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In Today’s Edition:

🥰Well-Being & Self-Care: 2-Minute Self-Care Ritual: When You Need a Reminder of What Matters
💖Longevity & Wellness: Does Fasting Beat Calorie Counting?
✨Daily Affirmation & Daily Prompt

Time will continue on, just like you’ll continue to be freaking awesome!
Day after day, you’re still marvellously brilliant!

When stress, pressure, comparison, or overwhelm take over, it’s easy to lose sight of what actually matters to you.

Your brain narrows its focus toward urgency, productivity, problems, and survival. But life is bigger than your inbox, your stress, or your to-do list.

Sometimes we need to intentionally reconnect with what makes us feel human.

🫁 Step 1: Pause the Noise (30–45 seconds):
Take one slow breath in and out.
Then gently ask yourself: “What have I been consumed by lately?”
Notice without judgment.

🌿 Step 2: Reconnect With What Matters (45 seconds):
Ask yourself:
• What truly nourishes me?
• What kind of person do I want to be?
• What do I want more of in my life?

Maybe the answer is:
• Connection
• Joy
• Health
• Community
• Creativity
• Rest
• Love
• Purpose

Let yourself remember that your values still exist beneath the stress.

💫 Step 3: Take One Small Aligned Action (30–45 seconds):
Choose one tiny action that reconnects you with what matters:
• Send a loving text
• Step outside and notice the sky
• Work on something meaningful
• Rest without guilt
• Spend time with someone you care about

Meaning is often built in small moments, not dramatic ones. You do not need to overhaul your life today. Sometimes remembering what matters is enough to help you find your way back to yourself.

✅ Action step: Write down three things that matter deeply to you and choose one to intentionally prioritize this week.

^{Love, Lola Graham}

If you've lost weight before only to watch it creep back, the problem is sticking to the new habits. An 18-month trial from the University of Adelaide points to one approach that is easier for some.

Researchers put over 200 adults with obesity into one of three groups: intermittent fasting, daily calorie restriction (eating about 70% of normal intake), or standard care. After six months, both dieting groups lost about the same amount, roughly seven kilograms, versus two kilograms for standard care.

The part I find fascinating was the mental experience. The calorie-counting group described constant effort: watching every meal, resisting overeating, staying vigilant. The fasting group got the same results without that ongoing sense of restriction. Both groups actually reported better mood and well-being, even on fasting days.

The takeaway isn't that fasting is superior for everyone; it's that the best strategy is the one you can maintain, and for people who burn out on or struggle with daily calorie tracking, fasting might be a more sustainable approach.

✅ Action Step: If tracking every calorie leaves you exhausted and eventually rebounding, it may be worth exploring a structured fasting approach instead. Talk to your doctor first, especially if you have any medical conditions or a history of disordered eating.

^{By: Joshua Graham | Source: PMID: 42208206}

^{A mini-care practice for grounding, calming, and nervous system support.}

Rest your tongue away from the roof of your mouth and soften your jaw.

Before you go, let us know what you thought of today’s edition and if there are any subjects you would like us to cover in the future reply to this email and let us know!

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With love and care,

Lola & Joshua | The Living Well Team

^{Living Well Daily is for educational purposes only and is in no way a substitute for professional medical and mental health advice and diagnosis. Please consult a qualified professional for care unique to your needs.}

^{Remember: It’s okay to ask for help. Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 (Canada & US).}