Hey Dana Jane

Tag: health and wellness

  • “Take Space,” They Said. “Sit in Your Own Energy,” They Said. But What Does It All Mean?

    Have you ever felt like the health and wellness world is speaking in a code only decipherable by crystal-clutching yogis and smoothie enthusiasts? Phrases like “take space,” “create space,” and “sit in your own energy” sound deep, but they also sound like something a self-help guru would chant before disappearing into a puff of sage smoke.

    Don’t get me wrong—I’m all for self-care. But when someone tells me to “create space,” I’m left wondering: do I need to move furniture? Is this a Marie Kondo thing? Or is it like, emotional feng shui?

    So, because I’m a curious soul (and frankly, a bit tired of pretending I know what anyone’s talking about), I decided to decode these mystical phrases for the rest of us mere mortals.

    1. Take Space

    Translation: Go sit in a corner and ignore everyone.
    Apparently, “taking space” is wellness-speak for saying, “Leave me alone so I can drink my coffee in peace.” It’s about carving out time just for yourself, away from your kids, coworkers, or that chatty neighbor who somehow knows when you’re trying to relax.

    Practical Example: Lock yourself in the bathroom and pretend you’re constipated for 20 minutes. Boom. Space taken.

    2. Create Space

    Translation: Clean up your house. Or your brain. Or both.
    This one is trickier because it’s vague on purpose. “Create space” could mean decluttering your living room. It could mean breaking up with that friend who never Venmos you back. It might even mean throwing out your guilt about binge-watching reality TV. The possibilities are endless, and that’s the point: you decide what needs space in your life and what needs to go.

    Practical Example: Toss out those skinny jeans you’re never wearing again. That’s “creating space” and being honest with yourself.

    3. Sit in Your Own Energy

    Translation: Be awkwardly alone with your thoughts.
    This one’s a doozy. “Sit in your own energy” sounds like the wellness version of being grounded for something. And honestly? It kind of is. The idea here is to stop distracting yourself with Instagram, Netflix, or five million tasks and just…exist. Feel your feelings. Think your thoughts. Maybe have a small existential crisis.

    Practical Example: Sit on your couch with no phone, no TV, and no distractions. Yes, it’s weird. Yes, you’ll survive.

    But Why?

    Okay, so now that we’ve translated the lingo, you might wonder: what’s the point of all this? Why do we need to “take space” or “sit in our energy” when we could just doom-scroll like normal people?

    Well, it turns out these practices are about mindfulness and self-care—just wrapped in a blanket of poetic language. They’re meant to help us slow down, reflect, and make space (there’s that word again) for the things that actually matter.

    Do they sound a bit pretentious? Sure. But when you break them down into everyday actions, they’re surprisingly doable. So the next time someone tells you to “take space,” just smile, nod, and go lock yourself in the bathroom. You’ve got this.

    And remember: it’s all just words—until you make it work for you.

  • New Year, New Energy

    Seven days into the new year and I’m feeling energized. Focused. Determined. Ready to kick ass and take names. Have you ever looked up that phrase? I heard it used often as a child and I pictured someone literally kicking another person’s ass and then asking them, “Hey, what’s your name?” I find that funny. Also, I learned that this idiom means to be unequivocally dominant and in control in some situation. I think it suits me.

    I am undergoing a transformation, a personal revolution. I woke up one day between Christmas and New Year’s and decided that the time has come to put everyone else’s bullshit behind me, to stop wasting time and energy on people who don’t deserve me, and to make myself a priority.

    Selfish? Yes. Necessary? Absofuckinglutely.

    Prioritizing my own self-care has taken on a new meaning. I have consistently exercised this week. This has been something I’ve struggled with because I go through phases. I will work out several days in a row and then skip a day, only to find it’s difficult to get back on the horse. Or treadmill, rather. But this week I ran or walked on the treadmill 4 days and walked the dog outside in the frozen tundra twice. It feels amazing to log food and exercise on MyFitnessPal. Consistency is the key to success.

    I’m also working on personal growth. Meditation and visualization have become a part of my morning routine. At night I read the Bible with my kids. Spiritual growth is important to me, and I’m exploring my own religion, as well as learning about other practices.

    The most important lesson I’ve learned is that I need to step out of my comfort zone. It’s easy to do what’s familiar. The hard things are where growth is found.

    For once, I’m unequivocally in control of my life.

    How is your New Year so far? What changes are you making in your life?