January's Living A Better Life Resources

Not me showing up early.

Credit: meme_queen_xox on IG

When I set the January 14th launch date for Healthy Futures, while deep in my end-of-year exhaustion, I forgot to consider Living A Better Life Resources, which should follow a publication schedule on the first Tuesday of each month. So, here I am, a week earlier than anticipated, but still oh so happy to be back. This January, I’ve decided to lean into the self-improvement ethos that permeates the first month of the year and offer resources that provide crucial context to the inevitable masses of people who will fall victim to wellness misinformation as they work to improve their overall well-being. Let’s get into it, shall we?!

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Invest In A Walking Pad

As I’ve written, “A daily stroll is one of few fitness trends I can enthusiastically get behind. Walking is a fantastic workout and an excellent way to recover after a tough gym session. Regular walking can strengthen your bones, improve your cardiovascular fitness, increase endurance, reduce anxiety and depression, and aid in normalizing your blood pressure. (I don’t talk much about weight loss anymore but walking, in addition to strength training and a diet full of nutritious foods, is high-key the best way to maintain a caloric deficit, too.) The brisker your walk, the better.”

A walking pad makes it easier to incorporate walking into your day. I keep mine next to my desk so I can get in 5-10 minutes every hour. You could also walk for 20 minutes after meals or while you watch your shows in the evening. And don’t overthink your step count. You don’t need to hit 10,000 steps to see health benefits.

My only additional advice is that you shouldn’t spend more than $300 on a quality walking pad—there are great options for less—and verify that the pad will hold your weight and is long enough to accommodate your stride length.

You Don’t Need To Detox

But you’re probably going to do it anyway. So instead of buying a weird supplement or, higher power forbid, a parasite cleanse, try the tips in this British Vogue article instead. It smartly recommends eating less processed foods, reducing alcohol consumption, and filling your plate with a variety of whole foods. (It also talks about reducing pesticide consumption, which is a valid desire, but organic produce just uses different pesticides that, at a high enough dose, could harm human health, like chemical/synthetic ones. So I wouldn’t be too pressed about that.)

Work Is Not The End All Be All

I’ll let Samhita Mukhopadhyay talk to y’all and me, too: “‘Making it’ is a myth to me not because I didn’t make it. I did make it, and I’m still making it; I’m still on the hamster wheel. I still work too much. I still have a hard time doing all the things that need to get done, let alone being able to think about the bigger picture. I have long been in a prison of my own ambition, stuck without a narrative for moving forward. I’m slowly starting to find my way out. But it means accepting that success looks different than I thought it would.”

Work can certainly be fulfilling and meaningful, but when we lose our boundaries and prioritize productivity over our well-being, we set ourselves up. Hopefully, everyone can take a step back and breathe a bit this year. Life is more than work.

Speaking Of Work, Here Are Some Mindset Shifts For Anxious Overachievers

As I write through this month’s resources, I realize how much of a self-drag they are. Anyway, this piece in Fast Company says that to manage anxiety, high achievers should challenge unhelpful thoughts, prioritize excellence over perfection, and redefine success to include personal fulfillment. Focusing on S.E.L.F.-care (Sleep, Exercise, Leisure, and Fuel) and practicing gratitude can foster a positive mindset, prevent burnout, and support a balanced, fulfilling life.

I enjoy the idea of noticing a negative thought and telling it to shut the fuck up.

Pick Up A Book For Real

Fewer people are reading for pleasure, which sucks because we learn so much about life, the world, ourselves, and others through narrative. Abdullah Shihipar suggests treating reading like we treat exercise in Slate. Consider it a workout for your brain that’s just as critical as moving your physical body. Scheduling it in also helped them get over that initial drag of starting a new book.

For my part, I made a list called Planned Consumption to keep track of everything I wanted to read and to feel satisfied when I checked it off once I finished it.

Bonus: GNX by Kendrick Lamar

It’s just too good not to include it. My favorite song is wacced out murals. Let me know what your favorite song is in the comments! Or, tell me what wellness trend you’re digging into this month!