Soft Life Survival Guide: Your Dopamine Menu

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you deserve to feel good again.

Not just on vacation. Not just when everything’s going your way. But today. Right now. Even if it’s a little messy.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how joy isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s soft. Quiet. Sometimes it looks like walking through HomeGoods just for the vibes. Or playing a song you love with no one else listening. Or lighting a candle before you start your day—not for the aesthetics, but because you want to feel something warm and grounded.

I recently found out there’s actually a name for this little practice I’ve been doing for years—it’s called a dopamine menu. And the idea is simple: create a list of tiny things that bring you comfort, peace, or a little spark of joy when you need it most.

I didn’t realize how much I relied on mine until I started talking about it. It’s how I stay grounded on rest days. It’s how I protect my peace while training toward new goals. It’s how I create softness in a season that doesn’t always feel soft.

So I made a whole episode about it. Not because I have it all figured out—but because I believe in this practice. I believe in pouring back into yourself. I believe in reclaiming joy, even in the in-between.

Listen to the episode:
Soft Life Survival Guide: Your Dopamine Menu →

And if this message speaks to your spirit...

I want to personally invite you to come reset with me in real life. I’m hosting a co-ed wellness retreat in Costa Rica next March called Ember & Tide—and it’s everything we’ve been talking about, just in 3D.
No pressure, just take a peek:
ephemeratraveldesign.com/ember-and-tide-2026

Whether you're in a high season or a healing one, I just want to remind you:
Everything meant for you is already on its way.

And the soft life? You don’t have to wait for it.

You can choose it, one moment at a time.

With love your big (or lil) sis,
Tiffany

Your wellness girl, beauty educator, and soft life companion