10 Things That Made the Biggest Difference in Quarter 3

We’re sharing 10 Things That Made the Biggest Difference in Quarter 3 today!

A few weeks ago, we spent time at the cabin celebrating a milestone birthday and checking on loved ones.

The trip was such a whirlwind I could barely remember the details as I tried to recount them to one of my sisters the following week.

If you’ve ever had to manage an elderly loved one’s care from another state, you already know how difficult it can be to honor their independence while simultaneously trying to keep them safe.

Each conversation feels like walking a fine line between what they need and what they want.

And while you’re trying to be as respectful as possible, there are simply things we can see that our loved ones cannot.

Thankfully, the 9-hour ride home gave us plenty of time to not only process our feelings and get a game plan together but to also think about the 10 things that made the biggest difference in Quarter 3.

Not surprisingly, the things that made the biggest difference were small things that helped to make our lives better and easier.

Here’s a look at the 10 Things That Made the Biggest Difference in Quarter 3…

Focusing on Budget-Friendly Sleep Essentials

Truth be told, focusing on budget-friendly sleep essentials is probably going to be on the list of things that helped me the most this year.

As I’ve shared many times before I’ve struggled with insomnia symptoms for years. But it wasn’t until I fully committed to prioritizing sleep that I started seeing consistent results.

The journey hasn’t always been an easy one, but the effort has 100% been worth it. If you also struggle with poor sleep hygiene, don’t wait to get help!

Equilibria Soft Gels and Daily Drops

Taking an Equilibria CBD soft gel and using the daily drops isn’t something I’ve previously discussed in detail on the blog, but they have made a world of difference for me.

It’s helped to manage my anxiety disorder, stress, and has even helped me sleep through the night for almost 2 months straight save for the sleepless nights that were migraine and travel related.

While I still work to manage my anxiety and stress with therapy, meditation, exercise, and a healthy diet, it’s been a huge relief to feel more and more like myself again.  

As always, it’s best to talk to your doctor or healthcare practitioner about the pros and cons of CBD products before incorporating them into your routine.

Diffuser

When we first got a diffuser, I thought it would just be another tool in the toolbox that could help to promote better sleep hygiene.

One day though I had a horrible migraine and decided to diffuse peppermint oil to see if it would help with nausea.

Much to my surprise and relief, it worked! Now we use the diffuser during the day and just before bed as well.

Acrylic Drawer Organizers

One of my biggest goals this year has been to not only get organized but to stay organized.

After using dollar store organizing products for several years, we recently decided to upgrade to acrylic drawer organizers, and I can’t get over the difference.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s an investment just like the baskets in our pantry and the bins in our refrigerator were an investment.

But it’s been an investment we’ve never regretted.  

Hosting a Restorative Retreat at Home

In a world that praises hustle culture and getting ahead at all costs, it can be hard sometimes to take the time to invest in yourself, your blog, your business, your dreams, and your family.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve put it off myself only to feel completely depleted at the end of a burnout cycle.

One of the 10 things that made the biggest difference in Quarter 3 was to host a restorative retreat at home.  

It wasn’t anything big, expensive, or super complicated, rather my mom, sister, and I took time to pour love and encouragement into each other over a long weekend.

It went so well we’re looking forward to making it an annual event!

Making Lists

I’ve been a list maker for most of my life and sometimes I wonder if it wasn’t due to being a perfectionist.

That said, the older I get the more I realize I can’t remember everything despite my best efforts.

While I regularly take the time to make grocery and task lists for the week on Sundays, and we make a bucket list each season, I’ve also started making lists for everything from gift ideas to projects we want to complete around the house to upcoming blog post ideas.

The good thing about making lists is that you can pretty much do it anywhere! Bonus, it only takes a few minutes but can help keep you efficient no matter what the season.

Monthly Menu Calendar

Keeping track of our monthly menu has never been easier thanks to this magnetic calendar.

While you could definitely use it for other things like a family schedule having our menu front and center helps to eliminate decision fatigue, keeps us on track with healthy-ish eating habits, and provides reminders for upcoming birthday dinners and special events too!  

This dry-erase board-style calendar comes with a magnetic shopping list and colored dry-erase markers as well.

Motivational Water Bottle

I used to carry around a 20-ounce Yeti tumbler to use in place of a water bottle. I loved that it kept the water ice cold for hours!

But when I started doing The Quarter Challenge I realized I was not reaching my water goals because I would frequently forget to refill the tumbler throughout the day.

Now that I’ve been using this motivational water bottle though, I’ve been meeting my daily water goals even on the weekends.

The only downside is that it does not keep the water cold but that seems like a small price to pay for staying hydrated.

Creating a Cozy Fall Home

Making time to create a cozy fall home is always at the top of our bucket list!

Sometimes we’re ready to “go all out” and sometimes we revel in a pace that’s slow and steady.

It’s not always easy given our travel schedule but taking the time to incorporate each of the five senses into our home gives us a soft place to fall when life gets hectic and also becomes the backdrop to celebrate memories that last a lifetime.

Being Intentional on The Weekends

While we’ve always kept Sundays sacred, we’ve been super intentional about how we spend our time. Especially, on the weekends this year.

Labor Day officially kicks off a non-negotiable 6-month period where my family and I gather for holidays, birthdays, and other special events.

Don’t get me wrong, it can definitely feel overwhelming to have something planned nearly every weekend for 6 solid months.

That said, I’m grateful my family stays in constant communication and plans everything well in advance so we can put it on the calendar.

It makes filling in the blanks and carving out time for white space and vacation so much easier!

A Few Amazon Goodies That Made the Biggest Difference in Quarter 3…

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Diffuser * Notebook * Refrigerator Bins

Water Bottle * Acrylic Organizers * French Press Coffee Maker

Calendar * Peppermint Oil * Coins

As always we incorporated those things that worked well in Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 into Quarter 3.

That way, when we’re called upon to make an extra trip to check on loved ones or find ourselves in the middle of hurricane preparations, we’ve already laid the groundwork for a healthy heart, home, and mindset.

Let us know the things that have helped you most in Quarter 3! Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Many blessings,

CoCo