on being fascinated, our new Sunday spot, and a clean deodorant that actually works

The Sunday EDIT | No. 29

Anyone else almost forget it’s Daylight Savings today?

I grew up in Indiana where we never changed times. And I didn’t realize how good we had it until I moved to NYC after college. Compound this with a small child and yeah… today shouldn’t be that bad since we’ve ditched naps. But waking up on time for school tomorrow will be the real adjustment. I always find day two to be harder, you?

It typically takes 2-3 days for us to fully acclimate. But here’s a tip —one of the best ways for kids (and us) to adjust to the new daylight hours is getting outside into the daylight. We’ll be heading to the park this morning to play and regulate our circadian rhythms. And then again in the evening for a scooter ride around the block as the sun sets. Bonus: Try not to wear sunglasses for at least 10 minutes to get the full effects.

A New Deodorant

It’s really hard to find a clean deodorant that actually works. I’ve known about Nécessaire for a while, but only recently started integrating their products into my beauty routine. And I’m loving their new deodorant with mandelic acid. I have the unscented, but may try the Eucalyptus next.

Going to the Beach

We’ve lived in Florida for 6+ years and I can count on one hand the number of times we’ve gone to the beach — like actually sitting in the sand for a few hours. Two of those have been this past month when I’ve taken Leena as a Sunday activity when Ravi’s been out of town for work. You can kill many hours shell collecting with a toddler while also giving yourself some downtime. So I think this will be a new little ritual for us. Every few Sundays, heading to the beach with an early dinner, some non-alcoholic adaptogenic mocktails, and enjoying the fact we live 5 miles from the ocean.

Be Fascinated

This idea came up while we were at the beach — admiring the way Leena is truly fascinated by everything she encounters. And me seeing the world through her eyes, appreciating the little things I tend to overlook. (Often because I’m on my phone or preoccupied with something “more important.”)

But turns out fascination is actually a wonderful way to regulate our nervous system and stress response. When we're fascinated by something, our brains release dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in pleasure, motivation, and focus. Dopamine also helps to reduce stress and promote feelings of well-being.

So, the next time you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed, try to find something that fascinates you. It could be a new hobby, a nature walk noticing the sun filter through the leaves, watching your child play, or simply how the milk swirls around in your morning coffee.

Allow yourself to get lost in the moment and let your curiosity lead the way. You might be surprised at how much it helps to calm your mind and restore your sense of wonder.

Art: Sophia Joan Short (as discovered from Caro Chambers)