Hi guys! Hope everyone’s having a good week so far! We were today-years-old when we learned the origin of “waiting for the other shoe to drop.” It came from someone upstairs dropping a shoe, while the person downstairs waited for the second one to hit the floor."

Tunes of the week: Shout out to Gabi’s dad for requesting Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” to remind us to keep on going when the going gets tough. Have a song request? Reply to this email and let us know what you want to hear next!

Need to vent? Want advice? Have feedback? We wanna hear from you!

How to Start a Manageable Routine

 question 
Recently, I’ve found myself lacking a routine. I’ll try one thing for a bit, but I can’t seem to commit to it for long. What’s the best way to create a routine that sticks? —O.

 answer 
Look, we totally get it! Starting a routine can be daunting, especially if you’ve been out of one for a bit. But tbh, both of us find having a daily schedule helps us keep our lives organized, manageable, and balanced.

Below are a few pointers we’ve found that help us when we want to switch things up.

1. Start small. Commit to spending 10 minutes a day doing something you want to add to your daily life eventually. That’s only All Too Well Taylor’s Version once…

2. Choose what you enjoy. If you’re not a morning person, maybe rethink your plan of getting up early to drink tea, meditate, and journal… or at least not right away. Set yourself up for success from the beginning.

3. Get a little help from tech: Habit apps, calendar reminders, and smart alarms are a few of the many new habit-encouraging technologies out there. Use them to your advantage!

4. No one’s perfect. One missed day isn’t a failure. Tomorrow’s a new day, get back to it. 

Is It Time To Get A Pet?

 question 
I always had pets growing up, but have never owned one on my own. I'd really like to get one, but I'd love to hear from you guys since I know you're both dog owners. —T.

 answer 
When we say we’re obsessed with our dogs, we’re not exaggerating. But that doesn’t mean caring for them isn’t a huge responsibility. While it's a lot of fun, owning a pet (especially on your own) is a huge lifestyle change. On the flip side, the unconditional love pets provide is indescribable and worth every emergency vet bill we’ve ever had to pay.

We like to keep it real here so check out some pros and cons if you’re considering getting a pet and need a little guidance.

Pros:

• Unconditional Love & Companionship: Pets offer a loyal, judgment-free friendship, even when you text your ex after a few glasses of wine.

• Mental Health Boost: It’s been scientifically proven that pets can reduce stress, anxiety, and loneliness. They also make the best couch-rotting companions if we do say so ourselves!

• Daily Purpose: Speaking of routine! Caring for a pet adds structure and responsibility to your everyday life. If your dog’s gotta get their steps in, you will too!

Cons:

• Long-Term Commitment: Pets need daily care, attention, and expenses for years.

• Limits on Freedom: Travel, spontaneity, or long hours away become harder; you’ll always need to consider a plan for your pet. 

• Emotional & Financial Costs: Vet bills, training, and the responsibility of taking care of a living being can add extra stress to your life.

Got a Q? We wanna hear it here! 

...after you eat an Uncrustable for lunch.

Marianna Moore’s Scoopable Salad? Sign us up. We’ve always said everything tastes better with a little chip as a vessel. 

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been a victim of YouTube waterboarding? 🖐️The Giggly Squad hit the nail on the head with this one. 

We’ve watched this clip of Penn Badgley’s Happy Place dance on The Jennifer Hudson Show at least a hundred times already.

Thanks so much for reading this week! We’ll see you back here soon! LYLAS!

—Rod and Gabi