Christen Krumm

Reader | Writer | Serious Coffee Drinker

  • Christen Krumm
  • Home
  • About
  • Notebook Musings
  • Books
  • Podcast
  • Atlas of Neely Spencer

5 Things Saving My Life Right Now

Herein lies a post about 5 things that are saving my life right now. Not literally, but these things do help make things in my life just a little bit easier.

1. Switching my desk chair out for an exercise ball

I know that sitting is the new smoking, and working longer hours at my desk means I’m sitting a lot. I’ve heard that sitting on an exercise ball is much better than sitting in a chair (and getting a standing desk would be the best, but I just can’t focus when I’m at a standing desk). However, I haven’t really pulled the trigger and made the switch. After a chat with my cousin Sarah about lower back pain, she told me I really needed to switch to the ball. It’s been about two weeks and for the most part, I’m loving it.

2. Radio dramas

These aren’t saving my life right now, but I’m stocking up on them for when the weather finally cools down that I can walk outside in the mornings instead of walking on the treadmill. It’s making me look forward to long outside walks — if you know of any good radio dramas (via podcasts) send them my way!

3. Planting trees via the Forest app

This month I’m trying really hard to stay off my phone for the most part — I get so much more done when I stay off those pesky apps that I love (I’m looking at you Instagram, Twitter, and Phase 10). The app is only about $1.99 and the idea behind the app is you set a timer and if you leave the app while your timer is on, you’ll kill your tree. Even better when I plant with my friends (so if one of us veers off the app, we kill the tree for all of us). My husband is endlessly making fun of me for “growing trees”, but it’s getting the job done. I’m on my phone less and getting more done.

4. The library

Okay, so this one is more saving my wallet and bottom line than it is my actual life. It is weekly (daily) feeding my book habit (even if I’m never going to get through all of the books I currently have checked out.) What is a title you’ve read lately that I have to read?

5. Diffusers

I know this sounds like a silly one (and if you’ve been around for a while, you know how much I love essential oils anyways). However, now that we’re apartment living, candles are against policy, so all my diffusers are getting used over time! I’ve been diffusing scents for projects I’m working on, citronella on the back porch so the bugs don’t eat me, and, of course, there is the everyday use as well! If you diffuse oils, what is your favorite oil to diffuse?

What about you? What is something that is “saving your life” lately? 

Spread the love

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Email
«
»

life 0

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

christen e krumm | author | blogger | coffee addictI'm Christen. I'm a reader, writer, and I seriously love coffee.

Connect with me

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Currently Reading

Search

Life on the Gram

Christen Krumm

christenkrumm

Podcaster @exploringtheblankpagepodcast | Author of On the Golden Cliffs & It Happened at Christmas & Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage

I'm excited to join in the cover reveal for Karabo I'm excited to join in the cover reveal for Karabos by @lyndseylewellen, releasing from @enclavepublishing  in October 2026! The first book in The Timebound Duology, a YA fantasy, is available to preorder in hardcover today.

This is one of my most anticipated reads for 2026! 

Book Blurb: When sixteen-year-old homeschooled entomologist Winslet Nubek enters the elite, insect-hunting Tournament of Scarabs to save her family from ruin, she expects danger and magic bugs. Not time travel. Paired with a resentful cartographer, Rafe, who doubts her every move, Winslet accidentally triggers a forbidden time scarab and launches them both into volatile jumps through an ancient world.

As they struggle to hide their condition and stay in the competition, their time slips reveal buried truths about the scarabs—and the lies their glittering society is built on. With sinister forces closing in, Winslet and Rafe must capture legendary insects and expose the truth before the past bleeds into the present and destroys them both.
Everything I got written (or didn’t) this week! Everything I got written (or didn’t) this week!
I know you know … I know you know …
A Saturday in the life of an author on deadline. A Saturday in the life of an author on deadline. 

10.07 AM - arrive at the coffee shop (where I actually got a parking spot AND a seat at my favorite table!) 

11.08 AM - finally get some coffee. The line was long and I kept waiting for it to get shorter.

1.56 PM - trying not to panic because there’s still so much I want to get done and the coffee shop closing in a little over an hour.

2.53 PM - closing time. Time to pack up and leave. I’m also getting hungry, so place a Chick-fil-A order.

3.26 PM - lunch acquired. 

3.48 PM - it just so happens that the Chick-fil-A shares a parking lot with a Barnes and Noble. I think some wandering must be had (and I somehow walked out without buying anything!) 

5.01 PM - home again home again. A little reading in the office before dinner.
Y’all I have my edits back for the M*rder Myster Y’all I have my edits back for the M*rder Mystery (🎉), and I still don’t know where this Neely Spencer chapter is going (you know, the one I said I was going to post last week... or was it the week before?)

Instead of promising x number of chapters this month (and the next month), I’m going to promise that I’ll post the chapters as soon as I’m finished writing them. This means, there could be 4 chapters, or there could be 1 chapter (I’m shooting for the 4 ...) The M*rder Mystery has to be my main priority right now, but I’m hoping that I’ll have time for the whimsy (Neely Spencer is the whimsy). Because we call need a little more whimsy in our lives, right? 

Sorry to disappoint anyone — I’m writing as fast as I can. Thank you so much for sticking with me! You guys are the best! And if you haven’t started reading Atlas of Neely Spencer, now is the perfect time to get caught up!
I love connecting with readers and writers online. I love connecting with readers and writers online.

Here is everywhere you can find me. A follow is only a click away!

The best way to follow is my newsletter — let’s be honest, social media is a fickle thing and it can go down or crash at any moment, so if you for sure don’t want to miss anything, make sure to get on the list!

So glad you’re here!
Stuff I’ve written … Stuff I’ve written …
Hi! I’ve gotten some new followers whilst on my Hi! I’ve gotten some new followers whilst on my unintentional social media break, so time for a little updated about me! 

Instagram is my favorite + I’m so glad you’re here!
Chapters 14 AND 15 of Neely Spencer dropped this m Chapters 14 AND 15 of Neely Spencer dropped this morning! 

Can’t wait to hear what you think!!
I’m just going to leave this here… I’m just going to leave this here…
Emilie and Christen chat what they are working on, Emilie and Christen chat what they are working on, what they are reading,  and what’s coming up for the podcast
Chapter twelve has dropped. #neelyspencer Chapter twelve has dropped. #neelyspencer
A little birdie told me we’re getting more Neely A little birdie told me we’re getting more Neely Spencer chapters!
Chicken prints in the snow are my favorite. Chicken prints in the snow are my favorite.
Typewriter is out … you know what that means… Typewriter is out … you know what that means…
We will see who makes it out alive … We will see who makes it out alive …
I mean … maybe, but let’s not get too crazy. I mean … maybe, but let’s not get too crazy. 

Have you made goals (writing or otherwise) for this year?! Let me hear! I wanna cheer you on!
New day, sameish view, same coffee shop. New day, sameish view, same coffee shop.
At my favorite place, writing this book that only At my favorite place, writing this book that only wants to be written when I’m not at home.
Merry Christmas from Neely Spencer. Head over to S Merry Christmas from Neely Spencer. Head over to Substack if you want to see a special message about Neely Spencer (and I share some goodies too!!) 

#serialfiction
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Things of Note

Unless otherwise stated, all words and photos on this blog are my own. Sometimes I use affiliate links for products in posts as well as on my other social media sites. "We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites." Occasionally I receive books or products free of charge. This will be clearly noted and please know that when I am writing about something the words and opinions expressed are always my own. Thank you so much for reading.

Copyright © 2026 · Christen Krumm by SA Designs

 

Loading Comments...