5️⃣ Ways I Regulate Without Calling it Regulation
After the last couple of newsletters, I found myself craving something lighter and simpler.
So instead of another deep dive, I want to share a few small ways I’ve been regulating lately without calling it regulation or turning it into a wellness project.
Nothing revolutionary, just real life.
1. Walking or driving with a podcast playing
Lately, one of the most regulating things I’ve been doing is going for a walk or a drive and letting myself get absorbed in a podcast that’s genuinely entertaining and enlightening.
Right now, that’s been The Telepathy Tapes. If you haven’t listened to it yet, it’s pretty wild. While it has faced a lot of criticism for promoting pseudoscience, what I appreciate about it is that it makes you question consciousness, the way we experience reality, and the nature of science itself. There’s something about being curious and mentally engaged that feels grounding for me.
If you’re curious, you can find it here:
https://thetelepathytapes.com
2. Eating the same simple food on repeat
This past weekend I went to a couple of potlucks and brought cowboy caviar. It’s easy and works for any occasion.
I’ve been eating the leftovers in all sorts of low-effort ways: with toast, folded into an omelette, and straight out of the container if I’m being honest.
There’s something regulating about not overthinking food and letting leftovers do their job.
Here’s the simple recipe I use:
🤠 Cowboy Caviar (Texas Bean Dip)
Ingredients
• 1 can black beans, rinsed & drained
• 1 can black-eyed peas or kidney beans (optional but classic)
• 1½ cups corn (canned, frozen & thawed, or fresh)
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• ½ red onion, finely diced
• ½ cup chopped cilantro (adjust to taste)
• 1–2 jalapeños, finely diced (optional)
Dressing
• Juice of 1–2 limes
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp salt (start here, adjust later)
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• Optional: ½ tsp cumin or chili powder
Instructions
1. Dump all beans, corn, and veggies into a large bowl.
2. Whisk dressing ingredients separately (or pour straight in).
3. Toss everything together.
4. Taste and adjust salt/lime.
5. Chill for at least 30 minutes if you can (better flavor, but still great immediately).
Serve with
• Tortilla chips (scoops are best)
• Pita chips
• Or spooned over greens
Easy upgrades (totally optional)
• Add diced avocado right before serving
• Crumble feta on top
• Splash of red wine vinegar for extra zing
3. Letting one song be enough
I’ve been listening to the same song on repeat lately and not questioning it.
It’s “Across That Fine Line” by Nation of Language. Something about the rhythm and mood just lands for me in a way I’m not interested in dissecting.
Here’s the link if you want to listen:
https://youtu.be/yUQiwGrXIpQ?si=cuKyAFmC5MsLtdfU
Sometimes regulation looks like letting your body pick the soundtrack and not asking why.
4. Sitting and reading with my cat on my lap
Some evenings, regulation looks like sitting still with a book and my cat Janine curled up on my lap.
No phone. Just the weight of a furry, warm being and the quiet permission to stay put for a while.
It’s simple, but it’s deeply settling in a way that’s hard to replicate intentionally.
5. Doing nothing “useful” for a few minutes
This one sounds almost too obvious, but it’s been important for me.
Standing outside in the sun. Sitting on the floor. Looking out the window. Letting my body be still without turning the moment into reflection or meditation.
Just being…is enough sometimes.
None of these things would make a great protocol. Annnnd that’s kind of the point.
I think many of us have learned to approach our well-being the same way we approach work: always refining, adjusting, and looking for validation about whether we’re doing it right. Somewhere along the line, “self-care” can start to feel like another performance.
What I’m practicing instead is paying attention to what actually makes me feel settled, even if it doesn’t look impressive or consistent.
If you’re feeling a little tired of fixing, consider this an invitation to simplify things. Notice one small, ordinary thing this week that helps you feel slightly more like yourself.
I’d love to know what you discover.
