Issue #172: My Daily and Weekly Health Nonnegotiables

Plus my "big three."

📺 “Say Nothing” on Hulu: Set in the thick of the “Troubles,” in 1970s Ireland, this show follows two sisters who become members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) after they’re attacked by British loyalists. It’s fast-paced and dramatic, but also informative, shining a light on a true story and part of history I knew little about.

🎧 “The Good Whale” Podcast: On the heels of the ‘Free Willy’ movie, people began to call for the “actor” who played Willy, an Orca named Keiko living in an amusement park in Mexico City, to be released in the wild. What followed was an experiment in animal welfare, when a captive animal was finally released to the wild.

🎥 ‘Joy’ on Netflix: It’s hard to believe today that there was a time before I.V.F. existed. This new film tells the true story of Jean Purdy, a nurse who helped create the first “test tube” baby in 1978, a scientific breakthrough that allowed thousands of women to become mothers.

P.S. Hope to see you on Zoom for our November Book Club discussion tomorrow, about Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker! Link to join is below!

I’m in the calm before another storm, but this time I feel ready for whatever the year throws at me. In one month, I head back to school to complete the final two semesters of my three-year master’s in addictions counseling. Most of my academic work and classes took place in the first two years, so when I return I’ll be interning and seeing clients nearly full time.

Issue #76: 15 Things and Routines I've Loved for 5+ Years

Holding space for another person in a therapeutic setting is intense. When I saw my first clients at the end of last year, I was surprised by both how rewarding and difficult it was. Beyond introducing me to the basics—creating a case conceptualization, learning how to diagnose, counseling from my therapeutic orientation—seeing clients in our student clinic illuminated the importance of establishing a real self care routine that allows me to enter each session regulated, grounded, and ready to hold whatever they come in with. A single day of counseling effectively knocked the wind out of me, so I’ve taken the task of approaching a week’s worth seriously.

This fall, I made space to slow down in the wake of a hectic year and develop a routine that centers habits, meals, and products that help me feel physically regulated. It’s the difference between having the space to experience and acknowledge uncomfortable emotions, like stress and sadness, rather than drowning in them. When I’m regulated, as I have been recently, I’m able to enjoy being in my body. I truly have never felt better, in both mind and body, and it’s the result of many small shifts in routine that prioritize physical health, plus mental health practices. Below, I share the 28 (!) daily and weekly things I do for my physical health, as well as the “big three” things that have the most sizable impact.