Samantha Duenas' Empties
"I created a very relaxing bath/bedtime routine for my baby, and I saw how important and successful it is for her sleep. It dawned on me that I could and should do the same for myself."
🌀 Welcome to Empties! 🌀 This is a series where we go deep on three healthy and healthy-ish things cool people are using to the last metaphorical drop. These can be legit, science-backed healthful or simply health-adjacent, as long as they don’t impact their wellbeing in a negative, unhealthy, or toxic way.
Today, we’ve got Samantha Duenas, LA-based DJ and host under the name SOSUPERSAM, and author of a newsletter I love,
. It explores her motherhood era, and even as a child-free person, I can still enjoy all the candid meditations on this chapter of her life, the essays are excellent and there are spreadsheets! Lists! An organization lover’s dream.When I asked Sam about something she’s working on that she’s proud of right now, she said working on getting back into herself and her career after entering motherhood during Covid.
She thinks it’s 😎 cool 😎 that self-care and wellness have become popular. “It seems like the wellness category has expanded to meet the personalized needs and aesthetics of literally every individual.”
But Sam thinks wellness becomes 👿 insidious 👿 when it’s conflated with products. With buying things. “The misguided notion that you need 45 face serums and $25 smoothies in order to be healthy. Wellness, in my opinion, is rooted in the mindset. I’ve defined wellness as these major categories: sleep, nutrition, water, movement, joy. And I believe it only takes a few actual physical products to optimize these categories. The wellness starts from within.”
Let’s take a look at three of Sam’s favorite items she uses to the last drop. It does include a habit tracking app.
Osea Vagus Nerve Oil
💞 Healthy or healthy-ish?
I’d say healthy!
⏰ At what point in the day do you use this?
Evenings before bed.
🤔 Let’s get introspective for a moment. Why do you think, deep down, this serves you? Or is it not that deep?
I created a very relaxing bath/bedtime routine for my baby, and I saw how important and successful it is for her sleep. She’s a great sleeper and a happy baby! It dawned on me that I could and should do the same for myself. I placed a new importance on my sleep hygiene and cobbled together my own routine. This vagus nerve oil is part of that ritual. I massage my ears and neck with it before settling into bed with a book, and it’s very soothing and relaxing.
☎️ You have the product designers on the phone. They said they can grant you one wish: You get to make one change or adjustment to the product to make it even more indispensable. What is your wish?
I would ask for a dropper instead of a pump to dispense. Small change, otherwise no notes!
⏳ Is this something you can see yourself still using in 10 years, or will it have run its course/be obsolete?
It feels timeless to me!
👽 Aliens from another planet just arrived on Earth. They’ve never heard of this product. How would you describe it to them in just one sentence:
An oil to send your nervous system into calm and restful sleep.
💬 In one word, describe how this vagus nerve oil make you feel:
Relaxed.
You can shop the vagus nerve oil on Osea.
Ritual Protein Powder
💞 Healthy or healthy-ish?
Healthy.
⏰ At what point in the day do you use this?
Mornings.
🤔 Let’s get introspective for a moment. Why do you think, deep down, this serves you? Or is it not that deep?
It’s not that deep. I’ve edited my breakfast routine to include a protein shake, and this powder is yummy. I blend it with oat milk, banana, and peanut butter.
☎️ You have the product designers on the phone. They said they can grant you one wish: You get to make one change or adjustment to the product to make it even more indispensable. What is your wish?
No changes!
⏳ Is this something you can see yourself still using in 10 years, or will it have run its course/be obsolete?
I think I’ll be doing this in 10 years, it’s a fairly sustainable habit and a solid product.
👽 Aliens from another planet just arrived on Earth. They’ve never heard of this product. How would you describe it to them in just one sentence:
Delicious healthy drink.
💬 In one word, describe how this protein powder make you feel:
Fortified.
You can shop Ritual’s protein powders on the brand site.
Habit Tracker App
💞 Healthy or healthy-ish?
I think healthy-ish?!
⏰ At what point in the day do you use this?
Throughout the day.
🤔 Let’s get introspective for a moment. Why do you think, deep down, this serves you? Or is it not that deep?
The key to meaningful and sustainable change is intention and consistency. A simple habit tracker keeps me accountable and engaged with new habits I am forming around my wellness. Right now my app is tracking three recent adjustments that I’ve made in my routines: “Morning 8oz. cup of water,” “Coffee 90 minutes after waking,” and “Movement 3-5 times a week.”
☎️ You have the product designers on the phone. They said they can grant you one wish: You get to make one change or adjustment to this product to make it even more indispensable. What is your wish?
Hmm. No notes.
⏳ Is this something you can see yourself still using in 10 years, or will it have run its course/be obsolete?
I can see myself using this when needed. I find it vital in the first 21 days of forming a new habit but once a new behavior becomes second nature I don’t think I’ll continue tracking.
👽 Aliens from another planet just arrived on Earth. They’ve never heard of this product. How would you describe it to them in just one sentence:
Reminds you to do the thing!
💬 In one word, describe how this app makes you feel:
Accountable.
You can download Habit Tracker from the app store.
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Header and illustrations by Olivia Fu