Half Better

Happy holidays and Happy New Year! We're popping into the podcast feed to share with you that mostly unintentionally, we've been saying no to the podcast for a few months now. And as we're resetting for 2020, setting our goals and focus for the year, we've decided to intentionally step back from the podcast (for now). We are forever grateful to have published 65 episodes. Thank you thank you thank you. And this isn't goodbye forever. Here are some ways to stay in touch: * stay subscribed to the feed. . . you never know when we might pop back in again to say hey! * sign up for our email newsletter (and receive a free audio training from us called A Couple's Guide to Setting and Supporting Goals): https://halfbetter.us/goals * speaking of email, shoot us a note at hello@halfbetter.us (mailto:hello@halfbetter.us) * finally, follow us on Instagram (I think we're intentionally coming back to that social network slowly but surely) * @lesleymlang (https://www.instagram.com/lesleymlang/?hl=en) * @zachary_lang (https://www.instagram.com/zachary_lang/) Until next time, we wish you and your better half the best on your journey of personal development, Together.

As important as it is to have a plan for doing work, it is perhaps more important to have a plan for rest, relaxation, self-care, and sleep. ~ Akiroq Brost On today's episode we dive a little deeper into self care. What is working for us, what are some tips and tricks, and how do we help each other as partners? We use the Full Focus Planner's new Self Care Planner as a framework for our conversation. We go through: Sleep Eat Move Connect Relax

Joyce Meyer said, "I believe that the greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you." Brendon Burchard states that if there is one piece of advice he can give to his productivity clients, it would be to take a year and get in the best shape of your life possible. With those in thoughts in mind and knowing that October is Breast Cancer awareness month -- something very near and dear to my heart as there is history of Breast Cancer in my family -- we have two guests on today to talk about Environmental Toxins (specifically within cosmetics) and how they can can affect your health. . . and ultimately your productivity. Lesley here. This week, I chat with Director Jessica Wall and Senior Consultant Dr. Tijana Sefic Eby of BeautyCounter to talk about the risk of environmental toxins to your health and the role that switching to safer skin care and cosmetics can play in prevention. Additionally, I am excited to talk with both of them because both are moms who work multiple side hustles. How do they make time for a side hustle and fit in into their life? We explore the power of a strong why, and how finding connection with other women and entrepreneurs brought unexpected joy into each of their lives. I hope you enjoy the episode, and join us in our listener challenge for Breast Cancer Awareness Month: - text BETTERBEAUTY to 52886 in the US - switch out one skin care/beauty product to a safer choice (www.beautycounter.com/lesleylang) - and if there is one thing you do - please do a breast exam every month!!!! Where to find Jessica Wall: - The CounterCurrent Facebook Group (https://m.facebook.com/groups/194516981238387?ref=share) - Instagram (www.instagram.com/countercurrentmama) Where to find Dr. Tijana Eby - https://www.healthybeingwellness.com/ - Instagram (http://instagram.com/healthybeingwellness) - Facebook (http://facebook.com/healthybeingwellness) Check out the BeautyCounter Holiday Line here: https://www.beautycounter.com/lesleylang?goto=/products/gifts

Today on the podcast, we discuss the book Make Time by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky. The book helps you to see the value in the Make Time Framework, which helps you to choose what you want to focus on, build energy to do the work you want to do, and then break your default habits so that you can actually focus and be intentional about the way you live your life. Literally - its about making time for what matters. The Make Time Framework is 4 steps, repeated every single day. The four steps are: Highlight Laser Energize Reflect The book is chock full of 80+ tactics to try and figure out how to make the framework work best for you. We love how it's not a one size fits all approach and we have a lot of fun discussing several of the tactics that we have opted to try out. We hope you enjoy it, and encourage you to try some of the tactics out! Until next time, we wish you and your better half the best on your journey of personal development, together.

The pursuit of goals, personal development, even just getting by day-to-day (with or without a task list) can sometimes feel chaotic and never-ending. What if we could use a filter to help us focus on what is really important to us? That's why we recommend using the Rule of 3 to help guide you through your year, quarter, week, and day. In today's podcast, we go into detail about how to achieve the life you want by: deciding on 7-10 goals to pursue throughout a year focusing on 3 goals for a 3-month period (quarter) breaking up the goals into 3 manageable outcomes per week getting to work on those outcomes through the daily action of 3 tasks In terms of a partner perspective, we recommend at the least sharing your 3 goals/objectives with your partner for the year, the quarter, and the week. These conversations can be really interesting dives into what is important for your partner and your family, how you can support each other. We think it might get a little tedious to share Daily Big 3 with a partner, however, we recommend sharing a win at the end of the day. Studies show that when you share joy with someone, it increases your sense of well-being. That little boost to your motivation might be just what you need to wade through the resistance and the messy middle of completing a goal. Until next time, we wish you and your better half the best on your journey of personal development, together.

"We can’t improve what we don’t assess." ~ Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy Lesley and Zachary chat about a weekly (p)review - what it is, how to do it, and how it can help you feel a little more centered and less frazzled even when you're super busy. Topics include: why a weekly (p)review doesn't have to be complicated the basic framework they use every week the importance of scheduling the (p)review how to make the time special sharing components of a weekly (p)review with your partner

All improvements begin by reconnecting with the ideal. ~ Michael Hyatt Today we thought we’d do a deep dive on the concept of the Ideal week; what is is, and how to use it to align your week with your values and to make time for what’s most important to you. We cover: How do you create an Ideal Week? What should an Ideal Week be helping me with? How can sharing and aligning an Ideal Week be even more powerful? We'd love to know how crafting an Ideal Week goes for you. . . let us know in the comments below or on Instagram.

After a bit of a rest, we're back! And we're talking about the book Rest. We cover the main topics of the book, plus discuss our overall thoughts and a partner perspective: The Problem of Rest The Science of Rest Stimulating Creativity Sustaining Creativity The Restful Life

“If you can learn how to say no skillfully and wisely, you can create what you want, protect what you value, and change what doesn’t work.” Today on the podcast, we are discussing the book “The Power of a Positive No - How to Say No and Still Get to Yes” by William Ury. This month, we’re all about cutting back, resting, and rejuvenating, and one of the best ways to do that is to not take on more things, more to-do’s more stuff. But how do you do that in a way that doesn’t alienate you from the people around you? That’s where the power of a positive no comes in! Together, we learn about: The Three-A Trap (how most people say no) The framework for creating and delivering a positive no Why respect is essential What this looks like in a relationship We walk through some concrete examples so that you can leave the episode with a clear understanding of how to navigate the framework of a positive no, and feel more confident to say no in a way that protects your values and what you want, all while keeping the relationship intact. Let’s continue the conversation below: which Three-A Trap do you typically lean on when saying No?

It’s time for another HQ Review with Lesley & Zach! We love these episodes where we get to check in with what’s going on in our lives, answer any questions that have come up from listeners, and give you a glimpse into how we look at our progress with personal development. In this HQ review, we’re checking in about finances, work & side hustle stuff, health, planners, & creating a summer rhythm and new Ideal Week for when the kiddos are not in school! If you have any questions you’d like us to answer in the next HQ review, leave them on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/halfbetter.us/), and we’ll make sure to answer it next time!

We’re traveling this week, so we hand picked one of our favorite past episodes to revisit — Zach and Lesley have traveled a lot together, both with and without kids, and we’ve compiled a bunch of our best tips for making your trip a little more like a vacation, even if you do have kids.

Today we’re talking with Tosha Schore! A parent coach for conscious parents, Tosha helps you shift your boy's behaviors through connection. Tosha is committed to creating a more peaceful world, one sweet boy at a time, by supporting parents to care for themselves, connect with their boys deeply, set limits lovingly, and play wildly. She helps you lose it less, and raise respectful, resilient boys inside her online parent community, The Playhouse (https://offerings.toshaschore.com/courses/playhouse/). She is also the creator of Out With Aggression! (https://offerings.toshaschore.com/courses/out-with-aggression) A simple 5-Step Practice to Stop Your Boy's Aggressive Behaviors and Lift Your Parenting Confidence, and author of Listen: Five Simple Tools to Meet Your Everyday Parenting Challenges (https://hand-in-hand-shop.myshopify.com/products/listen-five-simple-tools-to-meet-your-everyday-parenting-challenges#oid=13_17). Tosha also happens to be mom to three boys of her own and is an advocate for boys and their families worldwide. Tosha is offering a Free Live Training (https://bit.ly/2XDRIDO) -- How to discipline your boy without punishment (https://bit.ly/2XDRIDO) -- that would be a perfect fit for you if you've got a boy between 2-10.

We’re traveling this week, so we hand picked one of our favorite past episodes to revisit — in this one, we discuss growth mindset, one of the cornerstones of personal growth and development. We’ll be back next week with a great interview. Until then, we wish you and your better half the best on your journey of personal development, together.

Today on podcast, we're continuing our discussion of stress, but focusing more internally on things that you can do for yourself in a season of stress.⠀ We dive into 6 strategies for dealing with stress and anxiety. Set up your guardrails Mel Robbins' 30 before 7:30 Go on a social media/news detox The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins Reframe your perception of stress Lean on others

Are you feeling stressed!?? How about your partner?? It is inevitable, that at some point in your relationship, you are going to go through something stressful - for one or both of you. Well, today we’re going to talk about how you can not only make it through that season of high stress, but come out the other end more connected with your partner. We break down 5 ways to support your partner through a period of high stress. Listen in and let us know, what is one way you are going to support your partner when they are feeling stressed?

Last week we said our next episode was going to be about enneagram, but. . . our guest needed to reschedule, so we’re going to pivot (PIVOT!) and instead talk about our favorite productivity and self development resources. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5afed6e1b98a78eda050ba98/1559265513523-2YSYD72QNXO288C9IFUU/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kHQjNvxPzDLVMV_OLPL13FhZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZamWLI2zvYWH8K3-s_4yszcp2ryTI0HqTOaaUohrI8PIOe75LCI2yvFZV_CA8vCE_UQZcXfnZNocmBLbaNHDAsY/Pivot?format=2500w

It’s time for another HQ Review with Lesley & Zach! We love these episodes where we get to check in with what’s going on in our lives, answer any questions that have come up from listeners, and give you a glimpse into how we look at our progress with personal development. In this HQ review, we’re checking in about finances, work & side hustle stuff, health, planners, & creating a summer rhythm and new Ideal Week for when the kiddos are not in school! If you have any questions you’d like us to answer in the next HQ review, leave them here (or on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/halfbetter.us/)), and we’ll make sure to answer it next time!

So last week we talked about Life Planning together as a couple - but WHAT if your partner isn’t a planner? What if they are a reluctant goal setter? Today we dive into this topic, because we know there are lots of you out there in this boat (heck, we’ve been there, too). We discuss five tactics on how to navigate planning with a partner that is reluctant to, well, plan.

Life planning is like building a house.  When you build a house, you use a blueprint - it has all the instructions on it, such as where rooms, walls, stairs and windows are going, along with the dimensions, etc.  Think of life planning as creating that blueprint for your life “house” you’re going to build. If you’re in a relationship though, there’s another dimension to this! What you ask?  Now it’s not just you building a house, it’s you and your partner.  You’re building a house together. So what does that mean? It means…. you need to use the SAME blueprint!  You don’t want one of you to be building a mansion, while the other one is building a cottage.  Yes, it is possible that together you build one house using separate blueprints, but neither one of you is truly going to be happy with the results. It’ll be this combo house that you neither one of you particularly loves.   So what are you to do?  Well, it means you’ve got to work off of a similar blueprint.  That way you’re building a house that you are both in love with.  That, my friends, is called life-planning with a partner.  It’s deciding together what kind of house you’re going to build.  Together.  So when the house is finished, you can both look at it and say yes - that’s the house I’ve always wanted. Today on the pod, we’re talking about exactly that - writing that blueprint for your life.  We’ll break down the steps to getting it done, and go through some real-life examples for what it looks like, especially when you’re life planning alongside the love of your life. This episode comes with a fun clarity sheet to help get the process rolling, so listen in, download your sheet, and let us know - what life channel are you going to work on first?

Here’s a question for you: What was so appealing about your partner at the beginning of your relationship? Why did you want to spend time with them? And when you were together - what did you do? Today on the podcast, we’re talking about how to incorporate more play into your relationship. How can you get back to doing more of what you loved doing with your partner when you were first together. Everyone plans on keeping that fun, playful part of their relationship intact, but then work, kids, chores, activities, stress, and really, just LIFE takes over. While we may not realize it’s happening, taking time to enjoy life often just gets pushed to the side. But that is what makes life fun - PLAY! And playing together has some serious benefits. As Markman writes in his book 12 hours to a great marriage: A step-by-step guide for making love last, “having fun together is the greatest factor in a sense of friendship, commitment and the greatest influence overall in marital satisfaction”. Who doesn’t want more of that? So listen in, and we’ll give you 4 ways to incorporate more play into your relationship as well as as list some ideas for some of our favorite ways to play together, and as a family. We’d love to know - what’s your favorite way to play with/date your partner? Let us know in the comments below. References: Markman, H.J., Stanley, S.M., Blumberg, S.L., Jenkins, N.H., & Whiteley, C. (2004). 12 hours to a great marriage: A step-by-step guide for making love last. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass