Find Patience Like a Chef

Patience is tough—especially in the kitchen, where waiting feels optional. I’ve been completely full by the time I finished cooking a meal, just from all the tasting. I’ve thrown ingredients into the pot too soon, turned the heat up too high, or skipped steps because I was too impatient to wait. But every time I […]

Adapt Like a Chef

The best chefs don’t just follow recipes—they understand them. They know why certain flavors work together, why some ingredients can be swapped and others can’t, and how small tweaks can take a dish from good to great. It’s not about reinventing the wheel every time—it’s about mastering the basics so they can adapt, experiment, and […]

Season Like a Chef

A little bit of salt changes a dish. It always surprises me. Even food that didn’t turn out great can sometimes be improved with a small adjustment—just a pinch of salt. It’s such a tiny thing, but it brings out flavors, balances bitterness, and makes everything work together just a little better. I have to […]

Prepare Like a Chef

In professional kitchens, chefs rely on a practice called mise en place—a French phrase meaning “everything in its place.” It’s the first step before cooking even begins. Ingredients are prepped, tools are ready, and every component is within reach. This isn’t about making cooking slower—it’s about making it smoother, more efficient, and more adaptable when things […]

Organize Like a Kindergartener

In kindergarten, organization wasn’t complicated. We had cubbies, labeled bins, and cleanup time built into the day. Everything had a place, and we knew where to find it. No one expected perfection—we had simple systems that made life easier. As an adult, I thought this was unnecessary and that organization was for rigid, overly structured […]

Play Like a Kindergartener

When we were kids, fun didn’t need a reason. We could spend hours making up stories, singing nonsense songs, running through sprinklers, or digging in the dirt or sand. As an adult, it’s easy to get caught up in tasks, obligations, and responsibilities. There’s always something serious demanding attention, and if I focus too much […]

Use Your Words Like a Kindergartener

One of the first lessons we teach kids is to use their words. We say it when they’re frustrated, when they want something, when they’re struggling to express themselves. We tell them, use your words, because words bring clarity. They help us understand each other. They make life easier to navigate. But somewhere along the way, we stop thinking […]

Recharge Like a Kindergartener

In kindergarten, nap time wasn’t optional. The adults around us understood something we tend to forget—no matter how much energy we have, we still need rest to keep going. Even the kids who insisted they weren’t tired had to lie down for a while, and more often than not, they ended up falling asleep. The […]

Stay Curious Like a Kindergartener

No matter how much I know about a subject, I have to remind myself—there’s always something I’m missing. No one ever reaches the end of learning. There is no topic, no skill, no area of life where I’ve learned everything there is to know. But sometimes, I act like I have. When someone wants to […]

The Sit in Silence Challenge

From the moment I wake up to the time I go to sleep, I have access to endless entertainment and information. Movies, short videos, entire series, vlogs, blogs, books, music, podcasts—you name it. And it’s not all mindless. A lot of it helps me learn, tweak my habits, and stay on track. But as helpful […]