Good witches and sleep wishes, but if you say “Pumpkin Spice Season” three times, you will make me disappear.

 

October 10th is World Mental Health Day, so here’s a shout-out to another badass lady making some magic in the name of wellbeing.  Walking With Bubbles is a new musical based on the life of Jessica Hendy, who wrote and starred in its Off-Broadway run, and who oh-by-the-way was nominated for a Drama Desk award and WON the Off-Broadway Alliance award for outstanding solo performance; very well-deserved.  The show examines the impact of mental illness on a family and how far a mother will go to protect her son and ultimately, herself. Full disclosure, I believed so much in this project’s mission around mental health that I became an Associate Producer in support of my longtime friend.  “What If” is the first single from the cast album dropping next month.  Listen here or here.  Maybe grab tissues first.  

 

I’ve been on lots of airplanes lately so it felt timely to share some tips for healthier travel. (Hear more on last week's pod.) A concept known as grounding or "earthing” is gaining some recent traction, but it’s actually a practice as old as the hills.  And literally: it's walking on hills.  Connecting your bare feet to the ground can yield positive health impacts such as pain reduction and calm via electron exchange with the earth, which is inhibited while wearing shoes.  Yes, the science is largely anecdotal,  but it's hard to argue against spending time in nature after a long flight, to absorb some minerals and nutrients from the ground.  Just be mindful in public spaces that you're not absorbing the minerals and nutrients that have previously been absorbed by someone's dog.  

 

A word (or four) on melatonin: I told you so.  I’ve been up on my soapbox about this for ages and now there’s even more reason for you to listen when I say please please please stop buying into this over-the-counter black magic. Best case: on its own, it only functions as a supplement to reset your circadian clock after changing time zones or prolonged sleep deprivation.  It does NOT promote quality sleep.  And constant or prolonged use inhibits your body’s ability to produce it naturally.  In worse news: beyond the hype, it’s so unregulated that there’s a good chance whatever brand you are buying is wildly inaccurate in its dosage.  So… 

 

I’m here to grant your sleep wishes without leaving melatonin under your pillow (that’s the Sleep Fairy’s job, anyway). My top supplements for melatonin-free rest: 200mg of Zen, Magnesium as Glycinate OR Citrate (also helps travel tummy…sometimes too well, ya dig?). My own practice is to rotate these for a few days and then skip a few days. But I'm merely a good witch and not your doctor so please check with them first. 

 

 

 

Listen: All Too Well Podcast 

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