Kristina's Monthly Note: October

Kristina's Monthly Note: October

Updated:
Hi there.
 
The end of October marks a personal turning point for me. Six years ago, I experienced burnout so intense it stopped me in my tracks. I had a panic attack, closed my work laptop, and I physically couldn’t open it again.

At the time, I was living in San Francisco and working in tech. My days were packed with back-to-back meetings, quick lunches, nonstop notifications, and social plans that filled every spare moment. I barely had a moment to process what happened in one meeting before rushing to the next thing. Everyone around me seemed to live this way, so I thought it was normal, even admirable. From the outside, my life looked full and exciting. But inside, I was running on empty.
 
It wasn’t until I hit that breaking point that I realized just how disconnected I’d become from myself and my health. I was always reaching, rushing, trying to do more. I forgot to feel, to process, to reflect, and to be.
 
I had to change, so I moved closer to nature. I began meditating again. I started working on my invention (Etalon!), work that felt so therapeutic and made me feel alive again. And for the first time in years, I slowed down. At first, it felt uncomfortable. I even felt guilty for not being “busy.” But slowly, I started to see how doing less actually allowed me to do more, have more impact, and a deeper connection with my work.
 
I’m not perfect at it. Life still gets overwhelming (toddler mom and founder here 🤚🏽), but I try to prioritize being over doing.
 
Here are a few of my favorite fall rituals that help me slow down:
  • Snuggles with my son Mark and my cat Pinot, who always invites herself in before we get up
  • Taking time to make my ceremonial cacao and enjoy it in the quiet (if I can!)
  • Walks in the woods (those fall colors!) and looking up at the trees
  • Cozying up with a fiction book before bed (I just finished Intermezzo by Sally Rooney and Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. I loved the latter so much I’m already rereading it.) If you have any book recs that touched your heart, send them my way!
 
ETALON UPDATES
 
Etalon is making waves in some truly exciting and meaningful ways.
 
REDEFINE ERGONOMICS FOR FEMALE SURGEONS
 
Recently, we were approached by an ergonomic researcher working on a project to improve the physical well-being of OBGYN surgeons, specifically, to make their work more ergonomic and less painful. I was stunned to learn that 96% of gynecologic surgeons experience pain during or after surgery. That’s nearly every single one of them! What’s especially striking is that many of the tools and environments surgeons work with were never designed with women’s bodies in mind.

This is exactly the kind of problem Etalon exists to solve. We’re deeply passionate about using design to support women’s bodies in the real world. I’ll be flying to Vancouver next month to help kick off the next phase of the research. More to come, we’ll keep you posted.
 
ETALON FOR BREAST CANCER PREVENTION
 
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we’re proud to support the cause. This month, Etalon is donating a portion of our proceeds to Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, an organization that works to eliminate toxic chemicals and environmental exposures linked to breast cancer.
 
This cause is close to our hearts. We believe prevention is just as important as treatment, and we’re honored to play a small part in supporting long-term health for women everywhere.
 
OUR NEXT PRODUCT LAUNCH
 
Progress is humming along on the Movement Bra! If you haven’t voted on the color yet, now’s the time: 
 
 
Have a lovely Halloween, if you celebrate, and don’t forget the clock changes this weekend. We’ll gain an extra hour to sleep or slow down. 
 
With all my support,
Kristina 
 
💚

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