On the power of rest, and a 2023 round-up
On the power of rest, and a 2023 round-up
My last newsletter of the year: Some extra insights from psychologists on how to rest this festive season; Top Shelf's 2023 archive; and some summer Substack recommendations.
On Sunday, I was in the print edition of the Sydney Morning Herald with a piece on rest. I spoke with three psychologists about how to spend a day, a week, or a month off; how to plan your time so you feel properly rested at the end of it; and how to ensure the days don’t whizz by and get eaten up by chores, that they instead feel long and stretchy.
You can read it right here if it’s a story you might find helpful over a busy, draining festive season, at the end of a long/fast year.
Psychologists Jemma Rollo, Anastasia Hronis, and Chris Cheers each offered so much helpful advice, like how to use your values to determine how best to spend time off, building a to-do list of fun things and picking from it each day, and choosing between a low-effort break, pleasurable break, or meaningful break. But a bunch of it didn’t make the cut (darn word counts).
So here’s a bit extra, on obligation and sadness at this time of year, and challenging traditions in a cost-of-living crisis:
Rollo on soaking it all up, or setting boundaries and resisting expectations:
“The end of year can be polarising in terms of people's experiences and emotions. For some, it is their favourite time of year where they can have time off and be with their friends and family. For others, it can feel very lonely or overwhelming. There is also often financial pressure with many end of year events and gift-buying.
“If you love this time of year, that is great, and I would encourage those people to really enjoy being in the moment with it as the time can pass quickly. But for those who struggle, I would advise them to speak about their experiences with their friends or family, identify their boundaries (whether that is financial, relational or time) and try to advocate for their own needs rather than feeling that they need to comply with other people's demands or expectations.”
- Jemma Rollo
And Cheers on showing yourself some empathy, being honest, and reshaping traditions that no longer serve you:
“The holiday season can be a triggering time for financial pressure, especially with the current rises in cost-of-living. Notice if your mind focuses on self-criticism, and try instead to show yourself the same compassion you would show a loved one who is in this same situation. What would you say to a loved one if they can’t afford to do something? Try to be honest with your family if your circumstances are different this year. Although it’s uncomfortable, this allows the people who care about you to know what you need.
“Remember that just because something is tradition, doesn’t mean it’s what’s best for you. And although it’s often hard, being honest with loved ones creates the space for them to be honest too. Because trust me, after the last few years, you are likely not the only one who needs this holiday season to be a little different.”
- Chris Cheers
Three things to read this week:
Beauty Professionals Are Abandoning Their Beauty Products. Why?,
, The Unpublishable‘It’s totally unhinged’: is the book world turning against Goodreads?, The Guardian
My year in writing
This year, I started this weekly newsletter, and wrote for The Guardian and SMH. Here’s a list of all my published pieces in 2023 (I’ve already got a few filed/in the pipeline for early 2024), in case you’d like to catch up over the break, or want some summer reading or beauty inspo:
External
How to make the most of your time off, according to psychologists, Sydney Morning Herald
‘They’re tougher on themselves’: the trials and triumphs of adult learner drivers, The Guardian
Top Shelf
Starting with the top three most-read editions of the year, followed by a full back catalogue:
Most popular newsletters
Book Shelf
Beauty Shelf
Top Shelf
Top Shelf #1 (including The Anniversary by Stephanie Bishop)
Top Shelf #2 (including the Seven Up doco series)
Top Shelf #3 (including Green Dot by Madeleine Gray)
Top Shelf #4 (including the doco Fire of Love)
Misc
Substacks to read this summer
Most of the Substack writers I follow are taking a well-deserved break over the end of the year. But if you’re looking to dig into some archives over the break, here is a (non-exhaustive) list of my faves.
- ’ Books + Bits (does what it says on the tin)
- ’s The Hyphen, on creativity, rest, burn-out, and living well (her 2023 archive is here)
- ’ Living Differently, on travelling around the country in a van! (Josie is a good friend and I’m so impressed by her bravery, adventure, and ability to put it all into words)
- ’s Practising Simplicity, on rest and living slowly/in the moment
- ’s Maybe Baby, for clever and considered untanglings of modern life and culture (Haley is currently on maternity leave, but posted an enormous archival round-up before she went)
- ’s News & Reviews (News & Reviews Magazine is my fave)
- ’s Creative Confidence Clinic, on writing
- ’s Smooth Brain, for recommendations spanning beauty, fashion, books, lifestyle, and culture
- ’s The Unpublishable, for the best beauty writing you’ll read
- ’s The Middle, for wide-ranging musings and recommendations
I’m signing off for 2023 and I’ll be back some time in January. Thank you for subscribing to, commenting on, and supporting this little project of mine this year. It means a lot.
Wishing you a joyful and restful end to this year, and start to your new year.
Until next time (in 2024!),
Britt
PS. The winner of last week’s book giveaway has been contacted. I can’t wait to hear what you think of Glossy by Marisa Meltzer, Mel!