Category: Uncategorized

  • Sunlight Experiment: Week 1 Update

    Well, I’m a week in to my sunlight experiment. I have been getting 20 minutes of sun every morning, hoping that I can photosynthesize my way to successful adulting.

    While I’m not noticing huge changes, I have seen subtle improvements in my energy, focus, and mood. I’ve been able to focus better when I’m working. My energy is still not great, but I’m feeling slightly less like a slug disguised as a human. 

    What is surprising me most so far is how much I’m enjoying my morning sun time. I really like starting my day outside, getting some sun, enjoying my garden and my dogs and listening to the birds. Now, I live in a quiet suburb; I acknowledge that your experience may be less charming if you live in a big city. But for me, I’m getting a lot from the daily 20 minutes of solitude in my backyard.

    Is the mood boost from the sunlight itself or just from starting my day in peace, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air? Honestly, it’s probably a mixture of both.

    1 week down, 3 to go. 

  • Wellness Without the Woo: My Starting Point

    This wasn’t supposed to be about mental health. 

    It was just supposed to be a blog about how to live a better life through science-backed habits. But then, as I was trying to describe myself to you, Dear Reader… I realized that I can’t make a blog about living your best life without talking about mental health. 

    I am a 34-year-old woman who struggles with ADHD, depression, and anxiety. While I do take medication and have tried therapy in the past, it continues to be a struggle. My productivity is at an all-time low. Most days, I’m drowning in overwhelm and the nagging sense that I’m just not cutting it. I ‘ve been sleeping so much lately that I’m surprised I haven’t fused with my bed. 

    Looking at my life from the outside, you’d probably think it’s a pretty good one. I’m married to a great guy and I have two healthy, thriving daughters. I live in a nice house in the suburbs. I have a stable career.  And yet… something always feels off. 

    It turns out that a LOT of people feel this way. Just look at all the “remedies” people peddle to try and make us feel better. There are elixirs, gummies, patches, crystals, horoscopes, copper bracelets, and dozens of other things that promise to finally “fix” us. 

    I’m sick of the bullshit. I like to think of myself as pretty science-minded, so it’s embarrassing to admit I’ve bought my fair share of wellness crap. What can I say? Desperate people do desperate things. 

    You might be thinking, “Jenny, if you believe in science, why haven’t you tried more science-backed methods to help improve your mental health?” That’s a great question. I suppose it’s because it’s easier and faster to hold a piece of quartz and swallow some potion than it is to try something less glamorous (but scientifically supported) and hope I see a difference.  

    Well, Dear Reader, none of it worked. So I’m done with the pretty lies. I want something real, even if it’s slower, messier, and literally less sparkly. I’m ready for wellness without the woo. 

    The point of this blog is to be the guinea pig. To try small, science-backed changes and see if they actually help. To test things so you don’t have to. And maybe to figure out what “living well” actually looks like.