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🌳 A morning coffee mistake to avoid
Monday 7/27: Sponsored by Staples and I Hate It Here - Manicures, red light therapy, and a morning coffee mistake
Monday
"I am learning to welcome change with curiosity instead of fear."
In today’s issue, we’ll take a look at:
A manicure that helps your nails
The science behind red light therapy
Where to get all of your printing done
A morning coffee mistake to avoid
Advice for anyone working in HR
Did You Know
Red light penetrates the skin more deeply than ___ light, which mostly affects the surface layer.
Scroll to the bottom for the answer.
A Manicure That Actually Heals Your Nails
Most manicures are about color or design. The Japanese manicure is about something else entirely: nail health.
The ritual dates back around 400 years and skips polish altogether. Instead, nails are shaped, buffed, and massaged with a nutrient-rich paste made from vitamins, bee pollen, keratin, and natural oils. A mineral powder seals it all in, leaving nails with a soft, natural shine that lasts about two weeks, no top coat required.
The process works because of what's in it. Beeswax locks in moisture, keratin helps rebuild nail structure, and the hand massage that finishes it off leaves skin soft and nails more flexible. It's especially popular as a reset between gel manicures or extensions, giving nails a break to recover.
The best part might be how easy it is to fit in. The whole treatment takes about 30 minutes, and since there's no polish involved, it typically costs less than a standard manicure too.
The Simple Science Behind Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy sounds like a spa gimmick, but there's real science behind it. It uses a gentle beam of low-energy red light to reach the mitochondria in your cells, essentially their power source, and give them a boost.
That small nudge can do a lot. It's best known for skin benefits like boosting collagen and calming redness, but research shows it can also ease muscle soreness, support healing, and even help manage certain kinds of pain by prompting the body to release natural painkillers called endorphins.
A session is quick and simple: you sit back while a laser targets the treatment area, and most people notice benefits fairly fast. At-home devices exist too, and while they're gentler than what you'd get in a clinic, they're a low-risk way to try it out.
It's still early days for the research, especially around pain management, but the science so far points in a promising direction, one more reason this glow might be worth the hype.
Save Up to $130 on Print Orders with Staples
Getting your business noticed on a budget is hard — especially without the right help.
With Staples Print & Marketing Services, it’s easy to boost your business’s presence. Running a promotion? Hosting an event? Launching something new? Staples makes it easy to create, customize and print exactly what you need, when you need it.
Think flyers that fly in the foot traffic, direct mailers that gets right to the source, outdoor banners that’ll outlast any weather and so much more. Choose from ready-to-go templates or upload your own designs, then pick up in store or have it delivered straight to your business. Some prints are even available the same day when you order by 12 pm.
Thank you to Staples for sponsoring The Canopy.
The Coffee Trick That Could Boost Your Energy
Coffee first thing in the morning feels like the obvious move. But endocrinologists say pairing it with breakfast, rather than drinking it solo, is the real key to steady energy all day.
Here's why. On an empty stomach, caffeine gets absorbed fast, giving you a quick burst of alertness. The catch is that the boost fades just as fast, often leaving people feeling foggier by midday. Add a little food to the mix, and that energy holds much steadier.
The fix is simple. Pair your coffee with something that includes protein, fiber, and healthy fats, think avocado toast with an egg, or a bowl of chia pudding with fruit. Some people even find it helps to wait about an hour after waking before that first cup, giving the body's natural wake-up hormones a chance to kick in first.
A few small tweaks to a morning routine, and that steady, all-day energy starts to feel a lot more within reach.
The best HR advice comes from those in the trenches. That’s what this is: real-world HR insights delivered in a newsletter from Hebba Youssef, a Chief People Officer who’s been there. Practical, real strategies with a dash of humor. Because HR shouldn’t be thankless—and you shouldn’t be alone in it.
Thank you to I Hate It Here for sponsoring The Canopy.
The Pause:
Before you go, take a small pause from your day with this tip brought to you by The Canopy editors.
30 Second Reset: Unclench your fists, drop your shoulders, and let your tongue rest away from the roof of your mouth.
Wellness Round-Up
Reflections:
🌎 Did You Know: Red light penetrates the skin more deeply than blue light, which mostly affects the surface layer, making red light more commonly studied for deeper tissue and muscle related uses.
🌅 Sunset Of The Day: The sun can provide the most beautiful photography. That's why we're eager to see your favorite sunrise or sunset photos. Reply to this email with your best sun-based pictures for a chance to be featured!