👋 The 3 min and 6 sec life hack

It's Monday. I'm here for you.

Hi, Friend! It's me, Jen Glantz.

The best thing I did this week was empty my brain for 3 minutes and 6 seconds.

I have SO many things going on upstairs and not a lot of people I trust to listen to it all. Plus, some of our thoughts aren't meant to travel down to our vocal cords. They are meant to do jumping jacks in our brain until they tire themselves out. I have plenty that won't tire, just like a toddler during witching hour, no amount of zoomies or dance parties to Elmo's Slide will make them slow down.

So here's what I did every day this week: I set a timer for 3 minutes and 6 seconds and wrote down anything that popped up in my brain.

Why that amount of time?

I thought 5 minutes would feel too long, so I decided to go with 3 minutes. But somehow I set a timer for 3 minutes and 6 seconds, so I stuck with that. I used the first 6 seconds to exhale and pick a starting point. The starting point was anything from something making me anxious to the boring old weather. But it always expanded and took me to a different place where secrets came out that helped me understand the state of mind I was in when I woke up that morning.

My only rule was that I had to keep my fingers moving and write for the entire 3 minutes and 6 seconds.

I wrote about the ways I was feeling, my fears, my regrets. Every single day I did this, I was shocked by what came out. I never went in with a plan. I just let my fingers type, and within a minute, something really wild came out of me. Something I'd never admitted to anyone. Something I needed to process. Something I was holding in.

Most of our days are so routine and normal that we hardly know how to surprise ourselves. Even more, doing this will. Even if you start off writing about the weather, you will end with something so unusual that you will shock yourself into believing that you're thinking about something so much more.

This isn't some groundbreaking concept that I invented. It's just something I've never really done before.

It's the heartbeat of the popular Artist's Way book (which, PS, has anyone actually done this start to finish? I made it 20 pages in and said: Ahh, not my journey today).

That's why, in order for me to do this, I had to keep it simple. I had to keep it short.

It's a simple life hack for the lonely, the confused, the heartbroken, the bored, the determined, the misunderstood, or for you—whether you are any of those things, none of those things, or your own thing.

Take care of yourself this week (ilysm),

Jen Glantz

Greetings from my office in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

1. Book: I loved this book so much. It combines Jewish and Japanese culture, with themes of grief, motherhood, the floating feeling of love, and regret. [Buy on Amazon // Bookshop]

2. Song: Play this only if you need a serious pick-me-up int the form of a dance break.

3. Most-Worn Items Of the Week:

   → A $6 tank top that’s fits so well I bought it in a ton of different colors.

   → You know I don’t love expensive things but these jeans are really worth the hype. They are so light-weight for the summer and they fit so well.

   → Reformation shorts dupe that are half the price and fit better IMO.

   →Everything I wear on my face from 6am to 6pm:

   1. Skincare: I’ve been conscious about my skin since I was 11 and acne became my clingy best friend. In the last few weeks, TWO people told me my skin looks really good (bare without makeup)!! It’s a compliment I don’t hear often and It’s because of my skincare routine. I only use products from this one brand (this is not sponsored!! I spent $150 on 10 products last month that are amazing). Here are the ones I can’t live without:

      1. Toner: Makes my skin feel so smooth in the morning.

      2. Peptide Serum: This has been a game changer for my face. If you grab one thing to try, try this!

      3. Moisturizer: Love this one! It’s not thick and doesn’t make my skin oily

      4. Face Oil: I put this on as my final step after moisturizer.

   2. Makeup:

      1. The foundation/sunscreen that’s a game changer

      2. A bronzer I love

      3. A blush that’s a lot of fun to put on

      4. All-day mascara

      5. A simple lipstick

4. Quote I’m living by: You need to exhale when you’re fighting gravity (my workout instructor said this during class and I thought — wow this is such a metaphor for life).

Recent Monday Pick-Me-Ups:

• How to take care of yourself

• You’re heading in the wrong direction

• Social media is making you lonely

Most clicked items:

• Ilia Foundation — life changing!

• Bala bangles — workout anywhere!

• Pink Adidas shoes — stand out!

Thank you for reading this week’s pick-me-up. I adore you! I’ll be back in your inbox on Monday. Until then, hit reply and say helllloooo!

If you want to follow me on @jenglantz, I’d love it. And if you have anything to share or ask, hit reply or comment below.

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