌

Whenever people want me to talk more about practical tips for living simply with less, I point them instead to my friend Joshua — in particular, his workshop that’s open only three times a year. It’s called Uncluttered, and it’s a 12-week course to help you systematically declutter your home.

It happens to be open right now, and it sounds like the price is going up after this year. Now’s the time to get it if you’re hankering to declutter your home + recenter your mindset in time for the holidays! Uncluttered has my seal of approval.

Elsewhere 📍

Tsh Oxenreider ☕️ @tsh

"Please get out of the dryer and read somewhere else." - a thing I just had to say to one of my kids

September 13th 2021

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Question For You to Ponder… 🤔

What was the best thing that happened this week?

Have a good weekend!

xo, Tsh

p.s. Some big news on the podcast next week — you won’t want to miss it! Stay tuned.