I just got back from Finland, where it was -10°F and we spent entire days outside. We rode horses. Walked with reindeer. Pet huskies. We weren’t waiting out winter — we were living in it.
The Finns have a word for that: “sisu.” In many ways, it’s the polar opposite of hygge’s hibernation vibes. Sisu’s often translated as grit, but that feels a little LinkedIn. It’s more like everyday toughness — the small, steady choices that help you handle what’s hard. Exactly the energy required for these last gray weeks before spring.
Here’s how to borrow a little “Sisu” energy until the snow melts:
Right now: Watch a Samoyed puppy named Lumi (Finnish for “snow”) joyfully living his best life. Immediate serotonin.
Tomorrow morning: A recent study found just 20 minutes of this practice in the am can boost your energy when you wake up.
And at night: If the “big light” makes you irrationally angry, you're not alone. Swap it for a “sunset lamp.”
Throw it in your cart: Stock up on seven magnesium-rich foods for a natural mood boost.
Add to your calendar: Novelty is nice, but becoming a regular somewhere can fill your social cup. Bonus points if it’s a coffee shop.
— Anna “Let it Snow” Davies, writer
In “wait, what???” news… your mouthwash could be giving you cavities.
Turns out, this popular nutrition trend may only succeed in making you hangry.
If your relationship feels like work lately, the “fifth shift” theory may explain why.
Your face-wash routine may be multi-step and full of fancy ingredients, but derms say some simple mistakes could undermine all that effort.
👀 We see you taking a Phone Break™ from your computer to rest your eyes — but here’s what could actually help you reduce eye strain.
One woman went on a $1,700 per night sleep retreat… and brought back a few takeaways you can use for free tonight.
A: "Dopamine isn’t a toxin you can flush out — it’s a normal, healthy brain chemical that helps control motivation, focus, movement, and learning. You need it to function.
What people call a ‘dopamine detox’ is really just taking a break from highly stimulating activities like social media, constant notifications, junk food, or binge streaming. Our brains are wired to seek rewards, and when we’re constantly exposed to fast, high-reward stimulation, everyday tasks can start to feel boring. Reducing that stimulation for a period of time may help improve focus, impulse control, and mood — not because you’ve ‘reset’ dopamine, but because you’ve given your brain a chance to rebalance attention and habits.”
PS: Curious about what resetting your reward system might look like for you? Here’s what it could look like.
Spend approximately 11 seconds on social media and someone will tell you you’re “dysregulated.” Heart racing? Dysregulated. Can’t relax? Dysregulated. Overwhelmed by your calendar and whatever today’s headline happens to be? Definitely dysregulated.
Quick science check: “Nervous system dysregulation” isn’t a formal medical diagnosis. Online, it usually serves as shorthand for chronic stress or getting stuck in fight-or-flight mode.
Here’s what’s actually happening. Your nervous system acts as your body’s communication network, sending signals between your brain and body to control heart rate, breathing, digestion, and sleep. When your brain perceives a threat, your sympathetic nervous system kicks in: heart rate climbs, muscles tense, cortisol spikes.
And “threat” doesn’t just mean danger. It can mean nonstop notifications, financial stress, relationship tension, or simply never feeling fully off the clock. Over time, that can look like trouble sleeping, feeling wired but exhausted, snapping at small things, brain fog, digestive issues, or struggling to relax even when nothing urgent is happening.
Think of your nervous system like a volume knob. Stress turns it up. Most of the time, it turns back down on its own. But when it doesn’t, you can help dial it back.
If This Resonates:
Start with basics. Sleep stabilizes stress hormones. Regular meals regulate blood sugar and mood. Moderate exercise helps your body shift out of stress mode.
Activate your “rest” response. Try vagus nerve stimulation or somatic shaking. In general, anything that gets you into your body — including these hobbies — can offer a low-lift reset.
Speak with a therapist. If symptoms feel persistent or overwhelming, consider professional support. Somatic or trauma-informed therapies can help you work with your nervous system on a deeper level.
Some corners of the internet feel chaotic. Others feel genuinely useful. Right now, one of the more practical ones? Utilizing a bag of Trader Joe’s dumplings to make low-effort, endlessly customizable meals. Here, three upgrades worth bookmarking:
The viral dumpling bake. Cozy, filling, and assembled with barely any chopping, it’s the kind of meal that feels like cooking without requiring a full production.
A two-ingredient gyoza soup. Dumplings + broth. Add some condiments, and that’s it. The weeknight answer for when energy is low but takeout feels too fussy.
A five-ingredient wonton situation. Bite-size dumplings take center stage, dressed up just enough to qualify as dinner. Minimal effort. Maximum payoff.
PS: Don’t skip texture. A handful of scallions, sesame seeds, or chili crisp on top turns “freezer aisle” into feed worthy.
What’s going on: A closely watched trial in LA is asking whether social media companies can be held accountable for tech addiction and mental health harm in children and teens. Families allege that platforms like Instagram and YouTube were designed to keep young users hooked. TikTok and Snapchat settled before trial, but Meta and YouTube are fighting the claims. Last week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified that the company has invested in safety tools, and he disputed claims that its platforms are intentionally designed to hook young people.
The legal twist: Social media companies have long been shielded by Section 230, a federal law that protects platforms from liability for user content. But this case doesn’t hinge on posts. Plaintiffs are targeting the product itself — arguing that algorithmic feeds, infinite scroll, and engagement-driven design allegedly function more like addictive tools. Some legal observers have compared the approach to past tobacco cases.
What it means: If that argument holds, it could narrow the legal protections tech companies have relied on for decades, and shift how responsibility for youth mental health is assigned in the age of the algorithm.
Toothbrushes are like salaried jobs in this economy: Just showing up isn’t enough. The ones worth your counter space multitask — polishing, protecting, and keeping your dentist slightly less disappointed. Here, the standouts.
Here’s the full list of the best toothbrushes, according to experts.
You’re answering emails. Booking the dentist. Hitting 10K steps. Technically? Thriving. But if your body feels wired and tired, that might be a sign your body needs some support. And the fix doesn't require 5 am ice baths or pantry purges.
Protect Yourself From Chronic Inflammation is an eight-lesson, self-directed course taught by functional nutrition expert Jacqui Justice that's built for real life. In this pay-what-you-wish program you’ll get stress-calming strategies you can use whenever you need them, anti-inflammatory recipes that don’t require a specialty grocery haul, and smart guidance on how to read your body’s everyday cues instead of ignoring them.
Have a question, comment, or just want to be friends? Reach out to us at well@theskimm.com
Written by Anna Davies. Edited by Jordan Galloway and Kylie McConville.
Fact-checked by Jordan Mamone and Sara Tardiff.
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