Hey all,
Happy Monday from beautiful NYC!
When you’re working hard, it’s easy to feel like you’re living inside a bubble of deadlines, decisions, deliverables, hard convos, high highs…..repeat.
But we need to burst that bubble intentionally to live our best lives.
Gratitude and mindfulness can 10x your work life because grateful, more intentional people produce better work. Practicing gratitude pulls you out of your work bubble and reminds you what makes all of this worth it.
And somehow, we’re almost halfway through 2026. CRAZY.
So this week, I’m sharing a few (awesome) things I’m grateful for that make it all worth it.
Today’s newsletter will cover THE list of obsessions that:
Make me grateful + centered in my personal life
10x my work life
Add mindfulness into the mix
Get everything to work together
Let’s get into it.
SELF CARE & UNPLUGGING:
If I'm not taking care of myself, nothing else matters. This is my foundation.
Here's what I'm obsessed with rn:
Sleeping mask - this blackout mask will change your sleep and life ($12 on Amazon)
Hotel duvet cover and sheets by Cuddledown - My friend Keri has them and now I’m obsessed, too
Hiking with AllTrails - I use this app to find trails wherever I am; it never fails me. There is nothing that clears my head faster than an amazing hike. I used to go on solo hikes at least once per week when I lived in Colorado.
Summer nights outside - walks on East Side River, West Side Highway, Central Park, rooftops
Looking at flowers in my home - Never fails to make me happy
The Fort NYC - 4 people with 1 trainer. The entire philosophy is functional strength, and as an ex-athlete I've never felt stronger or more injury-proof. I go to the UES location but they have Williamsburg and Flatiron too.
Farmhouse Fresh - I’ve used this for 4+ years nightly & swear by it
Hard gel nails - low maintenance, always fire at 4U Nails on UES
Matching pajama sets - getting ready for bed is now a vibe.
Concerts - My first job ever was an internship at Live Nation (I saw 20
+ shows that summer). I'm so grateful that job (plus my mom’s love of concerts) gave me this hobby as a permanent part of my life; it’s a throughline that never fails.It’s on my list to see Zach Bryan and Chris Stapleton this year
Incredibly fluffy dogs - specifically I am obsessed with Cara’s dog, Tate, and Becca’s dog, Salem
PEOPLE I LOVE:
The people in your life are everything. The more honest I am with myself about my values, the easier it is for me to find people who share the same ones.
Here's who I'm obsessed with rn:
Lifelong friends you can be 100% yourself with - so lucky to have Cara, camp friends, Rinat, Danielle, etc!!! My childhood friends are pretty amazing bc we keep it real.
Work friends who are also real friends - Jon Rhome, John Kneeland, Mara, Morry, Tyler, etc.
Work hard, be kind, be generous, don't go crazy, be honest, build something incredible, share personal struggles and wins with each other.
Yael Cohen Braun - the biggest blessing mentor friend ever; she was my first advisor & we met in my second month at Citizen.
She saw my potential and power before I ever did and made sure I saw it too. I can call her about anything and she will tell me the HARD truth. My mom has literally said "I don't know, call Yael" when I'm navigating hard work situations.
Lesson 1: She taught me that when you are authentic to what you believe in, your work will be 10x better because it will directly reflect that.
Lesson 2: Trusting yourself when something doesn't feel right is a skill to learn and lean into
Honest conversations and the truth - on everything, always
Having people in my life who I know to my core are smarter than me + who have my back fully. These are the ppl I listen to when faced w challenges.
TECHNOLOGY:
This list could be 100 things long, but here’s what came to mind first:
Mood lighting - THIS chic dimmable light is on my bedside table and I only use this in my room
beehiiv - the most empowering, incredible software I’ve ever used. It’s the foundation of Knight Vision, is the fabric that connects me with all of you, and allows me to perform this ritualistic practice of writing down my work weekly
Spotify collab playlists - the most fun way to connect with people and share music
Lightfield - my AI CRM is teaching me how to become a better business owner, partner, marketer and everything in between. It knows everything about my clients and deals, so I can proactively discuss potential customer scenarios with it and make decisions accordingly. It’s kind of like having a COO.
iMessage group chats bring friends closer!!!!!! Group chat your friends randomly and spread good vibes💙
MENTAL STIMULATION:
NYC museum hopping (Morgan Museum is my recent fav)
Movies, movies and more movies. Recently saw Obsession (10/10)
Real housewives (for realz, friendship dynamics are interesting)
Work events IRL
BoomPop - there is nothing like bringing your work friends together IRL. They plan the most insane experiences that have def made people’s lives better, more meaningful and filled w connection
Some of my favs recently:
Georgina’s Reliance Summit for SOLO (ily, so proud)
The Shortlist NYC
beehiiv x Linkedin event was so fun
Navigating challenges & learning lessons - the ups and downs at work and in life are just part of the wave. The only way to reach the top is to learn how to work thru it and ride the wave correctly.
Growing and selecting what’s important to you - we are all evolving always, pick things that match who you are now and who you want to become
Well, How’d I Do?
And most importantly, I’m grateful for you.
Every Sunday, we create the space here to share what’s moving us forward in work and life, challenging us, and changing everything we thought we knew into something more meaningful and different.
Taking this time and space weekly for yourself is something to be so proud of.
Next week, I’ll ship a tactial AF newsletter and teach you some insane marketing hacks.
Julia
