TGIF, though what a horrific week it has been for everyone affected by the devastating LA fires. We compiled a couple quick links If you’re looking to help/donate.

• World Central Kitchen has the ability to rally quickly and has activated several food trucks to help first responders and communities affected. Donate here

• Thanks to our friends at Cool Stuff (a recommended NYC newsletter!), we learned about a Santa Monica restaurant where you can buy a firefighter a meal

• A list of GoFundMe campaigns that you can browse/support

Welcome to today’s The Skinny, which will take you under 5 minutes to read, and which is designed to help enhance your week with our entertaining, curated list of the most relevant tips and topics. As one of our subscribers told us: “You’re like my favorite magazine, just without all the annoying pop-up ads.” 

(And for anyone new here, this is The Skinny, a free newsletter designed to entertain and save you time, which is everyone’s most valuable resource.)

What we’re covering today: 

• Time for a Digital Detox! We’ve got the know-how and products to help you make it a reality

• How the 3-2-1 “Swiss Army Knife” of exercise programs saves you time 

• Why decluttering your spaces also works to clear your mind—along with expert advice and an action plan 

• As the conversation on ultra processed foods continues, a quiz to test your knowledge 

• Plus, a Canadian party gondola, kickoff to Dry January & our eyes on a luxe cherry martini

💡Did you know: all The Skinny editions are online and searchable—so you can easily find topics/links/recipes/items to shop that we have written about in the past. Bookmark this link for easy reference.

🔗If someone already in the know sent this, you can subscribe here.

Doom scroll no more

Give your brain a break with these tips & escapes

The Skinny: A life with 50% less screen time is possible; show your phone there's a new sheriff in town. Our brains need a break, and unplugging is the new luxury. Digital detox retreats—from the simple, like Postcard Cabins to luxury resorts including this one in the Catskills—are popping up, offering a chance to disconnect from screens and reconnect with reality. Net: the perfect excuse to ignore your emails and blame it on "wellness." 

Another tip we love, picked up in a newsletter from Caro Chambers (author of “What to Cook When you Don’t Feel Like Cooking”), is to place your phone on a table and go TO it to use, as opposed to carrying it everywhere you go (and for Gen Zers who don’t know what a landline is, search it up to learn about this fascinating relic.)  

Add to cart: some of our favorite products to support unplugged life: a Digital Detox Deck with 56 cards (under $9) to help you unplug; timed lockbox for your phone (we love this because it has three levels based on your willpower); and there’s no time better than bathtime, especially with this Lemon Peppermint Detox Foot/Bath Soak

Also we really do recommend a timer that is not part of your phone! This guy is $7 and will support all your “New Year, New Me” endeavors.  

Quick HIIT

A killer workout in 3, 2, 1

The Skinny: In the spirit of economizing our time (and allowing for flexibility), we are officially putting “the Swiss Army Knife of Exercise,” aka the weekly 3-2-1 program, into practice starting this week. It’s easy: simply incorporate three strength training sessions, two Pilates workouts and one cardio workout each week. If you’re ready to get started, PS (Popsugar) has answers to all your questions. 

Prefer a more compact workout? Try a HIIT method that combines strength exercises, two bodyweight core, and cardio bursts into a compact routine. It's like a fitness smoothie—quick, efficient, and packs a punch.

Getting clarity

How to create breathing room by decluttering

The Skinny: To learn how to live rent free in your own head, our favorite lifestyle guru—Vail-based Georgi Dienst—is back. To regroup after this lengthy holiday break, we ran to her screaming for help and here’s her five-minute method that you can put into action today. Her website is a great resource too! It’s easy to work 1-on-1, and she’s offering a free strategy session for Skinny readers. Click here to book with Georgi.

(Part 1 of a 3-part series on decluttering and finding clarity—get ready!)

If your New Year is already feeling more overwhelming than overflowing with possibility, you're not alone. The post-holiday season can leave us drowning in both physical clutter and mental noise. But here's the good news: creating space for clarity doesn't require a complete life overhaul—it starts with just five minutes and one surface.

⏰The Five-Minute Focus Method

Choose one surface that you see multiple times daily, such as your kitchen counter, vanity, or desk. This space has likely become a "landing pad" for everything from holiday mail to half-finished projects. Set a timer for 5 minutes and follow these steps:

1. Clear everything off completely

2. Wipe the surface clean

3. Return only items that you use daily

4. Create a "decision box" for everything else

This isn't just about tidying – it's about creating a visual anchor of calm in your space. Each time you pass this cleared area, it serves as a reminder that small actions can create significant impact. 

Why this works: When we're overwhelmed, our brain constantly processes visual clutter, even if we're not consciously aware. Creating one clear space gives our minds a place to rest and reset. Think of it as creating a small oasis of calm in your daily landscape. This visual clarity translates directly into mental clarity—when your environment sends signals of order rather than chaos, your brain can focus its energy on priorities rather than processing surrounding disorder.

Making the Most of Your Decision Box: Place items from your cleared surface into a designated box/basket. Set a timer for 10 minutes and sort these items into three categories: trash/recycle, relocate (belongs elsewhere), and review later (needs more thought). Don't get stuck in lengthy decisions as the goal is quick categorization. Anything truly uncertain stays in the review box, which you can revisit later.

Your Next Step: Choose your surface. Set a reminder for tomorrow morning to spend those five minutes. The key isn't perfection—it's progress. And remember, this small step can create significant impact and is the beginning of your journey from overwhelm to overflow.

Want more guidance to transform your space and mindset? Download Georgi’s FREE CLARITY framework guide to support your decluttering journey HERE. Next week: We'll explore how to maintain your clear spaces while expanding their impact.

Pantry raid

Grocery shopping, made easier: there are apps for that

The Skinny: Are today’s college kids eating better than just ramen and Taco Bell? This latest nutrition news item is courtesy of kids home from college, some of whom look to “Bobby Approved” items (all of which don’t contain certain ingredients) while grocery shopping (and there’s an app for that!). Who is Bobby? That would be YouTuber and home cook Chef Bobby Parrish, who runs the “FlavCity” digital platform and meal prep community. 

We’ve seen a lot of chatter in the New Year about how to spot “ultra processed” foods and smarter shopping (for example, this WaPo story looks at which ultra processed foods are “better” choices than others), while the NYT has a whole five-part series on this topic. However, we’re not linking to it, since it’s ALL under paywall and, as a reminder, that is a benefit of free newsletters like The Skinny…we do the work for you without the paywall frustration. That being said, we love this quiz from the Consumer Federation of America, which tests your skills on ultra processed foods. Highly recommended—takes less than a minute and you’ll be better educated, and surprised.

Last licks

This week’s newsfeed

• Because we dream of being “chalet girls,” a slideshow of Slim Aaron’s apres-ski photos

• While we’re on the slopes, this Canadian Party Gondola is rocking

• It is Dry January, so keep an eye out for our upcoming series with Hilary Sheinbaum, who’s known as the “Dry January MVP” and author of Going Dry: A Workbook (new!). We’ll be looking at what’s in her bar cart, as well as tips for the sober curious! 

• Bradley Cooper is a partner in a new Philly cheese steak joint in NYC called Danny & Coop’s (also, below) and we can’t wait to try—but we’re hoping to get to Philly before then to re-taste the originals

• In our recent FB post, some questioned our interest in cherry martinis as a potential cocktail trend this year. But, we’re not talking sweet cherry, but rather tart and elevated, and with Luxardo cherries…like this one

• Because who doesn’t gain inspiration and life lessons from Frog & Toad (our favorite: “A List”), a shout-out to an alert reader who sent us the cutest reel ever

*If you purchase something linked in The Skinny, we may get an affiliate commission—but at no additional cost to you.