Sukey
Sukey Novogratz is a philanthropist and a devoted supporter of the visual and performing arts, music education, international development and research in neurological science. She graduated from Princeton University in 1990, with a degree in Anthropology, and then went on to study fashion design at Parsons. Among the organizations with which she has a close association are: the Joyful Heart Foundation, The Acumen Fund, The Robinhood Foundation, School for Strings, and Princeton University. In recent years, Sukey has also been an active supporter of The Kitchen. Sukey is married to Mike Novogratz of Fortress Investment Group LLC, and they and their four children—Gabriela, Anna, Christian, and Narcisco—live in Manhattan and Amagansett.
Posts by Sukey
Wellness Wednesday: Keep it Simple
Aug 22nd
I’m sort of obsessed with keeping my closets and drawers organized and clutter free. Of course, this is an unachievable goal, especially with four kids, but the intent is important. I dream of a day when anyone can walk into my house and open any door or drawer and find everything in its place.
xoxo,
Sukey
If you’re feeling unproductive and stressed out, look around. Chances are, your home or office may be sporting some unattractive clutter. Whether your space is large or small, rest assured you can tackle the clutter in just a few minutes a day and start to live a more relaxed and organized life.
- First Things First: Make a list of everywhere in your home or office that needs de-cluttering and then break down what may seem like an overwhelming undertaking into small manageable tasks. Start with one drawer, then move to a shelf or a closet. Over time, you’ll collectively clear out what needs to go.
- Rule of Four: As you go through each drawer, closet or shelf you wish to de-clutter, mentally categorize each item as trash, giveaway, put-away or storage. You may find it helps to create boxes or bins for these items. A good rule of thumb is that if the item isn’t bringing beauty to your space or serving a functional purpose, it’s a good candidate for the trash or giveaway bin.
- Go Paperless: Make it a personal goal to eliminate as much paper from your life as possible. Not only is it better for the environment, your stress level will benefit from having fewer stacks of paper to sift through. With so many ways to categorize information online or on your desktop, it should be easy to do.
For more tips on living well, visit The Well Daily, your ultimate guide for creating health and happiness. Get the best wellness techniques, products, recipes and general goodness by signing up. Make sure to follow The Well Daily on Twitter and like it on Facebook too!
Wellness Wednesday: Tech for a Better Summer
Aug 15th
My favorite go-to gadget this summer is Florame, a USB essential oil diffuser. Our friends from Detox Market sent it over for us to try and we LOVE it. When I’m traveling, essential oils help me make an unfamiliar space feel more like home—especially when I meditate. I just open my computer, double click Spotify, put on meditation music and plug in my Florame filled with Inspiration, a Young Living blended oil. I let the fragrance and music circulate to clear the air and prepare the space for meditation, then I turn off the music and get down to business. I just sit!
xoxo,
Sukey
The beach, clam bakes, BBQs, pool parties… summer’s pretty perfect the way it is, but—like everything else in life—there’s always room for improvement.
Below are a few of our favorite gadgets and and apps to make for a happier and even better summer:
JamBox: Take your speakers on the go with this ultra portable and wireless speakerbox that delivers crisp, clear sounds. (Editor’s note: we at Joyful Heart use these during our Healing & Wellness programs!)
Liquipel: Going near water this summer? Then you’re going to need this. Liquipel protects your phone from water without the added bulk.
Igrill: Never worry about overcooking your steak again! The Igrill app alerts your iPhone—up to 200 feet away—when your food is ready.
Pano: Capture that gorgeous view with Pano, an app that allows you to take panoramic shots in a few easy steps!
For more tips on living well, visit The Well Daily, your ultimate guide for creating health and happiness. Get the best wellness techniques, products, recipes and general goodness by signing up. Make sure to follow The Well Daily on Twitter and like it on Facebook too!Wellness Wednesday: Midday Boost
Aug 8th
Some days 4 o’clock just hits me like a brick wall. That’s when Jackie and I close the door, turn the music on high and dance our brains out! A good laugh and some air punching is a calorie-free way to snap out of an afternoon slump, and if that doesn’t work, there’s always chocolate.
xoxo,
Sukey
It’s 3 p.m. and staring at your computer screen just isn’t an option anymore. You’d do anything to break up the day and keep your heavy eyelids open, so you stroll to the vending machine for a sugary pick-me-up.
For many of us, this scene is a daily occurrence. But instead, try one of these tips that’s sure to power you through the rest of your day.
- Grab a friend and go on a brisk walk outside for a change of scenery.
- Do some simple breath work at your desk and if you have a little more time, take a mini meditation break.
- Try standing instead of sitting. You’ll burn 1.5 more calories than you would sitting.
- Hungry? Drink a glass of water first (if water’s too boring, try coconut water) to see if you’re actually hungry or dehydrated.
- If it is hunger, avoid the sugar—it’ll make you sleepier. Instead, snack on something healthier like granola or nuts.
- An overall big way to avoid the slump is to exercise in the morning before heading into work.
- Last but not least, if you have a little privacy, try office yoga to get your blood flowing again.
For more tips on living well, visit The Well Daily, your ultimate guide for creating health and happiness. Get the best wellness techniques, products, recipes and general goodness by signing up. Make sure to follow The Well Daily on Twitter and like it on Facebook too!
Wellness Wednesday: Share with Flair
Jul 25th
I wish there was a way to share digital recipes in a playlist like you do music on Spotify. One way to keep all your favorite recipes available and accessible to family and friends is to copy them onto a shared folder in Evernote. Not the pretty cookbook format you might be looking for, but it works!
xoxo,
Sukey
So you made a vow to spend less in 2012 than you did in 2011, eh? Even if all the flash sales have distracted you from your budget, get back on track by picking up a digital sharing habit. Making sharing part of your lifestyle will save you money and you’ll get to know your friends a little better too!
Here are a few simple ways to start sharing online:
- Swap ebooks with your friends by enabling lending on your eReader. Similarly, check to see if your local library will allow you to borrow ebooks.
- Share playlists with your friends on Spotify. (Don’t worry, you can keep your 80s hair band playlist private.)
- Learn new things and share what you know on Slideshare. Browse fascinating presentations by topic, then upload your own.
For more tips on living well, visit The Well Daily, your ultimate guide for creating health and happiness. Get the best wellness techniques, products, recipes and general goodness by signing up. Make sure to follow The Well Daily on Twitter and like it on Facebook too!
Wellness Wednesday: Give Meditation a Chance
Jul 18th
Even though meditation has been part of my practice for years, Sharon’s challenge is the perfect chance to begin again and to get back to the basics. I kind of wish I could start every month this way!
xoxo,
Sukey
Meditation doesn’t necessarily mean sitting cross-legged on a cushion. It doesn’t have to involve chanting and it doesn’t even require silence. One way to meditate is to bring mindful awareness to simple, everyday activities like brushing your teeth or waiting at a traffic light. Take a minute for your mental health and watch this video on drinking water—consciously.
Sharon Salzberg on Mini Meditation Breaks from The Well Daily on Vimeo.
Like Sharon’s approach? So do we. Check out the other videos in this series:
- Meet Sharon Salzberg
- Sharon Salzberg on Concentration
- Sharon Salzberg on the Breath
- The High that Lasts All Day
For more tips on living well, visit The Well Daily, your ultimate guide for creating health and happiness. Get the best wellness techniques, products, recipes and general goodness by signing up. Make sure to follow The Well Daily on Twitter and like it on Facebook too!
Wellness Wednesday: 7 Ways to Achieve a Healthy Glow
Jul 11th
Gratitude always puts a glow on your face. I try to be thankful for all the love in my life… my kids, my husband, my friends and family. Just thinking about those connections (and making plans to reconnect where I need to) gives my day a little extra light.
xoxo,
Sukey
Some days our look is more stressed-out-and-sleep-deprived than radiant. Been there?
Here’s what we do to kick the stress and get glowing.
- Break for a walk. Simple but true: walking is one of the quickest ways to de-stress. The forward movement is instantly calming—bonus if your chosen path involves lots of greenery.
- Sleep on it. Exhaustion is the enemy of clear thought and clear skin. Feeling lack luster? Try an earlier bedtime for a week.
- Get on the mat. Making time for yoga is tough when we’re stressed, but it’s a fast route to a happy glow. Just keep your eye on that final savasana.
- Drink. Yep, just making sure you’re well-hydrated with good old water can prevent bodily stress in the first place, keeping you cool and calm.
- Turn it up. Find a song you really like and turn up the volume. Now dance and sing along. Getting a little silly can completely transform a stressful moment and help put things in perspective.
- Try something herbal. For chronic stress, infuse your life with herbs. Try lavender essential oils, calming lemon candles or soothing mint tea.
For more tips on living well, visit The Well Daily, your ultimate guide for creating health and happiness. Get the best wellness techniques, products, recipes and general goodness by signing up. Make sure to follow The Well Daily on Twitter and like it on Facebook too!
Wellness Wednesday: Unlock Your Creative Potential
Jul 4th
We loved this post so much from The Well Daily when it first appeared, so we wanted to share it again today. We encourage you to read more about creative expression on our website.
Hi friends,
Whether you consider yourself an artistic person or not, it’s incredibly freeing and often rewarding to explore your own imaginative side. I know my own yoga practice has encouraged me to think more creatively. Try it out for yourself—you just might astound yourself.
xoxo,
Sukey
Could your daily yoga flow inspire creativity to flow freely in other areas of your life as well? If you’ve got mental clutter to clear (and most of us do), then it definitely could.
You may not think you’re gifted with a pen, paintbrush or musical instrument, but that doesn’t mean you lack the spark of creativity. A common struggle in the creative process is simply getting out of your own way. As you dive into yoga, you’ll start to break free from judgment, self-doubt and criticism. Letting go of these obstacles on the mat is the first step to exploring your creative impulses elsewhere.
A regular practice of yoga and meditation invites balance and flexibility into the body, and physical flexibility leads to openness of the mind. This overall expansion creates space for new ideas and possibilities to surface. And when you find your creative flow, the mindfulness and discipline you’ve gained from your yoga practice will help you focus.
Start with these steps to embrace your creative side:
- Choose an activity you’ve never fully explored. Maybe you want to learn to cook or finally make use of that guitar you’ve had for years.
- Make an action plan. Join a choir, sign up for a jewelry making workshop or start a blog to polish those writing skills.
- Schedule it in. Half the battle when tapping into your creativity is finding the time. Just as you make space in your life for yoga, reserve a half hour a few days a week to let your creative self play.
- Keep it flowing with yoga. Return to the mat each day to still your left brain tendencies, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Finish with meditation and watch your out-of-the-box ideas flourish.
The Well Wisdom: The time is now to express yourself. If you can’t wait to sign up for that painting or woodworking class, just gather a few supplies to get started and let yourself go wild. Then head to your local yoga studio for a fun class to let your creative energy root deep into your being.
For more tips on living well, visit The Well Daily, your ultimate guide for creating health and happiness. Get the best wellness techniques, products, recipes and general goodness by signing up. Make sure to follow The Well Daily on Twitter and like it on Facebook too!
Wellness Wednesday: Bee the Breath
Jun 27th
Nothing calms a buzzing mind faster than a quick breath check. It’s amazing how easy it is to forget you’re breathing! My breath always brings me back home. Whether I am sealing my ears with my fingers and making sounds like a bee or just taking a big belly inhale, I return again and again—back into balance, back into grace, back to my better me. Until, of course, I forget again.
xoxo,
Sukey
Keep the buzzing mind at bay with a practice to get you in a meditative state: the Humming Bee Breath—named after Brahmari, meaning bumble bee. This practice is touted for its anger-reducing abilities. It calms the mind, reducing stress, anxiety, insomnia and even blood pressure.
The Humming Bee Breath gets its name from the sound made while exhaling and inhaling in the throat. The sound is similar to the chanting of Om, minus the O. The sounds should be deep, steady and smooth.
- Start in any cross-legged position in which the body can be relaxed and the spine is erect.
- Begin inhaling through both nostrils, then start creating a long Om sound (minus the O) while you exhale.
- Start with a 4 second nasal inhale while Oming, then exhale for 6 seconds through both nostrils. Practice this for about 5 minutes.
For more tips on living well, visit The Well Daily, your ultimate guide for creating health and happiness. Get the best wellness techniques, products, recipes and general goodness by signing up. Make sure to follow The Well Daily on Twitter and like it on Facebook too!