If a book wasn't teaching me something life-changing, I didn't want to touch it.

So I spent years stacking self-help books.

Books around psychology, philosophy, habits, health, entrepreneurship…you name it.

I never saw a problem with it.

I thought I was doing something good for myself.

But it turns out…I was only making myself feel different without actually changing anything.

That's the trap with self-help books.

They make you feel successful and productive just by reading them.

So it’s easy to neglect the most crucial part.

The part that actually changes anything…

Action.

Nothing changes unless you practice what you learn.

I took pride in how many books I was reading each year, but I was literally doing nothing with what I learned.

I believe they call this “mental masturbation”.

I also reached a breaking point.

My brain was burnt out.

Stuffed with information I never did anything with.

I could feel my imagination rusting away.

I wanted something different.

So this year, I told myself I’d lean into the world of fiction.

I walked into a bookstore with no wish list.

Just showed up, hoping something might catch my eye.

I walked out with a fiction book.

First one I’ve (willingly) picked up since I was a kid.

I owe an apology to a lot of people…for all the ignorant comments I made about reading fiction, lol.

My recent video is all about that.

[Watch it here]

Cheers,

Laye

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5 Days to a Calmer Mind

I tried it out of curiosity after having a rough day.

I sat on my bedroom floor, put on a meditation track, and closed my eyes.

I don’t know what I was expecting, but something shifted in me that first time.

It wasn’t something magical or instantly life-changing...But I felt something that made me want to come back day after day.

Years later, it’s become an important practice in my life... and I want to share that with you.

So I put something together for you: 5 Days to a Calmer Mind: a beginner-friendly meditation program.

My meditation practice was kind of a mess at first.

It took at least a few years to find what worked for me.

So I created this keeping two things in mind:

• What would’ve helped me when I first started?

• What will help others? Especially those who feel they “can’t meditate” or struggle to see any point in it.

And then, given my obsession with simplicity and minimalism, I aimed to make it as simple and painless as possible.

Here’s what we’ll experience together:

• Day 1: How to Start Meditating (Without Overthinking It)

• Day 2: What to Do When Your Mind Won’t Stop Thinking

• Day 3: How to Stay Calm When Life Gets Overwhelming

• Day 4: How to Build a Daily Meditation Habit You Can Stick To

• Day 5: How to Stay Present in a Distracted World

Each day is less than 10 minutes.

Something you can easily do in the morning, on your lunch break, or before bed.

I also added journaling prompts to go along with each day.

Totally optional, but I find it helpful to do a short reflection after each practice.

One thing before we start: bookmark this letter so you can find it easily each day.

Take it one day at a time.

Each day builds on the last.

Ready?

Let’s do it :)

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Day 1: How to Start Meditating (Without Overthinking It)

Key insight:

• Meditation isn’t about stopping thoughts…it’s about noticing them. Every time you catch yourself thinking and return to your breath, you’re meditating.

Reflect:

• What came to mind when you heard the word “meditation” before today? Did anything change after this practice?

Day 2: What to Do When Your Mind Won’t Stop Thinking

Key insight:

• A busy mind doesn’t mean you’re “doing it wrong”…it’s part of the practice. Instead of fighting thoughts, try acknowledging them: “I see you, but I’m not interested right now.”

Reflect:

• When your mind wandered today, where did it go? Work, worries, memories, random stuff? Just notice the pattern…no judgment.

Day 3: How to Stay Calm When Life Gets Overwhelming

Key insight:

• You don’t need 20 minutes of meditation to feel calm. Even one minute of intentional breathing can shift your nervous system.

Reflect:

• Write your mindful minute count. Now think of three specific moments this week where you could have used this reset button.

Day 4: How to Build a Daily Meditation Habit You Can Stick To

Key insight:

• Less is more. 3–5 minutes daily beats one 30-minute session per week. Start small.

Reflect:

• Design your “personal space”: When will you practice? Where? Make it so specific and simple that you could do it even on your worst day.

Day 5: How to Stay Present in a Distracted World

Key insight:

• The awareness you build from your meditation practice goes with you everywhere. It helps you savor every ordinary moment of your day.

Reflect:

• Where in your life have you been on autopilot? What moments have you been missing while mentally being somewhere else?

Congrats :)

You’ve just completed the full program!

Here’s what you now know:

• Meditation is about noticing thoughts, not shutting them off.

• You don’t need to fight your thoughts…you can acknowledge them.

• A mindful minute helps you reset when overwhelmed.

• 3-5 minutes a day is all you need to start building consistency.

• The awareness we build meditating helps us in all areas of life… allowing us to be present and savor every moment we have.

You are someone who can meditate.

You just did it for five days straight.

Keep showing up.

Keep practicing.

This could be the start of something beautiful :)

Cheers,

Laye

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