I decided that I wanted to start a new monthly series with you all. These will share some of the highlights, discoveries, and small things I’ve been experimenting with lately. Sometimes these are new tools or products I’m testing, sometimes they’re small habits that are making a difference. Sometimes it’s just little things that are making my life more joyful.
These are things I’m personally using and finding beneficial right now. However, I hope they spark ideas for you to experiment with in your own life.
This August, my list includes a helpful tracking app, evening light tools, and a new drink that’s become a part of my daily routine. Plus how I’m releasing tension in my body and mind with some really helpful tools during a tough season.
Here’s what I’m loving right now!
1. dminder: Sunlight, Vitamin D, & Circadian Support
Vitamin D has been one of the most studied nutrients in the last decade, yet many of us aren’t getting enough. It’s technically a hormone and plays a role in immune health, bone strength, hormone balance, and even mood. Studies show low vitamin D levels mean higher infection risk, fatigue, and certain chronic illnesses.
The best source of vitamin D for most of us is still the sun. Personally I’ve found that vitamin D supplements do nothing to improve my tested vitamin D levels. Knowing how much sun is adequate (without overdoing it and burning) can be tricky. That’s where I like using the dminder app. You put in your location, skin tone, time of year, and how much skin is exposed. Then it helps estimate how much vitamin D you’re making from sunlight.
I’ve found it to be a helpful tool for dialing in on safe sun exposure. Recent research points towards sunburn as a risk factor for skin cancer, not healthy light exposure. Safe, gradual exposure not only supports vitamin D synthesis but also helps regulate circadian rhythm, serotonin, and melatonin.
These are some of my non-negotiables in my daily routine:
- Morning sunlight to set my circadian rhythms and help me feel awake and sleep better
- Midday sunlight to maximize vitamin D and other benefits without burning
- Evening sunlight to tell my body it’s time to wind down and for free red light
The dminder app makes it easy to track that balance without overthinking it.
2. White Salt Lamp
I’ve talked a lot before about how light is just as impactful as food or supplements when it comes to health. Our bodies are wired to respond to natural light cues, and modern artificial lighting often disrupts that rhythm. Especially the bright blue light from screens, flickering LEDs, and overhead bulbs after sunset.
We’ve always had Himalayan salt lamps in our house, but lately I picked up a beautiful white salt lamp. It gives off a soft, warm glow and is more neutral without the orange tone. It helps me wind down at night while I’m reading and relaxing.
When our eyes see blue light at night (like most lightbulbs and screens) it suppresses our melatonin production. This makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. Warm, low-level light (like firelight or a salt lamp) doesn’t have this effect. I’ve been pairing this lamp with blue-light-blocking glasses in my bedroom in the evening.
It’s a simple habit, but one that’ brought me a lot of joy and helps signal to my brain it’s time to wind down. This is the white salt lamp that I have.
3. Slacka for Clean Energy
Coffee will always have a special place in my heart, but I’m always looking for healthy alternatives. Too much caffeine can cause jitters and anxiety for many (myself included). My friend David created a new functional health drink and it’s become a favorite. It’s like drinking a healthy soda that gives me an afternoon energy boost in a gentler way without the jitters.
Instead of caffeine, Slacka uses paraxanthine, a natural caffeine metabolite. When you drink coffee, your body breaks caffeine down into paraxanthine, which is actually what provides many of the focus and energy benefits. By skipping the middle step, Slacka gives you the clean, steady boost without some of the downsides people experience from coffee. Like racing heart, sleep disruption, or that “wired but tired” feeling.
I love that it also has electrolytes for cellular hydration and 5-HTP to help stabilize mood. It also has natural compounds that support the body’s own GLP production. This translates to reduced cravings and better blood sugar balance
For me, it feels like a smoother, more focused version of caffeine. Plus it doesn’t seem to affect my sleep when I drink it in the afternoon. Paraxanthine is a newer trend, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes the next big thing in functional health.
You can check out Slacka and try it for yourself here.
4. Facial Fascia Release
It seems like more and more people are talking about fascia lately. If you’ve ever had tight shoulders or knots in your back, you’ve experienced tight fascia first hand. Our body’s connective tissue can hold tension, kind of like a bad memory. I’ve recently learned fascia in the face can do the same thing.
There are different strategies available but I’ve found a program that focuses on facial fascia release. It’s been surprisingly transformative and I really feel like Savannah knows her stuff. Using gentle tools and techniques, I’ve been able to release tension I didn’t even realize I was holding in my face.
Here’s what I’ve noticed so far:
- Much less tension between my eyebrows (those “11” lines)
- A subtle lift in my face overall
- Reduced jaw tightness
- Better sinus drainage
Fascia is like a web that surrounds and supports our muscles, nerves, and organs. When it gets tight or “stuck,” it restricts movement and blood flow. Releasing it improves circulation, lymphatic flow, and even nerve communication. In the face, that translates into both relaxation and visible changes.
Best of all, it feels so good. Doing this at night with my salt lamp on has become one of my favorite calming rituals. You can check out the program I’ve been using and fascia tools here.
5. Rapid Emotional Rewiring: A Mind Reset
Ever wish you could just hit the rewind button on life? While time travel still isn’t possible, Rapid Emotional Rewiring may be the next best thing.
On a deeper and more personal note, the past few months have been some of the hardest of my life. One tool that’s really supported me during this season is something called Rapid Emotional Rewiring.
Unlike traditional therapy, this process is more of a neurological reset. It uses guided techniques to help shift the brain out of old, looping patterns that keep us stuck. Many people describe it as feeling like the weight of months of talk therapy condensed into a single session. Personally I didn’t notice much improvement with traditional talk therapy.
What I’ve appreciated most is that it’s simple and doesn’t require a lot of mental energy. During my toughest days, I didn’t have bandwidth for journaling or lengthy practices, but I could do this. Even one session left me feeling lighter and less reactive.
Right now, there are a limited number of free 30-minute sessions available (along with a simple five-day at-home program). You can check the program out for yourself here.
Final Thoughts on August Favorites
This month’s favorites may seem like an eclectic mix but I’ve noticed a common thread. Those simple, consistent shifts can ripple into big changes over time. Each of these additions to my routine has helped me feel more supported and brought more joy into my daily rhythms. I’m discovering more and more that it’s not the big, flashy changes that make the most difference but the simple ones.
What are some of your favorite things right now? What tools or rituals are making life feel more joyful for you? Leave a comment and let me know!
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