Hi friends,
 
August is about transitions, enjoying the last days of summer while receiving school emails and hunting back-to-school deals on bags and water bottles. 
 
While I have not even attempted to wake up early once in July, I woke up early twice last week, and today was the third time. I particularly enjoyed journaling so much, which was what I missed the most about my morning routine.
 
My energy last week was all about creating and sharing. I shared good stories on my Instagram. I was visible, playful, and productive. I even shared a reel showing off my lovely gown in slow motion.
 
Alas, this did not last, as I noticed a clear drop in optimism this morning. I knew it was not only because I said goodbye to my dear sister last night before her trip back to Qatar, so I checked my calendar and counted not once but twice, only to find it was day 20, which is also a day of transition: I left my summer and stepped into my personal fall. It was a relief to notice my seasons again as life got too busy and eventful lately to pause and assess my internal state, especially since I was not waking up early and doing my reviews properly, which meant I was not tracking my cycle as usual. 
 
What about you? 
 
Are you pausing and reflecting? 
 
Are you tracking your life in some meaningful way? 
 
This newsletter is your reminder to look back and assess then look forward and plan so you can be more present in your life.
 
Now that I know my season, I have a better idea about the type of tasks that will feel easier for me in the coming week; editing, analysis, finishing, following up, closing open loops, and decluttering. This way I would be ready to lavishly rest when it is time for winter.
 
If you listened to my podcast episode #36, one of the most downloaded and loved, you would understand what I mean. If not, go do that now, and add this book to your reading list. Here is a visual summary of the four seasons women go through monthly.
 

 
Image item
Book Lovers Day was on August 9th. Happy Reading All!
P.s. I enjoy this account
 

Here is your weekly dose of The Sunday Spark ⚡️ a newsletter listing 5 insightful things I thought were worth starting your week with: 
 
1. 🤖 10 Ways You Can Use ChatGPT to Learn Better. Have you tried ChatGPT yet? Love/hate it?
 
 
2. ⏲️ We do this every 6 minutes! What alarms me is that this Rescuetime study was done five years ago, so I would safely assume this got worse. By the way, I have been using Rescuetime for years.
 
 
3. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦The drive back home from summer camp (which my two kids recently joined, now that their cousins left Jordan) is challenging for me with their continuous bickering and teasing of each other, so I found a podcast that is engaging for the whole family, which made rides more pleasant: Trivia for Kids podcast. Send me your thank you email later.
 
 
4. 🌞 Here’s One Small Pleasure for Every Day of the Week- Habits for Rest and Joy. An article so beautiful to read that I wish I had written it. I also use Passion Planner.
 
 
5. 💭 September is the other January, mark your calendars for a fresh start as your quote of the week says:
 
“If you’re hoping to make a positive change in your life but are pessimistic about your chances, perhaps because you’ve failed before and worry another attempt is likely to turn out similarly, my advice is to look for fresh start opportunities. Is there an upcoming date that could represent a clean break with the past? It could be a birthday, the start of summer, or even just a Monday.” 
(Thank you Readwise for helping me find this quote from a book I read)

This is Sunday Spark issue #141! 
 
Are you seeing it for the first time? Here is the archive. I'll update it soon.
 
Was it forwarded to you by a friend? Receive your own by subscribing here, and don't forget to thank your lovely friend for me!

☕ If you like my work, you can show that by sending me a coffee to enjoy while creating all this awesome content for you 🎉 

Would you like to receive my future blog posts, in your inbox as soon as they are out? Subscribe here
 
Would you like to listen to my podcast epsiodes as soon as they out? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform here. Or find me on Anghami.

Some cool resources I personally use, love and recommend, with discounts just for you: 
 
  1. I like to start the day with my personalized Momentum Plus tab, which helps me stay focused with a powerful mantra, an inspiring image, a to-do list, countdowns to big dates, and world clocks where I keep an eye on time zones of friends and family living abroad before contacting them. Being a newsletter friend, you would get a special offer of a 10% discount when you subscribe to Momentum Plus with the promo code: bardees.
  2. Enjoy a free month of the Readwise app, it is the BEST way to retain the knowledge you gain through reading. Using spaced repetition, it helps you remember your highlights from Kindle books/articles you read. I am in love with their new reader feature. Reading online has become a top-notch experience thanks to Reader. Get one month free using my link.

Note: some of the links above may be affiliate links, but always keep in mind that I don’t endorse anything I don’t use and love myself. 

 
See you next Sunday First name / my dear friend! 
 
Have a Brilliant Week & Stay Hydrated! 
 
 

 

In case you missed these posts on Instagram…

 
 
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Apple music
Youtube
Podcast
LinkedIn
spotify