Episode 38: Why Kindness Matters More Than Ever for Stress and Mental Health

In a world that feels louder, harsher and more divided than ever, kindness can feel rare and even suspicious.

In this episode, I break down how acts of kindness directly impact stress levels, mental health and nervous system regulation. We’ll talk about the science behind kindness, why small moments matter more than big gestures and how both giving and receiving kindness can create real physiological shifts.

This is a grounded, honest conversation about staying human in a stressed-out world, without wearing rose-colored glasses.

Free Substack subscription: https://oliviabellwellness.substack.com

Website: https://oliviabell.co

I hope you find some time today for some peace, some plants and some paws!

☮️🌿🐾

Jo

Episode 37: Stuck in Your Head: When You Can’t See Past the Pain

Tunnel vision is a survival response and when it shows up outside of real danger, it can quietly turn destructive.

In this episode, we talk about what happens when the brain narrows its focus under stress, depression, anxiety, or trauma and why losing perspective can make pain feel permanent. We explore why some people get stuck there and what it really takes to interrupt the spiral.

If this episode hits close to home, please reach out.

• If you’re in the U.S., you can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — free, confidential, and available 24/7.
• If someone came to mind while listening, check on them. That interruption can save a life.

Free Substack subscription: https://oliviabellwellness.substack.com

Website: https://oliviabell.co

I hope you find some time today for some peace, some plants and some paws!

☮️🌿🐾

Jo

Episode 36: Why a Word of the Year Works When Resolutions Don’t

New Year’s resolutions tend to fall apart by February not because you lack discipline, but because they don’t work with real life.

In this episode, I’m sharing a simpler, more sustainable approach: choosing a Word of the Year.

A word acts as an anchor and something you can return to when you feel scattered, overwhelmed, or off track. Unlike rigid goals, a word adapts as life unfolds and helps you reset without starting over.

I walk you through:

• Why a single word is easier for the brain to hold onto than multiple goals
• How one clear focus reduces mental overload and decision fatigue
• Why forcing goals creates more stress and what happens in the body when we try to control everything
• A step-by-step practice for choosing your word (without scrolling the dictionary or copying someone else’s)

This isn’t about perfection, pressure, or performing your growth for others. It’s about choosing something meaningful that guides you back to yourself again and again throughout the year.

If you’re tired of goals that don’t stick and ready for a grounded reset, this episode is for you.

Free Substack subscription: https://oliviabellwellness.substack.com

Website: https://oliviabell.co

I hope you find some time today for some peace, some plants and some paws!

☮️🌿🐾

Jo

Episode #35: Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail And What to Do Instead

Every January, we set big goals and by the end of the month, most of them are already abandoned.
In this episode, we break down why traditional New Year’s resolutions fail, how event-driven goals (like weight loss for a deadline) quietly sabotage long-term success, and why popular goal-setting frameworks don’t work the way we’ve been told.
This isn’t about willpower or discipline. It’s about choosing goals that actually support your life, your nervous system, and your energy, without guilt or burnout.
If you’re ready to rethink resolutions and set goals that make sense, this episode is for you.

Free Substack subscription: https://oliviabellwellness.substack.com

Website: https://oliviabell.co

I hope you find some time today for some peace, some plants and some paws!

☮️🌿🐾

Jo

Episode #34: Slow Down So You Don’t Miss the Holidays

The holidays aren’t meant to be a race. In this episode, Jo talks about why slowing down matters, how constant busyness overloads your nervous system, why small moments actually stick, and how presence (not perfection) is what makes the season meaningful. A reminder to put your head where your feet and ass are and take time to actually enjoy the holidays.

Free Substack subscription: https://oliviabellwellness.substack.com

Website: https://oliviabell.co

I hope you find some time today for some peace, some plants and some paws!

☮️🌿🐾

Jo

Feeling off-center, overwhelmed or disconnected lately?

In this episode, I talk about why spending time in nature, even just five or ten minutes can help calm your nervous system and bring you back to yourself. I share a personal story about how nature reshaped my relationship with stress and why it still plays a critical role in regulation today.

You’ll learn:

• Why nature helps reduce stress and anxiety
• How simple outdoor time supports nervous system regulation
• An easy grounding practice for people who don’t meditate

If life feels like too much right now, this episode is your reminder to step outside and let your body remember it’s safe.

Free Substack subscription: https://oliviabellwellness.substack.com

Website: https://oliviabell.co

I hope you find some time today for some peace, some plants and some paws!

☮️🌿🐾

Jo

The holidays have a way of exposing the chaos we’ve been pretending isn’t there. The decorations, the expectations, the closets we avoid opening… it all piles up until the joy gets buried under anxiety.

In this episode, we’re talking clutter, traditions, mental load, emotional weight, and why your home is basically a mirror for whatever season you’re in right now.

If your house feels overwhelming or the museum of other people's expectations and you’re craving a simpler, more intentional way to exist in your own space… this one’s for you. No guilt. No performative holiday perfection. Just honesty, clarity, and real choices that lighten your life instead of loading it up.

Free Substack subscription: https://oliviabellwellness.substack.com

Website: https://oliviabell.co

I hope you find some time today for some peace, some plants and some paws!

☮️🌿🐾

Jo

Holiday gifting doesn’t have to feel like a full-contact sport. This week, we’re breaking down the pressure to find the “perfect gift” and swapping it for something way better: simple, meaningful, intentional giving that actually feels good.

We’ll talk about why the season ramps up our stress, how we get caught in the cycle of buying out of obligation, and what really matters when you’re choosing gifts for the people you care about. You’ll walk away with a calmer mindset, a clearer plan, and permission to keep things easy this year.

If you want a holiday season with less pressure and more joy, this episode is your sign to slow down, breathe, and choose differently. Let’s make gifting feel good again.

Free Substack subscription: https://oliviabellwellness.substack.com

Website: https://oliviabell.co

I hope you find some time today for some peace, some plants and some paws!

☮️🌿🐾

Jo