Hello friends,

How is everyone doing today? I hope this post finds you well. Welcome to the first of our weekly roundup posts — a Sunday letter where I’ll share a little about what I’ve written, recorded, or noticed this week, along with a few gems that made me happy, irritated, thoughtful, or joyful.

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This week I looked at my bullet journal — pages full of scraggly to-dos — and realized not one of them said me time. I’ve mastered productivity. Restoration? Not so much. That’s what I wrote about in this week’s column: the balance between restorative and productive, and why both matter if we want to age with intent.

I also touched on it in the latest podcast, where I asked: What does it really mean to grow older well? It’s not just about living longer, but living deeper.

Something small that helped me this week: I tried my best to end work no later than 8 p.m. I did pretty well — maybe a night or two where I went about 30 minutes beyond, but there were good reasons for that.

So here’s my question for you: When was the last time you chose rest over productivity — and didn’t feel guilty? Hit reply and tell me. I’d love to share a few responses in next week’s roundup.

Cooking my favorite tomato soup is one of the best restorative activities for me. Eating it after is even better.

I’ve also been ruminating on the cost of family obligations — the kind that stretch your wallet and your patience. I’ll probably write about this soon, because I know I’m not the only one who feels the tug of wanting to make everyone happy.

Beginning this week, you’ll get a Sunday roundup, a podcast on Tuesday, and my weekly column on Thursday (a day later for all of it if you’re in Guam). I’ve been all over the place lately — a reflection of my brain, perhaps — but this is the schedule I’ve landed on, and I hope it works for you. At the end of the month, I’ll compile all the resources for a bonus column in case you missed any – think Not Done Yet’s Resource Guide. Thank you for coming along on my journey.

NDY 5 Gems This Week

  1. 📖 Article: How to Rest (NYT Opinion) – a lavish recharge before one rises.

  2. 🎧 Podcast: The Happiness Lab episode on savoring small joys.

  3. 🛠️ Tool: Insight Timer app for guided rest or meditation.

  4. 🎬 Watch: Steel Magnolias — a loud, funny, amazing movie friendships in the later years and how they continue to grow and evolve. (Can you tell I love this movie?)

  5. 🍲 Try: My Roasted Tomato Soup recipe with your favorite grilled cheese. The kind of comfort meal that feels restorative. Click here for the recipe.

🌱 Bonus Do: A 10-minute “microbreak” routine — stretch, breathe, reset. Try Workrave for PC or Timeout for Mac, apps that remind you when it’s time to move.

Next week, I’ll be writing about how obsession with longevity is changing the way we think about aging — for better and for worse. Stay tuned.

Until then,
Rindraty

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