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

In today’s edition:

We believe honesty is the best policy, so we are going to give you some radical honesty. You are amazing & we are grateful for you!! 

Anxiety isn’t just in your mind; it’s a full-body physiological event. Your heart rate speeds up, your breath shortens, your muscles tighten, and your stomach drops. This is why thinking your way out of anxiety rarely works. The brain can’t create safety when the body is still signalling threat.

Real relief happens when you include the body in the process: slowing breath, grounding your senses, moving energy, or softening muscles. When the body settles, the mind can follow.

🌟 Ways to regulate anxiety through the body

✅ Action Step: During your next anxious moment, try one body-based practice instead of mental problem-solving.

We love listening to music. We play it while we cook, when we hang out together in the evenings, in the car, during exercise, and while we work. I was just reading a study that shows that listening to music isn’t just fun, but it can also help protect our brains as we age. So the music will keep pumping! 

A recent study by Emma Jaffa and colleagues found that always listening to music, compared with never/rarely/sometimes, was associated with a 39% decreased risk of dementia, and a 17% decreased risk of cognitive impairment with no dementia. They also found that playing music can help to protect the brain as you age. 

These benefits are probably because music can help lower stress, and it can help to keep your mind engaged and stimulated, which can all help be factors in preventing cognitive decline. 

So put on some good tunes and have some fun.

✅ Action step: Put on some music today and soak up those beautiful melodies. Whatever floats your boat!

PS. If you EDM, you might like this set I have been enjoying lately 🕺 

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.

Your inner critic is one voice, not your identity. Healing begins when you can hear the difference between your wounded self-protection voice and your authentic, compassionate self.

• 🪞 Notice when the tone shifts from caring to harsh.
• 💛 Ask: “Would I say this to someone I love?”
• 🧘 Think of your inner critic as a part of you, not the whole you.
• ✨ Your true self speaks with clarity, not cruelty.

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

How do you know when your nervous system is settling? List any physical micro-signs of safety, no matter how small.

Pick one thing to do with your full attention… like giving the moment your whole heart.

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!

If you find our newsletter helpful, we’d love for you to share it with a friend! If you’re that friend, you can subscribe here. Thanks for spreading the word! xo

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).}