We’ve had a spell of the most perfect fall days here in NYC this week. Blue skies, low humidity, crisp in the shade and warm in the sun. This kind of weather always does wonders for my general outlook on life. Meanwhile, our new puppy, Sunny, named for his disposition, has been living up to his name. He’s busy learning to respond to it, snuggling with all of us, and depositing a ridiculous amount of golden fur on our clothes.
And since October is my birthday month, my favorite burnt almond torte from Prantl’s Bakery has arrived and is sitting pretty in my freezer, waiting for its moment.
Of course, this is also one of the busiest seasons of the year. Between school events, dinner parties, Diwali, Thanksgiving and everything else that seems to find its way onto the calendar, I’m trying to figure out how to get it all done while staying reasonably sane. Which is why it felt particularly serendipitous that my dear friend Fran Hauser has a brilliant new book out, Twenty Minutes Is the New Hour. (October also happens to be one of the biggest months for book launches!)
What I love about Fran’s approach is that she isn’t just offering another set of productivity hacks to help us cram more into an already overflowing day. She’s asking us to rethink our relationship with time.
One of the frameworks that really resonated with me is what she calls the Four P’s: People-Pleasing, Perfectionism, Procrastination and Padding. Saying yes to things we don’t really have the bandwidth for. Spending far too long perfecting something that was probably good enough three revisions ago. Putting off a task because it feels overwhelming, or allowing work to expand to fill far more time than it actually deserves.
But perhaps my favorite concept from the book is the distinction between Chronos and Kairos, two ancient Greek ways of thinking about time. Chronos is the measurable kind: hours, minutes, calendars, deadlines and everything we manage with our to-do lists. Kairos, on the other hand, is about the quality of time. Those moments when we’re fully present, immersed in meaningful work, enjoying a conversation, or simply allowing ourselves to be.
And boy, did that hit home. Because I can be incredibly efficient at managing my Chronos while completely missing out on Kairos.
So this October, I’m trying to remember that a productive day isn’t necessarily one in which I’ve checked everything off my list. Sometimes it’s twenty minutes of uninterrupted play with Sunny, a leisurely cup of something warm in the fall sunshine, or getting lost in a creative project without watching the clock.
Steal my seasonal shopping list
What to make
(Note: Photos are snapshots of the respective websites and link to them directly where applicable)
My Oats, Peas & Paneer Poha if you haven’t tried it yet
This Butternut Squash and Green Curry Soup by Samin Nosrat for NYT Cooking (gift link) - sub tamari or soy sauce for the fish sauce in the recipe
Favorite Green Salad with Apples, Cranberries and Pepitas by Kate from her fabulous blog Cookie+ Kate
This Pumpkin and Ghee Hummus by Keya Wingfield of keyaandco will be on the menu this Diwali
Pumpkin Olive Oil Bread with Blueberries from Brain Health Kitchen by Annie Fenn, MD (paywall, but fully worth upgrading to a paid subscription if you’re looking to optimize your brain health - Annie makes the latest research make sense and also creates incredible recipes)
Ideas from The Vegetarian Reset
Waldorf Salad (page 91) - Going apple or pear picking? Make this refreshing salad that tosses apples, celery and walnuts with a high-protein Greek yogurt mayo. Shaved parmesan lends umami and you can dot with raspberries (or cranberries which are in season) for color.
Loaded Cauliflower Soup (page 106) - a hug in a bowl, the color of sunshine. Zingy ginger and chile lace the edges of this hearty and comforting soup that’s loaded with nuts and lentils for extra protein and fiber. Add a slice of my Zucchini Bread (page 14) for a complete meal.
Sundal (page 95) - The Hindu festival of Navratri, celebrated in October, is not complete in South India without Sundal - an easy but flavorful stir-fry you can make with just about any bean or lentil. Add some sauteed greens and another protein like paneer or even peanuts, or serve over Greek yogurt for a complete meal.
See you next week with the October Edition of Weeknight Simple - and my own little spin on Pumpkin Spice.
xoxo,
Vasudha