Happy Friday {{first name | my friend}},

Today is “World Sleep Day!” Which of THESE 10 tips for better sleep are you going to implement this week?  

ECL TRIVIA: What is a major natural dietary source of iodine, a mineral needed for thyroid hormones? (Answer below)

🕷️ SAVE THE SPIDERS: Did you know ~90% of insects and arachnids like spiders don’t have conservation status in the U.S.? Their presence is “fundamental” to prevent ecosystem destabilization, yet “almost nothing is known about their conservation needs.” The solution? “Diverse coalitions coming together” in unity, says THIS professor of environmental conservation.

🍭 IMPACT OF SWEETS: What if cutting out “sweet treats” truly helped human health, and planet health? Finnish researchers analyzed nearly 30k households and found that “discretionary foods” (often low in nutrition but heavily purchased, like candy and soda) comprised ~20% of spending in Finland, but accounted for more than 20% of the environmental impacts associated with food purchases. Read the suggested SOLUTIONS HERE.

♻️ SUSTAINABLE LAPTOPS: Though tech is not going away anytime soon, tech giant HP is partnering with Mint Innovation to RECYCLE old circuit boards, discarded printers and PCs to recover copper and other critical components needed for new devices. What do you think about this “closed-loop recycled-metal supply chain” of the future?

🧠 POLLUTION LINKS: Europe’s environment agency says that regular exposure to air, noise and chemical pollution is linked to higher risks of depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. Reducing pollution could improve wellbeing under the EU’s Zero Pollution plan. See a few common EXAMPLES and levels of evidence HERE. 

🧟‍♀️ YOUR BRAIN ON TIKTOK: New data from 720 adults reveals that the underlying “fear of missing out” drives a person to frequently open the TikTok app to relieve their anxiety, which fragments their natural attention span, leading to real-world missed appointments and “everyday cognitive failure.” Increase your awareness about excessive use of popular social apps like TikTok, and listen to the audio version of this article HERE. 

👟 TRENDY WALKING: Could simply changing how you walk improve your health? After a week of “posture walking,” this personal trainer says it helped her “feel taller” with easier breathing, and she says it can also decompress your stomach and intestines, strengthen your core, and boost your energy. Learn more about POSTURE WALKING here.

Most bedding is loaded with nasty stuff you honestly don’t want to be sleeping in.

When it comes to finding materials that are a huge step up from the typical big-box options, Quince is one of the least expensive places to start. If you’re trying to make your home less “chemically,” BROWSE these textile options.

Not everything there is held to the highest organic standard, so use common sense and choose intentionally…but these kinds of fibers are night-and-day different from petroleum-based synthetics. Look around for the items that suit your goals, because the best picks come in noticeably lower than what you’ll find elsewhere for comparable quality.

(And other than your underwear) If you only upgrade one category of fabric in your life, make it bedding. We spend roughly a third of our lives in bed, pores open, ideally in recovery mode, not reabsorbing hidden residues from the very place we’re supposed to be restoring. Start by upgrading your sheets, pillowcases, and duvet basics – then expand from there.

For the love of all that’s natural…please stop sleeping plastic (polyester).

If you want to see a place Riana and I got a lot of items for our home and bedroom, CHECK OUT the Quince home essentials here.

Seaweed (especially kelp). Because iodine is concentrated in ocean ecosystems, sea vegetables can be particularly rich sources.