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- Enough is enough
Less can be more. Since late February, I’ve been refining my priorities and feel lighter. Before I blab about how I’m making my life easier, I’ll begin with how it all started—my 5+ hours of daily screen time had me feeling lousy. First, a 24-hour social media break (a restful Sunday) turned into a 36-hour break, and by the end of the week, my daily phone usage decreased by 65%.
Maintaining this—putting my phone in a different room and limiting my scroll time to short, intentional periods in the afternoon—has given me precious time and mental space. Time on my phone fluctuates higher some days, but after a month, not being glued to my phone feels natural again. I have the capacity to think! My thoughts! It’s amazing I still have them. And lately, I haven’t been constantly falling through an ugly trapdoor of overstimulation, comparison, and emotional whiplash.
I have more time for my hobbies and daydreaming. Plus, I’ve decided to channel most of my creative energy into three main outlets: freelance work, indulging in my hobby art, and sharing joy through this newsletter. Compared to last year, when I was trying to do too many things, I feel less at risk of burnout and capable of executing meaningful-to-me work. Bless.
Another blessing is a new-to-me grocery store—Aldi! Shopping there has shrunk our monthly grocery bill by $200. No wonder people love shopping there. We used to be a Whole Foods family. Then Tom Thumb shoppers. Now, we’re comfortable splitting our grocery list between two stores. Hooray for a little less budget stress and being able to funnel that money elsewhere.
This focus on cutting back extends to a couple of my daily routines. I reigned in my skincare. For about a year, I’ve only been using two products—a gentle Biossance cleanser and Honest Beauty's hydrogel moisturizer. I guess my skin loves skinimalism. And can you believe I, a long-time matcha lover, am taking a break from caffeine? After writing a story about how caffeine disrupts sleep and being frustrated by how long it was taking me to fall asleep, I’ve cut back almost entirely. Some days, I miss making a yummy matcha latte in the morning, but my current obsession is this delicious herbal peach and raspberry tea with some amber honey. I buy it from a local Asian grocery store. The verdict is still out on whether going caffeine-free is actually helping me, but based on the research, it’s worth a try.
Thoughtful planning and habit changes have made my attempt to simplify life possible. They don’t always work out perfectly, but for now, I feel less anxious and am actively progressing with my goals (two of them broadly being lots of rest and enjoying life).
I’m also applying a low-pressure “less is more” mentality to an upcoming significant life change. This summer, we’re moving to Houston!
Maybe you saw me slip this news into last month’s issue or on my IG stories. Vadym accepted a spot in a neuroscience Ph.D. program at the University of Houston—a huge step, six years in the making. Being his usual kind self, Vadym likes to remind me that “WE did it!” But I still want to spotlight his hard work and tell everyone and anyone how proud I am of him.
Unlike our move to Dallas from Los Angeles, when we only had one month to plan an intimidating cross-country scramble, we’ll have more time this round. I’m slowly decluttering our apartment and mentally preparing for the possibility of downsizing and not having a guest room/home office/art studio. Still, having another opportunity to experience a new city and a chance to put down roots for at least a few years will be cool.
Even though life is busy and uncertainties are always lurking, we can all find creative ways to cut back on things that aren’t serving us so our lives are more manageable and joyful.
What are the top 3-5 things that are most important to you in this season of life?
Is there anything getting in the way of you focusing on those things?
Which area of your life feels the most cluttered or overwhelming right now?
Which habits and activities can you change to better align with your priorities?
How do you want to feel after making these changes?
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📚️ Books
I’ve read 19 books this year but have yet to read a 5-star novel (if I don’t count the beautiful Heartstopper graphic novels). I hope I find a book to obsess over this spring!
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
A college rink snafu throws competitive figure skater Anastasia and hockey team captain Nate together on the ice. As a character-driven frenemies-to-lovers story, I enjoyed the banter, multi-POVs, and unexpected hockey house friendships. The romance is hella spicy and sweet, with several good examples of communication during tough conversations. One of the main conflicts features a manipulative “villain” that portrays just how toxic and two-faced friends and teammates can be. I ate this one up.
Alison by Lizzy Stewart
This is a coming-of-age graphic novel about a young British woman who escapes her quiet life for the London art scene in the late 1970s. Living through a relationship with a troubled artist and walking red flag (double her age), she finds her voice as a painter. Alison also explores women's challenges in the art world, overcoming class snobbery and patriarchy while finding strength in female friendship.
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🎥 Film
Sitting in Bars with Cake, starring Yara Shahidi and Odessa A’zion
I turned this on to watch while styling my hair on wash day and made the mistake of not watching the trailer first. I ended up sobbing into my hair towel. To boost Jane’s confidence and social life, her outgoing friend Corinne comes up with a year-long plan: Jane will bake a cake every week and share it at bars to meet guys. But soon after they start, their sweet plans are rocked by a bitter diagnosis. Based on a true story and book, it’s a devastating but beautiful friendship story.
📺️ TV
The Great North, starring voices of Nick Offerman, Jenny Slate, Dulcé Sloan
This is a sweet and funny animated show from the producers of Bob’s Burgers. In Alaska's quirky town of Lone Moose, single dad Beef Tobin tackles snowy small-town adventures with his artistic daughter Judy, lovestruck son Wolf (and his fiancé Honeybee), socially awkward Ham, and wise-beyond-his-years Moon. I’m adding them to my list of favorite TV families. They love each other so much.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan
Buffy Summers, the chosen vampire slayer, and her friends (aka the Scooby Gang) juggle slaying vampires and demons while navigating the challenges of adolescence and adulthood. I started rewatching Buffy when I lived in LA over two years ago, but I took a long break. Then, in March, I got the itch to pick up where I left off and became completely obsessed with watching the last few seasons. My toxic crush on Spike sprung back to life, but viewing it as an adult allowed me to catch and understand things differently. Season 6 is DARK. Season 7 is frustrating. But the payoff of the finale is worth it.
Pokémon Concierge, starring the voice of Karen Fukuhara
This is an adorable comfort show with beautiful stop-motion animation. Nestled on a tropical island paradise, the Pokémon Resort is a haven for Pokémon and people to vacation. Haru, seeking a new beginning from a hectic life, joins the caring staff, learning the art of pampering guests and how to overcome her anxious nature to have fun. Only four short episodes are streaming on Netflix, but more are in production!
🎮️ Games
Knights and Bikes is a quirky, heartwarming, coming-of-age game about friendship and teamwork. Set on a charming British island in the 1980s, the game centers around two new best friends, Nessa and Demelza, who spend their summer vacation on a quest for legendary lost treasure. You ride bikes, solve puzzles, and use unconventional weapons like frisbees and water balloons to overcome challenges. The music and art are stellar.
🎧️ Audio
Lately, I’ve been either listening to new albums by Beyonce (Cowboy Carter) or Khruangbin (A LA SALA) or exploring the music side of YouTube. I’ve been loving DJ sets by My Analog Journal (vinyl grooves from around the world) and Flavour Trip (a duo making spicy grooves and tasty food). Also, have you heard of Beedle the Bardcore? 😂 I’m amused.
Want more recs? I often share what I’m reading and watching on my Instagram stories.
How to Spring Clean Your Mind (The Good Trade)
Your Values Point the Way (The New Happy)
6 Relaxing Screen-Free Activities to Try Before Bed (Avocado Magazine)*
How to Create a Soothing Bedtime Routine (Avocado Magazine)*
*Stories written by me!
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😍special news from friends
👖outfits that make you feel hot
🏃becoming stronger and running farther (my 5K race is next week!)
🧶getting the hang of crochet
👨🍳 watching Amaury Guichon make realistic items out of chocolate
📚bringing home a tall stack of library books
🌚🌝 a total eclipse
Thanks so much for reading Thank You For Being Here!
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