Hi there!
Wherever this finds you — mid-chaos, mid-coffee, or somewhere in between — I’m glad you are reading this email. (If you’d rather read at your leisure instead of getting them in your inbox, you can adjust your notifications here.)
If this is your first time getting Dooley Noted, welcome. And to everyone who’s been here for a while — thank you for sticking around and for all the hearts and comments. They mean more than you know.
And just curious, does summer feel like you can finally get a little break, or does it bring more anxiety?
I’ve noticed that as I age, the anxiety from anticipation seems to build earlier and linger longer — even when the thing I was stressed about is done. But what's helped me consistently is maintaining the minimum care for our home — less visual noise, less to distract me, and a little more room to slow down and breathe without the stress escalating.
If you've been the one organizing your home mostly on your own, summer is a natural opening to build some new rhythms with your kids. Start with this free Foundation Lesson to learn how to bring your children into the process without it turning into a power struggle.
Recent celebration worth noting
I recently migrated everything from my old website over to Dooley Noted and created a contents page for the Dooley Method Library. Looking at all the lessons and videos, I felt like a proud mom seeing how much I’ve built over the years.
And something new is already growing from it.
🌟 I’m currently recording a 4-part mini course called The Calming Reset — designed to give you back more capacity and stop hiding in the bathroom for a moment of peace. (You’ve done that too, right?)
I’m looking for a small group of families to beta test it before the official launch. In exchange for your honest feedback, you’ll receive 3 months of full access to my premium content and live support.
If this interests you, comment below or reply to this email and I’ll be in touch with more details.
A challenge worth noting
Working on something alone, no matter how much you love it, can start to feel heavy. I think a lot of parents know that feeling of the invisible work of keeping everything running, the decision-making and troubleshooting when you feel like there’s no one to turn to for help. It’s part of the reason why I offer the live co-working sessions. It’s not only for my subscribers, but for myself too.
And recently, I found an accountability partner on Substack! Debbie from Connection Bridge Parenting, who uses connection-first storytelling to help parents through everyday challenges. We’ve been showing up for each other and even started planning a collaboration I’m very excited about. I invite you to check out her Substack, she’s shares wonderfully engaging stories that can help children process real life obstacles and how to overcome them.
Debbie has helped me feel less alone on days when I feel deflated or overwhelmed. Who in your life can be that person for you?
A commitment worth noting
Last month I committed to finish editing my conversation with Angela Tam, the Mental Load Coach. I kept that promise — and the episode is scheduled to air on June 23rd. I can't wait for you to hear it. It's one of the most honest conversations I've had about the invisible weight so many of us carry, and what we can actually do about it.
One final note
Some days even the minimum feels hard to start. Having someone else working alongside me makes all the difference between actually getting something done and scrolling my phone until the moment passes.
That’s the whole point of co-working sessions. For the price of an oat chai latte, you can join me on Mondays and Tuesdays at 1 PM EST, 90 minutes. Show up, work on whatever’s on your list, and leave feeling a little lighter.
(P.S. There won’t be a session on June 9th because I’ll be giving a workshop teaching KonMari consultants how to organize with kids. That’s like a kind of co-working too. I’m looking forward to that.)
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Come sort through your mail, clear a drawer, meal prep — anything that helps you start the week feeling a little lighter.
Keep the sunscreen in a basket by the front door. Your future self will thank you.
Until next month!
Joyfully, Ann