Hi there, how's it going? It's the last Monthly Round-Up of 2018, and possibly my last Monthly Round-Up for awhile. This year, it's been fun to share articles and podcasts that have caught my eye/ear, but I'm thinking of changing things up in 2019 in a still-to-be-determined way. We are all changing, and what works for us in one season of life doesn't always work in the next. So stay tuned, and we'll see how this blog develops during 2019!

Today I'm sharing:

• An article about the benefits of journaling. If you're looking for a new habit to try out next year, consider starting a journal.
• A Science Vs podcast episode about online dating. Can science really help us find love?
  
• An article with observations and lessons learned from a 30th college reunion.

Article: What's All This About Journaling?
"Journaling may sound hokey to some. But it can be one of the most useful and cost-effective tools we have to forge a better, more emotionally and mentally healthy life."

Podcast: Online Dating: Can Science Find You Love?
"Paul's work has found that there's something about falling in love that the science just hasn’t been able to capture. For now, he says relationships are more like earthquakes than the weather, and that means we can’t really predict when they’re going to happen."

Article: What I Learned About Life At My 30th College Reunion
"Nearly all the alumni said they were embarrassed by their younger selves, particularly by how judgmental they used to be."

How was August for you? Are you ready to head into the fall?

I've read some great articles this month. Here they are:

• An article on saying goodbye to online dating, and going back to the old-school way of meeting people in real life.
• Making friends as an adult can be challenging. This article takes a look at what science has to say about it!
• And for fun: A never-ending "to-do" list can be discouraging. How about writing a "Done!" list?
  

Article:
This Woman Quit Dating Apps and Decided to Meet Men IRL, and It Changed Everything
"The more comfortable I became talking to everyone, the more confidence I gained talking to men. I began living openly, boldly, and unapologetically."

Article:
How To Make Friends, According to Science
"A recent study out of the University of Kansas found that it takes about 50 hours of socializing to go from acquaintance to casual friend, an additional 40 hours to become a “real” friend, and a total of 200 hours to become a close friend."

Article:
The New, Supremely Satisfying Way I End My Day.
"What helps me to keep on keepin' on is to truly give myself credit for the things I get done each day—both personally and professionally. And to that end, I've developed an auspicious habit: I write a to-do list in reverse at the end of the day."

This summer, the Death, Sex, and Money podcast has a series called Hot Dates. The podcast is tracking several singles as they meet new people, navigate dating apps, and go on dates.

Dating can be complicated, and if you didn’t already know that, this podcast series makes that clear rather quickly. Listening to this podcast series could be helpful in normalizing what it’s like to be on the dating scene right now. Happy listening!

How was the month of June for you?

For this Round-Up, I have all podcasts for you:

• One on heartbreak.
  
• A podcast episode on bias.
  
• How to create a morning routine.

This American Life Episode #339: Heartbreak. “Partly today, we have an anatomy of the completely contradictory feelings that are part of a breakup. I think that’s what makes it such a special and particularly cursed state.”
 
Smartest Person in the Room Episode #29: When A Black Person Says It's About Race. “The divide between black and white America has never felt greater. Is reconciliation possible? In this series, we’re exploring how to cross the divide.”
 
The Lazy Genius Episode #58: The Lazy Genius Morning Routine. “How do we develop a morning routine? Maybe not quite what you expect. Have a listen, and create mornings that make you feel like yourself.”

This article in The Mercury News gives us a glimpse into the dating world in the Silicon Valley. Singles in the area are finding that online dating apps don't necessarily offer a quick solution for finding love. The Silicon Valley work culture, combined with the ratio of men to women here provide other challenges to meeting potential significant others.

Do you relate to this article? Are you feeling encouraged about your dating life? Discouraged? What are the drawbacks to online dating apps? Advantages?

What’s It’s About:
In order to date successfully, you need to know yourself well before you start getting to know someone else and determining whether or not he or she could be “the one.” This book helps you get to know yourself better and also help you figure out what qualities and values you’re looking for in a potential spouse.
 
Target Audience: Singles.
 
Topics Covered:
How to get to know yourself better
Questions to ask yourself
What are your “must-haves” in a mate?
What are your “can’t stands” in a mate?
How to tell if someone has or does not have the qualities you’re looking for
 
Bottom Line:
If you’re thinking about dating or tired of dating, this book is an easy read and offers some great food for thought.