Hey spring flinglings!
The cherry tree 🍒 in my backyard is starting to bud 🌸, and the prospect of tossing my parka in the nether regions of our closet is beginning to seem feasible. I love the changing of the seasons, and am particularly exicted for this one to turn!
New seasons are nice times for new habits, so here are 3 little things you can do rn to make life a little happier and, yes, more relaxed.
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Ever have difficulty falling asleep? What do you do about it? Count sheep? Repeat some poem that you memorized in 6th grade to yourself? Replay the same anxieties?
My best tactic: do a vipassana style body scan meditation.
What's funny to me, is the US Military ended up at a similar conclusion. During WWII, the military determined a body scan was the most effective way to coax existentially stressed naval aviators into sleep.
".....Now for your lower body. Talk to your right thigh muscles. Let them go to a dead weight on the chair. Let the meat hang on the bones. Go through the same routine for the right calf muscles....Tell yourself that your right leg has no bones in it. It is just a flabby, heavy weight on the deck. Repeat the process with your left thigh, calf, ankle, and foot....."
Their script reads a bit like a yoga teacher who had too many protein shakes and red bulls before class...but should still work.
Gracias to reader Franklin W. for sharing! 👏
Try it yourself: "How to Fall Asleep in 2 Minutes Or Less" (2 min)
Or use a meditation: Body Scan for Sleep (8 min video)
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A Better Way to Phone
Our phones are designed to be addictive. They're information slot machines that are robbing us blind of our attention and happiness. 😢
A small team in Austin has one solution: a minimalist homescreen called Siempo.
It's only available for Android...but as I learned in googling for this write up, Android has 85% market share globally so looks like I'm in the minority.
Thanks to reader Teddy for sharing.👏
Try it yourself: Siempo App (5 min to set up)
Related read: The Tech Fix (5 min)
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The Power of Just Being Nice (2 min)
A simple, but welcome reminder that we can and MUST simply be nicer.
I'm inspired by an Australian designer I met last month, named Danielle Hall. I originally contacted her about some work for one of my clients, but it didn't pan out. I mentioned I was interested in having her design for a mindfulness newsletter I was building, and she offered to donate her time because she believes so much in mindfulness.
She's been proactive and kind throughout the process, and I've been so touched by her generosity. It's been a gentle reminder to myself to be nicer and more giving. Perhaps this inspires you, too.
You can check out some of her work here: http://www.designandhula.com/work.
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Have a great weekend!
xxx maria 🙋
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