WELL:NOTED Edition 03
EDITION 03: July 2025
LIFE ADMIN MADE LIGHTER -
Insights reminders and reflections for keeping
life admin in order
☀️What a summer! A heatwave has again settled in, the strawberries are sweetening, the grass is already faded and the pace is perhaps a little slower. Wimbledon is on in the background, Parliament is packing up for the summer, and the school gates are about to spill out the children for their own long, hot summers. Perhaps it’s time to let the decisions pause, the diaries loosen and make it about the people we share life with.
The NOTA:BENE System is usually talked about in terms of preparation and getting things sorted. But it’s more subtle purpose is to free you up to be more present. So gather with friends, enjoy the tennis or simply sit outside with someone you love and let that be enough.
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Start with one conversation
If your NOTA:BENE box is sitting quietly on a shelf, this month is a great time to open it; not to file or organise, but simply to review. Choose one section and use it to spark a conversation. Perhaps it's about digital accounts or car ownership or what happens to your pets.
You don’t need to have all the answers, simply beginning the conversation is the progress.
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In the blog: The True Cost of a Disorganised Death
This month's blog post digs deeper into not just the financial aspects of a chaotic admin muddle after death but the time, emotional labour, fractured relationships and the mental load that falls on loved ones in the aftermath of a disorganised death.
It’s a no-nonsense but vital read — and might be the prompt someone close to you needs. Perhaps this is the prompt for a conversation with an elderly parent?
Read it here →
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From my desk: Fewer things, clearer thinking
This month I’ve been using my NOTA:BENE System to look at what I actually need and what needs to go. The cost of living seems to just be spiralling and everyday shopping trips are stretching our budgets.
The standout for me was having two cars. One leftover from 'mum's taxi' days, essentially transports the dog and helps friends and family who need to move large items around, but maintenance is getting expensive. The other is smaller, newer, more efficient, more presentable and a pleasure to drive.
I looked at the numbers, revisited insurances and thought about the season of life we’re in. We decided that one, more practical car is the right choice.
It’s a small act of streamlining, but a meaningful one — not just financially, but emotionally.
Clarity isn’t just about paperwork. Sometimes it’s about pausing long enough to ask, “Does this best serve me?”
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References & Suggestions
Things we’re listening to, reading, attending and finding along the way:
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
At first glance, a former FBI hostage negotiator might seem far removed from life admin. But Voss teaches how to stay calm in high-stakes conversations, how to really listen and how to navigate emotionally charged decisions. I started to realise that this couldn’t be more relevant to facilitate difficult conversations with family members.
If you're discussing your wishes with family, sorting out joint ownership or simply trying to be heard during a stressful moment this book shows you skills that go beyond negotiation and get to the heart of human connection.
Highly recommended, especially for those using NOTA:BENE System to facilitate difficult conversations.
Enjoy this exceptional summer! ☀️
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