Friday Musings—January recap

What's new with me

I realized it’s been a month since my last Friday Musings! Between the holidays, starting my new job, and a week of being under the weather with the flu, time slipped by so quickly. Perhaps I should revisit my last blog post and remind myself how to slow down and reclaim my days 😅

That said, I haven’t abandoned this space entirely. Over the past two weeks, I’ve reintroduced the “deeper dives” on Mondays, which I’m now also sharing on LinkedIn (let’s see how that goes!). I’ve received a few emails about my recent posts (here and here if you've missed them)—thank you for reaching out! And remember, you can always leave a comment; it might just inspire or spark a conversation with someone else reading.

Quick evening journaling prompt

During the holidays, I came across a simple evening journaling prompt that I immediately tried out and have been using ever since. The challenge with journaling (and new habits in general) is that we tend to go overboard at the beginning, and then can't keep it up. For example, we might start by writing pages and pages, but by the end of week one, we’re done. For me, baby steps are always the way to go.

Here’s how it works: I keep my journal on my nightstand, and before turning off the lights or diving into my evening reading session (I’m still enjoying Thomas Mann’s The Enchanted Mountain), I ask myself two questions:

1. What went well today?
2. What can I do better tomorrow?

This simple practice helps me feel gratitude, even on the toughest days (seriously, there’s always something that went well), while also reflecting on areas for improvement.

I’m really happy with this habit, and if you decide to adopt it, I’d love to hear about your experience.

Banana bends

Feeling the January blues? Looking for a quick energy boost to shake it off? This article offers 31 easy and healthy ways to jump-start your energy levels. With so many options, we've got no excuses! 🙂

Also, banana happens to be the name of one of my favorite morning yoga poses.

Grounding Made Simple

In a recent yoga class, one of my teachers shared the 5-4-3-2-1 method, a very simple grounding exercise. It goes like this:

• Identify five things you can see.
• Notice four things you can touch.
• Tune in to three things you can hear.
• Detect two things you can smell.
• Focus on one thing you can taste.

Engaging your five senses this way can help redirect your attention from troubling or overwhelming thoughts or emotions, grounding you in the present moment.

For an even quicker exercise, you could try the 3-3-3 rule:

• Notice three things you can see.
• Identify three things you can touch.
• Take three deep breaths.

Quote of the week ✍️ 

"We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom."  (E.O. Wilson)

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Which musing resonated with you the most? Are there any topics you’d like me to explore in future newsletters? Have suggestions or insights to share? Let me know in the comments or send me an email. Also, I'm offering 20-minute free mindful chats—a safe space for you to be heard and explore what’s on your mind. It's also a chance for me to connect and better understand how I can create content that truly resonates.

If you know someone who might enjoy my musings or benefit from a mindful chat, feel free to share this post with them.

Enjoy your weekend and TTYS

ML