The measure of a true multi-hyphenate is one’s mastery of several skills, and it’s why Nicole Ari Parker is one of one. The Maryland native has excelled in acting, producing, and entrepreneurship, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that motherhood is any different for her. It’s likely why her latest partnership with Post-it® Brand feels like the perfect fit. Parker, the mother of two, teamed up with the mega-brand for their “Think Loud” Sweepstakes. As this year’s school season gears up, the initiative, up until September 15th, invites parents to upload photos to Instagram using Post-it® Notes to highlight to-do lists, achievements, and goals using the #ThinkLoudSweepstakes hashtag. Participants will be entered in the drawing for a chance to win $5,000 for back-to-shopping needs, along with an extra $5,000 for the parents to utilize for themselves.
Parker was excited about this opportunity as she uses Post-it® Notes in her personal life.
“I was so happy because I’m an actual Post-it® Note user to the point where they’re everywhere. They’re on the door, in my car, and on my calendar. I got a call from my team saying they had inquired about my interest, and it was just a really seamless, organic kind of thing because, again, I really use these products. When I learned of the sweepstakes, it just felt great and synonymous with my brand, so I said yes.”
The start of the school year can be hectic for many parents, including Parker. The Soul Food actress leans on time management and structure to ensure her household stays afloat.
“It’s a little different right now because my daughter is headed to college, but my son is 16, and there is a little anxiety there because while the schedule is nice, there’s now schoolwork involved, which comes with the workload. I start the sleeping schedule a little earlier, and during the first two weeks of school, I really try to get them on a calendar situation to make things easier while getting back into the tracking of time management. Sometimes, it takes reminders, so I’m the self-described Post-it Note queen because I have to write it on the door. It also gives them life skills because this is the age when they’re starting to leave the house. I leave reminders for them to complete their chores as they’ll need this trait later in life.”
In addition to using the products to help her children maximize time management, Parker also uses them to involve her children in a goal-setting process to ensure they stay on track with upcoming engagements and deadlines.
“When I’m trying to get my kids to have a little bit of future thinking, we’ll use a Post-it® Note in a 90-day period to stay on top of things. We’ll set reminders as it helps them learn more about saving money, time management, and other important lessons. Then, as we get closer, there’s a countdown so they get a sense of these dates coming. It’s just a way to manage future time because it can be very stressful, and having a gradual reminder system that the future is coming helps a lot with stress around schoolwork for me and my kids.”
The Gymwrap founder not only uses Post-it® Notes to provide organization for her children, but she also uses them for her own self-care and wellness.
“Not only do I use them for my own time management for everything from picking up the dry cleaning to purchasing home goods but also for motivation and prayer and taking care of my self-esteem in this crazy business. Sometimes, I say prayers and post them on the mirror for my children as affirmations and confirmations. Those get me through the day as a mom, which is what I love about the sweepstakes because they’re including the parent in that because their self-care is important while taking care of their families.”
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