My Wellness & Personal Care Library

For perspective, on the date I am creating this page, I am a 47-year-old female. I have always lived in the Northern Illinois region. I moved a lot as a youth and continued moving around as an adult. I think I counted 13 moves in total. I bought my home in Elgin, IL, in 2006, and moved to Chicago around 2008 (rented out my home during that period). I moved back to my house in Elgin in 2012 and have not moved since. This is the longest I have lived anywhere, and it feels good to finally feel like I am on solid ground. I sincerely hope that something I do or say eventually helps you find your way home. 

Until 2025, sleep was never a problem for me. I could sleep anywhere, anytime, through anything—my only issue was not getting enough because I stretched myself too thin. Then everything changed. It’s common for women my age to develop sleep issues, but common doesn’t mean acceptable. Sleep is how your body repairs itself, and by early 2025, I was lucky to get five hours a night. I started taking naps in my car during lunch breaks just to function. No matter how exhausted I was, I couldn’t sleep through the night. As a problem solver who loves research, I knew I had to find a solution. 

The most impactful change was buying an Apple Watch and downloading a sleep app. I’d been wearing the watch for months, so it had plenty of data to analyze when I downloaded the app. When I follow the app’s guidance, I’m well rested. Sleep is a science, and everyone’s needs are different. My bedtime is around 8 PM because I wake up between 3:30-4:00 AM. Sounds crazy, but it works for me. 

RISE (sleep app). If you would like to try this app, here's a referral link: https://web.risescience.com/offer/gift30 The amount of detail, tools, and instructions it provides is incredible. 

Sun Exposure and Sleep

Listening to the Huberman Lab podcast, I learned why bright light exposure early in the day is critical for circadian rhythm and sleep regulation—and how typical indoor lighting hardly compares to natural sunlight in lux (sunlight can be 10,000–100,000 lux+, whereas indoor lighting often registers in the hundreds or low thousands). After listening to this episode, I invested in a 10,000 lux sun lamp, which I keep on my nightstand. It’s now the first thing I turn on after turning off my alarm clock. 

“Using Light (Sunlight, Blue Light & Red Light) to Optimize Health” — Huberman Lab Podcast (Episode #68, ~April 18, 2022) — full-length episode where he talks about how different wavelengths and intensities of light influence sleep, circadian rhythm, hormones and mood, and mentions artificial bright light sources as practical tools when natural sun isn’t available.

Here's a link to the sun lamp I purchased (on Amazon). I turn on the lamp, set my phone timer for 10-15 minutes (the lamp also has a built-in timer, but I still prefer my phone timer), and write my morning list. It’s a welcome routine that helps me rise and shine!

You will hear me reference Andrew Huberman often. He holds a PhD in neuroscience and is a tenured professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. His work focuses on how the brain, nervous system, and vision influence behavior, stress, sleep, and performance.

So when you hear him talk about sleep, light, and circadian rhythm, he’s speaking from a research scientist/neuroscientist perspective, and I fully trust his findings. Do I follow everything precisely? No, but what I have followed has made a tremendous positive impact on my health. 

• AG1: I am a huge fan of this product, and again, found it through the Huberman Lab podcast. AG1 is a green powder that helps deliver vitamins, minerals, and support for gut health. I mix mine with water and drink it first thing in the morning (after my sun lamp and massage routine, more on this in the Personal Care section). AG1 has been around since 2010, and Dr. Huberman has consumed this product since 2012. Not only do I feel better taking it, but it has also eliminated the need for a bunch of separate supplements. I take additional supplements, which I will get into later, but not nearly as many as I used to. I believe he still provides a bundle offer here.

• NAC (N-acetylcysteine): I know that you are going to get tired of the Huberman Lab reference, but this is another one. This episode in particular discusses the immune system and is linked here. I have suffered from sinus infections (twice a year), which somehow turn into bronchitis (no, I am not a smoker). I have suffered from this since I was a child. Additionally, ear infections. I am terrified of even what might feel like a mild cold, because it always turns into something worse. Having shared that, you will now understand why NAC has been a part of my daily routine for a few years.
  
  NAC is a supplement form of the amino acid cysteine. It is widely recognized for its diverse medical and therapeutic applications, particularly its ability to boost the body's antioxidant defenses. It’s been referred to as a “master antioxidant”. It’s also a mucus thinner and powerful detoxification treatment - it’s used as a standard medical treatment for acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose, helping to prevent severe liver and kidney damage. This powerful supplement has other benefits, but these alone should hopefully be enough to pique your interest. I take 600 mg/day, and this is the brand I purchase: NOW Supplements NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) 600 mg with Selenium (on Amazon).  
  
  There are other things I do for my sinus health, but I will discuss that in the Personal Care section. 

In progress

In progress

In progress