Feel Good From the Inside Out

On Friday, I shared about attending the EO year-end event in Toronto.

It was one of those evenings that reminds you why community matters. Great conversations. Great people. New ideas. The kind of energy that comes from being surrounded by ambitious people who are building, learning, and growing alongside you.

What I didn’t share was the next morning.

Even though I don’t drink, I woke up feeling like I wanted a carb-packed, greasy breakfast and absolutely nothing productive on my schedule.

And honestly, for years I would have listened to that impulse without much thought. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more aware of something important: I need to feel good from the inside out.

Not because it’s the trendy thing to do. Not because I’m trying to optimize every moment of my life. Because I’ve learned what helps me recover.

A late night doesn’t just take physical energy. It takes mental and emotional energy too. Being engaged, connecting with people, learning, listening, contributing—it’s all worthwhile, but it still requires something from us.

The mistake many of us make is believing that because something is positive, it doesn’t require recovery. But recovery isn’t reserved for burnout. Recovery is part of being human.

So instead of chasing what felt good in the moment, I came back to what I know helps me feel good afterward.

A salt bath.

A few sun salutations.

Some fresh air.

A Booster Juice.

Nothing groundbreaking.

No complicated morning routine.

Just a few simple practices that help me reconnect with myself.

The older I get, the more I realize that leadership, performance, and connection all depend on capacity. We talk constantly about productivity, growth, goals, and achievement. What we don’t talk about enough is the capacity required to sustain them.

Capacity isn’t built by pushing harder.

It’s built by paying attention.

Paying attention to what energizes you.

Paying attention to what drains you.

Paying attention to the habits, routines, and choices that help you show up as the version of yourself you want to be.

For me, that starts with feeling good from the inside out.

Because when I take care of myself first, I have more patience with my kids. More presence with my husband. More energy for my clients. More capacity for my team.

And ultimately, more ability to contribute to the people and communities that matter most.

The lesson isn’t that everyone needs a salt bath or a green smoothie.

The lesson is knowing what works for you.

Self-awareness isn’t just knowing your strengths.

It’s knowing what restores you. And having the discipline to choose it, especially when hash browns are calling your name.