Time for a System Reboot
As I linger in the quiet(er) stretch between Christmas and New Year’s, I’ve been thinking about what it means to choose people over pixels, presence over productivity, and analog reflection in a hyper-digital world. Not as a rejection of technology, but as a rebalancing.
This week:
💫 In Motion - My end of year gift for you! System Reboot: 30 micro-actions for educations leaders who want to prioritize people over pixels
🔎 In Focus - Action Item for 2026: Classroom Chaos to Creative Freedom hands-on workshop with guest presenter Danna Thomas - limited spots available
🎵 In Flow - Music and book recommendations to assist with your system reboot
IN MOTION
What small ways can we shift the balance on humans and tech in our lives?
So much of our work in education happens on screens now: dashboards, data, tools, tabs. And while those systems matter, they can pull us away from the parts of the work that actually sustain us: relationships, trusting intuition, and our own creative self-expression.
The 30-Day System Reboot was born from a simple question:
What would it look like to gently reset our systems, starting with ourselves?
This isn’t intended to be a challenge or a “do-it-all” checklist.
It’s an invitation to:
Slow down just enough to notice what matters
Choose small, human-centered actions over big digital overhauls
Rebuild momentum through presence, not pressure
30-day reset (no apps required)
Each day offers one suggestion of an analog-friendly micro-action you can take with a notebook, a walk, a conversation, or a pause. No apps required. Take a look and see what resonates. I hope it will inspire you to start 2026 in a more human-centered way.
IN FOCUS
Unlock Your Creative Energy in the New Year
If you’re thinking about career expansion, a new venture, or a more sustainable way to grow your impact in 2025, I’m excited to invite you to something special.
I’m partnering with Danna Thomas, author of The Happy Teacher Revolution: The Educators Roadmap to Claiming and Sustaining Joy, for a first-of-its-kind virtual workshop designed specifically for educators who are ready to move forward without burning out or starting over.
✨ From Classroom Chaos to Creative Freedom
A hands-on workshop for educators ready to design what’s next
January 22 | 6:00 PM CT | FREE Live Workshop
This is not a sit-and-get webinar. It’s a hands-on, guided experience where you’ll design a prototype for your next career or business move.
Innovation isn’t your escape plan. It’s your reclamation project.
Who This Is For
Educators and education professionals who feel stuck and are ready to design what’s next, whether that’s career expansion, a new venture, or innovating within their school system.
What You’ll Walk Away With
Identify a problem you care about solving
Unlock your creativity (no idea required ahead of time!)
Build a rapid prototype you can actually test
Why This Matters Now
You’ll leave with renewed energy, clarity, confidence, and a concrete next step, not just inspiration.
👉 Action Step: Register now for the January 22 workshop and unlock your creative energy for the new year. Registration will be capped as this is a hands-on experience!
IN FLOW
“It’s a new dawn. It’s a new day. It’s a new life for me, yeah…and I’m feeling good.”
Digital Detox: My Analog Picks This Week
🎵 Best of Nina Simone/Feeling Good by Nina Simone
This LP (listen here) is packed with timeless anthems performed by jazz great Nina Simone. Feeling Good offers a grounded, expansive, and quietly powerful reminder that renewal doesn’t have to be rushed to be real.
MORE PICKS: Discover more vinyl gems
📘 The Happy Teacher Revolution by Danna Thomas
This best-seller by my guest presenter for the January webinar is an energizing and practical invitation to reclaim joy, sustainability, and agency in your work. If you’ve been craving permission to do things differently, this book offers both validation and tools.
MORE PICKS: Browse my Pivot to Flow bookshelf
Disclosure: I earn a small commission from Bookshop.org purchases, at no extra cost to you. Every purchase also supports independent bookstores. Additionally, my family owns and operates Val’s halla Records, a female-founded independent record store that opened in 1972. Support indie shops, authors, artists, and your own mental wellbeing by making a habit of enjoying physical books and vinyl records!
One Last Pause Before the Page Turns
I hope this quiet week gives you space to reset, reflect, and move toward the new year with intention, not urgency. While I am also slowing down, my calendar does have openings for folks who want to use this time to set something new in motion.
As always, reach out any time to schedule a 30-minute Catalyst Conversation.
Let’s get flowing,
Margot
P.S. Know someone who would benefit from joining the Creative Freedom workshop? Danna and I appreciate your help in spreading the word!
