Check out movie trailers at the Internet Movie Database:
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (6 January 2017, Rated PG) Live by Night by Dennis Lehane (13 January 2017, Rated R) A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron (27 January 2017, Rated PG)
Brain Facts: The human brain weighs about 3 pounds and is 75% water. It uses about 20% of the oxygen in the body. The brain is very complex, but a few Brain regions at Brainfacts.org include the prefrontal cortex which is responsible for executive functions, and the amygdala, where the fight or flight response takes place. There are five kinds of brain waves, and the brain is influenced by chemicals known as neurotransmitters. Amazon affiliate links to books in the post below provide a small commission to help support the Daily PlanIt.
Scientific American debates the effectiveness at brain games at Brain Games: do they really work. See one man’s experience at Training my Aging Brain from Discover magazine. But if you’d like to try a few just in case, there are some free online brain games at this Pinterest Board.
GREAT Skills are a) in demand in the workplace b) rarely taught, and c) very helpful in all areas of life! The GREAT Skills Trading Cards provide key information from experts for learning these skills. The links below lead to posts at The Daily PlanIt with more resources. This set on the brain and motivation is available for download at slideshare.
I’ve devoted this year to reading books that have been adapted into movies, and then watching the movies. It’s been an interesting year! This is a great way to run a book group, because there are lots of resources to help, and if you don’t have time to read the book, you can still watch the movie and participate. (although without comparing the book to the movie!) At the Screen and Page on Goodreads, I tried to find both “Theater Reads” (currently in theaters) and “Watch at Home Reads” (available on DVD or to stream) options. I found that at times there weren’t too many options for theater reads that might lead to good discussions. I stuck to options for adults, and some of them are rated R.
I started out with Manhattan Night, based on the book “Manhattan Nocturene” by Colin Harrison. If you like dark and twisty, you might like them, I quite enjoyed both.
Next up was the Oscar winning “Room” by Emma Donoghue. Some of these titles were outside of what I usually might read or watch, and led to some pleasant surprises.
“Me Before You” by JoJo Moyes was another pleasant surprise. I bought the book and shared it with several friends. We planned to go to the movie for ages, but it was hard to get our schedules on the same page! We finally got to see the movie recently, enjoyed it a lot, and felt it closely followed the book.
I liked the book “The Light Between Oceans” by M.L. Stedman. Haven’t had a chance to see the movie yet, but it’s on my list.
Another dark and twisty one: “The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins. Loved both the book and the movie!
“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak is one that’s been around for awhile that I had not gotten around to. I struggled a bit at first with the book, but I’m glad that I read it before watching the movie. Brilliantly filmed, with great characters, and it’s in part about the power of books and reading.
“The Dressmaker” by Rosalie Ham was another pleasant surprise that was a stretch beyond what I normally read. I enjoyed the book, and hope to see the movie soon.
Along the way, I watched some book-to-movie adaptations without getting the book read.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople – an enjoyable movie based on the book “Wild Pork and Watercress” by Barry Crump.
End of the Tour – another true story, about the author David Foster Wallace, and the interview with journalist David Lipsky. Based on the book “But of course you end up becoming yourself.”
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl – I read the book by Jesse Andrews because I liked the movie trailer, but enjoyed the movie more. It was fun to actually see the movies they made.
One productivity tool that I use is a Binder with tabs for the four elements of time management: System, Plan and Review, Routine, Focus, plus one for Projects. Some of my favorite forms are behind each tab.
Another option: the Binder forms below for weekly planning and daily planning are 2 forms per page and provide a view that includes month, week, and day.
Habit trackers: A habit plan with tracker, or a habit tracker to track 6 habits at a time. The annual calendar from Vertex42 can also work well for this.
How can libraries create excitement about coming into the library to check out books or other items on a regular basis? I’m thinking a monthly drawing with really neat (but not too expensive) book related prizes. When patrons check out (at least) once a month, they get a monthly punch on a Reading Record Punch Card, and can enter their name for the monthly drawing. If they get a punch each month they can enter their card for the annual grand prize drawing. This is aimed at adults only, no kids allowed! (why should they be the only ones having fun?!) Actually, school librarians could modify the idea a little and have fun with it too.
You could even set up a selfie photo booth. A word bubble could say “Check me out! I checked this out at the library!” with a checkerboard background.
There are so many great possibilities for prizes. There are a lot of book lovers out there! Here are some of the prize ideas I’ve come up with so far.
I looked for things that might appeal to anyone, and most cost around $10 or $15. It would take a little bit of a marketing budget to pull off. This idea might also work for bookstores looking for a way to encourage customers to return on a regular basis. And those in search of great gifts for book lovers, of course these things would totally work. Which ones do you like the best? What should be used for the annual grand prize? Let me know your thoughts at the Daily Planit Facebook page.
There are many skills involved in the art of goal setting. Learn how to move from the white belt level to become a black belt goal setter with a free printable Goal Mastery Levels. (pdf)
Purpose: “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” –Lewis Carroll
Motivation: Give yourself a motivation boost when you seem to have lost it somewhere.
Discipline: Self-control and grit are key to the ability to power through when the going gets tough. The ability to delay gratification is also important.
Think you’ve already got enough lists in your system? I recently added another one that I call my To (always) Do Today List. This new list was inspired by a quote from Benjamin Franklin: “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
I added this quote from Brian Tracy: “Make progress (not excuses)”
Remember Tom Hank’s character in the movie Big, who wished that he was bigger?
When we are young, we naturally want to grow bigger and stronger. We see the world as an exciting place that we want to explore. We enjoy going on adventures and learning new things. Somewhere along the path of time, these natural tendencies can get left behind and replaced with a preference for staying in our comfort zone. Yes, there are dangers and setbacks if you choose to go on this adventure called life. But the alternative, choosing to just stay home, can lead to a less than big life.
The ideas in Carol Dweck’s Growth Mindset are powerful, and the article “Is it time for a personal growth mindset?” in Scientific American suggests applying these ideas to adopting a personal growth mindset. Here are a few beliefs for a personal growth mindset.
Have you been slimed lately? Recently, watching the news often leaves me feeling that way. Whether it has to do with politics, terrorist attacks in other countries, or shootings in ours, it seems like there has been nothing but bad news. Watching what is going on in the world makes me feel like I am covered with a thick green slime of depression and helplessness. What can be done to fight back against the slime?
The song “Move” by Mercy Me reminded me of what to do: take action!
Whatever happens, keep moving.
Here are the things I need to remember: Keep doing what you can, where you are, with what you have.Work out to train your physical body for the fight, and do what strengthens you spiritually. This may include more time in nature, listening to uplifting music, reading inspirational works-seeking comfort and strength wherever you may have found it. Remember what you can change, and what you can’t, and even though we cannot make others think or do what we might want, you can speak up, persuade, and maybe even sway or influence outcomes. You can vote and sign a petition for term limits. You can be kind to others, volunteer to teach others to read, financial literacy, or simply read to a child. Even small actions can spread ripples. Choose love over fear, and remember the good, like the person who leaves $100 bills in boxes of diapers. (By the way, I haven’t seen the new Ghostbusters, but do believe being equipped to fight slime is important for everyone.) How do you fight the slime?
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