The notion of modeling behavior makes many parents feel like they’re in the perfection hot seat; that if they don’t act like paragons of humanity at all times, they’re setting their kids up for future therapy. In Episode 27 of Edit Your Life, Asha and I turn this idea upside down and discuss why embracing and modeling imperfection is a good thing and offer 8 tips for how to model imperfection, handle perfectionist kids, and use imperfect moments as communication levers.

Chores represent a double parenting win -- you’re teaching your kids life skills while taking something off your load. But this seemingly everyday ritual is a constant source of frustration for families. In Episode 26 of Edit Your Life, Asha and I explore why families wrestle with integrating chores into their routine and share 10 tips for how to get kids to do them -- and hopefully realize that chores represent responsibility and eventual independence.

One roadblock that can get in the way of habit change is the inner rebel -- that voice that pops up when you try to change your routine or make a decision, even when the change or decision is good for you or your family. In Episode 25 of Edit Your Life, Asha and I explore the concept of the inner rebel and share 7 tips for how to unpack where your inner (and sometimes outer) rebel voices come from, and how to tame those voices to move forward for positive change.

Money is a hard topic for so many people. There’s fear, there’s baggage, there’s “what the heck is this financial martian speak?” In Episode 24 of Edit Your Life, I interview investment professional (and my college classmate!) Sandra Gilpatrick about how to edit your financial fears. We cover common stumbling blocks, the intersecting issue of fear and time, how to gain financial confidence, favorite financial literacy resources, the three top financial goals to focus on now, and how to find a financial adviser you actually like.

Communication is everything -- and also sometimes the hardest thing. During my time in academia, I worked in a neurology unit where I saw patients lose hold of their perceptive and communicative functions. As a parent I’ve gobbled up the joys and benefits of my kids evolving and learning to communicate. As a wife, daughter, sibling, and friend, I’ve seen open communication heal wounds and silence sprout fences. And as an impassioned conversationalist, I’ve built my career around written words, video, and audio.

Man, I hope that title doesn't sound overly dramatic because it is 100% true! This one communication tweak made saying no to things I didn't want to do or attend so much easier. It takes a little practice but once you forge forward you'll be blazing through your e-mail and prioritizing what really matters like a boss! And on those related topics, definitely tune into the Saying Yes To Saying No and Taming The E-mail Beast episodes for further help on these matters!

I really don't like to use the word "should" but one thing I believe all parents should do is create a will. It's one of those topics that is riddled with emotional baggage but man, it's SO important to make your wishes known, both in terms of guardianship and finances. I asked Sandra Gilpatrick for advice on how to move past the stigma to action; she shares 5 great tips. Also, be sure to check out Sandra's other articles on how to start saving for college, 4 ways to work towards financial security, how to teach kids to budget, and 15 gems in Beacon Hill!

Inspired by a Fast Company article offering the perspective that being overextended is a choice, in Episode 21 of Edit Your Life, Asha and I share 9 tips to help you master the fine art of SAYING NO. Because while there are some things in life that are essential, a lot of things truly are optional. It’s your life, your choices -- we all have the power to identify the things that are important to us, and to make room for those things, in whatever ways we can.

There’s something so wonderful about an entirely fresh new year ahead, new starts, new habits, and all that. But there’s also this expectation about New Year’s resolutions and goal-setting. It can be intimidating! In Episode 20 of Edit Your Life, Asha and I share 9 tips to help you reframe New Year’s resolutions and intention setting so that you can figure out the “right” way to set and reach goals -- and by right, we mean the way that works best for YOU.

To the surprise of no one, I enjoy reflecting at the turn of the year! And while it’s nice to think of the fantastic moments and the warm fuzzies, I also value thinking about lessons learned from the crappy experiences. On Thursday, Asha and I will share our 20th (20th!) Edit Your Life podcast episode on Reframing New Year’s Resolutions, and in advance of that episode, I want to share ten intentions that I’m setting for 2016. I’d love to hear what you are thinking about for 2016, too -- please feel free to share in the comments below!

A lot of questionable decision making happens in one’s 20’s, and I try to issue forgiveness to my 20’s-era self. However, I still shudder when I think about an incident when – after an outing at a Boston bar with friends – I got into the car of someone who definitely shouldn’t have been driving. Reflecting back, I think three factors were in play: 1) laziness (public transit and cabs are abundant in Boston so, yeah, laziness), 2) cheapness (I was a poor research assistant), and 3) confidence (I didn't know the driver well and probably didn’t want to seem like a jerk). It was a harrowing ride home and we were really, really lucky that no one got hurt.