I was thinking about this yesterday. Sometimes late July and August tend to feel stagnant when the heat and humidity is ever-present. So I made a list of a few things that I notice always instantly make me feel better.
Because sometimes we don’t need a complete life overhaul. Sometimes we just need one small thing that makes us feel a little lighter, more energized, or a little more at peace. Like a good long inhale and exhale.
Here are the 10 things that work like magic for me.
1. Clean Out Your Closet
Be ruthless. I did this over the weekend and am so much happier now opening a drawer and seeing the one pair of cozy shorts and my go-to sweatshirt instead of seven options I always pushed aside to reach the only things I actually wore.
The bonus to doing this? I’m actually less tempted to buy anything new because I don’t want it cluttered again. I’m going to really try hard to only buy nice items I love and not get suckered in by Amazon’s latest because it looks so cute on an IG friend who has a totally different body type than me.
2. Give Yourself a Fresh Mani
If you’re a neutral girlie like I am 90% of the time, go for the ridge filler mini kit. You will be hooked. If you’re planning ahead for fabulous fall nails, get this dreamy color. It’s especially good if you’re a soft Autumn.
Side note: have chatGPT do your color analysis. Will it mess with your features and make you look a little weird? Yes. But can it help narrow down your best colors? Also yes.
As a friendly reminder- if you hate spending time filing and painting only to have it chip two days later, trust me on this stuff. Apply it according to directions and it will be completely dry in 5 minutes and lasts two weeks or more, even through gardening, dishes, and daily life. Nontoxic and won’t ruin your nails to boot. Also. I don’t pick at my cuticles anymore.
3. Make Something With Your Own Two Hands
For me, it has obviously been pickles. But K has been painting while I read, and H has been assembling this—it’s tedious but also incredibly cool.
Maybe you knit, bake, build, paint, garden, or rearrange a cozy corner. Creating something with your own two hands is seriously underrated. Put your phone down, turn on some tunes, and enjoy some creating.
4. Get a Solid Night’s Sleep
Easier said than done sometimes, I know. But drink some magnesium or Nighty Night Extra tea, go to bed early, cool down the room, and do your best to make it happen.
For me, that may also include earplugs if the dog is snoring and nightly mouth tape because I swear it makes a difference. A little high-maintenance? Perhaps. But a good night’s sleep is life-giving.
5. Get Together With a Friend in Person
Last week it was a mahjong lesson. Monday was a group hangout at the playground while the kids played flag football and the moms chatted. Tuesday was having a friend over to discuss the upcoming homeschool year. Today it’s coffee with two new friends from H’s basketball team.
Texting and calling and sending reels is a great way to stay in touch but nothing really can match up with in person connection. One skill I’m trying to teach my girls is to be the one to invite. So many of us (myself included) are waiting for an invitation, but someone has to be the one to step up and create the plans, text the invite, and make it happen.
6. Send a Very Specific Throwback Reel
Send a reel that is painfully specific to your generation to the friend who lived through that season with you.
My college bestie recently sent me one featuring Big Tymers’ “Get Your Roll On,” and I was immediately transported back to cars vibrating with bass while we bounced around to lyrics that now make me cringe and clutch my pearls.
7. Watch an Old-School Rom-Com With the New Generation
Let me say it again: Don’t fear the teen years!
I genuinely love hanging out with my 14- and 12-year-olds. I recently introduced them to How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and we laughed our booties off at Kate Hudson’s antics.
Other old school movies we’ve enjoyed watching together: She’s the Man, You’ve Got Mail, Back to the Future, The Princess Bride, Sand Lot
8. Sweat—a Lot
I’m not talking about a little light exercise. I’m talking sweat-dripping-down-your-back drenched. (Line it up with hair-washing day. ;))
This does not come naturally to me, but David’s sauna has helped tremendously. The southern humidity can get the job done, too. But trust me, get completely soaked, take a cool shower, and tell me you don’t feel superhuman afterward.
Somewhat related picture but mostly just wanted to show you our home gym‘s new addition. Meat Mortimer the Muscle Mouse. I love him:
9. Make Yourself a Really Delicious Meal
You know the kind—the meal that makes you do a little happy dance before you dig in.
For me recently, it was this skillet lemon garlic chicken with orzo. Cozy, flavorful, and actually quite a simple recipe overall.
10. Check Off the Thing You’ve Been Avoiding
You know exactly which thing I mean. The one that has almost a permanent spot on your running to do list (…what? Just me?)
Make the phone call. Schedule the appointment. Return the package. Clean out the drawer.
It never takes as long as we’ve built it up in ours head, and getting it done will feel like someone removed a weight from your shoulders.
Ok that’s all I’ve got today but share with me- what’s one thing your do that always makes you feel better instantly??
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