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.
💬 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.
Happy Friday Pagers!
Today marks my 22nd wedding anniversary. My husband and I are keeping this one pretty low-key as we are in a season of busy parenting life and new projects at work that make us a little more tired at the end of the day mentally. But happy we will be able to go get an easy dinner together at this local place: https://www.churchillst.com/
Next week I'm leaving on a trip with my dad to Napa. It's my first time going there and I'm really excited. By some extreme privilege (and I totally recognize it as that) I was able to secure reservations at The French Laundry and Singlethread Farm. We are elated to be able to share these experiences together. My dad and I began taking culinary journeys with eachother in 2016. We did take time off during the Covid years (but chose to eat locally to support businesses we love) and I'm like a kid at Christmas over this trip.
Podcasts
I'm currently finishing a podcast series called Finding Cleo, its heartbreaking.
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/findingcleo
My next short-form podcast series will be: https://www.glamour.com/brokenharts
(I did a search last month for best short season podcasts series and found a lot that interested me).
Currently Reading
Audio: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41582556-on-the-brink-of-everything
Ebook: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50659468-a-court-of-mist-and-fury
Physical Book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38531325-belonging
As you can see I like a variety of content.
Currently Watching
I just finished the 3-part documentary on Frida Kahlo, it was so amazing.
I also finished the most recent season of Only Murders in the Building. Each season I grow more in love with the residents of The Arconia
I started the most reason season of Call the Midwife on Netflix.
I also finished knitting a tank top last weekend. My first fitted garment that isn't a hat or socks :) I plan to make a matching shrug style cardigan so I can wear them these items this winter.
Happy Friday all from Minnesota.
Mel
I'm in Wisconsin for a medical school rotation right now & packed Shotgun Lovesongs with me. This was the serendipitous push I needed to pick it up!