Please be aware, some of the links that follow may be affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Never will I recommend something I don’t use, love or trust. See the full policy here.
Welcome back, friend!!
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to get coffee with you. I imagine we tell a bunch of stories about the best behavior plans we’ve ever written and talk about how amazing our career or field is. I mean, come on, we seriously have the power to change the world.
While we are chatting, I’d want to make sure you knew how much I appreciate you. If we met in person, these are all the things I’d whisper to you about being the most amazing things ever. I think that everyone should have these. Not to be materialistic but simply for the sake of having the best, most organized, calmest life ever. I might be a nerd, but seriously, friend.
In addition, at the time of this original posting, it’s the holidays. Perhaps everyone is asking you what you want as a gift. Send them these links. I wish that several years ago someone had sent me all of these recommendations!
Each of the items that follow I wouldn’t want to live without. I hope you can find 1-2 items here that will change your life!
Top Left: Passion Planner Daily
Top Right: Weekly Passion Planner
Bottom Left: Simplified Planner
Bottom Right: Day Designer Planner
Oh gosh, I love a good planner. These are my absolute favorites that I’ve used at some point. I always need a planner or calendar system. In my most recent corporate position, it was impossible to only keep a paper planner. I found that I was primarily using my google calendar and my Daily Simplified Planner. Now that I am working out of the home, I am loving the versatility of the Simplified Planner and a plain old notebook.
You can’t go wrong with the Passion Planner if you need a weekly planner. I have one coming in the mail in a few weeks (you know, just in case) and can’t wait! I was also a part of the recent Kickstarter that promoted their DAILY!! ← They just let me know that that is in the mail as I type this!
A word of advice. You can find Simplified Planners and Day Designer planners at places like Staples or Target however they are a different type of stock. For example, the Daily Simplified Planner is ONLY available at EmilyLey.com. In all my experience with planners (and trust me, I have a lot of experience with them) I have found that “splurging” on the flagship or signature line of a planner is almost always worth it in the end.
Top Left: Bluetooth Earbuds
Top Center: Apple Pencil
Top Right: Bluetooth Keyboard
Bottom Left: iPad Mini
Bottom Right: Bluetooth Headphones
In general, I’m a frugal person. I want a pair of Apple AirPods but I am not the most responsible person in the world (case in point, 3 days after getting my new iPad mini I cracked the screen.) and certainly didn’t feel responsible enough for such small items that cost so much!! I originally found these earbuds at home depot on the end of an aisle. I now have 2 pairs (in case!) and love them SO much. These are what allows me to engage in up to an extra 2 hours of personal development or learning per day. I am always listening to a podcast, webinar or audiobook while I am doing mindless or routine tasks (like unloading the dishwasher or washing dishes!).
The sleep headphones are amazing to not disturb my partner while listening to things in bed while winding down or while listening to sleep stories to fall asleep. I typically listen through the calm app but also really enjoy this podcast. They are incredibly comfortable and you don’t have to worry about losing an earbud, choking yourself with a cord, or any other concern!
I have been using my iPad mini, keyboard, and pencil for working on the go or during vacations. It is so light-weight and easy to transport. Even though my employer-provided laptop was a Macbook Air, it was still nicer to have something that would fit into my purse or smaller workbag and not drag along a laptop.
Top Left: Backpack Lunch Pack
Top Center: Food Storage
Top Right: Fashion Lunch Bag
Bottom Left: Contigo Coffee Mug
Bottom Center: Dressing Cup
Bottom Right: Contigo Water Bottle
If you spend any portion of the day on the road then you need a lunchbox. The two lunch packs above are a bit different. One is HUGE for those days when you need to pack some breakfast, lunch, and dinner plus snacks for your day on the road. The other is still incredibly large and will hold most of your food while on the go.
I am a huge fan of glass containers. They store less odor and are much easier to clean. These are perfect for separating your snack and other items while you’re on the road. To follow-up with the healthy food you’ve packed, this is the best dressing container that I have ever used...and I’ve tried a lot of them. It hasn’t leaked and will usually hold 2 days of dressing if need be.
The Contigo liquid vessels are my absolute favorite. While I prefer coffee at home and in a ceramic mug, when I’m on the go you can’t beat the heat retention and leakproof nature of these coffee travelers. As long as you lock it, you can toss it in your work bag and not need to worry about it leaking. The same goes for the glass water vessel. I love using a glass water bottle and these are so lightweight and leakproof.
Top Left: A Liberated Mind
Top Center: Smarter, Faster, Better
Top Right: Becoming
Bottom Left: Girl, Wash Your Face
Bottom Center: Come As You Are
Bottom Right: The Power of Small
I love a good book. I can devour a hardcover or paperback, ebook or audiobook in no time flat. When I was in elementary and middle school, I would claim I was sick so that I could stay home and finish books. To this day, I struggle to maintain a bedtime when I am in the middle of a good book. I’ve read or am reading each of these this year and wish I could tell everyone about how amazing each of them is. Want to join a book club to discuss them?
Top Left: Lifecycle
Top Center: I Am
Top Right: Calm
Bottom Left: Life Cycle
Bottom Right: ACT Companion
Oh my gosh. These apps are each lifechanging. I know that sounds like a super lofty statement but seriously. If I had a million dollars, I’d make sure each and every person I came across could have the full version of these apps.
I can’t recommend Calm enough if you are looking to practice more meditation and mindfulness. Although the subscription price can be high, it is 100% worth it in my mind. Sleep Cycle and Lifecycle are from the same creator. Lifecycle literally tracks your life. I can’t say enough about it. It is like the best time audit tool I’ve ever used and will tell me at any time how I am spending my days. Sleep Cycle allows me to track my sleep and sleep quality. This will automatically be added to your Apple Health profile which is amazing.
Top Left: Apple Watch
Top Right: Magnetic Car Mount
Bottom Left: Keyboard Cover
Bottom Right: Audible Membership
In January, I used every gift card I’d saved for the entire year to get a new Apple Watch. Everyone I’ve met with an Apple Watch will tell you a different story about why they got one. I got one to be healthier and it is working. I am more mindful of my time, my activity level and my attention to detail. I did not get the watch to stay more connected with other people. In addition to buying everyone I know all the apps mentioned above, I would also get them all Apple Watches so that they could access the same life-changing magic.
Coworkers introduced me to the keyboard cover (I can now seamlessly take a screenshot on my Mac!) and the magnetic phone holder and I haven’t looked back!