i don't need to lock in. i need to lie down.

just the hits #46

There are two kinds of posts that Instagram keeps recommending to me: cat videos, and ‘September lock-in’ challenges.

I will watch every Pyaari video at least 5 times before scrolling along. I immediately scroll past every lock-in Reel that shows up on my feed. It’s not for me right now. These ‘lock in’ challenges are focused on setting and working towards a big goal in the final months of the year, or establishing habits to better yourself.

I’m all for a routine and staying consistent with habits, and I’m equally in favor of giving ourselves a break when we slip and grace when we ease back in. Between my kids’ two days off from school mid-week and tackling a challenging work project, I let my morning routine and phone boundaries slip. My screen time was high, my non-pharma work was abandoned, the clutter started to pile up, and I slipped into hot mess mode.

Today was a fresh start. I tackled my Sunday setup a day late, wrote this Substack before the kids got up, and did the recommended Sculpt Society workout based on my Oura readiness score.

I’m going to slip up again. My mental load is especially full for the rest of the year (frequent work travel, ensuring we hit a major milestone at work, multiple holidays, a heavier caregiving load), and I know I’m not alone.

I don’t need to lock in. I need to lie down.

I need a way to quickly reset (physically, mentally, emotionally) when I feel myself slipping. I’ve relied on these separately in the past, but packaging them up into a 5-7 minute ritual feels more intentional:

1. Dance it out (preferably to a song that would have me beelining to the dance floor when I was younger)

2. Take 10 deep breaths (count 1 on the inhale, 2 on the exhale, reset after you hit 10)

3. A micro-journaling session. It can be a brain dump, or repeatedly writing my personal brand affirmation to remind myself of who I am and want to be.

It doesn’t have to be in order. I don’t even need to do all of these steps. But I have something to lean on when I find myself numbly scrolling or mindlessly switching between tabs on my computer.

I’ll share how this is going for me over on Instagram. I’d love to hear what songs are going in your reset playlist. I, for one, am thrilled that Jay Sean’s “Down” is having a resurgence.

Catch up on the latest:

the plan - september 2025

she was right (and we're still wrong about why we lost)

how are you, really?

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things i’m loving right now

• Did I buy some unicorn stickers simply because of Thea and Carlos Sainz’s podium in Baku? Yes, I absolutely did. Who doesn’t need to be powered by unicorns?

• Co-sign this 100%. Might I recommend these books to start?

• A few things I have my eye on: simple studs (HITHA20 gets you 20% off), a Chanel-esque bag (I have a navy mini and love it, eyeing the medium camel one), and this sheer blouse (very on trend right now).

• I love these Navaratri explainer videos (start with this one).

• The title is harsh, but every word is brutally honest.

• Requests from my DMs: the jeans that have seen me through weight fluctuations, a favorite Eagles sweatshirt, the perfect basic tees, and my go-to belt and sunglasses.

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Wishing you a wonderful Sunday.

xo,
HPN