Passionate zest for life/hard worker or a workaholic? Where is the line? Many of us face this question. The innocently started project that became Carolyn Porter’s obsession to find the Frenchman behind the 1944 WWII letters and creating a new award-winning font, P22 Marcel Font, is what we talk about. Download

How did Carolyn Porter reclaim her life? We talk about being entrepreneurs (anyone taking financial risks through business ownership). Taking care of ourselves. Taking breaks. Is replacing one consuming project with another, a break? Take The Workaholism Quiz listed in the Mentoring Tips below.

The need to be your own advocate. “Which is what makes you a thought leader in the industry,” says Carolyn. I talk about unfinished business with my career and building a library of conversations. 

One of Carolyn’s personal goals in 2018 is to be a better sleeper. Sleep is fundamental to overall health. What do I recommend? Below I have included six tips from the Mayo Clinic website. Experiment until you find a method that works when achieving goals, especially when you are changing something as fundamental as sleep.

1. “Stick to a sleep schedule.
   Set aside no more than eight hours for sleep. The recommended amount of sleep for a healthy adult is at least seven hours. Most people don’t need more than eight hours in bed to achieve this goal.
   Go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Try to limit the difference in your sleep schedule on weeknights and weekends to no more than one hour. Being consistent reinforces your body’s sleep-wake cycle.
   If you don’t fall asleep within about 20 minutes, leave your bedroom and do something relaxing. Read or listen to soothing music. Go back to bed when you’re tired. Repeat as needed.
2. Pay attention to what you eat and drink. Don’t go to bed hungry or stuffed. In particular, avoid heavy or large meals within a couple of hours of bedtime. Your discomfort might keep you up. Nicotine, caffeine and alcohol deserve caution, too. The stimulating effects of nicotine and caffeine take hours to wear off and can wreak havoc on quality sleep. And even though alcohol might make you feel sleepy, it can disrupt sleep later in the night.
3. Create a restful environment. Create a room that’s ideal for sleeping. Often, this means cool, dark and quiet. Exposure to light might make it more challenging to fall asleep. Avoid prolonged use of light-emitting screens just before bedtime. Consider using room-darkening shades, earplugs, a fan or other devices to create an environment that suits your needs. Doing calming activities before bedtime, such as taking a bath or using relaxation techniques, might promote better sleep.
4. Limit daytime naps. Long daytime naps can interfere with nighttime sleep. If you choose to nap, limit yourself to up to 30 minutes and avoid doing so late in the day. If you work nights, however, you might need to nap late in the day before work to help make up your sleep debt.
5. Include physical activity in your daily routine. Regular physical activity can promote better sleep. Avoid being active too close to bedtime, however. Spending time outside every day might be helpful, too.
6. Manage worries. Try to resolve your worries or concerns before bedtime. Jot down what’s on your mind and then set it aside for tomorrow.
7. Stress management might help. Start with the basics, such as getting organized, setting priorities and delegating tasks. Meditation also can ease anxiety.
8. Know when to contact your doctor. Nearly everyone has an occasional sleepless night — but if you often have trouble sleeping, contact your doctor. Identifying and treating any underlying causes can help you get the better sleep you deserve.” Mayo Clinic

Mentoring Tips

• If you haven’t yet, Listen to An Incredible True Story, Part I and Part II
  Part I
  Part II
• Purchase Marcel’s Letters through Amazon on my Click Here to Order on Amazon receive a 20% discount.
• Take The Workaholism Quiz. Click Here to Take The Quiz

An Incredible True Story, Part III Episode 108  Carolyn Porter   Porter Folio Inc.