Field Notes, Vol. 3
April notes on unexpected turns, backyard dinners, getting stronger, and paying attention to what matters
Welcome to my monthly series, Field Notes — a small collection of things I’m reading, loving, and noticing in this season of life. Inside, you’ll also find The Analog Files, where I share something I’ve learned through my experiment with tech minimalism.
Before we get into it today, I have to take a moment to acknowledge the intensity of April. What a wild and fiery month it’s been!
In my corner of the Universe, things started off beautifully. I brought Life Unlooped into the world, we had the kids’ Spring Break, which was filled with local family adventures and lots of time spent outside enjoying the weather.
Life was just dandy.
And then — boom. Right before the New Moon in Aries, my husband woke up with intense abdominal pain, which led to two hospital visits and urgent surgery. Thankfully, all is well and he is doing great. But the force of that day was a doozy on the nervous system.
Scary or unsettling situations have a way of reminding us how quickly life can shift. One minute you’re peacefully sleeping on a week night, and the next you’re sitting in a hospital room, praying everything will be okay. Just another reason to spend less time on a device.
If your April has felt intense too, I hope you find yourself on the other side, also returning to the simple things that make you feel steady. As you’ll see below, the outdoors, movement, and more have been bright spots for me — and what I come back to most.
Number One: Everything Outside.
We finally bought a table and chairs for our deck, and it has been life changing. Not only because we eat dinner outside almost every night now, but it has become my favorite spot to gather my thoughts, to write, and to listen to the birds. Since reading How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell, I’ve gotten inspired to really tune into what’s happening in my backyard. To not just see it as “what nature sounds like,” but to notice all of the different birds contributing to its chorus. Our new outdoor seating has been such a gift I’m enjoying it every chance I get.
New Discovery: Sarah Wilson’s Podcast, Wild.
If you’ve been in the wellness world for more than a decade, you’ve probably heard of Sarah Wilson. She was one of the well-known alumni of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition for her I Quit Sugar platform and has been a public figure for much of her career, namely as a journalist. I knew her back then – we had a few email exchanges when I worked at IIN. But honestly, I lost track of her until recently when I stumbled upon her podcast, Wild. And I have to say, I’ve loved her most recent episodes.
Her show explores the idea that humans are becoming more and more disconnected from themselves and from nature — and the consequences of that disconnection. In the episodes I’ve listened to so far, there’s a real grappling with what it means to live in a messy, chaotic world where our planet is under strain and our nervous systems often feel the same. Thankfully, there is something we can do. In small, everyday choices. We can choose to stay connected — to ourselves, to each other, and to the natural world right in front of us.
Biggest Surprise: #51 Rising in Philosophy.
On the morning of April 7th, we were about to get the kids ready to go to the Atlanta Zoo. It was the start of Spring Break, a gorgeous sunny day. I sat down briefly to check Substack and was shocked to see a ranking on my profile: #51 Rising in Philosophy. “OMG, what??? Jamie!!!!! My Substack is ranked #51 in Philosophy!!!!” I screamed from the kitchen.
I won’t lie, it felt so good to see – even briefly – that my writing was somehow, some way getting traction. And while I know rankings are very fluid and change daily, I did hold that spot for 24 hours (felt like a win!). Who knows if it will happen again, but it was certainly a nod from the Universe, Blair, you’re on the right track. Keep going. At least, that’s how I’m taking it.
So, THANK YOU, for reading, subscribing, commenting, engaging with anything I’ve written – your support has meant so much to me.
Leap of Faith: Life Unlooped.
The #51 ranking came the day after I launched Life Unlooped, a 45-day experiment to become less distracted by our devices and more present in our lives – for my paid subscribers. As I’ve shared, this was both an exciting thing to bring into the world, and one that brought up so much vulnerability. I think I have what I’m calling “Launch PTSD” from a decade of offer launches inside the former version of my online business.
Life Unlooped felt like a “launch” in a sense, but I reminded myself that these little choices – to share something new, to put it into the world – is part of aligning with what’s right. So, with that, I surrendered and let it be what it is – no matter how many people signed up. Plus, we had our first call last week, and it was so nourishing. It’s absolutely going to be something I do once per season. Summer session launching in June!
Back at It: Strength Training.
I had a pretty consistent stint with lifting weights in the fall, but if I’m being honest, I got way too wrapped up in the results. Instead of thinking of it as a new staple in my routine, it turned into something I was tracking too closely – numbers, progress, outcomes. At one point, I even tried using ChatGPT as a “coach” along the way, which, in hindsight, wasn’t the right fit for me. About six weeks in, I realized the whole thing had become more stressful than supportive. So, I stepped back, took a four-month break from lifting, and leaned into softer movement instead, making 30-minute walks my core form of fitness through the winter. But once spring arrived, I felt that inner pull to start again – and this time, it feels different. I’m more relaxed, more patient, and focused on the long game. This isn’t just about aesthetics, although I’m all about that part too – it’s about vitality, strength, and building something sustainable.
The Analog Files
Notes from my experiment with making my phone less interesting.
It’s been 85 days since I took the most distracting apps off my phone and if you’ve been following along, you already know so much has shifted. I’ve reconnected with boredom and daydreaming. I have more clarity about what I’m creating here. I feel way less anxiety and worry. And most of all, I am so much more IN my reality and feel a deep appreciation for what’s already in front of me.
And I haven’t erased scrolling from my life completely. I still have email. I still have Safari. I still have the essentials like Amazon. And sometimes I find myself on Substack for longer than planned. But the curiosity about Instagram and other people’s lives has quieted down – and that alone feels like freedom.
So what have I been up to instead? Here are a few screen-free rituals that have been bringing me joy lately – writing letters with a friend from college, flipping through old issues of Darling Magazine, and tending to my garden. I’m also making my way through my reading list: How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell ✅ . And now onto Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport.
If you, too, feel inspired to spend less time on your phone but struggle to put boundaries in place, consider joining Life Unlooped, our group experiment running through the end of May to reduce screen time and engage more fully with real life. Become a paid subscriber for just $5/month and you’re in.
Big hug,
❤️ If this resonated
If this piece spoke to you, tap the heart or comment below. Knowing whether or not this resonated seriously makes my day. And if someone in your life might need this reminder too, feel free to share it with them. Thank you for reading — I’m so grateful you’re here.
🎙 Listen to the podcast
If you enjoy these reflections, you might also like my pod, The Blair Badenhop Show. Bi-weekly I explore the same themes you’ll find here — authenticity, inner authority, purpose, and navigating life in a noisy world. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts.
➰ Join Life Unlooped
If you’re feeling the pull to spend less time on your phone and more time rooted in real life, you’re not alone. Life Unlooped is an ongoing experiment in being less attached to our devices and more present to the world around us — one small choice at a time. If that sounds like something you want to explore alongside others, join us by becoming a paid subscriber.
