early riser (003)
"Young old" people, deliciously fragrant holiday candles, and giving yourself some grace.
Good morning! We’ve officially entered the holiday season which probably means that your social calendar is booking up and work is suddenly accelerating as we hurtle toward the end of the year. (I actually missed my usual Tuesday post because I was facing down multiple deadlines. Ironically, the half-finished post is about work. I’ll publish it next Tuesday.)
Back to the holidays. As I’ve mentioned, I LOVE this time of year. We attended our first holiday party Wednesday night, a fundraiser for my daughter’s school. I’m hosting this weekend (drop a note if you want more details 🎄). So with boozing, schmoozing, sweet treats, and late-nights in full swing, this is my obligatory wellness editor reminder:
It’s only one month, give yourself some grace.
A mindfulness practice can be incredibly helpful during this time of the year. Rather than inventing restrictions or convoluted rules, take time to consider how you’re actually feeling. Block out the din of the party, do a quick body scan, take a few deep breaths. Are you full? Are you having fun? Are you thirsty? Are you tired? What level is your battery at? What do you want? What do you need? Often, the answer is not another glass of prosecco. But sometimes it is.
Part of the excess of the season also includes extra love, laughter, time together, and truly special recipes that we only make once a year. And so within that mindfulness practice, I have also discovered a “holiday version” of myself that involves parts I really like. I’m more cheerful, more easygoing, more forgiving, more patient, more spontaneous. I try to carry just a sliver of that mindset into the New Year. Maybe, once you start listening with a little grace, you’ll find there are healthy aspects of your own holiday self you’ll want to keep around, too.
see
SELF magazine published a profile of Juju Watkins detailing her ACL tear and ongoing recovery. The basketball phenom talks about the resilience she’s gained, and the long road back post-surgery. The photos are gorgeous!!!
It’s about friggin’ time!!!!! That’s the reaction (in spirit, not actual quote) from experts who are pleased with the American Cancer Society endorsing new guidelines around cervical cancer screening that would allow for self-collection of vaginal samples that can be tested for HPV. In other words, an alternative to the pap smear.
(tw: death of a child) The Guardian has a harrowing report on the rising use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in unregulated wellness settings and the “absolute anarchy and chaos” arising from such conditions.
It is a critical reminder that just because celebrities and influencers may tout the benefits of unproven treatments, the consequences of those treatments can be more serious then simply being ineffective.
To add to your year-end roundups, HuffPost has the 14 worst health trends from 2025. Most of these seem pretty standard/predictable, but I’m glad to see #5 “eating the protein version of everything” made the list. You do not need protein popcorn. You just don’t.
Aging hits us harder at certain points in our lives. We age nonlinearly. We fall off a cliff at 44. If you’re in the health world, you’ve probably been hearing a lot about this since that Stanford study came out last year. But The Cut has a really nice essay-meets-reported piece on the phenomenon. It’s long (and behind a paywall), but the TL;DR for me came in this line: “Staying young is in some part a matter of appreciating the opportunity to get old.”
touch
This week’s recommended substack is for the moms. Two Truths is penned by Cassie Shortsleeve and Kelsey Lucas—both brilliant journalists and moms. The idea is that much of motherhood can be summed up simply: two things can be true. Guilt and gratitude, joy and sadness, feeling lonely without actually having any alone time. Grateful to celebrate the holidays, while acknowledging they’re big, messy, and stressful, too. It’s not a “mommy advice” blog. It’s an expert-backed look at motherhood through an astute and thoughtful lens. You’ll love it.
hear
We have entered the season of the barrage of year-end roundups, kicking off with Spotify’s unwrapped—which I know you were all sharing this week. Mine is silly because it’s been completely skewed by my daughter’s affinity for K-Pop Demon Hunters and the fact that my phone was used for a few summer pool parties (meaning it just played hours and hours of Jimmy Buffet).
The thing I likely listened to most was actually the sound of ocean waves, which I put on pretty much all day while I’m writing. It keeps me calm, focused.
But anyway—here’s one good, kinda chill, poppy brand new tune for your workouts this week:
and an oldie-but-a-goodie in the same vein to power you to the finish line:
smell
By popular demand, I’m back on my candle sh*t. The best holiday candles are the ones that smell of pine, cedar, crisp snow, frost, evening air, and just a hint of peat soil. Candles also feel perfect for this cozy time of year when you’ve got the twinkling, soft white glow of Christmas lights.
While a few of these are on the pricier side, I also swear by ye olde Walmart standby Yankee Candle Balsam Fir (which is around $20 and will last you the whole friggin season even if you’re burning it nightly).
Top picks include Apotheke Juniper Birch candle, Boy Smells holiday quad, Quince Balsam Fir, and the Ralph Lauren Holiday candle (a girl can dream!). You can browse more in my ShopMy.
taste
Of course we could be getting more sleep this time of the year. But in the absence of magically being able to add hours to the day (and night), it’s even more vital that you make every minute of your nocturnal time count. That’s where nighttime teas and elixirs come in.
I often have no trouble falling asleep, but I’ll wake at 3am and start spiraling (Need to order school photos… Still haven’t made that doc appointment… Or figured out a gift for my niece… Remember that dumb thing you said last week…) and suddenly my mind has snapped into overdrive.
Magnesium, like the kind found in Moon Juice Magnesi-Om has really helped with that. It helps me fall asleep, stay asleep, and then wake without that groggy hangover feeling I always got from melatonin. I started taking magnesium while I was breastfeeding, because I wanted something milder than melatonin, and I haven’t stopped. The Moon Juice berry flavor is tasty and sweet (with monk fruit), but not overpowering.
I also like Needed Sleep and Relaxation Support. This flavor is chamomile, more floral, and just a touch of sweetness. The act of mindfully sipping at the end of the day is also a great way to wind down. Preferably with a bad Christmas movie on in the background.
If you’re looking for more affordable options, I’ve had the classic Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Herbal Tea in my cabinet since I was a kid.
Here’s to nestling in bed with visions of sugarplums. 😴
(*Heads up: Everything on this list was chosen by me, but I might earn commission if you buy an item.)
Next time I see ya, I’m bringing you a New Savant candle. I think you’d dig Dreamgirl, too. :)