People always ask me:
“How do you manage to run a successful business while making movies? How can you possibly do both without dropping over from exhaustion? What are your magic tools and secrets?”
Today I’m sharing some of my favorite obsessions: the tools and resources that I use to stay sane, get inspired, run my business, and make movies at the same time.
I hope you read this email while sipping a Pistachio Latte, or cozying up under a soft blanket, or both! Because I don’t know about you, but I always get my best ideas—and feel way more productive and inspired—when I schedule little pleasure-breaks throughout my day.
Without further ado… here are my latest obsessions!
BUSINESS OBSESSIONS
Loom – a fun, video messaging software that’s much faster than typing an email. I send “looms” when my fingers are too tired of typing. Which happens, a lot.
Teachable – the online course software that I use to teach my online classes. So easy to use, and my students love it!
Printful – a no-fuss, drop-shipping company where you can print your logo onto mugs, t-shirts, and other goodies and have it sent to your clients. I love rewarding my Obsessed students when they take action and Printful makes it easy to send them gifts!
FITNESS OBSESSIONS
Yoga by Adriene – every day I do one of Adriene’s videos. My favorite is her Yoga for Writers!
Hiking. In the rain. My happy place.
I sprinkle in the occasional high-intensity workout. My husband does a daily routine with this guy. Honestly, I just like watching my husband do the workout while I cuddle on the couch under a blanket with my dog. 🤷🏻
RECIPE OBSESSIONS
One of my favorite ways to unwind is to cook. I’d love to go to culinary school one day, just for fun, but for now, I just whip up recipes in my kitchen like:
Spicy Miso Pasta from Chrissy Teigen (I eliminate the bacon and it’s still so good, but bacon lovers – go for it!)
Zuppa Toscana Soup (I use Beyond Sausage and any non-dairy milk as a swap for cream, no bacon)
Trader Joe’s Shrimp Burgers from Black Girls in Trader Joe’s
GIFT OBSESSIONS
I love doling out presents to clients and all-star students. Sometimes I even choose one mailing list subscriber—at random—and I send that person a surprise gift just to say, “Thank you for being part of my community.” Nobody has ever complained about this.
Some of my favorite places to buy gifts:
Punkpost for hand-lettered postcards
PODCAST OBSESSIONS
I hike 3-5 miles per day and always have a podcast in my ear. My current faves:
The Baggage Reclaim Sessions with Natalie Lue – amazing, no b.s. relationship & self-help advice.
Real Talk Radio with Nicole Antoinette – real conversations with really interesting people.
Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay – an awesome podcast that dives into Black culture, politics, sports, and more.
Something Was Wrong – a podcast about the discovery, trauma, and recovery from emotionally (and otherwise) abusive relationships. I binged the whole first season on my drive to Washington.
Chatty Broads for all the Bachelor TV gossip
TV OBSESSIONS
Bridgerton. I have no words, only this:
History of Curse Words on Netflix. A fun & educational series about swear words!
Servant on Apple TV. My friend Lisa and I are so obsessed with this show we basically are unavailable to life while it airs.
There it is, all of my current obsessions in one, neat little post.
I hope you enjoyed this note and found one or two new things to obsess over!
p.s. Wanna know more about my favorite things and other obsessions? Come join my new Facebook Group!