University of Wisconsin–Madison

Planners’ Picks — December 30, 2025 – The Images Edition

Planners Picks header Holiday version

And that’s a wrap on 2025! Once again, we are featuring a 20-image issue in our end-of-year Planners’ Picks. A special thank you goes out to the committee responsible for all the CSN events and helping to curate the content you receive in our weekly newsletter. While the email originates from my account, it surely takes a village to continue to provide the variety of content CSN is known for. We also welcome suggestions from you, the readers, on newsletters or posts that would be helpful to others.

  • Rich Gassen for the planners of CSN

 

:: Images of the Week

You are not meant to live like others, you are meant to live as yourself. @anxietypositive

Chart with the question: Do you have problems in your life? Yes or No. if No, then why worry? If Yes, then the next question: Can you do something about it? Yes or No. If No, then why worry? If Yes, then why worry?

drawing of a tree and within the roots, this message: THE ONE WHO PLANTS TREES, KNOWING THAT HE OR SHE WILL NEVER SIT IN THEIR SHADE, HAS AT LEAST STARTED TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF LIFE." - Rabindranath Tagore

Nobody Is Thinking About You. You aren't afraid of failure. You're afraid of what other people will think of you if you fail. Well, no one is thinking about you. They're too busy thinking about themselves. So go do the damn thing. @Sahil Bloom, The 5 Types of Wealth

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” - Winston Churchill

Person walking a rope between head and heart: “Working on myself, for myself, by myself.”

Infographic on how 10 ways to gain a rockstar status at work.

You can be kind and still: Say no, walk away from toxic situations, staud up for yourself, put yourself first, set boundaries, or disagree with others.

What we think fuels happiness: just be happy. What really does: gratitude, purpose, service, friendship, being part of, learning, rest. - Joshua Freedman, www.6seconds.org

If you don’t sacrifice for your goals, your goals will become the sacrifice.

Match the chailenge with skills for flow of work. Graph with Challenge and Skills on it. More challenge than skills = anxiety; more skills than challenge = boredom, and balance = flow.

An image with a bunch of random shapes and the title: Feelings that are worthy because they are yours. A subset of four shapes circled with the title: Feelings that need to be acted upon. - Susan David, Emotional Agility

STEPHANIE HARRISON Equations for happiness: Setback x "What am I learning?" = Growth Challenge x "What's in my control?" = Resilience My stories ÷ "What isn't true?" = Self-awareness Dreams ÷ "What is the next step?" = Progress Daily Life x "What's going right?" = Joy Suffering x "How can I help?" = Purpose

AN UNDERRATED LIFE LESSON: Your Energy Creates Your Reality Give your energy to stress, complaints, and negative people, they will grow. Give your energy to ambitions, gratitude, and positive people, they will grow. Your energy is your destiny. Choose wisely. @Sahil Bloom The 5 Types of Wealth

MINDFULNESS EXERCISES Everyday Habits that Drain your Energy Taking things personally. Over-stressing Sleeping in late Having a poor diet. Complaining all the time. Overthinking Gossiping Not living in the moment Trying to please other.

Everything changes when you realize that the best version of yourself is not a future version, but a daily choice.

REMEMBER TO CHECK IN WITH: THE FRIEND WHO JUST MOVED THE FRIEND WHO'S BEEN QUIET LATELY THE FRIEND WHO SEEMS TO HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER YOURSELF LIZ FOSSLIEN

YOUR BRAIN DOESN'T NEED MORE CHEAP DOPAMINE. IT NEEDS CONNECTION, SUNSHINE, NATURE, REST, EXERCISE, AND SOME GOOD MUSIC.

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." -Anne Frank

Cartoon of Snoopy smiling: Remember, your present situation is not your final destination. THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

 

:: Upcoming Events   

CSN’s Bite-Size Book Club—Let’s Talk: Make Effective Feedback Your Superpower

“Communications are much clearer if you recognize that there are three kinds of feedback: appreciation, coaching, and evaluation.” ― Therese Huston

CSN is facilitating the next Bite-Size Book Club in January! “Let’s Talk: Make Effective Feedback Your Superpower” by Therese Huston offers an insightful exploration into mastering the art of feedback, an essential tool in any leader or manager’s toolkit. Drawing from extensive research and real-world examples, Huston unravels the nuances of feedback, emphasizing its pivotal role in enhancing team dynamics and fostering a culture of growth. The book delves into differentiating between appreciation, coaching, and evaluation, providing a comprehensive understanding that elevates feedback beyond mere compliments or criticisms.

Designed for those seeking to transform their feedback skills into a powerful asset, this guide illuminates how feedback can serve as a bridge to deeper professional connections and personal development. Huston highlights the importance of holding the person over the problem, thereby fostering a supportive environment where individuals feel valued and motivated. Readers will find practical advice on handling feedback conversations with empathy and care, coupled with strategies that minimize defensiveness and build trust.

CSN’s Bite-Size Book Club will explore Huston’s ideas on feedback as a large group and later we’ll look at examples she provides in more detail—you’ll be able to join a small-group breakout session on the topic of appreciation, coaching, or evaluation styles of feedback during our time together.

Regular feedback, when delivered skillfully, can turn average performers into the hardest workers and stars into superstars. First, find out what kind of feedback an employee wants most: appreciation, coaching, or evaluation. If they crave one, they’ll be more receptive once their need has been satisfied. Then Huston lays out counterintuitive strategies for delivering each type of feedback successfully, including:

  • Start by saying your good intentions out loud: it may feel unnecessary, but it makes all the difference.
  • Side with the person, not the problem: a bad habit or behavior is probably less entrenched than you think.
  • Give reports a chance to correct inaccurate feedback: they want an opportunity to talk more than they want you to be a good talker.

As an attendee of this session, CSN will provide to you a summary of the whole book and provide select portions of this book to focus on in more detail. We recommend you obtain a copy of the book and read it in its entirety (though not necessary to participate).

Date: January 14, 2026
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm CST
Location: Zoom Link

Register Here: https://go.wisc.edu/ixuk5l

CSN presents Leadership Improv

Through a variety of fun, engaging activities, Amanda and Jason will demonstrate how improvisational comedy skills can help supervisors work through difficult situations with staff and peers, as well as practice leadership skills in a light-hearted and low-risk environment.

No comedy or improv skills necessary; just bring your willingness to be curious and a little silly with your peers. We’ll meet in person for this session. Please register below to participate!

Date: January 6, 2026
Time: 2:00-3:15 pm
Location: DoIT Offices, 1210 W. Dayton Street, Room 3139

Register!

More information on Leadership Improv can be found at https://it.wisc.edu/it-community/committees-groups/uw-madison-it-connects/leadership-improv/