the midday reset 1.31.24
tidbits in the form of recommendations to turn your midweek wtf vibes around
Hello, y’all!
We have made it. January is at a close. We are now looking at just a few more weeks of official winter. Here in Vermont, that timeline will be extended to who knows when, but I am looking forward to even just the concept that spring is 6 to 7 weeks away.
Today’s reset is late (again) and a little random - but optimized to deliver maximum results.
It’s an image-dense one today, so if you are reading this from your inbox, you’ll have to expand the email or download the Substack app:)
Without further ado, let’s begin!
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TIMES WHEN…
YOU’RE READY TO SHOW OFF YOUR CREATIVITY (AND SUSTAINABILITY) SKILLS
Feeling artsy? Or the urge to flex your DIY muscles? Nothing beats creating artwork of your own for your living space. Check out Arielle Vey’s Trader Joe’s paper bag art hack for inspiration and guidance for this spectacularly simple but creative project.
WHEN YOU NEED TO CORRAL YOUR OPEN TABS
How many tabs do you have open at any given time? I am hesitant to share my average number (about 24 tabs), but I know I am not alone. According to a study from Aalto University in Finland, the average is 5-10. While the average seems pretty tame to me, that said, the variance in responses was from 3 to 400 tabs at a time!
Enter Workona. Now, I can condense my constellation of tabs and curate them into collections (with notes and other documents) based on project or theme. Which makes the point of all these open tabs more fruitful and actionable. Magic!
WHEN THE SCENT OF DELICIOUS FOOD IS YOUR LOVE LANGUAGE
I have been salivating over these candles from Soul Food Candles for several months after discovering them on IG. I don’t know how to choose one scent. There are so many tantalizing scent profiles! But if there is ever a time for your home to feel like a big hug, it is winter (and 2024, generally speaking).
WHEN YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A NEW READ FOR THE NEW YEAR
Historically, I am a voracious reader, averaging about 52 books per year. Since 2018 to the present, due to life and the general lunacy, this number has significantly diminished.
I am reactivating this year. I don’t have a goal in terms of the number of books, but more that I am always reading something with the caveat of introducing more contemporary literature into my repertoire. (I am more of a non-fiction or classical lit girlie.)
Right now, I am reading (and enjoying) My Year of Rest and Relaxation, but these two are next on the docket, and I am pretty hyped to dive into each one.
FOR FANTASTIC FICTION FOR HISTORY LOVERS
You Dreamed of Empires brings Tenochtitlan to life at its height, and reimagines its destiny. The incomparably original Álvaro Enrigue sets afire the moment of conquest and turns it into a moment of revolution, a restitutive, fantastical counterattack, in a novel so electric and so unique that it feels like a dream. — Penguin Random House
FOR TASTEMAKERS AND THE VISUALLY EXPRESSIVE
“[Filterworld] is about how algorithms changed culture…[Chayka asks] what is taste? What is a sense of aesthetics? And what happens to it when it collides with the homogenizing digital reality in which we now live.”—Ezra Klein
WHEN YOU WANT TO FIND A SIGNATURE PIECE OF DECOR
I always enjoy a fun piece of ceramic, especially when it is handmade. Arienel is a new-to-me shop on Etsy that makes unique, iconic, handpainted pieces for your space. I love the Matisse inspiration, the playful color palette, and the PERSONALITY! That is why I love ceramics that are made by smaller makers; there is more scope for creativity (instead of appeal to the general masses) and the potential for the right individual to stop in their tracks and say: “DAMN!”
WHEN YOU’RE TENSE OR ANXIOUS AND NEED A QUICK FIX
I am a chronic pacer. As I work from home, this habit has become free-ranged, and while often conducive to problem-solving for me. It is also a time suck as it takes me away from my desk...I needed another device to help me “think” things out, and I didn’t have to look very far. It was already here at my desk. It was Silly Putty.
I keep it in half of its eggshell container and rub the putty with my thumb like a madwoman trying to create enough friction to start a fire...but it helps! So, this is my public service announcement: we should all have silly putty - it is both a nostalgic toy and a stress-relieving tool.
WHEN TIME, CIRCUMSTANCE, AND RESPONSIBILITY BLUR WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT
This is a shout-out to fellow Substack writer
, who shared this insightful list of things she learned last week. I’ve never been able to adopt the habit of gratitude lists or journals (and I know I am not alone in this.) But this seemed more than doable but a powerful act of self-love and self-celebration that we could all use. Check out her list and see if you align with this practice. Give her a follow - if you like what you read - especially if you are a yogi - :)
WHEN YOU WANT TO BE INSPIRED, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE ZANY
I am always happier after Anchorball graces my scroll time on IG - an instant mood boost!
WHEN YOU ARE READY TO PRIORITIZE YOUR SLEEP
Rise is a new app for me. But so far, I am hella impressed by it. I thought I had won the sleep battle several years ago when I stopped staying up regularly into the wee hours of the morning. Not so. I have a sleep deficit of 14.1 hours…just this week!
This app is so comprehensive. It tracks your sleep/wake times and sleep quality. As well as your movement during the day to analyze when your energy level will likely peak and dip against your expendable energy levels based on your current sleep debt.
With this data, the app can suggest when to cut out caffeine, when you’ll likely be most productive or less so, and when to start your wind-down process for the evening and your ideal melatonin time. As you move through its guidance, you can work on correcting your sleep habits and ultimately be rewarded with more restful sleep and energy!
If you are struggling with sleep, I highly recommend giving the 7-day free trial on Rise a whirl because good sleep is priceless!
Available on the App Store and Google Play.
WHEN YOU WANT TO MELLOW OUT AND VIBE FOR A BIT
In my search for new (or new to me) music, I came across two songs, Je te laisserai de mot and Daylight, which embody the mellow vibe I hope to foster this year. I hope they can do the same for you. I hope it will inspire you… to curate a new playlist of chill jams to keep the midweek tension away.
Cheers to the end of the midway mark of the traditional work week! May we all muster the energy and perseverance to see ourselves to the week’s end.
Take care of yourself and others. I’ll “see” you soon.
<3 Nicole
thank you for this love and support!