THE WEEKLY PAGE 📝 No. 188
What impacts wellness + this week's picks for work, wellness, and wonder.
What impacts our ability to be well?
It’s easy for your mind to go directly to “diet” and “exercise”.
Because we live in a world that 1. Tells us that health is an individual responsibility. 2. Tells us we can fix everything if we just eat right and work out.
But the things that impact our ability to be well actually look a lot more like:
Economic stability
Living in a safe neighborhood that is walkable and has green space
Clean air and water
Genetics and family history
Childhood experiences
Access to education
Family, support networks, and child care
A budget for food and easy access to a grocery store
Acceptance for your gender and sexuality
Health insurance and regular medical care
Access to alone time and self care
Disposable income
And about a million other things. Being well is a collective effort. It requires societies and communities that are dedicated to helping each individual achieve a state of well being.
And being well is the first step to being focused. Being motivated. Being energized. Being productive.
Without wellness there is no working. You know?
This is sorta the ethos of my group program, The Better Self Collective. We’ll first dive in to the fundamentals of wellness, so that you know how to optimize your energy. Then I’ll teach you how to get organized and set up strong systems that support your work and wellness.
I am freakin’ stoked about this program and how it’s coming together (in case you can’t tell!!)) and we’re only two weeks away from enrollment opening. So, this is your reminder that EARLY BIRD PRICING will be sent to the launch list only. Get your name on it, darlin’.
📚 READ: My mom is a retired US postmaster (hi, mom!), and I like to joke that she made all five of her kids avid Thank You Note Writers for job security. As a kid, it was annoying to always be told to promptly write thank you notes for this or that…but as an adult, it’s a skill and habit that I’m thankful (ha!) to have. I loved this piece that identifies Thank You Notes as an act of gratitude that can not only improve relationships or professional networking…but your very wellbeing. If you need to sharpen your skills or just want some inspo, check it out.
🥗 ENJOY: Time for my annual Planning Calendars! Print out these minimalist calendars and start planning for 2024. You can download them with either Sunday or Monday start.
🎧 LISTEN: Loved this conversation between Jonathan Van Ness and UCLA neuroscientist Dr. Gina Poe! I’m so fascinated with sleep and love learning about all it’s benefits and purposes. In this episode, they also have a fun conversation about why we dream that I can’t stop thinking about. Listen to it here.
📚 READ: This is one of my favorite “fall reads”. It’s about a Bon Iver-esque musician who returns to his hometown in rural Wisconsin and drama ensues with his high school friends and loves. It’s a good book to curl up with while the leaves turn colors. Check it out on Bookshop.
5 Truths About Moving Abroad 🌍
The idea of escaping to Europe is romanticized by many Americans. Here's an honest look at 5 ways moving abroad isn't all it's cracked up to be.
💬 Comment & chat below! Anything in this week’s newsletter spark your curiosity? What did you try/read/listen to?! Have questions? Got a recommendation of your own? Pop ‘em below.
I just finished Shotgun Lovesongs and really enjoyed it. I was born and raised in WI and moved back 5 years ago after a long stint in the Twin Cities, so it was fun to read a book with familiar references. Thanks for the recommendation!
How you talk about wellness made me click follow so quickly on Instagram. True wellness (not the over-marketed, quick fix term) is far more complex than we almost always account for. Love that you’re talking about it.