H2O Ritual

Black Olive Tapenade

1/2 cup pitted black olives, such as Niçoise or oil-cured olives
1 tablespoon drained capers
2 drained oil-packed anchovy fillets
3 medium cloves garlic
5 basil leaves (optional)
1 tablespoon loosely packed fresh oregano, marjoram, or thyme
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon fresh juice from 1 lemon
Extra-virgin olive oil, as needed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, if needed

Shrimp Appetizer

2 pounds (900g) large or jumbo shrimp, shells removed (except for tail portion) and reserved, deveined if desired (see note)
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (28g) kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 quarts (1.9L) water
2 ribs celery, diced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 fennel bulb, diced (optional)
3 medium cloves garlic, smashed
1 (2-inch) k**b fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
2 sprigs fresh tarragon (optional)
2 sprigs flat-leaf parsley
Fresh juice of 1 lemon

For the Cocktail Sauce:
1/2 cup (120ml) ketchup
2 tablespoons (30g) store-bought or homemade preserved horseradish, plus more to taste
1 tablespoon (15ml) fresh juice from 1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander seed (optional)
1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic (optional)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

ADS BY ADRECOVER

Directions

When I find myself with nothing to do (or I feel like I should be doing something but I don’t actually have the energy), I tend to feel guilty or like I’m falling behind. It’s easy to beat myself up for “wasting time”.

The truth is that no one can be productive all the time, nor should I expect myself to be. The best thing I can do is be kind to myself in those moments when I'm not being productive.

HOW TO UNPLUG FROM THE WORLD WHEN YOU NEED A BREAK

Have you been doom scrolling at night, feeling overwhelmed by the news and everything that’s going on in the world? Even if it’s not that deep for you, it’s easy to get caught in a cycle of endless scrolling due to boredom or procrastination.

As humans, we love drama. Sometimes we seek out drama to feel better about ourselves, and other times it’s to feel intense emotions (good or bad).

You probably know what your triggers are. To have a healthier relationship with social media, it’s important to be aware of your triggers and stop yourself before you seek them out.

For example, I gravitate towards the comment section of videos, especially when I know they’re going to be triggering. Instead of automatically going to the comment section, I’m learning to watch the video without reading the comments.

Also, stop visiting the profiles of people who you know are going to trigger you. That includes your ex and public figures you disagree with.

Here are some ideas help you unplug:

Delete social media apps on the weekend (Venetia La Manna does this with her challenge)

Go offline one day a week

Have someone else change your social media passwords until Friday (James Clear recommends this in his book Atomic Habits)

Move social media apps to the last page on your phone screen

Log out of all social media on your computer

Put your phone in another room while you’re watching TV

Turn off notifications for social media apps (I personally do this)

Interesting conference

2021 Summer Research Institute - Mind & Life Institute The SRI 2021 will explore how the union of contemplative wisdom and science can lead to greater awareness of the interconnectedness of all life, and the relationship between earth care and human health and cooperation.

For the busy moms!

5 Self-Care Ideas for Busy Moms - Christina Tiplea Feeling burnt out and exhausted by caring for your family? Here are 5 self-care ideas for busy moms to help you make yourself a priority again.

Nature's healing

What Are The Benefits Of Drinking Water? | BrainMD Staying hydrated is a key component to your overall brain & body health. Read more about the important benefits of drinking water...

Have you heard the saying that your life is only as organized as your fridge? OK, even if it’s not a real saying, I’m saying it because it’s true. If you can’t even see what’s in the fridge (we all have that one jar shoved to the back) or it’s so full that you don’t have room for anything new, you’re making your life (and your healthy diet) a lot harder. Reorganize your foods by first cleaning out anything expired, and then store the oldest foods in the front and newest in the back (grocery-store style) so you remember to eat those first. This will highlight what foods you have, but most importantly will reduce food waste. Finally, label foods and invest in the right containers (preferably sustainable glass containers that are clear so you can see what’s inside) of all sizes to store prepped veggies, easy-to-grab snacks, and leftover meals.

Emotional acceptance is something I am actively working on, and it’s hard. Truthfully, I still try to avoid allowing myself to feel negative emotions, but accepting and feeling the pain helps get us to a place of what my therapist calls radical acceptance. If your holiday season looks different this year, or if this time of year simply brings negative memories, studies show that allowing yourself to feel whatever comes up for you can make the emotions easier to bear over time. When I do lean into thoughts that make me sad, I don’t stay there for long. I give myself 10 minutes at the max and call a friend or someone I trust afterward to hear about their day.

Throughout this period my productivity came in waves—some days all I could find the energy to do was shower and eat handfuls of cereal. I felt so frustrated with myself because I’d always said “if only I had more time…” and now here I was, with an excess of time, and squandering it. And so I’d plan my days out—‘Learning Tuesdays’, ‘Writing Wednesdays’—in hopes of forcing productivity, and end up feeling totally overwhelmed. Now, I try to listen to my body’s natural rhythms; to be guided by my energy’s ebb and flow, rather than try to fight it. These past few months have shown me that our desire to create needs to be coupled with moments of rest. We won’t always be in a pandemic, but the rules don’t change—real productivity comes with peace, and peace comes from mental, physical, and emotional rest. So rest.

Sushi Tacos: Yes or No?

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 cup dry white wine

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

1 1/2 pounds medium peeled and deveined shrimp, tails removed

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

6 cups zucchini noodles, from 2 medium zucchinis (about 1 pound)

1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Shrimp Scampi Zoodles Get Shrimp Scampi Zoodles Recipe from Food Network

A thought on Turmeric...

12 Scientific Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin | Everyday Health From treating diabetes and depression to preventing heart disease and cancer, there’s no shortage of health claims about curcumin, turmeric's active ingredient. But what does the research say? We consult the science and health experts in this article.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-blueberries

10 Proven Health Benefits of Blueberries Blueberries are highly nutritious and among the world's most powerful sources of antioxidants. Here are 10 evidence-based health benefits of blueberries.

https://blog.fitbit.com/why-drink-water/

Why Drink Water? The Health Benefits of H2O - Fitbit Blog Water may seem boring and basic, but there’s actually a lot of magic in a glass of H2O. Learn how to get the most from every sip.