The Studio Edit 07: A Peek Inside My Mindfulness Toolkit for Winter

Sharing the objects and practices that act as a salve for the mind, body and soul

Welcome to The Studio Edit, a digest with favorite things and thoughts that I hope add levity to the latter half of your week and help inspire the weekend ahead 🤍

Happy Friday –

This post-holiday week has felt like like a full, beautiful whirlwind of checking off end-of-year to-dos and commitments: one work week, one holiday party, two friend gatherings and two coffee meetings later, here we are.

Does anyone else feel the pressure to rush and pack in as much as possible toward the end of the year – perhaps in an attempt to squeeze just a little more out of 2024?

I’ve found myself turning to my mindfulness practices more than ever recently, and thought I’d share a little glimpse into what my “toolkit” looks like lately.

While this is ever-evolving and shifts to reflect the seasons throughout the year, these are the mindful objects and practices that help keep me centered, calm(er) and simply feeling good on a routine basis.

1. Wilde House Paper’s Intentional Planner - each year I invest in a new paper planner, and this is my favorite one yet. Not only is it beautifully designed and features monthly and weekly views, but it also includes introductions for each month and spaces to set intentions for the days ahead. I’m beyond excited to begin using it in 2025 and look forward to seeing how my intentions shift throughout the year.

2. Open Meditation App - I love using Open for guided meditations, but also peruse their breathwork library from time to time. Some meditations feature music and some don’t, and you’re also able to browse meditations based on how you’re currently feeling – the anxiety (of course) and focus categories are two of my favorites.

3. 10 Minutes of Stretching - This sounds so simple, but it’s improved my mind-body connection in such impactful ways. Nearly five years ago I underwent spinal fusion surgery, and my back muscles have never been the same. Daily stretching is a must to manage my pain, and I also treat this time as a practice in quieting my mind if only for a moment.

4. Reading One Chapter Each Day - I’ve always believed the adage “Great writers are great readers first,” and have found that by reading a chapter of a book each day words flow to me more freely as I write. Recently I’ve been into food memoirs – more on that below – which have invited cooking into my life as another practice in mindfulness and presence.

In case you missed it: I shared a brief roundup of the beloved hues that are adding richness and warmth to my winter.

As a brand and website designer, I’m constantly researching color trends and have found myself gravitating back toward color after years of schlepping around in various shades of beige (no hate to beige though, I still love neutrals!).

Early mornings reading devouring food memoirs…
I rise early every morning (5 a.m.) to savor a bit of quiet time before delving into the day, and for the last year I’ve held a ritual of reading a chapter of a book every day. This year has been all about reading food memoirs, and I recently enjoyed Kitchen Yarns by Ann Hood.

Bringing home my first real Christmas tree…
In all of my 30+ years I’ve never experienced the holiday magic of bringing home a real Christmas tree, but that all changed this season. My husband is from Colorado and grew up bringing home a fresh tree each year, which is now a tradition we’ll share with our daughter.

Here’s what I’ve enjoyed plugging into recently –

• Song: “For Me Formidable” by Charles Aznavour
I love playing old jazz and big band music while cooking – there’s just something about it that sets the tone for a moody, cozy evening spent in at home. This song has been my favorite to throw on while the pasta water starts to simmer.

• Playlist: Yearning Mountain Early Saturday Morning
The title of this playlist might sound oddly specific, because it is: this was a recent Spotify Daylist that I really enjoyed. Replete with banjo and soft rhythms, this playlist feels like sitting outside of a mountain cabin enjoying a black coffee in the crisp morning air.

• Podcast: Fashion People: What Not To Wear
In a former life I was a journalism major with aspirations of pursuing a career in fashion writing. Although my life’s path didn’t take that turn, I still appreciate the art of dressing well, and this recent episode of Fashion People with Allison Bornstein was a refreshing listen.

Thanks so much for reading – how has your winter been treating you so far, and what are some of the mindfulness practices keeping you centered in this season? Let’s talk about it 🤍

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