by Johanne
Happy New Year!
This New Year, I’m making a resolution to live life better. In essence, I aim to truly manifest my father’s wisdom: “Work smarter, not harder.”
This motto can be applied to many facets of living: by working smarter, energy is focused on producing quality and time is valued as precious and limited. When working smarter, not harder, you actually free up hours in the day for what’s important in life. It’s a kind of de-cluttering; it’s definitely a philosophy.
Luxurious living is about enjoying the best in life and that doesn’t necessarily mean spending a lot of money or effort. It’s about thinking and planning smarter and simpler, not harder.
Treating yourself to luxuries such as a bubble bath, a cozy throw, or de-cluttering the kitchen and office are some of the easiest ways to make small positive changes to brighten your daily life.
Wishing you luxuries big and small this 2011! I’m looking forward to hearing about how you’ll be working smarter, not harder, this year!
Images courtesy of Flor’s Blog on Design and AB Home Interiors Blog.
I’ve got your father’s motto posted on my office bulletin board. It reminds me to manage my time, stay organized, and do the things that I want and love to do!
I agree, Jordana! Working smarter, not harder, is the path to making ‘more hours in the day’.. I think of it as breaking those rules of physics, like energy cannot be created or destroyed. As if- have physicists tried working smarter, not harder? (I guess not.)
-J 🙂
Oh my goodness – “work smarter not harder” was my mantra while working through my interior design classes and studios in college! My other favorite was “how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time”. Definitely puts things in perspective…
Happy, happy new year!!
xxoo
Molly
Molly-! Oh wow, I’m so pleased to hear that you’ve been living by these words, too! I like the elephant one too, I think about it sometimes when I feel overwhelmed- it’s a good one to help get through what seem like insurmountable tasks. Living with this in mind takes frequent reminder, don’t you think? I think a little refresher at this reflective time of the year is good for me 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment!
Wishing you all the best this New Year!
-Johanne
Some of us were blessed to have parents who bestowed such nuggets of wisdom. And let’s give ourselves some credit for having the good sense to pay attention. My father used to tell us the same thing, “work smarter, not harder.” I watched him put his motto into play everyday in his one-man accounting firm.
Working smarter this year to achieve the dream.
Happy New Year!!
Edwina-! We practically have the same father :D! I’m so happy that you commented on this post- I admire my father, too, and he is a model and great inspiration. I believe in achieving dreams every day, even if they’re little ones like making someone feel really great by doing something special for them. Today, I’m giving brownies that I baked last night for my hairdresser- I think that she’ll be so happy that I thought of her and baked her a special treat.
Happy New Year to you! May your dreams come true, one smart more at a time :)!
-Johanne
It was so thoughtful of you to bake brownies for your hairdresser. I’m sure they were a hit! I love little surprises like this!
-Jordana
Wow. Genius motto! And so is the elephant one I saw a couple of comments above. Maybe 2011 will be the year of wisdom? Hope so 😉
xoxo from Sweden!
I like the elephant one as well. I love reading all these comments! There are words of wisdom everywhere today!
-Jordana
Hi Sara! Thank you for your comment! I think that this year should be the year of wisdom- there is no time like the present to embrace life and improve our everyday.
Lovely to hear that you’re reading us from Sweden! How exciting! Welcome to our Canada-based white cabana :).
Happy New Year to you!
-Johanne
I completely agree with the “Work Smarter, not Harder” motto. I’m doing my best to go that route in 2011 and beyond. As a writer, I hope to quit my day job (as a clerical in a public school) and write to my little heart’s content while making a living at the same.
I love the pic with the little boy. That chair is beautiful. I just bought a sleeper loveseat for my living room that has sort of the same design. It’s cream with pastel stripes running through it and the way that chair is embellished with the fur and the pillow has given me an idea of how to decorate it.
Your blog is beautiful and inspiring.
Work smarter, not harder – it’s been hanging in my office for a couple of years now. It’s an excellent reminder for me…and others, I see.
Thank you for your kind comments Cheryl. I hope White Cabana will continue to inspire you in 2011!
-Jordana