July was a month of testing new things in the pursuit of crafting the life of my dreams, to make that vision real, and a month for reflection and time off.  

The first two weeks of this month were spent experimenting with building a calming and supportive environment before my summer holiday. I’m tired of starting my summer holiday with at least 2 weeks of trying to unwind, only to have 2 weeks left where I’m actually relaxed. Learning from previous mistakes, I decided to try out a new approach. That started 3 weeks before I logged off from my work. I’m happy to report that it worked. 

The new structure entailed careful planning and restraint from my part, as I’m excellent at cramming every free second with something to do, learn, or just tick off my list. As I turned on my out-of-office and turned off my computer, I left my office with a sense of calm I would pay good money for. 

The rest of this month was spent in a small town along the Italian Riviera. Talking scenic morning walks, sipping delicious espresso at cafes, reflecting and writing down thoughts, insights and plenty of new ideas. Life in this town is something I enjoy as it’s both energetic and tranquil at the same time. 

Not all days were spent in a sunlounger by the ocean; we had time to go to Monte-Carlo for the day. To wander around, sample local cuisine, and just enjoy the architecture and the stunning views. 

Travelling as someone who can eat at least a vegetarian diet now is so much more fun and relaxing than when I ate solely plant-based. Then food was a source of stress, especially when I was travelling with other people. Now, with new doors opening, I’m having the time of my life trying all these new things, especially for someone who loves food. 

I ended July by taking the train back to Nice to spend a few days there. I’m immensely grateful for this and will write more about it in the August reflections. 

Books Read: 7 

Being front row to the Mediterranean comes with a few perks, such as having plenty of time to read books.  One of the most profound reads was “When the Body Says No”, by Dr. Gabor Mate. It’s the next step in the quest to understand the body and what creates or drains it of energy. 

Courses:

I’m still studying the AI fundamentals course at Wharton, but I decided to give myself a summer holiday from studying and will take up my lectures after my holiday. 

Wellness

I’ve doubled down on my walking, as my knees have been acting up. Walking in the morning and ending my day with a brisk walk has been beneficial for both body and mind. When I’m in Italy, we always walk in the evenings after our dinner, as it’s part of the culture, and that makes it into a habit quickly, without me having to think about it.  

Before my holiday, I was hitting the hot room for both yoga, pilates and guided breathwork. Both Pilates and yoga are helping me increase my connection with my body and be more in tune with myself in that regard. The benefits for my posture are an additional add-on, and I think I’ve grown at least 2 cm since I started! 

Part of my pre-riviera routine and knee rehabilitation was to continue with my pressure therapy that combines the lymphatic drainage with red light therapy. This is doing wonders for my knees. I’m seriously considering getting myself a red light therapy mat. 

Supplements:

Urolithin-A: I still have a couple of months to go on this. Still no significant things to report. Besides my recovery time, it’s much quicker. 

Saffron: I added saffron to my stack when I was not feeling myself as an additional booster. I take it in the evenings, and so far I love it as it helps me sleep through the night when I have PMS. During the last days before my period, I usually can’t sleep at all. Introducing saffron reduced this for me, which I love as it makes such a difference to the entire PMS week. 

Creatine: I forgot about this and started adding it back in. Started with 3 grams and will work my way up both for the cognitive and physical benefits. 

Podcast 

After reading Jim Kwicks’ book, I’ve reduced my podcast listening. During my travels, for 2,5 weeks, I took the opportunity to go cold turkey. I only listened to podcasts on the plane to Nice and on the way back. During my time on the Riviera, I didn’t listen to a single podcast. Nor music on my morning walks. 

Before my travels, I found one episode that is in my saved list, which is 10 Shadow Work Tools That Will Change Your Life (Backed by Science!) by Elisabeth Carson. This is something that I find intriguing and will try out. Everything in the quest to increase my energy.