Hi Reader, Does life ever feel so unnecessarily complicated? If it does, you’re not alone. I recently moved to a new state and was in the process of trying to get health insurance. I started my online application (great, so easy), but the system couldn’t seem to verify who I was. I gave them a call (not so easy), and they told me I’d have to speak with a registered agent, in person, who could verify my identity (okay…sensing this isn’t going to be easy at all). I called all three recommended...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Take a moment to listen to the sounds around you right now. What can you hear? As I write this newsletter, I can hear garbage cans being rolled around outside, cars driving by, and a neighbor muttering to himself. There’s always so much going on around us, and noise pollution might be affecting you more than you realize. Everyday sounds can disrupt our health, focus, and ability to truly listen. On the flip side, silence can do wonders for our brains. Research suggests that quiet...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, There’s a motto I like to tell myself when my thoughts are all over the place: “Your head is not for storing information.” Sure, our minds are great for generating ideas and finding solutions to problems, but they’re not great at remembering every little thing that needs to be done. That’s where the inbox system comes in. I recently shared about how closing the open loops in your life can help reduce stress, and the inbox system is one way you can manage and organize those open...
10 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Do you remember the “That Girl” trend from 2021? “That Girl” is someone who gets up early, meditates, drinks a smoothie, journals, works out, eats healthy food, and takes her vitamins all before 8 a.m. The craze has died down now, but there’s still a lot of advice out there telling you to cram as many ‘good’ habits as you can into your mornings (and life in general). I know I’ve gotten sucked into lists on Pinterest for the perfect morning routine and thought to myself ‘If only I...
11 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Do you feel like everyone else has their lives figured out while you’re still unsure of your purpose and direction? When I was twenty, I thought thirty-something me would have all my ducks in a row and every little detail of my life in order. Instead, my thirties are teaching me that unexpected twists and turns are all part of the journey. Perhaps it’s good that things are never set in stone because it means we’re always evolving and learning more about ourselves as the years go...
11 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, How often do you find yourself avoiding the things that you want to do? Perhaps it’s a big life goal that feels overwhelming, or maybe a smaller daily habit that you know makes you feel better. It’s easy enough to avoid the things we don’t enjoy, but you’d think it’d be easier to do the things we actually want to do. Time is obviously one of the key factors (and one of my top excuses) for not doing something, but I think energy is even more of an issue. We only have so much mental,...
12 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, A few years ago, I wrote a post encouraging people to stop searching for answers. The topic came from my own experience of seeking out ideas and solutions from other people whenever I felt stuck in life. After all, it’s natural to want to see how other people have navigated difficult situations. But this would lead me to obsessively search for answers, trying to find the *right* one that would somehow fix everything in my life. What I learned through a lot of trial and error is...
12 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, I mentioned in my last email that I’ve been in a creative rut for the past few years, and I’ve just generally been feeling stuck with where I’m at in life. It feels like I’ve been moving through wet cement, trying to get somewhere but I’m not quite sure where. Late one night, I decided to search on YouTube for the phrase ‘how to transform your life.’ I knew I needed some form of change, but I wasn’t sure what. The younger me would have thought I needed to do something drastic like...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, I’ve been in the process of rebuilding my morning routine. For too long, I’ve been waking up with an immediate sense of overwhelm. I’d automatically think about what I needed to do that day and whether anyone was waiting on a response from me. I found myself in the habit of jumping onto my computer right away, determined to get as much off my plate as I could in order to finally “relax.” But you know how that story goes… You check your inbox or Slack to see if anyone needs...
almost 2 years ago • 1 min read