Have you seen the term job hugging popping up on your LinkedIn feed lately? If you have, you’re probably like me and have felt a mix of recognition and discomfort.

Job hugging describes the growing trend of employees staying in roles they’ve outgrown or feel unhappy in, not because they love the work, but because leaving feels too risky. In an uncertain economy, with layoffs, rising costs of living, and an unpredictable job market, this choice can understandably feel like a necessity.

When you’re burned out, it can feel like your energy never quite comes back. It doesn’t seem to matter how much you “rest”, take time off, or try to relax. You may be still appear to be functioning and fulfilling your daily duties, but everything feels a little harder than it used to. There’s a name for this experience: allostatic load.

I’ve struggle for words about what the world feels like to me right now. I realized that it brings me a lot of comfort to know that I don’t need to come up with new words, opinions, or ideas on how to broach the turmoil I feel and see around me. I hope that this list of books can offer you some guidance and support through difficult times. I hope they offer you hope and peace when you need it, and challenge and growth when you also need that.

You’re going to bed. You’re even getting the recommended number of hours. And yet, you wake up feeling foggy, heavy, or already behind.

That’s because it’s not really about sleep, it’s about your lack of restorative rest. Sleep and rest aren’t the same thing and it’s important to understand the difference and how to get both.

Rooted in thousands of years of Chinese culture, Lunar New Year (LNY) marks a collective pause between what has been and what is becoming. Unlike the urgency often felt leading up to January 1st, Lunar New Year invites reflection, restoration, and intentional movement forward.

“Why can’t I sleep?" “How can I fall asleep faster?” These are two of the top mental health-related google searches of this year. And it’s no wonder, because we’re living in a world that rarely lets our nervous systems fully relax. Even when we’re technically resting, we’re often still taking in information, others’ emotion, and stimulation.

For many people, the issue isn’t that they don’t want to sleep or don’t know the basics of sleep hygiene. It’s that our bodies are getting all kind of mixed signals about when and how they are supposed to power down.

Aesthetics like poetcore, wilderkind, cottagecore, and mystic outlandes are a part of Pinterest’s Trend Predictions and they say a lot more about us than just trending aesthetics and popular themes. These trends are showing a great cultural shift about what people are craving within the context of our current state of our world: slowness, meaning, grounding, and relief from constant performance for others’ gaze.

Polyvagal theory gives modern language to that ancient knowing. It helps explain how anxiety lives in the body, why talk alone doesn’t always help, and how small, embodied shifts can change how safe you feel day to day. Let’s dive into learning about the vagus nerve and how it can actually apply to your daily life to support anxiety and overwhelm.

I’m guessing if you’re here it’s because the very notion of confrontation makes your stomach drop. And if you do feel that way, you’re amongst a lot of good company. Many of us grew up in a way that made us dread, fear, or even panic at the notion of confronting someone especially if it’s about our own hurt feelings. For many self-proclaimed people-pleasers, causes your nervous system to spike. Your heart races, your mind jumps to worst-case scenarios, and suddenly staying quiet seems far safer than speaking up.

The best part about cozy hobbies is that it’s not about mastering a skills (although you often do improve) or monetizing your interests. They’re about engaging with ourselves in ways that feel grounding, soothing, and human. And from a mental health perspective, they’re one of the keys to rejuvenating our spirits and beating burnout.

Have you ever felt like you experience the world more intensely than others? Maybe you’ve even been put down by others for being “too sensitive”. To you, sounds feel louder, emotions run deeper, and subtle shifts in mood, energy, or environment are quickly and easily noticeable. Let’s talk about understanding sensitivity through a compassionate lens that still offers room for relief and growth.

I’m a strong believer that everyone is creative whether or not that expresses itself in a “traditional” way. However, some of you have chosen to pursue creative work more consistently or as a job, which has its own added complexities. Creative work is deeply personal and requires you to pour in a lot of yourself. Whether you’re a writer, artist, musician, designer, performer, or maker of any kind, your inner world is often closely tied to what you create. This can make the creative process meaningful and fulfilling, but also emotionally vulnerable, demanding, and at times overwhelming.

As we move into 2026, many people are feeling drawn toward the idea of “going analog.” This interest a response to the exhaustion that comes from living in a world where screens touch nearly every part of our lives. Technology can be incredibly helpful, offering access to care, flexibility, creativity, and connection. At the same time, when digital engagement becomes constant and unavoidable, it can quietly contribute to burnout, anxiety, and a sense of disconnection.

The question most people are really asking isn’t “Should I quit technology?” but rather, “How do I use it in a way that actually supports my mental health?”

Today, I’m interviewing Dr. Leo Mountain, a naturopathic doctor who specializes in gut health, nervous system support, men’s health, hormone imbalances, LGBTQ & trans-affirming care, and other complex illnesses. Dr. Mountain supports patients online in California and in-person in San Diego. We are here to talk about how nutrition and craniosacral therapy can support holistic health.

I currently call Sonoma County home, and although I did not grow up here, I have come to love all that Sonoma County offers. This county—like Napa County, San Luis Obispo County, and Riverside County— is highly known for its wine industry and the beauty, artistry, and community that comes along with it. Visitors see rolling vineyards, award-winning tasting rooms, and fancy bottles. But those who work in this world know another layer, one that includes chronic stress, long hours, unpredictable seasons, and now, more than ever, a deep sense of uncertainty about the future.

For many people, the New Year carries a sense of possibility; think fresh starts, big dreams, new habits. But on the flip side, this idea that we need to create major change in our lives can provoke anxiety and internalized pressure. Instead of excitement, you might feel guilt, or dread every time someone asks “Do you have any New Year’s Resolutions?”. The idea of setting ambitious goals might bring up feelings of failure, not hope.

Today, I’m interviewing Dr. Deborah Ma (aka Dr. Deb)  of Puzzle Acupuncture in San Francisco. Dr. Deb is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and a licensed acupuncturist with over 17 years of clinical experience. Her journey in medicine began at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine—the world’s top TCM university—where she earned both a medical degree and PhD. She spent a decade working at Beijing United Family Hospital, China’s premier private hospital, where she collaborated daily with OB/GYNs, neurologists, and pediatricians.

The holidays can be meaningful and joyful and also overwhelming, exhausting, and emotionally complicated. If you live with anxiety, struggle with burnout, or tend to put others’ needs before your own, this season can feel like a pressure cooker of expectations.