May Recap
May has been such a whirlwind! I don’t know if it feels like that for everyone or just people who are in or adjacent to the school year calendar. I am so happy it is summer break, but I am also going to miss my sweet students so much! In addition to the end of the school year chaos, I also caught some virus this month and missed a few days of work - which made everything go by that much faster!
I also turned 24 this month! If you missed my little birthday reflection, you can read that here.
Thank you for being here, and let’s go ahead and jump into all the things I have been loving in May!
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Reading
Funny Story by Emily Henry - Funny Story is one of my top reads of the year. Daphne and Miles are some of my favorite characters. The setting of Northern Michigan is the perfect summer backdrop, and since my family and I took a trip there two summers ago, I could picture and feel so many of the scenes she described. I highly recommend this book, and if you don’t want spice, skip pages 139-143, 211-212, and 291-296.
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez - This romance is a fake dating, big city doctors, letter writing romance. I absolutely loved both of the main characters, and I loved the representation of social anxiety found in Jacob. If you struggle or have struggled with anxiety, I feel like this book will make you feel so seen! For no spice, skip pages 320-322.
Watching
Hart of Dixie on Amazon Prime - If you are looking for entertaining and drama filled summer show, you should check out Hart of Dixie! A new New York City doctor moves to small town Alabama - there’s love triangles, alligators, crazy town events, and so much more.
Listening
Wonders by Friday Candy The Podcast - I have mentioned that I love this podcast before, but this episode was a favorite! They discuss such unique topic and how to reclaim more wonder in your life is such a good one!
Jonathan Haidt on the 1000 Hours Outside Podcast - Jonathan Haidt has wrote two specific books that are currently on the top of my TBR (The Anxious Generation & The Coddling of the American Mind). I loved getting to hear him discuss technology and the way it is shaping both my generation and the generation of students I am teaching!
Jefferson Bethke on De-Influenced - In a similar vein, Jefferson Bethke is a voice speaking out in culture about reclaiming family, marriage, manhood & womanhood as what God says it is and not what society says. You might remember him from the viral “Jesus > Religion” video in the 2010s.
All of Yours (To Give All of Mine) by Jack Blocker - We watched the American Idol season finale this month, and I loved so many of the contestants this season! The top five released singles prior to the final show, and I have been playing this song on repeat!
Doing
Switching up the Routine - In the summertime, when I have a little more flexibility, I love to try out new routines and experiment with new habits. I have learned that routine brings a ton of comfort and stability that often times I need when managing a more rigid schedule and must-do’s. However, when some of that pressure is off, I feel free to inject more spontaneity into my day to day life. With the sunshine and long days that summertime brings, now feels like the perfect time for that!
Sunlight - I have also been trying to prioritize sunlight - particularly getting specific types of sunlight three times a day. First, I try to get outside shortly after I wake up to get early morning sun. This helps reset your circadian rhythm and wakes you up! Second, I try to get out midday to raise my vitamin d levels. I usually aim for 15-30 minutes in the sun, depending on the UV. Last, I try to get back outside as the sun has begun to go down to get some late evening light. Similar to morning light, this helps reset your circadian rhythm and makes you sleepy for the night.
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Thank you so much for reading!
Take care,
Caroline