September Notebook
On time management, first drafts, miniskirts and freedom
Hi! Happy Weekend. The autumnal equinox is on Monday, September 22, college football is underway (for better or worse). The Summer I Turned Pretty is over (but not really, there’s a film coming, hooray!).
The news associated with eclipse season global events continues to shock and awe, and I think we would all be wise to limit our consumption of it. Many times throughout the day I have to remind myself, “who or what earns money when I open this little widget on my phone and stay on it wayyyyy too long, feeling more and more outraged, afraid and adversarial?” We can all agree on that answer regardless of how we voted, right? May your weekend be full of logging out, leaving your phone in the other room, or maybe tossing it out the window.
This post contains a portion for free subscribers plus a bit extra for paid subscribers:
A closer look at how I use the Pomodoro method to stay focused and get s%it done
The most important thing to know about first drafts
A wardrobe item that carries a rich history of quiet rebellion (I’ve been wearing it on repeat)
Whatnot links including two icons who both launched Substacks this week
POMODORO METHOD
I’ve written about the Pomodoro method before, (here) but lately I’ve been leaning into it a lot. Developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 80s, it’s a brilliantly simple system: work in 25-minute intervals (or “Pomodoros”), then take a five-minute break. After four rounds, you get a longer 30-minute reset.
Last Sunday I woke up with a somewhat gnarly to-do list. Social commitments, so much work to finish, and prep for the week ahead that I could put off, but knew it would just make my M-F that much tricker. I felt sick worrying about how I’d get it all done. So I gave myself five minutes to sketch a loose schedule and blocked off 2–5 p.m. for pure Pomodoro focus. The result? I got it all done!
A small upgrade is that I bought this timer which initially seemed unnecessary because I have a timer on my phone, but in practice this allows me more distance from my phone because I noticed even tapping my phone to see how much time was left could be potentially distracting. This gadget also carries a notion of authority and sacred space; the clock is running!!!
Another way I’ve been fine-tuning this method to suit me is to plan my five minute breaks well (in addition to the more critical work that I do during the 25 minute intervals). It is impressive how expansive five minutes can feel if you do not waste them scrolling. I do go so far as to write down what I plan to do with those five precious minutes between pomodoro sessions, and I try to make sure they are all enjoyable:
Read a specific Substack
Diet coke & a chocolate chip cookie
Flip through a cookbook, jot down recipes I want to try
Take a short walk
Do 3 sets of 8 pushups
Make a fancy cup of tea or coffee
Scroll & pin on Pinterest (scrolling Pinterest to sharpen my eye and organize images I love feels one million percent healthier than scrolling Instagram)
Lastly, if I finish a task before the timer goes off, I still honor the timer. I use the remaining time to overlearn (a genius concept on its own) make small edits, or work to tee up the next sprint without necessarily starting on the next sprint.
FIRST DRAFTS
As I was reading up on the origins of the Pomodoro method, I came across a brilliant, new-to-me Substack. This particular post resonated deeply with me, because it captured the unexpected gift I’ve discovered through writing a weekly Substack: the value of just getting the thing down on paper. Less thinking, more doing.
The magic of a first draft is that the first draft is always perfect. It doesn't matter if it's rubbish, if it's messy, if it doesn't flow, if it lacks personality, or if it won't work. The job of a first draft is to be a draft and get the process started. So however it turns out, the first draft has done its job perfectly.
MINISKIRTS
Moving on to something less conceptual: miniskirts.
Often credited to British fashion designer Dame Mary Quant, French designer André Courrèges, and forever linked to the iconic model Twiggy, the mini skirt sparked nothing short of a mid-20th century revolution.
It wasn’t me or Courrèges who invented the miniskirt anyway—it was the girls in the street who did it. —Mary Quant
Along with temp work, the rising number of women enrolling in college, and laws that protected and supported divorcées, the mini skirt signaled new era for women. It carried and continues to carry a spirt of quiet rebellion, freedom and rock & roll. And if you need any further convincing that we might want to harness some of this energy today, Jackie Kennedy was an early adopter.
I like styling a mini skirt as though you were styling jeans. Let’s not be too precious! T-shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts, oversized button ups. If you’d wear it with jeans, try it with a mini skirt. And flats, for crying out loud! Sandals, loafers, ballet flats, sneakers.
I am still a big proponent of the adage around allowing ONE element to be revealing, so if I’m wearing a short(er) skirt, that would be that one element and everything else will likely be loose, boxy and or covered up. But I’m also an even bigger proponent of “if you’ve got it, flaunt it” so it is imperative that you wear a miniskirt exactly how you want.
Inspiration:
Options:
Asymmetrical ($130)
Corduroy ($100)
Denim($118)
Plaid / Suiting ($127)
White ($109)
Pinstripe ($398)
Embellished ($995)
Prada ($1,170)
BAREFOOT CONTESSA SZN
I am a 365 days a year Ina stan, but this time of year it becomes an overdrive situation, where I keep a stack of her cookbooks next to my bed and I just generally immerse myself in the Barefoot universe. This past week I set out the Moroccan Couscous recipe for my daughter to make and it was a big hit for all family members in spite of its considerable vegetable content.
Here are a few recipes I’ve marked to try, sometime between now and Christmas. A Q4 “to be cooked” list, if you will.
Stilton and Walnut Crackers (I am going to make these today)
As my girls are getting older, I like the idea of sending them out into the world with a few, solid recipes under their belts as well as Ina’s general wisdom around food and fearlessness in the kitchen.
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