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Fortitude Fridays

Vol. 127: Guard Your Time with No-vember, the 20 second Reboot & More

Welcome to Fortitude Fridays—part mindset training, part field notes from real life. I share what I’m learning, testing, and using to help you strengthen your mindset, take better care of yourself, and keep showing up—week after week.

Here are a few ideas as you head into the weekend.

Read Time: 6 mins

This Week’s Snapshot:

• Quote: Build
• Tactic: Default Mode
• Question: 20 Second Reboot

There Is a Difference: Those who don't build must burn. -Ray Bradbury (Author/Screenwriter) ​ This is the difference between cynics and creators. Some torch. Some lay foundations. Choose to build, protect your work—and help someone else build, too. ​ Source: Fahrenheit 451​

Tactic: NO-vember — Guard Your Hours

Default to no, protect one daily yes, and keep after-hours off.

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Many of my clients participated and crushed Sober October (no alcohol for the entire month). I don’t really drink, so I wanted my own reset for November. The holidays are revving up, and I’m 100% guilty of overextending and turning into the Grinch by December 22nd. So this year I’m choosing my own adventure, NO-vember—so December-me shows up like Buddy the Elf: present, energized, maybe even a little sparkly, not running on cookie crumbs.

NO-vember means leading with no first to all the extra asks this month (and possibly the next). That pause protects alignment, capacity, the work and the people you truly care about.

Keep in mind this doesn't mean I am anti-people and going full monk mode, it means I am slowing down and really thinking about what gets a yes for my time. Full honesty: these are my edges I tumble over—I over-commit, rush to answer pings, and let sleep slide.

If you want a calmer holiday season like me, try this: default to no first and protect one daily yes that actually matters. Let’s see what changes when we guard our hours on purpose. Time is the only non-renewable resource—protect it wisely.

Here's the plan:

1) Important > Urgent

Why it matters: We can be reached at any moment for any reason. It’s not entirely our fault, and we can’t stop the world from turning—but we can choose when and how to react. Reacting to every notification chases urgency at the expense of what’s important—reading to your kids, unhurried dinners, deep work that compounds. The difference is this: urgent feels loud; important quietly builds your life. Choose important first so the day stops choosing for you.

How I’m doing it: Prime hours go to meaningful work; texts/emails get batched later. Alerts stay off by default.

What it could look like for you:

• Ask: “Will this matter in three months?” If no, queue it.
• Check messages at set times (e.g., 11:30 and 4:30), not as they come.
• Protect a daily 50-minute block for a long-term goal.
• Turn news alerts off.
• Focused time with loved ones, no phone in sight.

2) Default to “No”

Why it matters: Every yes spends attention and tomorrow’s bandwidth. Automatic yes turns your calendar into everyone else’s plan and leaves your priorities starving. Defaulting to no creates margin so your strongest yeses actually happen. One of my favorite sayings comes from Derek Sivers: “If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a hell no.” It’s become a razor for most decisions in my life these days.

How I’m doing it: Every request gets a pause + calendar check. If it doesn’t serve this month’s mission, it’s a no.

What it could look like for you:

• “Appreciate the ask—but not right now.”
• “Not a fit right now. If timing shifts, circle back.”

3) Boundaries After Hours

Why it matters: Without edges, work leaks into sleep, recovery, and family—the foundation of performance. Clear lines lower resentment and decision fatigue. You teach people how to treat your time by how you protect it.

How I’m doing it: Work is for my set hours. After that, I’m offline. My calendar says so; devices go on Do Not Disturb.

What it could look like for you:

• Auto-reply: “I respond M–F, 9–5.”
• Silence badges after 5 p.m.; use schedule-send for morning.

4) Rest Is Non-Negotiable

Why it matters: Progress = stress + recovery. Cut sleep or skip rest and you invite injuries, illnesses, cravings, and sloppy decisions. Sleep upgrades mood, focus, and training response; losing it taxes everything else.

How I’m doing it: Fixed sleep window, true rest days, and downshifting training when recovery or health dips.

What it could look like for you:

• Guard 7–8 hours like a standing meeting.
• Swap a heavy session for a walk + mobility when drained.

5) No to Multitasking

Why it matters: Multitasking is rapid task-switching—it slows you down, raises errors, and drains you twice. Depth beats dabbling; finished beats started.

How I’m doing it: One block, one outcome. Tabs closed, phone away, next step written before I stop.

What it could look like for you:

• 25–50 minutes focused work + 5–10 minutes off.
• One-tab rule. Leave a one sentence/next action to help jog your brain for the restart.

Bringing It Home:

This isn’t about shrinking your life; it’s about choosing it. NO-vember is the small pivot that lets December-you show up like you want—present and energized—instead of overbooked and frustrated.

Start tiny: pick two auto-no’s, set one after-hours boundary, and protect one daily yes that actually matters. In a week you’ll feel the edges hold; in two, you’ll have margin again. You’ll be surprised how kind a clean no can be—to you and everyone around you. We’re not opting out of people; we’re opting into presence.

Time is the only non-renewable resource—let’s spend it where it counts. I'm in this with you.

(hat tip to Jade Bonacolta for the inspiration)

Weekly Reflection — The Simple Reboot ​ I have been doing this lately and I love it, so I am sharing it with you this week. ​ Try this 20-second check-in. ​ Before: Notice how you feel—body, breath, mood. Name it in one word. Breathe: Close your eyes. Inhale through your nose for 4, slow exhale through your mouth for 6. Repeat twice. Smile: At the end of the second exhale, soften your jaw, drop your shoulders, then here's the magic, add a small smile. ​ How do you feel now? What shifted—jaw, shoulders, pace of your thoughts? If you feel even a 1% better, take one more breath and carry on.

This ❤️:

Click image to watch.

Thanks for reading. I hope you have a fun weekend. I'm headed to Boston to see family and see Joel Sunny! Until next week…

You got this,

P.S. If you’re new—welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. You’ve just stepped into a community of people who are showing up, doing the work, and getting after what matters. We’re all about learning, growing, and building real momentum—together. Let’s go!

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