January has always been a month of possibility for me. It’s the moment when you get to daydream about all the great things you’ll accomplish in the coming year, often from the warmth of your home on a subzero day. The many lotions, recovery tools, books, and foodstuffs that have made their way into my recent daily rotation all support those ambitions in one way or another, whether it’s something as small as smelling really good underneath my chunky sweater, or as major as cutting down my evening screen time. However you’re planning to live a better life this year, I hope my discoveries help—or, at the very least, give you some good Valentine’s Day gift ideas.
The Brick
I’ve been hearing murmurs about the life-changing powers of The Brick since the fall. The small plastic square works in tandem with an app to block off your access to certain apps and websites on your phone. You can create a customized spread of what’s accessible and what’s not in anticipation of different life moments. So your “productivity” setting might keep you from tapping on eBay or Threads while you’re supposed to be responding to email. Or your “hiking” selection could block TikTok, but not AllTrails (so you don’t get lost). At any rate, once you’ve tailored and selected a mode, you ritualistically tap your phone to the square brick like you’re making some terrifying pact with a witch, and let the attention span gods take the wheel. I specifically wanted to try out the device to see if it would help me follow the 3, 2, 1 sleep rule (3 hours before bed, no more food or drink, 2 hours before bed no more work, 1 hour before bed, no more screens.) The first day I tried it I found myself mindlessly tapping the grayed-out Instagram icon, and realized just how Paplovian some of my pre-bedtime digital habits were. Nearly a week later, the once-fierce subconscious pull to be with my phone had dulled—my brain seemed to have learned that it was no longer a fount of dopamine.
Church Natural Deodorant
We are currently in a deodorant renaissance. Gone are the days of three meh choices at your local Walgreens. Here are the days of products infused with intoxicating combinations like saffron, basil, hinoki, and vetiver. The latest in my collection is Church Natural Deodorant, a plant-based stick from a Northern California brand that smells like the forest when you step outside your campsite in the morning, thanks to cedar, eucalyptus, and clary sage essential oils. Though there’s not much evidence that shows natural deodorants are better (or safer) for you, I do nevertheless love that this product, down to its packaging, is entirely compostable.
Philosopher Foods Gut Nuts
I’ve seen a few signs that sourdough is going to be hot new ingredient for companies and restaurants to put in their food. Beyond a string of sourdough pizza places popping up in my neighborhood, I also recently spotted a box of “sourdough pasta” at Sprouts. The logic behind this is that sourdough goes through a fermentation process, and therefore contains more nutrients and probiotics than your average loaf. Those things can, in turn, aid with digestion. My favorite entry in this category, beyond the pies at Wild Crust, are Gut Nuts. I first spied a bag of them in the Esalen bookstore this summer, but was too caught up in my own spiritual journey to do any further investigating. When I finally got my hands on a bag of their almonds I was immediately hooked. These dehydrated (a.k.a. raw) nuts taste like a pungent loaf of sourdough and have more nutritional value than their roasted, non-fermented counterparts. I’m still trying to decide which is my favorite between the almonds, cashews, and peanuts.
On the Calculation of Volume
If July is the season of plot-heavy “beach reads,” then January is my month for contemplative, multivolume explorations of space and time. In that department, there may be nothing better than Danish writer Solvej Balle’s On the Calculation of Volume series. A reimagining of the classic Groundhog Day dilemma, the story unfolds as a series of journal entries by an antiquarian books dealer who, for no particular reason whatsoever, finds herself repeating the 18th of November, over and over again. But unlike the Bill Murray classic or even the more recent Palm Springs, the resources of her world are finite, and she is soon haunted by the monstrous way she is slowly eating away at her surroundings. Thus far, in the three available books of what will be a seven-volume collection, her stuckness functions as an interesting metaphor for mass consumption, and the mysterious distance that arises when your life path diverges from someone you love. It's excellent cozy reading that will forever change how I think about the day November 18th.
Merlin Bird App
I know, I know, this is the kind of thing that someone who just read How to Do Nothing might suggest. But allow me to explain. At the start of 2026, I resolved to be on my phone less and outside more. Fast-forward a few weeks and I’ve come up with a way to do both that doesn’t feel icky: the Merlin Bird App. Whenever I step into my backyard, I open up this free app to record and automatically identify the birdsong around me. It’s made me much more attuned to what’s happening in the trees, as opposed to what’s on my phone, especially since it will highlight the name of a bird as its call is taking place. That’s taught me to differentiate between a mockingbird (sing-songy, constant) and, say, a yellow-rumped warbler (swift, chirpy). Also, you know, be more present.
Balo Raw Kombucha
I’m always on the hunt for a festive, novel replacement for alcohol, and lately Balo is my go-to. The Los Angeles company caught my attention a few months ago with its unique kombucha flavors, which include one concoction made from cold brew, dates, and calamansi. My new personal favorite is a mix of Buddha’s-hand and hojicha, from local legend Kettl Tea. (Balo makes a point of sourcing their ingredients from local farmers and businesses, which is especially cool.) I haven’t tried their shrub mixers yet, but they seem just as promising.
TriggerPoint Performance Therapy Grid Foam Roller
My physical therapist keeps telling me to mind my thoracic spine, which when inflamed can be the source of a lot of back pain. As a result I’ve made a point to do a quick three-minute roll of my back on this thing every night, which has helped immensely to keep my shoulder pain at bay. I can attest that the grid of raised bumps on its surface are especially therapeutic.
Marin Soothing Hydration Cream
This time of year my skin gets so dried out in the wind. So I’ve made a habit of applying this lotion—made from the surprisingly hydrating innards of lobsters—on my hands and feet before bed. Me and my boyfriend call it the beef tallow of the northeast. If you suffer from eczema or rough patches, I highly recommend it.
Clé de Peau Advanced Protective Day Cream
In line with the theme of dry skin, my face has been flaky this winter—especially as I try to keep up my retinol schedule. I tend to like products that are a bit more unisex in presentation, but I make an exception for Clé de Peau. The day cream is silky and hydrating without feeling too overwhelmingly oily, and it does a great job of firming and brightening my face, all while protecting it with a baseline SPF 25. I honestly can’t stop using it.
Portland Seed House Tomato Seeds
Last year I got really into growing tomatoes and, under the advice of my far more advanced urban farmer friend, Hunter, have branched out to actually purchasing special heirloom varietal seeds I plan to sow this spring. (Or, next week, depending on when it starts getting hot in LA.) I was lucky enough to try some of these from his garden and they are unlike any grocery store tomato you have ever tried. If you have the capacity to sow a plant or two, you won’t be disappointed.
Babe Oil
If you’re at a loss for what to get your lover this upcoming Valentine’s Day, consider this flirtatious gift. It smells unique and herbaceous and can double as an excuse for a nice massage.
Exosomes facial
I’ve raved about exosomes-based products like Plated’s Undereye Serum before, and now I’m here to tell you that exosomes-based facials can be especially potent. To review: Exosomes are teeny extracellular vesicles that can be used to trigger the body’s regenerative mechanisms. Med spas will sometimes combine serums that contain them with microneedling or red light therapies to punch up your skin. I tried one this month and loved my results. If you can book an appointment for one with Pietro Simone (who jumps between Manhattan, the Hamptons, and LA), you should.