THE FIRST FRIDAY NEWSLETTER
Volume 1: Issue 2: March 7, 2025: "These are a Few of My Favorite Things..."
I LOVE to share things that are my favorite because they should be your favorite things, too! Well, I hope they will at least be inspirational, motivational and educational.
MARCH is one of my favorite months because one of my favorite Holidays will be this month! St. Patrick’s Day! We celebrate the Holiday by having corned beef and cabbage (well, cabbage salad) and watch RUDY! #GOIRISH
Table of Contents:
Support my writing, please and thank you!
ICYMI blog post round up
Favorite BOOKS
FUN FACTS
Favorite MEALS
Favorite PODCASTS
Favorite SUBSTACK ACCOUNTS
PRODUCTIVITY TIPS
Q&A/AMA Section - “Top Ten Things I Learned in Substack School”
One of my 2025 goals is to be a paid writer. The good news for you, dear reader, is that you will NOT have to buy my work before you read it. I’m asking you to buy it after you read it – in the same way that you might listen to a podcast and then subscribe.
Or, read the back of a book and then buy it.
Or, have a sample of food and then buy more.
You get my point - and Yup, right off the bat, I’m going to ask you to make a donation or opt for a paid subscription to the Newsletter and the Blog.
Why? Because it’s important that I am upfront and direct with my intentions.
I shouldn’t just assume that by some means of mental telepathy you would know that I am working towards earning an income from writing.
And, if I don’t ask, the answer will always be “NO” #lifelesson
AND, with each donation or paid subscription, I am closer to my goal of being a paid writer! You can sign up for a PAID subscription OR send “Buy Me Coffee” money through Venmo. Either way, I’m very grateful!
HOW can you support my writing?
1. READ: I won’t know that you read it unless you tell me, but I will see the number of views. THAT number is important for me to include in media pitches for my writing.
I also use it to create a “Top Three Posts”
2. SHARE: Sharing is free. There’s a share button at the bottom of each post on my website. I also share the posts here on Substack.
The direct link to the blog is www.melissaspage.com/blog
3. FINANCIAL SUPPORT: “Buy Me Coffee” through my Venmo link.
(Maybe its $5, maybe it’s more – totally up to you AND I’ll give you a shout-out!)
Also, if you haven’t purchased a copy of my book, more info is HERE. Book sales help, too!
Thanks for reading this far… on to the Newsletter and My Favorite Things!
ICYMI: I write and publish a blog weekly. The direct link is Melissaspage.com/blog
Here are the most recent:
The First Friday Newsletter for February
Top Ten Things to do in New York City
Change Your Mat: Life Lessons from Yoga
A Million Dreams
DID YOU KNOW? I also record a podcast each week where I read the blog post and add commentary! That podcast is only here, on Substack.
These are a few of my favorite BOOKS
Mark Batterson: In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day
Paulo Coelho: The Alchemist
Andy Andrews: The Noticer
These are a few of my favorite FUN FACTS
*I believe that listening to an audiobook counts as “reading” the book.
*I LOVE solo travel and encourage anyone to do solo travel.
My fav solo travel city is NYC.
*I pursued a career in motivational speaking (still ongoing) because, on a whim, I applied to speak at a conference and was accepted!
These are a few of my favorite MEALS
Breakfast: sauteed peppers and onions with fried eggs on sourdough
Lunch: Diced chicken thigh with mixed greens and deli mustard in a tortilla
Dinner: Tacos BUT I use beef bone broth as the liquid when I cook the meat.
These are a few of my favorite PODCASTS
The Bob and Sheri Show podcast is one I listen to DAILY. HIGHLY recommend!
The Sunday Sit Down with Willie Geist: Episode with Angela Bassett
Unapologetically Wild by
Flip It by (found through Substack)
We Can Do Hard Things podcast: What your Sign Says About How You Love 2/16/25
These are a Few of my Favorite SUBSTACK ACCOUNTS
- her podcast is awesome and so inspiring! (paid subscription)
- someone in my household has ADHD and Kelly’s writing is super helpful! (free subscription)
- I’m SUPER excited to read her book (paid subscription)
her writing is so encouraging and insightful! (paid subscription)
These are a Few of my Favorite PRODUCTIVITY TIPS
In last month’s newsletter, I wrote about Time Blocking as specific to planning a year and a month. This month, I’ll share how I do daily time blocking:
1. Use pen and paper - I like to use a reporter’s notebook - it’s a small, narrow notebook that fits perfectly on my desktop. I use it for my daily to-do list and can set up a time blocking schedule fairly easily. I get my notebooks at Staples.
2. The day starts from the time you wake up until the time you need to go to bed. I say “need” to go to bed because sleep is important. Wake up time goes at the top of the paper; bedtime goes at the bottom.
3. Decide if you need one hour or 30-minute increments. I do one hour so the whole day fits on one page.
4. I’m a “do harder tasks in the morning” person so the bulk of my work gets done in the mornings. Plan your day based on when your brain functions the best.
5. HAVE FLEX TIME. This is the most important, so your schedule doesn’t get too out of sync.
Benefits of Time-Blocking:
1. You KNOW where your time is being spent or needs to be spent. For me, that allows me to say “yes” or “no” to other requests for my time.
2. LESS stress. I personally find that managing my time better leads to less stress.
3. Hyper-focusing on ONE task at a time instead of multi-tasking leads to getting more done.
4. If you work a job where you need to be accountable to a boss for your tasks during working time, this is a great thing to present to them as documentation.
5. I’m a strong Type-A and I like a schedule!
Or, “Buy Me Coffee” through my Venmo link. THANK YOU!
My System: (i.e. HOW to create a time-blocking schedule)
I like to plan my month, then my weeks and then my days. Time blocking is like putting a puzzle together - putting my tasks (the pieces) into place (the time blocking).
I create the daily time blocking schedule the night before.
*Usually, the Household/Office work time can be flextime.
Since this Newsletter publishes on a Friday, here’s what a typical Friday looks like:
445am: Alarm goes off
5am: Get out of bed (this starts my day)
5:30 - 7am: pet sitting jobs, morning rotation
7am-8am: Travel to morning meeting (eat breakfast here)
8am-9am: Morning meeting
9am-10am: Morning meeting
10am-11am: one local errand/ 10:30am starts lunchtime pet sitting rotations
12pm-1pm: continue lunchtime pet sitting rotations/eat lunch
1pm-2pm HOME: NAP if needed or OFFICE/HOUSEHOLD WORK
3pm-4pm HOUSEHOLD/OFFICE WORK (I note specific tasks on my schedule)
4pm-5pm HOUSEHOLD/OFFICE WORK/ 430pm begins dinner pet sitting rotations
5pm-6pm dinner pet sitting rotations
6pm-7pm HOME: DINNER/Family time
7pm-8pm NAP if needed or Family Time
8pm-9pm Pet sitting jobs bedtime rotation
9pm-10pm Pet sitting jobs bedtime rotation and in bed by 10pm
Once the schedule is done, you need to manage it to stay on track.
1. I use sticky notes and alarms on my phone. (I rarely use the calendar app)
*I transfer the schedule to a sticky note and put it in my car. It gets stuck to my dashboard so I can reference it as I drive throughout the day.
2. I set alarms on my phone to go off at various points of the day to keep me on track.
IMPORTANT TIPS:
*Other people in your household should know this schedule.
*You need to block ONE WHOLE HOUR for lunch. You might not need it, but if you get behind in your morning schedule, you can use this time to get back on track.
Q&A/AMA SECTION *I don’t have any questions for this month’s newsletter, but if you would like to submit a question for April, please send me a message!
These are my favorite things I’ve learned this month…
TOP TEN THINGS I LEARNED IN SUBSTACK SCHOOL
Write every day. Long-form, short-form, phrases, ideas. It doesn’t matter. Just write a post or note and publish.
Like, comment and restack. Especially, restack with commentary.
Subscribe, maybe even paid. Make sure you have a Buy Me Coffee option established. (I use Venmo)
Set up time each day to just read. Archive or save as you go. Come back to saved notes later.
Restack your own stuff. It gets lost in the feed, so restacking helps other people see it.
“Like” your own posts/notes.
Comments are awesome! Trust me, the writer loves them.
Your story matters. Write it. Share it.
If someone else’s story resonates, tell them. They’ll appreciate it!
I personally don’t believe in writing to a niche, I just write and trust that the Universe will get it to the people who need to read it. Write what you want and post when you want to. People will find it.
I am so HONORED you mentioned me. Thank you. I'm humbled and grateful and so thankful we connected.
Ahh, thank you Melissa! Grateful to be featured among so many incredible writers. Appreciate you, love. Your support has been such a gift!