Before pregnancy, eating chocolate caused my throat to accumulate with phlegm. Now, 1 year into breastfeeding and for whatever hormonal reason, I can eat chocolate with abandon, no phlegm, and I plan to continue doing so for as long as I can.
Loved this, as a fellow purveyor of the daily sweet treat. Reminds me of when I had a random session with a nutritionist years ago that my workplace offered. I was expecting her to reprimand my nightly chocolate sessions, but weighed up against the rest of my diet she said it was pretty well balanced and she didn't see an issue. Such a nice reframing and felt similar to 'seems like it's working for you'.
It’s my day off. I spent an hour outside in the sun reading, then took a nap, then ate a “birthday cake” ice cream bar.
I also got a Pap smear and a referral for a “diagnostic mammogram” because I’ve had pain in my left breast that seems to be getting worse. I’m trying not to be anxious about it, but “anxious about everything” is my natural state.
So yeah, I’m eating the damn ice cream and working on my tan.
Thank you Haley, this was fun to read and (as usual) very timely 🩵
just talked to my mom about this! she said that some balls are rubber and some balls are glass- the rubber balls will bounce back if dropped. the glass ones will shatter. so let the rubber balls go (sugar, minor inconveniences, etc) and hold onto your glass balls (family, relationships, health). it’s like duh but incredibly useful when you’re spiraling about letting some things slip!
Just wanted to pop over to say every time I read 15 things and see a dessert listed or recipe for something oozing with chocolate, I find you highly relatable
Yes! Thank you for this reminder that we are not perfect, that we can't (and shouldn't) control everything, and that there are definitely more important things than how much sugar we consume – and that high sugar consumption, or other "unhealthy" habits, can even support the things that truly matter.
I'm also one of those people who strives to have everything under control and to always make the best decisions. I'm afraid of sabotaging myself through “bad” choices... and along with that comes the belief that it's my own fault when I'm not feeling so well. I especially have these thoughts when it comes to health and food. I constantly think I eat too much sugar and unhealthy snacks, drink too much coffee and alcohol, eat too late in the evening, etc. I feel guilty, solemnly promise myself to change, manage to do so for a few days, and then fall back into my old habits. It consumes so much mental energy..
Of course, from a medical perspective, the way I eat isn't ideal. On the other hand, I keep encountering people who clearly eat even more "unhealthily" – I believe there's a huge spectrum of how people nourish themselves, and I'm probably somewhere in the middle when it comes to healthiness. Same goes for exercise, by the way...
We live in a time where optimal health is seen as the highest good, and the pursuit of it has become a sort of substitute religion. But the older I get, the more I realize that I won’t be able to prevent a certain physical decline anyway. One day I will die, no matter what. And I have to be careful not to forget to actually live in the process of chasing optimal health and balance.
Yes 100%—the part about blaming yourself for every bad feeling is such a problem! Like you said on some level it's good to take responsibility for yourself, but it's also irrational to assume everything is within your control.
This might be such a non sequitur but I was with my mom this weekend who has the exact same scoliosis curve as I do, and pain in the exact same area as me, and she said that no matter what she does—constant PT routines and floor regimens and targeted exercises (she's very disciplined)—the pain remains. She kept telling me it wasn't my fault and I honestly felt like crying! It's unbelievable how I blame every ache and pain on "bad behavior." My parents were like: "Stop! We see you carrying that baby around all day, getting off the floor over and over and going up and down stairs carrying a million things. You're strong!" And hearing that made me feel so tender. I tell myself I'm weak every day!
It's interesting to consider the psychological run-off of a culture that insists our wellness is always entirely within out power.
Exactly! Not every bad feeling, physical sensation, or illness is within our control.
And even if there are things one could do personally that might alleviate certain symptoms, we still have to ask ourselves whether health should always be prioritized above everything else.
I’ve had digestive issues and other chronic complaints on and off throughout my entire life. Last year, a doctor recommended that I try cutting out gluten for a while. I gave it a shot, was successful for a few weeks, but felt disheartened because it made me feel socially cut off in a way – food is simply such an important part of being together with others.
It was especially hard around Christmas and during other celebrations, and in the end, those were when I "failed".
In the few weeks I “succeeded” I didn’t notice a big difference in my symptoms. It’s possible that I’d notice more improvement if I stayed off gluten longer (people on the internet say it can take up to half a year for all the gluten to leave your system). But do I really want to give up so much in order to maybe become a bit healthier? I’m talking about homemade cake at my grandma’s, sharing pizza with friends, a beer at a concert, skipping the cool new hand-pulled noodle place with my best friend – one of our favorite shared rituals is trying out new restaurants.
I’m increasingly frustrated by health advice that is based on restriction, without considering the emotional and social consequences.
I don’t have a sweet tooth per se, but I love an evening drink! It’s not even a coping mechanism for me (I switched to Ghia for a long time and still drink it often when it’s available and it hits just the same). Point being, theres something about the ritual of a drink to demarcate the day that I really enjoy. I’m not talking about binge drinking which does not appeal to me at all…but especially in summertime with friends when people are out and about, I think it’s peak bliss to be deep in an interesting conversation outdoors with a glass of wine or cocktail so it’s an treat I plan to continue to indulge (also been interesting how here in London it’s part or the fabric of the culture versus in Toronto where people seem more health conscious when it comes to alcohol). I know it’s not the healthiest choice but I feel like I eat pretty clean and it’s a delight I don’t want to deny myself haha
I'm the same way! I've switched to soda + bitters recently to be a bit healthier/hydrate myself and it hits. Sometimes I'll muddle some herbs in there or add a splash of amaro
Oooh that’s a good tip, I’ve been meaning to try that! Also, I used to be a full bodied red drinker and I’ve found switching to something lighter like a Pinot noir or sticking to white had been life changing and I feel totally fine after two glasses the next day whereas heavy reds really dehydrated me
"But I’ve found it really calming, a form of self-respect, to recognize the agency I have in these areas of my life, however imperfect."
This was so comforting! I think I have a similar moral intensity coupled with a desire to actually live my life lol, and the dichotomy of "don't overthink it" vs. "change it if it's making you feel bad" doesn't work for me in certain areas. I'm in a crazy season at the moment - starting work as a therapist at the same time as deciding to seriously pursue acting (involves a 20hr/week training) and I've had similar thoughts on:
1. Frequently taking ritalin (a really low dose, prescribed) to work when I'm mentally frazzled. Sometimes I feel so much guilt around it and the possible negative health effects that I suspect if anything it's the guilt that will make me sick, oops.
2. Not cleaning as much as I should, and constantly needing to remind myself that it's a ball I'm dropping in order to keep other balls in the air - this is where your point on recognizing agency is so important; I'm the one who made this decision and I can decide at any point to shift my priorities.
3. Hooking up with a friend recently and immediately putting a stop to it, knowing I was being a bit of a coward. But it felt good ("a form of self-respect") to accept where I was at emotionally rather than forcing myself to somehow transcend it.
Yes!! So well put that the dichotomy of "just do it/don't think about it" vs. "change it if it's making you feel bad" isn't always appropriate. Sometimes you can think about it and not change it, lol! There's a little power in that
I found this really interesting because I’m sort of on the opposite end of the sugar spectrum right now (though not entirely by choice). I’ve always had a sweet tooth, but after my second kid, I was diagnosed with some autoimmune issues and started experimenting with going gluten/dairy/sugar free (kind of...more like low sugar). It’s helped me feel a lot better physically, but I’ve also noticed it’s become a bit of a coping mechanism, a way to feel some control when things feel otherwise frustratingly unpredictable. And I'm not quite sure how pronounced the effect of all of these dietary changes truly are. Just thought I’d share a different angle, since I really resonated with the emotional layer you described.
This was so fun!! As a fellow sweet tooth-haver, I love reading writing on sweets/sugar/treats; your paragraph describing what you’ve been eating the past year gave me a little shiver of appreciation. The wafers stored in the freezer for better texture — so visceral! I also occasionally ponder whether my love of sugar is an addiction, but I know the science around that is murky at best (thanks to those who linked to some smart writing about that in the comments to remind me!). And ultimately, perhaps in line with your thesis here, I don’t really care if it is!! I derive such joy from sweets and I’ve found they genuinely have such an overall positive effect on my life. Having a slice of freshly baked lemon loaf with tea while I journal; munching on mini eggs (cadbury >>>>> hershey’s) while watching my latest tv show; baking exactly the kind of cookie I’ve been craving late at night and eating a few hot from the oven long after my partner has gone to bed (which for some reason is the most indulgently perfect time and circumstance in which to eat desserts???) — sugar, in exactly the right format, elevates these instances to a life-affirming level for me (lmao the drama). I think we could all benefit from making the experience of eating sugar less emotionally and morally and even intellectually fraught — I find it interesting how, even in circles where people are conscious of the harm of diet culture etc, it’s almost as if everyone still agrees that sugar is different and it’s totally logical and normal to talk about it as if it’s universally bad and factually unhealthy. Anyway here’s to more eating ice cream straight from the tub and having pastries for breakfast literally every single day and keeping sour ju jubes (the superior sour candy) always in stock in the pantry!
I’ve had a lot of conversations with friends about how many people demonize their coping mechanisms and label them all unhealthy, when the reality is… any coping mechanism is a tool you have developed to deal with something you can’t always deal with. Sure, they’re not always the best, but they’re a tool! I try to remind myself to be grateful to mine for what they have gotten me through, rather than fall into guilt or shame about what they could be instead.
Also re: the bit on distraction, I used to worry that part of why I read so much was bc I wash using it as a crutch to escape the world and real emotions/real problems. Of course it’s possible to withdraw too far, but I’ve also recognized the times when taking a break to read (or watch, or scroll, same diff) absolutely does exactly what you said - it serves the purpose of helping to calm me and regulate my emotions, so I can come back to whatever X thing, without the added difficulty of a heightened emotional state.
Last thing, I’m seeing most of the comments relate to the sweets thing specifically - again, anything can be taken to an extreme. And I don’t mean to feed into the self-care-is-bubble-baths narrative. But little treats - anticipating them, enjoying them, sharing them - can be small moments of joy that we need! And they can be dessert, or clearing your evening and staying in doing nothing, they can be anything at all that feels just a touch indulgent. Life isn’t just toil or duty or self-improvement! As a former catholic I’ve fought guilt/shame all my life (with decent success!), and I think Americans in general need to fight harder against the puritan/Protestant ethic of our culture. Pleasure is not a sin! It is a necessity!!! Most things in life have mixed consequences - choose the ones you love!!! Live with gusto and brighten the world in whatever ways you can!!
I recommend reading the work of Jessie Inchauspé the 'glucose goddess'. There are ways to still eat treats and avoid the rollercoaster of blood sugar spikes. We get away with everything (most of us) when we're young - I cringe with the memory of buying an ice-cream on the way to work in the morning when I was about 19. I don't recognise that person anymore - but eventually we are the product of our choices. I became interested in diet and nutrition when I wanted to improve my chances of conception and I haven't been able to go back and unknow what I learned.
"just because something could technically be done better didn’t necessarily mean it had to be—and that in fact, doing it poorly might be allowing something else to be done better." It's funny because this part reminded me of a concept I came across in Alec Leach's substack earlier this year: the idea of "the hidden potential of doing a bit more of whatever you’re doing". He got it from an essay by David Cain, where he writes:
"The only way to know whether your usual standards are serving you is to surpass them on a regular basis and see what happens. And each of us has our accustomed standards for everything: how much sleep is enough, how much screen time is okay, how much effort at work to put in, how proactive to be in your friendships, how much or little to eat, how much news to consume, how disciplined to be with household order and cleanliness. We’ve all settled somewhere on each of these questions and countless others, probably out of inertia rather than principle. It’s unlikely our standards have randomly landed in their respective sweet spots. For each standard you’ve adopted, there might be a significant spike in the payoff not too far beyond it."
I guess the key is learning how to reconcile both ideas, we can only push past our standards in some areas if we make peace with the fact that doing so might mean falling short in others.
This take reminds me of our guy Oliver Burkeman’s idea that we should build in “strategic underachievement” — aka, nominate the areas of our lives that we want to be imperfect at in advance so we can excel in others. I live by this! So huge congrats on your strategic underachievement (overachievement?!) at sugar consumption
Also, copywriting for a therapy notebook seems like the perfect task for you lol!
Before pregnancy, eating chocolate caused my throat to accumulate with phlegm. Now, 1 year into breastfeeding and for whatever hormonal reason, I can eat chocolate with abandon, no phlegm, and I plan to continue doing so for as long as I can.
Loved this, as a fellow purveyor of the daily sweet treat. Reminds me of when I had a random session with a nutritionist years ago that my workplace offered. I was expecting her to reprimand my nightly chocolate sessions, but weighed up against the rest of my diet she said it was pretty well balanced and she didn't see an issue. Such a nice reframing and felt similar to 'seems like it's working for you'.
This of course is quite different to your essay but some interesting similarities in terms of - if a bit of sugar is helping you stay away from perhaps more damaging habits, why worry. Even though maybe that wasn't what she took from it. Also was a weird coincidence I read it the day before yours: https://open.substack.com/pub/leatherandsilk/p/the-real-reason-you-cant-put-down?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=4wr3o
It’s my day off. I spent an hour outside in the sun reading, then took a nap, then ate a “birthday cake” ice cream bar.
I also got a Pap smear and a referral for a “diagnostic mammogram” because I’ve had pain in my left breast that seems to be getting worse. I’m trying not to be anxious about it, but “anxious about everything” is my natural state.
So yeah, I’m eating the damn ice cream and working on my tan.
Thank you Haley, this was fun to read and (as usual) very timely 🩵
just talked to my mom about this! she said that some balls are rubber and some balls are glass- the rubber balls will bounce back if dropped. the glass ones will shatter. so let the rubber balls go (sugar, minor inconveniences, etc) and hold onto your glass balls (family, relationships, health). it’s like duh but incredibly useful when you’re spiraling about letting some things slip!
Never heard this!! Really smart
Yes I love this metaphor!
Just wanted to pop over to say every time I read 15 things and see a dessert listed or recipe for something oozing with chocolate, I find you highly relatable
Hahaha THANK YOU 🤪
Yes! Thank you for this reminder that we are not perfect, that we can't (and shouldn't) control everything, and that there are definitely more important things than how much sugar we consume – and that high sugar consumption, or other "unhealthy" habits, can even support the things that truly matter.
I'm also one of those people who strives to have everything under control and to always make the best decisions. I'm afraid of sabotaging myself through “bad” choices... and along with that comes the belief that it's my own fault when I'm not feeling so well. I especially have these thoughts when it comes to health and food. I constantly think I eat too much sugar and unhealthy snacks, drink too much coffee and alcohol, eat too late in the evening, etc. I feel guilty, solemnly promise myself to change, manage to do so for a few days, and then fall back into my old habits. It consumes so much mental energy..
Of course, from a medical perspective, the way I eat isn't ideal. On the other hand, I keep encountering people who clearly eat even more "unhealthily" – I believe there's a huge spectrum of how people nourish themselves, and I'm probably somewhere in the middle when it comes to healthiness. Same goes for exercise, by the way...
We live in a time where optimal health is seen as the highest good, and the pursuit of it has become a sort of substitute religion. But the older I get, the more I realize that I won’t be able to prevent a certain physical decline anyway. One day I will die, no matter what. And I have to be careful not to forget to actually live in the process of chasing optimal health and balance.
Yes 100%—the part about blaming yourself for every bad feeling is such a problem! Like you said on some level it's good to take responsibility for yourself, but it's also irrational to assume everything is within your control.
This might be such a non sequitur but I was with my mom this weekend who has the exact same scoliosis curve as I do, and pain in the exact same area as me, and she said that no matter what she does—constant PT routines and floor regimens and targeted exercises (she's very disciplined)—the pain remains. She kept telling me it wasn't my fault and I honestly felt like crying! It's unbelievable how I blame every ache and pain on "bad behavior." My parents were like: "Stop! We see you carrying that baby around all day, getting off the floor over and over and going up and down stairs carrying a million things. You're strong!" And hearing that made me feel so tender. I tell myself I'm weak every day!
It's interesting to consider the psychological run-off of a culture that insists our wellness is always entirely within out power.
Exactly! Not every bad feeling, physical sensation, or illness is within our control.
And even if there are things one could do personally that might alleviate certain symptoms, we still have to ask ourselves whether health should always be prioritized above everything else.
I’ve had digestive issues and other chronic complaints on and off throughout my entire life. Last year, a doctor recommended that I try cutting out gluten for a while. I gave it a shot, was successful for a few weeks, but felt disheartened because it made me feel socially cut off in a way – food is simply such an important part of being together with others.
It was especially hard around Christmas and during other celebrations, and in the end, those were when I "failed".
In the few weeks I “succeeded” I didn’t notice a big difference in my symptoms. It’s possible that I’d notice more improvement if I stayed off gluten longer (people on the internet say it can take up to half a year for all the gluten to leave your system). But do I really want to give up so much in order to maybe become a bit healthier? I’m talking about homemade cake at my grandma’s, sharing pizza with friends, a beer at a concert, skipping the cool new hand-pulled noodle place with my best friend – one of our favorite shared rituals is trying out new restaurants.
I’m increasingly frustrated by health advice that is based on restriction, without considering the emotional and social consequences.
Yes yes so true and an important reminder! Also when you add in the irony of the healthcare crisis in America it changes the whole tenor of the issue!
Oh yes, we could dive deeeep into the politics of health now :D
I don’t have a sweet tooth per se, but I love an evening drink! It’s not even a coping mechanism for me (I switched to Ghia for a long time and still drink it often when it’s available and it hits just the same). Point being, theres something about the ritual of a drink to demarcate the day that I really enjoy. I’m not talking about binge drinking which does not appeal to me at all…but especially in summertime with friends when people are out and about, I think it’s peak bliss to be deep in an interesting conversation outdoors with a glass of wine or cocktail so it’s an treat I plan to continue to indulge (also been interesting how here in London it’s part or the fabric of the culture versus in Toronto where people seem more health conscious when it comes to alcohol). I know it’s not the healthiest choice but I feel like I eat pretty clean and it’s a delight I don’t want to deny myself haha
I'm the same way! I've switched to soda + bitters recently to be a bit healthier/hydrate myself and it hits. Sometimes I'll muddle some herbs in there or add a splash of amaro
Oooh that’s a good tip, I’ve been meaning to try that! Also, I used to be a full bodied red drinker and I’ve found switching to something lighter like a Pinot noir or sticking to white had been life changing and I feel totally fine after two glasses the next day whereas heavy reds really dehydrated me
"But I’ve found it really calming, a form of self-respect, to recognize the agency I have in these areas of my life, however imperfect."
This was so comforting! I think I have a similar moral intensity coupled with a desire to actually live my life lol, and the dichotomy of "don't overthink it" vs. "change it if it's making you feel bad" doesn't work for me in certain areas. I'm in a crazy season at the moment - starting work as a therapist at the same time as deciding to seriously pursue acting (involves a 20hr/week training) and I've had similar thoughts on:
1. Frequently taking ritalin (a really low dose, prescribed) to work when I'm mentally frazzled. Sometimes I feel so much guilt around it and the possible negative health effects that I suspect if anything it's the guilt that will make me sick, oops.
2. Not cleaning as much as I should, and constantly needing to remind myself that it's a ball I'm dropping in order to keep other balls in the air - this is where your point on recognizing agency is so important; I'm the one who made this decision and I can decide at any point to shift my priorities.
3. Hooking up with a friend recently and immediately putting a stop to it, knowing I was being a bit of a coward. But it felt good ("a form of self-respect") to accept where I was at emotionally rather than forcing myself to somehow transcend it.
Yes!! So well put that the dichotomy of "just do it/don't think about it" vs. "change it if it's making you feel bad" isn't always appropriate. Sometimes you can think about it and not change it, lol! There's a little power in that
I found this really interesting because I’m sort of on the opposite end of the sugar spectrum right now (though not entirely by choice). I’ve always had a sweet tooth, but after my second kid, I was diagnosed with some autoimmune issues and started experimenting with going gluten/dairy/sugar free (kind of...more like low sugar). It’s helped me feel a lot better physically, but I’ve also noticed it’s become a bit of a coping mechanism, a way to feel some control when things feel otherwise frustratingly unpredictable. And I'm not quite sure how pronounced the effect of all of these dietary changes truly are. Just thought I’d share a different angle, since I really resonated with the emotional layer you described.
This was so fun!! As a fellow sweet tooth-haver, I love reading writing on sweets/sugar/treats; your paragraph describing what you’ve been eating the past year gave me a little shiver of appreciation. The wafers stored in the freezer for better texture — so visceral! I also occasionally ponder whether my love of sugar is an addiction, but I know the science around that is murky at best (thanks to those who linked to some smart writing about that in the comments to remind me!). And ultimately, perhaps in line with your thesis here, I don’t really care if it is!! I derive such joy from sweets and I’ve found they genuinely have such an overall positive effect on my life. Having a slice of freshly baked lemon loaf with tea while I journal; munching on mini eggs (cadbury >>>>> hershey’s) while watching my latest tv show; baking exactly the kind of cookie I’ve been craving late at night and eating a few hot from the oven long after my partner has gone to bed (which for some reason is the most indulgently perfect time and circumstance in which to eat desserts???) — sugar, in exactly the right format, elevates these instances to a life-affirming level for me (lmao the drama). I think we could all benefit from making the experience of eating sugar less emotionally and morally and even intellectually fraught — I find it interesting how, even in circles where people are conscious of the harm of diet culture etc, it’s almost as if everyone still agrees that sugar is different and it’s totally logical and normal to talk about it as if it’s universally bad and factually unhealthy. Anyway here’s to more eating ice cream straight from the tub and having pastries for breakfast literally every single day and keeping sour ju jubes (the superior sour candy) always in stock in the pantry!
Hahaha I love you
I’ve had a lot of conversations with friends about how many people demonize their coping mechanisms and label them all unhealthy, when the reality is… any coping mechanism is a tool you have developed to deal with something you can’t always deal with. Sure, they’re not always the best, but they’re a tool! I try to remind myself to be grateful to mine for what they have gotten me through, rather than fall into guilt or shame about what they could be instead.
Also re: the bit on distraction, I used to worry that part of why I read so much was bc I wash using it as a crutch to escape the world and real emotions/real problems. Of course it’s possible to withdraw too far, but I’ve also recognized the times when taking a break to read (or watch, or scroll, same diff) absolutely does exactly what you said - it serves the purpose of helping to calm me and regulate my emotions, so I can come back to whatever X thing, without the added difficulty of a heightened emotional state.
Last thing, I’m seeing most of the comments relate to the sweets thing specifically - again, anything can be taken to an extreme. And I don’t mean to feed into the self-care-is-bubble-baths narrative. But little treats - anticipating them, enjoying them, sharing them - can be small moments of joy that we need! And they can be dessert, or clearing your evening and staying in doing nothing, they can be anything at all that feels just a touch indulgent. Life isn’t just toil or duty or self-improvement! As a former catholic I’ve fought guilt/shame all my life (with decent success!), and I think Americans in general need to fight harder against the puritan/Protestant ethic of our culture. Pleasure is not a sin! It is a necessity!!! Most things in life have mixed consequences - choose the ones you love!!! Live with gusto and brighten the world in whatever ways you can!!
Well said!!!!!
I recommend reading the work of Jessie Inchauspé the 'glucose goddess'. There are ways to still eat treats and avoid the rollercoaster of blood sugar spikes. We get away with everything (most of us) when we're young - I cringe with the memory of buying an ice-cream on the way to work in the morning when I was about 19. I don't recognise that person anymore - but eventually we are the product of our choices. I became interested in diet and nutrition when I wanted to improve my chances of conception and I haven't been able to go back and unknow what I learned.
Yeah I loved this little one. Nothing smart to say just wanted to chip in and say that your takes are always refreshing and compelling.
I felt so weird/unsettled about this one so thank you for saying this!! 🥲
"just because something could technically be done better didn’t necessarily mean it had to be—and that in fact, doing it poorly might be allowing something else to be done better." It's funny because this part reminded me of a concept I came across in Alec Leach's substack earlier this year: the idea of "the hidden potential of doing a bit more of whatever you’re doing". He got it from an essay by David Cain, where he writes:
"The only way to know whether your usual standards are serving you is to surpass them on a regular basis and see what happens. And each of us has our accustomed standards for everything: how much sleep is enough, how much screen time is okay, how much effort at work to put in, how proactive to be in your friendships, how much or little to eat, how much news to consume, how disciplined to be with household order and cleanliness. We’ve all settled somewhere on each of these questions and countless others, probably out of inertia rather than principle. It’s unlikely our standards have randomly landed in their respective sweet spots. For each standard you’ve adopted, there might be a significant spike in the payoff not too far beyond it."
I guess the key is learning how to reconcile both ideas, we can only push past our standards in some areas if we make peace with the fact that doing so might mean falling short in others.
Yes exactly!! You/he said it better than I
This take reminds me of our guy Oliver Burkeman’s idea that we should build in “strategic underachievement” — aka, nominate the areas of our lives that we want to be imperfect at in advance so we can excel in others. I live by this! So huge congrats on your strategic underachievement (overachievement?!) at sugar consumption
Also, copywriting for a therapy notebook seems like the perfect task for you lol!
Also lol yes to the therapy notebook. Was a great gig! Here is a link to it which I meant to include in a footnote and added later https://shop.therapynotebooks.com/products/anti-anxiety-notebook
Incredible term I forgot about and wish I'd included in this essay! I'm such a burkeman head