For the inner work

When the Body Says No | Gabor Maté | For understanding how much we carry in our bodies without ever realising it.

Chatter | Ethan Kross | For making sense of the voice in your head and learning to work with it rather than against it.

The Happiness Trap | Russ Harris | For anyone who has tried to think their way out of anxiety and found it doesn't work.

For the questioning

You Were Born For This | Chani Nicholas | For using astrology as a serious tool for self-understanding rather than a horoscope

All Fours | Miranda July | For any woman in the middle of becoming someone she didn't expect.

For the soul

Just Kids | Patti Smith | For the part of you that still believes in art, love, and becoming.

Hot Milk | Deborah Levy | For when you need permission to be complicated.

Ruin of Magic | Kate Holden |

For beautiful writing about survival, identity, and finding your way to what feels like home.

LUX | Rosalía

The Collective & Play | Kim Gordon

Train on the Island | Aldous Harding

Jalen Ngonda

Tems

Julia Jacklin

FKA Twigs

PJ Harvey always

Alice Coltrane

Goodbyes on Sydney Road, Brunswick | My favourite.

Lost and Found | Indoor Fitzroy market of carefully curated vintage and worth every minute of the browse.

Retropolis | In Preston, for when you want something with a real story behind it.

SWOP | More labels and exxier but still fab Collingwood locale.

Rose Street Carpark Market | More Gen Y skewed but still worth a wander in Fitzroy on a Saturday.

Country town op shops | Drive somewhere small, go slow, expect nothing, find everything.

Bandsplain with Yasi Salek | She is so great, obsessive, opinionated with a Valley Girl vibe but very essential if you love music.

Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud | For the intersection of fashion, identity, and what we're really saying when we get dressed.

Where Shall We Begin with Esther Perel | For the most honest conversations about relationships, desire, and what we want from each other.

The New Yorker Fiction Podcast | For a short story and a conversation about it gives you the best hour you'll spend on a walk.

For the body

Strength training | For rewiring how I feel about my physical self and knowing I’m strong.

First thing in the morning stretching | Before the phone, before the day, are five minutes that changes everything.

Somatic classes | For learning to listen to your body and learning tools to regulate your nervous system. My fave is Jodi at Soma Practice

For the mind

Circle of control | The simplest reframe I know, do it on paper when things feel overwhelming.

Micro reflective moments | Mediation and journalling are helpful but not for everyone. Just pausing long enough to notice what's actually happening inside.

Limit phone before bed | Still hard and still worth it.

For the soul

Making tea intentionally in my favourite cup | Sounds small but it is intentional self-care.

Reading before bed | The kindest thing I can do for my nervous system at the end of a day.

Getting into nature | As often and as simply as possible.

Using your phone for actual connection | Calling a friend instead of scrolling is revolutionary and underrated.