Back in January, picture me in the East Village, freezing my ass off, sitting in front of a psychic who looked at my cards and delivered a hard truth: my creativity was kinked up somewhere and the only fix was to start writing. I left with a resolve to start a Substack and made a bee line for happy hour martinis at Dante’s.
Eight months later? Spoiler: still no Substack.
Why? Because 2025 hit me with full-on total burnout chaos. I sold a business (takes way longer than planned), got sick twice, survived a major car crash (still stuck in analysis paralysis on buying a new car), kept up treatment for my dachshund’s spinal rehab, and to top it all off, broke my arm.
Somewhere in the chaos, I also quit the pill to try and balance my hormones - a total rollercoaster ride. The routines that usually keep me sane? Tossed out the window. Instead, I mastered bed rot, doom-scrolling, drinking way too much, and crying *all the time*. The worst version of me showed up daily. Despite some amazing wins sprinkled in, I couldn’t even appreciate them - too buried in the burnout to notice.
August was my breaking point. Meltdown central.
Now, here I am in Bali, trading brain static for ocean waves, trying to figure out how to get back to me. Yes, it’s very Eat, Pray, Love, but at the ripe old age of 34, I’ll swear by the sun/sea magic combo to fix all manner of things.
After the psychic, I’ve also had a palm reader and a tarot reader tell me the same thing - my creative energy is huge, just seriously repressed. There’s something to be said here for keep asking the same question and getting the same answer. No wonder I’ve been feeling stuck.
Tech in 2025? It’s an endless white-knuckle ride. AI concepts drop weekly and if you’re not an instant expert, you’re already behind. On top of that, the industry’s choking on wave after wave of layoffs. Everyone’s nervous, job security’s a myth and optimism is on life support. The news? A relentless, anxiety-spiking circus ready to send me into a spiral every time I hit refresh.
So what’s the play? I went full-on digital detox, no socials, no doom scroll, for about four days. Then day five, back to 5 a.m. screen time. Breaking a phone addiction? Turns out it’s hard. Did you know the consumers now scroll on average 2 miles per day?! I don’t know what that is in KM but it feels like a lot.
Reset doesn’t come in a detox app or a no-phone rule. It’s in the tiny wins. Like forcing myself out of bed, swapping the iphone for an actual book (yes, the old paper kind), and reclaiming silence without that itchy panic that I’m missing something.
Pool chair politics have replaced TikTok become my latest obsession. I’ve been watching it all unfold like a reality show and inventing full-on White Lotus style storylines for the fellow guests.
YES to protecting my energy, NO to every distraction dripping for my attention. Tiny wins in the age of info-overload feel nothing short of revolutionary.
What I’m gossiping about
Sunscreen gate. Now, I’m not here to throw shade at these brands - I genuinely love Ultraviolet and Naked Sundays and am in awe of what they’ve achieved. I’ve been slathering their stuff exclusively for 3 years (RIP my melasma). So yeah, this sunscreen scandal stings a little more than it should. Independent tests showed SPF ratings as low as 4. Basically, sunscreen or baby oil? Tough call. And it’s not just them, multiple labels (so far 17 have pulled products from the market) using the same white-label formula are scrambling. The quick white-label shortcut? Looks like it is dead as a strategy.
The way it’s been handled? A lot of denial, deflection, and excuses before maybe some independent testing. Sub-par doesn’t even begin to cover it. Consumers want honesty and accountability. Brands, your credibility is on the line, and trust me - it’s not endless.
Hot recs
Buying: A gorgeous polka dot dress by Cielle, a Bali brand designed by two sisters. Another halter style brown dress from Bec & Bridge and a blue one from Sir. Resisting the urge to buy ‘aquatic holiday jewellery’ (as Matt calls it). Eyeing a studded brown suede tote bag at the local stores. Considering if the studded totes are already over and if I’m too late to jump on the trend. Picked up some great holiday looks from Cotton On of all places. Will do a full Bali outfit post later.
Listening to: Nothing. Cold turkey off the pods this week. Trying to buy some brain space back as I’ve realised I’ve become uncomfortable in silence.
Reading: A lot, because books are better by the beach. The Maid by Rita Prose (a pleasant blind date with a book), The Tell by Amy Griffin (excellent but I’ve DNF’d this for now as it was killing my holiday vibe), Hot Milk by Deborah Levy (recommended by the epic HSR angel Georgia).
Beauty fave: Kevin Murphy Supergoo Rubbery Sculpting Gel. This has changed the game for beachy slick-back hair. No muss, no fuss, a perfect slick every time and rinses out with water alone.
Manifesting: My next vacay.
So here we are - a psychic’s nudge, a tropical reset, and plenty of hard-earned lessons later. No magic fixes. Just the sometimes uncomfortable work of showing up for yourself.
This Substack will be a blend of whatever’s on my slashie mind: marketing, branding, tech, retail, culture, consumer gossip, community, and shining a light on some of the remarkable Hot Smart Rich angels I’m lucky enough to meet.
Brooke x
yes yes yes need more!!
love your words!! congrats x