Make Your Damn Bed

I'm reading Mikaela Loach's book "It's Not That Radical: Climate Action to Transform Our World" and I can't tell you how much I've already destroyed this copy with highlighters and notes. It's giving me hope, at a time I didn't think I had much left, and that's priceless. READ THIS WITH ME? https://www.mikaelaloach.com/ OR https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Its-Not-That-Radical-by-Mikaela-Loach/9780241597538 FREE BOOKS VIA PUBLIC LIBRARY? https://www.hoopladigital.com/ OR https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libbyGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thousands of Acres of Koala Haven Forest to Come Under Logging Bans in New South Wales. RESOURCE: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/thousands-of-acres-of-koala-haven-forest-to-come-under-logging-bans-in-new-south-wales/GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ack! This was supposed to go out yesterday - but I forgot to hit public on it. Apologies, my friends! Enjoy this follow up to the last episode - on making adult friendships. RESOURCE: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/01/well/live/how-to-make-friends-adult.htmlGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adult friendships are hard - but they should be fun. Focusing on unstructured "play" can put the fun back into hanging out with the people we interact with. As the sociologist Eric Klinenberg told The Atlantic, “You tend to enrich your social life when you stop and linger and waste time.”RESOURCES: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2023/08/childhood-friendship-benefits-play/675158/GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LIEBERMAN SAYS:  We live in a world where everyone knows that exercise is good for you, and yet the vast majority of people have a hard time doing it. According to government statistics, only about a quarter of Americans actually exercise in their leisure time. For me, it’s clear we’re asking people to choose to do something that’s inherently abnormal in the sense that we evolved not to do it. Humans evolved to move. We evolved to be physically active. But exercise is a special kind of physical activity. It’s voluntary physical activity for the sake of health and fitness. Until recently, nobody did that. In fact, it would be a kind of a crazy thing to do because if you’re a very active hunter-gatherer, for example, or a subsistence farmer, it wouldn’t make sense to spend any extra energy going for a needless five-mile jog in the morning. It doesn’t help you. In fact, it actually takes away precious calories from other priorities. All in all, humans have these deep-rooted instincts to avoid unnecessary physical activity, because until recently it was beneficial to avoid it. Now, we judge people as lazy if they don’t exercise. But they’re not lazy. They’re just being normal.RESOURCES: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/01/daniel-lieberman-busts-exercising-myths/GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We learn about time in such a rigid way. Through hours, minutes, seconds - or schedules and deadlines and timelines. There’s an inherent sense that we need to utilize every minute in order to be happy or reach our highest heights. And that is a stressful way to live - especially when we realize that time is more fluid than that. I’m sure we’ve all experienced the magic that lies in realizing how flexible time can really feel and be. Each of us have felt the fluidity of time - Whether moments that feel like seconds, or seconds that feel like days. I know I’ve experienced tedious days in a classroom or at work staring at a clock, fully aware of the sad fact that these seconds were much longer than they typically were. And I’ve had exciting moments fly by in a whirlwind. What feels like a blink of an eye and a whole year has passed. What is meant for you will not pass you. You’re not late for anything. Your timeline looks different than everyone else's because it’s supposed to. It’s yours. Take it slow, take it fast, it doesn’t really matter what speed you go - as long as you’re also taking breaks. Point is, time is flexible + we are too. Cut yourself some slack if it’s felt like your timeline isn’t going the way you planned = because the reality is - time is fluid and we need to learn to flow with it if we want to enjoy our it.  Try to enjoy the experience the roller coaster that is time whether your days are feeling like moments or your moments are feeling like days - because the time is passing either way, and we may as well enjoy the ride.  GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ever since childhood we've been learning how to push down our hunger cues, our time out cues, our overwhelmed and overworked cues. it's time we learned how to listen to them again without letting them take over completely. GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When we get caught up working towards shit, it becomes really easy to forget that THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES. You can feel all the anxiety in the world but it’s not gonna change that tomorrow is coming, but on the other hand, you can feel all the peace in the world, and tomorrow is still gonna come. Wallowing about the past, does not change it - just like stressing about the future can’t either. Stay conscious of the here and now, in this very moment + pay attention to how much of that is not actually stressful when you’re involved in it, fully.  Have you been really listening to me now? Or have you been planning ahead with what’s next for your day? No shade, either way - but I’m curious if your brain tends to wander as much as mine. I feel like I’m the queen of multi-tasking but I am also well aware of the reality that the more PRESENT i am in a moment, the more I tend to appreciate it + remember it in the future. Not to say you have to be grateful and positive to enjoy life, but it is to say - you’ll increase your likelihood of gratitude and positivity if you learn how to stay conscious in the moments you do have to be grateful for.  Life can become a series of chores if you let it.GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can't light yourself on fire to keep others warm.This is a remastered version of Episode 20. GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Overton window of political possibility is the range of ideas the public is willing to consider and accept.Public officials cannot enact any policy they please like they’re ordering dessert from a menu. They have to choose from among policies that are politically acceptable at the time. And we believe the Overton window defines that range of ideas.- Joseph LehmanRESOURCES: https://www.tiktok.com/@crutches_and_spice and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_windowand https://conceptually.org/concepts/overton-window GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Overton window of political possibility is the range of ideas the public is willing to consider acceptable/the norm. It's how Trump went from TV persona to president. Sometimes, it's good! But when it's the strategy of political think tanks, we probably need to pay attention. RESOURCES: https://www.tiktok.com/@crutches_and_spice and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_windowGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

According to wikipedia: In politics, lobbying or advocacy, is the act of lawfully attempting to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of government officials, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies, but also judges of the judiciary. Lobbying, which usually involves direct, face-to-face contact in cooperation with support staff that may not meet directly face-to-face, is done by many types of people, associations and organized groups, including individuals on a personal level in their capacity as voters, constituents, or private citizens; it is also practiced by corporations in the private sector serving their own business interests. RESOURCES: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/043015/why-lobbying-legal-and-important-us.asp and https://www.brookings.edu/articles/a-better-way-to-fix-lobbying/ and https://hbr.org/2021/04/make-time-for-me-time  and https://www.opensecrets.org/news/reports/layers-of-lobbyingGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you have never had the chance to be alone - really alone - and you are presented with the opportunity, TAKE IT. Whether it be for only a few hours or over the course of several years, I suggest you take it.There is nothing more valuable than being afforded time to be all by yourself and solely charge of your own wellbeing. You will get the opportunity to return to your sensed of community, eventually but for the moments of solitude you do find - embrace them. Relax and breathe in the feeling of genuine freedom to discover and decode who you really are by making decisions for yourself, by yourself.We live in a world where choices are seemingly endless and  Decision fatigue has become a genuine struggle for some of us. Spending time alone forces you to make decision after decision without distractions which can define important parameters for making said decisions in the future. Every time I am able to spend time alone - I feel myself grow more confident in my ability to make the appropriate choices. The break from considering other people’s feelings or voices, - bc I still account for everyone’s personality, regardless of how flexible they have claimed to be when we are in a group -  and Through choosing things only for yourself you become more aware of what you really truly want to do, more often. If you are brave enough to try everything once - while you are alone - you can more easily build structure and solidify what you really do and don’t want - so you don’t have to worry so much about making decisions in the future. Spend time by yourself and try everything once to discover what you really want. “By spending time with yourself and gaining a better understanding of who you are and what you desire in life, you’re more likely to make better choices about who you want to be around.” - Dr. Sherrie Bourg CarterGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Forgiveness is an essential part in finding your happiness. This  doesn't mean to let everyone off the hook for hurting you or crossing boundaries. It simply means you aren’t harboring those toxic feelings about it, anymore. You must come to terms with the fact that people who love you will show love to you in ways that don’t feel like love sometimes. Sure sometimes people hurt us on purpose, but more often people will hurt us even though they love us, because they don’t know how else to show that love. It doesn’t mean to accept it as they present it, it just means you shouldn’t take it so personally when it isn’t done like you initially would have wanted or expected. Stop expecting you from other people. If you go in believing people typically mean well and don’t set out to hurt you - you will take a lot of that burden off of yourself - that expectation that everyone else will show up for you in the way you need without you communicating is unreasonable. It doesn’t mean you don’t deserve it. It means it’s out of most people’s abilities to do so. Forgive others and make space for them to show love in a way that they know how.  GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is nothing wrong with you. If you pursue self help in the search of fixing yourself, you will never be satisfied because you aren’t a car - you aren’t broken and don’t need to be fixed. Self love shouldn’t be an aspiration. It should be the bare minimum. You are a miracle made of star stuff and if the bones and heart beating in your chest isn’t enough to impress you than the fact that you have survived in an often very overwhelming world should be. Stop waiting for others to validate you where only you can. Start treating yourself like the love of your life. Write love notes for you. Buy yourself the flowers. You have spent so much time waiting for someone else to show you the love that you show them - why not cut out the middle-man? Show yourself the love you crave so deeply. When you love yourself fully - you can give yourself space to heal properly but only when you remember you are not broken. You never were. You are as whole and perfect as the day you entered this world - you just need to uncover that feeling that has been buried for so long in an attempt to self-preserve.   GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Utilize the asset that is reading energy. Study it. Learn it like a language, because that is exactly what it is. Begin to recognize who your energy shifts around. Notice when it changes and teach yourself how to adapt it. Unfollow anyone that makes you feel weird energy, unless it’s something you feel you should be challenged in. Curate your relationships, social media feeds, and home to reflect the energy that you would like to embody most often. Energy will ebb and flow but it is a valuable skill to be able to identify these shifts on a daily basis. This way you can ride the waves of action, build foundations, so when you need to rest and recharge, you can jump right back in where you left off - and return to that energetic place without starting from scratch. Energy is our most powerful and effective communicator. It passes messages much more quickly and subtly than our conscious mind could ever identify. This is why it is so important to pay attention. Learn to read energy so you can identify the sources that deplete and grow yours. Understand that you can impact your energy as Obviously life isn’t about all good vibrations and good energy all the time, but there are ways to optimize your experience to increase your times of good/positive energy to make better use of your time here. Don’t allow people in your life that only deplete your energy and never return it. Don’t become someone who only deplete’s energy and never returns it. Energy is a give and take. Like everything, balance is key. With practice, you can get good at knowing if it is time to share your energy or if it is time to be open to receiving energy, which is a superpower if you ask me. GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This may be hard to admit - but you deserve the occasional day off to just relax. To do nothing at all. To binge watch. To sit and waste time. Recharge and replenish. And then practice forgiving yourself for not being productive. We have been conditioned our whole lives to believe that productivity is the only way to be valuable in a society based on capitalism and industriousness. We have never been taught that rest is not a reward. It is work. A thing we must do. Especially if we aim to ever be productive. We are expected to perform every single day, regardless of our energy levels or anything that is happening in our lives, yet most of us still feel guilty when we take days off. Lions are the king of the jungle yet they spend 20 hours of the day - sleeping. Shit, computers need to go to sleep, and even shut down occasionally. You have been so hard on yourself even though the expectations are often unreasonable so You are exhausted. You often end up wasting more time than you needed to because you are avoiding resting fully. Allow yourself to rest so you can get back to the productivity we have all been conditioned to aspire to. Any time you feel guilty for resting - remember, you are not a machine but even if you were - even machines need to be recharged. You are no different. Don’t add to the pressure that already exists + is pressuring you already. If you need to rest anyway, intentionally try to remove the guilt.GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m not religious, but it isn't lost on me that most religions and even agnostic sects of spirituality center around some form of prayer or meditation or introspection. Regardless of your faith or lack thereof, it’s crucial to offer ourselves the space and time to decompress. Time away from screens, family, friends, work, and even away from your own thoughts. Plans, anxieties, fears can lead us to cycle in our mind and by practicing mindfulness, we’ll notice and can refocus back on our present moment. The present is where our power lies. That’s where the magic happens + if we can practice staying there, we can get better at it and need less of the redirection. Guided meditations are a great way to start, and tiny commitments like three minutes at a time are way easier to commit to than massive changes in your routine, meditating is less about clearing our thoughts and rather, learning how to sit with them comfortably. If we imagine our mind as the sky, each thought is a cloud, and we can get caught into them, but if we allow them to pass and focus on the sky as a whole, we will realize just how temporary weather conditions are. One strategy I’ve benefited from is returning to the question: “what will I think of next” and focusing on the peace that comes from the moments between your question and the next arising thought. The gaps become more comfortable and we can grow them as we practice mindfulness. But it doesn't have to be formal. Try washing dishes or walking with intention + no distractions. Try focusing on your breath or counting. I sometimes dread my practice and take breaks or change my own techniques. I am not sure why I still find it difficult to show up for myself and sit with my own thoughts, knowing they only get easier to sit with as i do - but here we are. That said, making it a “to-do” check mark is not helpful, either, because then i just want to do it and forget that there are benefits to doing. Regardless of if a meditation is good or not, or you enjoy it or not, we can all probably benefit from a few moments away from our phones. A few moments with ourselves. Meditation is an immediate stress relief and can lead to more control over our thought patterns and behaviors. There’s science behind the benefits and stress relief that comes from mindfulness and breath work practices. Most people go on thinking our thoughts control us, with practice and mindfulness, we can regain our sense of control - but we learn how to get comfortable letting go, first. GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If your inner voice manifested into a human form today, would you be friends with it? I think a lot of us would have to teach our new friend some manners before going into the real world. Which is wild to think about - that the most common voice, our most reliable narrator, our internal operator is kind of an asshole? Is really sad to me. If the voice we live with, and listen to the most, is not nice? What does that mean?Negative self talk quickly trains your brain to believe that the criticisms of it are true. This is why it’s so crucial to train your brain that the good shit can be true, instead. If you cuss yourself out every time you drop something, or call yourself names when you make mistakes, I highly recommend this tactic: EVERY time you catch yourself thinking or saying something negative about yourself (or someone else) you MUST say OUT LOUD two unique positive things to counteract that thought. And take a second to absorb it and try to believe it. Train your brain that there are alternate ways of thinking and believing and perceiving. Now I fully recognize that reframing isn’t a miracle cure for everyone and everything, but this one, with enough practice and redirection - does work. And the less we complain, the less we see the world as a thing to complain about, and find a lot of the shit we were complaining about was not that big of a deal to begin with. Notice it. Then replace it with more positive thoughts. Then reward yourself with a lil hell yeah. And if this sounds hokey and too much for a simple thought - the magic of the practice is because it IS too much, it doesn’t reallllly take that long to stick in theory. Think about it, nobody is gonna wanna self correct and think of new original and unique compliments all day, especially if we struggle with positive self talk, so it’s  a real solid rebuttal strategy! The brain is a giant computer. Computer needs updates + reprogramming occasionally. We should be keeping up with this shit anyway. We need to “sleep and shut down” to keep the battery healthy. But this is a great way to do so. GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We really gotta get over the fear of being seen. We should never feel bad for trying. The only people who feel comfortable criticizing others for trying are typically envious of your fearlessness, or washed up from their time in the spotlight, and they have nothing against you but everything against them for not being you at that moment. Excuse my language but FUCK EM. Every professional in the history of professions has failed and begun again and failed and begun again. Its between those failures where we define and find our own versions of success. Give yourself a chance to “fail” freely and eventually you’re going to redefine failure. Because you cant call something a failure that was simply practice. It’s not a failure til you quit. Until you give up, everything is just practice. GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UNIVERSAL TRUTH: Just because it ain’t your fault, doesn’t mean it’s not your responsibility to deal with it. I think taking responsibility for your trauma gets lost in translation a bit. We often say, “everything happens for a reason” or “there’s a lesson in everything”; and while those may be helpful reframes for a select few, most people won’t benefit from those generalities, especially at a time of need. So yes, dealing with your trauma is your responsibility, in the immediate sense: when you have a negative experience (even if it’s in no way, shape, or form your fault) you have no choice but to respond to that experience. It’s unfair, unjust, and unfortunately - it’s a part of life that feels avoidable yet rarely is. The future sense: if it affects your behaviors in a way that may be harmful to yourself or others. Yet this should be done with an appropriately matched, qualified mental health professional. Of course, I never want to imply that all of the bad things that happen to us are “meant to teach us” or that we can avoid all of life’s bullshit if we “reflect or learn or try” enough - I just personally find it takes the sting out of life’s little miseries when you say “it’s all part of the plot” or “It’s character building” and then you don’t have to cry about it more than the healthy amount of crying, so you can move on to the next lil adventure. You’re not your trauma, but you are the badass that overcame it. You aren’t your mistakes, but you are the person who made it here, now. And though you deserve the peace that IS around + the lessons that come from that, I don’t doubt that you’ll kick all the ass that needs kickin’ in the between time. GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Excitement and anxiety fire up the exact same space in your brain, so if we can work on reframing our perspective, we may not even have to shake the anxious feelings at all! You’re not nervous because you’re going to talk in front of a large group of people, you’re excited because you get to feel like Taylor Swift??? The thing we’re nervous about is starting, and a reappraisal can help. If you’re someone who can assess all the ways shit can go wrong, you owe it to yourself and everyone around you to assess all the ways it can go right, too! This way, you have a focus for excitement where there is also anxiety - which is especially helpful when staying calm isn’t an option.  RESOURCES: https://positivepsychology.com/comfort-zone/#google_vignette and https://www.waldenu.edu/programs/psychology/resource/the-pros-and-cons-of-comfort-zonesGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE:www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DAY 9: COMFORT ZONES: Have you ever heard a term so much that it loses all meaning? I feel that way about comfort zones a little bit. Maybe because mine fluctuates from year to year or maybe cuz I’ve read “life begins right outside of your comfort zone” in too many public restrooms, but when I came back to revamp this episode about getting out of your comfort zone - I knew I needed to reevaluate my relationship with the term. According to Judith Bardwick,“The comfort zone is a behavioral state within which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviors to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk.”So while a comfort zone is both comfortable and safe, it is not a place where much growth can occur. Learning, growing, doing - can be an uncomfortable practice if you are not accustomed to it. So that’s why it’s crucial to understand our personal relationships with our current comfort zone, so we can see where and when it’s been interfering with the (often uncomfortable) learning + growth that is necessary to creating a roomier, and more comfortable comfort zone in the long run.  If we don’t evaluate where we are now, the starting will feel a hell of a lot harder and scarier when it’s time to step out. Incremental change is WAY easier than major change. Tiny changes now save major upsets later (ahem *looking at you policy makers*) but the sooner we start, the sooner we benefit. Just remember direction is more important than speed. So take your time getting started. RESOURCES: https://positivepsychology.com/comfort-zone/#google_vignette and https://www.waldenu.edu/programs/psychology/resource/the-pros-and-cons-of-comfort-zonesGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE:www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A life without any indulgence is just plain sad AF.It’s not just me who says it - there are studies that demonstrate that some indulgence is as fundamental to a happy life as self-control is. Decades of research have shown that self-control is associated with many positive outcomes, including our overall well-being. But as self-control helps us to align our behaviors with our long-term goals (e.g., exercising to stay fit) it can often shield us from conflicting hedonic goals (e.g., relaxing) and because of these often contradictory wants and needs, it can undermine a lot of the positive effects of the long term goals (HELLO intrusive thoughts). So, next time your brain insists on stopping for pizza rolls, it’s not because it’s trying to sabotage you, it’s trying to remind you it’s okay to indulge once in a while. Some of us have been conditioned to resist things that feel good instantly, but even the science confirms:  Self control + instant gratification are both critical pieces in our overall wellbeing. GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 A life without any indulgence is just plain sad AF.It’s not just me who says it - there are studies that demonstrate that some indulgence is as fundamental to a happy life as self-control is. Decades of research have shown that self-control is associated with many positive outcomes, including our overall well-being. But as self-control helps us to align our behaviors with our long-term goals (e.g., exercising to stay fit) it can often shield us from conflicting hedonic goals (e.g., relaxing) and because of these often contradictory wants and needs, it can undermine a lot of the positive effects of the long term goals (HELLO intrusive thoughts). So, next time your brain insists on stopping for pizza rolls, it’s not because it’s trying to sabotage you, it’s trying to remind you it’s okay to indulge once in a while. Some of us have been conditioned to resist things that feel good instantly, but even the science confirms:  Self control + instant gratification are both critical pieces in our overall wellbeing. GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’ve showed up EVERY single day. Every shower you’ve taken, every tear you’ve shed, every laugh you’ve had, every connection you’ve made, you’ve been there for. And sure you didn't have a choice, I get that, it seems cheesy but eat up, rat friends. - because we spend so much time showing gratitude for our besties if we’ve got them. And I DO love appreciating a good community moment, it’s also crucial to show up and appreciate you. GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

seems cliché, but time is by far our most valuable commodity. Money comes and goes but time you can never get back. This is why we often feel so strongly about the things we’ve invested our time or money into - because we’ve invested we feel we’re losing our deserved payout if we bail. But just because we make an investment, doesn’t mean it’s always the right one for you. In fact, we’re often focused so much on recouping our perceived losses that we ignore the wins we could be making had we cut the costs earlier. Our time and effort are the most valuable resources we have. And if we’re wasting those valuable resources on things that are harmful to us, we need to pay attention to that - because only YOU can know if an investment is right for you. Sure there are “advisors” but deep down, we’re in charge of the way we handle our finances/our Be tactful with how you use your time. Divide it and budget it like you would your money. Respect your free time like cash in the hand. If you’re the type that has no time to focus on your own needs, and must focus ALL of your time on others, everyone ends up broke! So ask for loans. You deserve to be invested in the same way you invest in others. GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People rarely sustain the exact same routine forever, really. Habits are meant to be used as tools, and sure, some of them stick for many years, but more often than not, I drop habits like it’s bath night at the nunnery! Most things I begin, I give up on. Literal obsessions I have had over the years have given way to make space for new/updated experiences.  Imagine if we clung SO tightly to everything we’ve ever loved or felt passionate about. Life isn’t one size fits all! Find what fits, feels right on YOUR body, and your current style, so you can get back to LIVING your life instead of constantly trying to change it! GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Momentum is far more valuable than motivation. Motivation is inconsistent. Some days I feel like a superhero but most days I just wanna take a nap + eat hot chips. It seems silly to say to “just start” as if it’s easy - sure, starting may be simple, but it ain’t easy. That said, it is easier to stand up + start, than to tack on the additional labor of convincing yourself to stand up + start first, so I truly find the best way to get rid of dread is with action.Sometimes, taking ONE step is all it takes to see how vast the mirage of our overthinking was. Have you ever been stuck in bed without motivation self to do the tiniest piece of the puzzle, the rest falls into place without thought? I find that a shower clears my head of all the internal dilemmas that had me stuck in bed - over planning and hating every second.GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your life is subjective to you. Your friends are THE BEST. Your hometown is THE BEST. Your TV preferences, favorite restaurant, sports team, all the best right? So why not alter your language to speak the same way about yourself? If youre the main character you’re also the writer/producer/supporting character. Energy does beget energy so when we start acting like a main character? We may start receiving main character attention + energy back. This doesnt make anyone else a side character, though - it’s a reminder they’re all main characters in their own stories so we should honor that and remind them of it when we can, but also it reminds us they’re typically not as invested in our story as we thought because they’re busy writing and starring in their own! This should reinforce your ability to go out and romanticize your own life, take up some space, become a protagonist, help someone, become the hero, If you are the main character - which you are - be a good one! You never know what stories may unfold if you’re not too scared to turn the damned page! GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life is a very nuanced and specific experience, so, I'm aware that some days, some messages might not feel relevant to you. Even if things don’t seem immediately relatable, keep an open mind but remember that even improvement seeking can be a trap. Moderation + balance is the key to creating harmony in ANY aspect of our lives, and everything can be abused if overused, including self care, health, and wellness. Keep your friends, information sources, and your perspectives diverse if you feel like things are feeling a little too black and white. Ideally, the goal is to learn and practice, so we can live life. Not to practice this until it becomes our lives. Remember, you must take breaks to truly benefit from anything. We create meanings based on our current perspectives. If you want to evoke a different meaning, you have to shift your perspective. Otherwise, just take whatever resonates and let go of what doesn't.Try to focus your attention on completing three of your most important tasks each day and schedule specific days for rest. Having goals and boundaries like this can help you feel more productive with your time without burning out. No matter how well you perform tasks, there will always be more to do. The path of improvement is infinite. So, if you never take a moment to reflect and appreciate how far you've come, you'll miss out on the amazing view.GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DAY 1: Why should you make your bed? You have one! Gratitude is a scientifically backed way to improve well-being. Starting your day with genuine mindfulness can change the game. It makes your room look clean! Typically, the bed is the largest, most eye-catching item in your room and it’s a high pay off for very little tucking and straightening.  It’s gratifying! A quick first task of the day, done in under 2 minutes? Sign me up. Plus, it sets a tone of ‘accomplishment’ that leads into the rest of your day. It instantly feels better! Makes us less tempted to climb back in + future-you gets to benefit from a few moments of getting your shit together. It’s unnecessary! I think that’s why it’s so powerful of a motivator for me, because it’s not essential, which feels like a luxury item. Truly though, if making your bed aint your thing? Don’t stress over it. I don’t make my bed every day and I wrote a whole podcast about it. I genuinely don’t judge ANYONE for any style of surviving. But I also have benefited from small changes, and making your bed can sometimes be a good place to start.TUNE IN ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/juliemericaGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I can't believe it's been 900 days of this wild ride. We're just getting started, if all goes right. Thank YOU so much for being here. You're truly the most incredible piece to this puzzle and I don't think you understand how much I love and adore and appreciate you!!!! Also, please send me questions/prompts/ideas if you want to hear SPECIFIC episodes coming up. I'd love to do some personal stuff in the upcoming few weeks. GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life can truly be so very hard, but sometimes we can make it a little easier by facing the hard things with intention and purpose. Some things seem hard at first but pay off and make life so much easier later. Like discipline. Forgiveness. Honesty. Generosity. Radical Acceptance. (credit to Arthur C. Brooks) 1. Name your fears and face them, 2. Know your appetites and control them., 3. Be neither a cheapskate nor a spendthrift., 4. Give as generously as you can., 5. Focus more on the transcendent; disregard the trivial., 6. True strength is a controlled temper., 7. Never lie, especially to yourself., 8. Stop struggling for your fair share., 9. Forgive others, and forbear their weaknesses., 10. Define your morality; live up to it, even in private. RESOURCES: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/08/aristotle-10-rules-happy-life/674905/GET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life can truly be so very hard, but sometimes we can make it a little easier by facing the hard things with intention and purpose. Some things seem hard at first but pay off and make life so much easier later. Like discipline. Forgiveness. Honesty. Generosity. Radical Acceptance. (credit to Arthur C. Brooks) 1. Name your fears and face them, 2. Know your appetites and control them., 3. Be neither a cheapskate nor a spendthrift., 4. Give as generously as you can., 5. Focus more on the transcendent; disregard the trivial., 6. True strength is a controlled temper., 7. Never lie, especially to yourself., 8. Stop struggling for your fair share., 9. Forgive others, and forbear their weaknesses., 10. Define your morality; live up to it, even in private. RESOURCES: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/08/aristotle-10-rules-happy-life/674905/GET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re either too busy to nap, or feel so guilty about trying that we can’t. Then, when we can nap, we feel bad because we don’t like that we don’t wake up perfectly ready to make more productivity! Think about your own relationship with naps, how is it? If it’s bad, let me know because I bet I can source it back to capitalism somehow and if it’s good? Let me know because I want that for myself someday and could use the reminder that it exists. RESOURCES: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/02/the-science-behind-those-afternoon-naps/https://lazyslowdown.com/how-my-relationship-with-naps-has-shifted/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/13/well/live/nap-ministry-bishop-tricia-hersey.htmlhttps://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160506-the-japanese-art-of-not-sleeping https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/feb/09/why-spanish-sleeping-habits-under-strainGET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

anger can be a very powerful catalyst for action + change. but it's also dangerous for the person with the anger - if they're not careful, it can blow up in our face. so, spend time in nature, embrace the joy and hope when it comes, but don't lose sight of how valuable getting pissed (and sometimes petty) can be.RESOURCES: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2022/01/why-im-staying-angry-about-climate-change/621358/ and https://theconversation.com/why-fear-and-anger-are-rational-responses-to-climate-change-114056 GET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

anger can be a very powerful catalyst for action + change. but it's also dangerous for the person with the anger - if they're not careful, it can blow up in our face. so, spend time in nature, embrace the joy and hope when it comes, but don't lose sight of how valuable getting pissed (and sometimes petty) can be.RESOURCES: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2022/01/why-im-staying-angry-about-climate-change/621358/GET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead RESOURCES:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Mead and https://www.britannica.com/biography/Margaret-Mead and https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/mead/mead-shaping.htmlGET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The neuroscience behind ADHD is complex and still not fully understood. However, research has shown that people with ADHD have lower levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in attention, motivation, and learning. When people with ADHD have lower levels of dopamine, they may have difficulty paying attention, staying focused, and completing tasks.If you think you may have ADHD, it's important to talk to your doctor. They can help you assess your symptoms and determine the best treatment plan for you.GET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ADHD is not an easy thing to cope with, but there are people out there sharing what's worked for them, and that works for me. And as the famous @the-majestic-cheese-turtle once advised: "waterproof clock in the shower, trash can with automatic lids, wall hooks for your regular hoodie, and clear bins so that things can be stored but aren't invisible." may be a great place to start. Also @earthtokk suggests we reframe our thinking of the process of chores as a thing to finish, and consider it a cycle we can jump in and out of as needed, and I really appreciated that. GET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women have been chronically left out of important conversations for generations, but the science community is finally putting some effort into studying ADHD and the effects of a late-stage diagnosis. Today, I highlight a few of those. RESOURCES: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7422602/https://neurodivergentinsights.com/misdiagnosis-monday/adhd-vs-autismhttps://www.therapyden.com/blog/adhd-statisticsGET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

key to challenging negative core beliefs is to start by identifying them, so we can understand them and critique them for their inconsistencies or harmful perpetuation of behaviors. Uncovering the hidden influences can help us remember our power against their impact! RESOURCES + LINKS: https://positivepsychology.com/socratic-questioning/GET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

when we make assumptions, we are living within the walls of those assumptions. when we choose black and white, all or nothing thinking, we don’t account for the magic that lies in the color, and the gray. these deeply rooted interpretation of ourselves cause us to assume things are true when often they are not, but they also limit us to the (often bleak) filter we’ve been interpreting the world through. RESOURCES + LINKS:https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-challenge-your-negative-core-beliefs-7554706 https://positivepsychology.com/core-beliefs-worksheets/ https://positive.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Table-of-Common-Core-Beliefs.pdfGET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For our entire lives, every single one of us has been developing a filter through which we see and interpret the world. This filter dictates the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves, about other people, and the world around us, but because we’ve carried this narrator with us our entire lives, it can be hard to tell which stories are actually fiction, and it can be even more difficult to remember that we can sometimes rewrite happier through line, for certain stories that aren’t as helpful anymore. LINK:https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-challenge-your-negative-core-beliefs-7554706 https://positivepsychology.com/core-beliefs-worksheets/ https://positive.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Table-of-Common-Core-Beliefs.pdfGET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Weaponized incompetence refers to the deliberate use of ignorance, incompetence, or lack of skill in a relationship as a manipulative tactic to avoid responsibility, gain control, or shift blame onto the other person. This form of manipulation can be harmful and destructive to the dynamics of a relationship, leading to frustration, resentment, and a lack of trust. Understanding how weaponized incompetence manifests itself is crucial in identifying and addressing such behaviors.LINK: https://www.verywellmind.com/weaponized-incompetence-7553422GET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

balancing the gap between partners can be tricky because it's not going to be a 50/50, simple, black and white split down the center. there may be times when one partner is picking up more slack than the other, but because our lil ecosystems (homes) will need different things at different times, we need to figure out HOW. So today, we talk about potential ways to approach discussing the mental load with your partner. RESOURCES: https://english.emmaclit.com/2017/05/20/you-shouldve-asked/ and https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/what-is-the-mental-loadhttps://camillestyles.com/wellness/mental-load/https://behavioralscientist.org/how-couples-share-cognitive-labor-and-why-it-matters/GET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

balancing the gap between partners can be tricky because it's not going to be a 50/50, simple, black and white split down the center. there may be times when one partner is picking up more slack than the other, but because our lil ecosystems (homes) will need different things at different times, we need to figure out HOW. So today, we talk about potential ways to approach discussing the mental load with your partner. LINK: https://english.emmaclit.com/2017/05/20/you-shouldve-asked/ GET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

fair play method by eve rodsky is a badass way to approach the imbalance of cognitive labor that needs to keep a household running. It may be hard to ask others to contribute, but if they're able - they should be pulling their weight. and addressing it doesn't have to be a conflict, with the right approach. RESOURCES: https://english.emmaclit.com/2017/05/20/you-shouldve-asked/ and https://camillestyles.com/wellness/mental-load/ andhttps://behavioralscientist.org/how-couples-share-cognitive-labor-and-why-it-matters/GET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

there may be times when one partner is picking up more slack than the other, but because our lil ecosystems (homes) will need different things at different times, I felt it important to rant about the heteronormative piece of the pie for a few minutes, today.LINK: https://english.emmaclit.com/2017/05/20/you-shouldve-asked/ GET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.