Welcome to Living Well Daily, the newsletter serving up tips to help you live a joyful, healthier life.

In today’s edition:

You make life special just by being here in this world and living your life. You don’t need to do, be or accomplish anything for this to be true; it is true because you are you, and you being you is a gift to this world. Keep being the fantastic person you are!

A sensory kit is a small collection of objects that engage your senses (touch, smell, sight, sound) to bring you back into the present moment. It’s a practical grounding tool, especially when your mind spirals or you feel overwhelmed. This can be so useful for when your mind is racing, stress is overwhelming, you’re triggered, or are struggling to tune in. This is also the perfect alternative for people who feel “I just can’t meditate.”

Think of it as a “portable anchor” for your nervous system and a pocket-sized toolkit for returning to yourself. Use this tool kit by picking an item out of the kit and focusing your senses into it for 30sec-5min depending on how much time you have and how much relief you need.

🌟 What to include

✅ Action Step: Build a small sensory kit today and keep it in your bag, desk, or nightstand.

We live in a world obsessed with and designed around doing. Your attention has been commoditized, and now it is easy to fill any empty moment with scrolling, but your brain also needs to opposite, simply being.

This means pausing, resting, breathing, and noticing. When you slow down, your nervous system shifts out of constant stimulation and into a state that supports memory consolidation, emotional regulation, and neural repair. It also gives your brain a chance to clear. Moments of quiet presence reduce cortisol, lower inflammation, and give your brain the space it needs to integrate experiences.

“Being” also strengthens the default mode network, a brain system associated with creativity, self-reflection, and meaning. It’s where insights form and stress unwinds.

You don’t need long meditations for this, but tiny pockets of stillness or “boredom” can help your well-being.

✅ Action step: Take a couple of minutes today to sit quietly, breathe slowly, and notice your surroundings. That small pause gives your brain room to heal and recharge.

The inner critic often develops as a survival strategy, trying to keep you safe, accepted, or protected from future harm. This week is about softening that harsh voice, understanding where it came from, and cultivating a kinder inner relationship.

Softness doesn’t enable the critic, it transforms it. When you respond kindly to self-judgment, you show your nervous system that it no longer needs to use self-attack to keep you safe. Stick with this, it’s natural for it to take time for compassion to become the default

• 💬 Try: “I hear you, but I’m choosing gentleness right now.”
• 🤗 Place a hand on your heart or chest while responding.
• 🫂 Replace self-criticism with care: “I’m learning. I’m trying.”
• 🌤️ Compassion calms the nervous system where criticism inflames it. 

^{Darling, don’t give up on yourself, you’re so worth it. Sending love} 💕

What part of you is seeking comfort right now? What would comfort look like if it were gentle?

Listen to a song you once loved… let it remind you of who you’ve been and who you’re becoming.

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).}