It’s amazing how we deprive ourselves simply by staying in our comfort zone. And comfort is our default. We look for the path of least resistance and value safety.
This served us well thousands of years ago, when our primary goal was survival. But times have changed dramatically. We now live in an age of abundance. And with these changes, our goals have shifted as well. Survival remains, obviously. But an existence in which we merely survive leaves a lot to be desired. We want to thrive.
To move beyond mere survival, we must constantly aim to improve ourselves – a feat that requires challenge. If it’s easy, we’re not growing.
The whole point—of life, of working out, of work—is to push yourself, and to grow as a result of pushing against and through that resistance.
We feel awkward when trying something new. And that feeling urges us to quit before we even get started. Fight this urge. Only through practice do we get better.
Practice even what seems impossible. The left hand is useless at almost everything, for lack of practice. But it guides the reins better than the right. From practice.
– Marcus Aurelius
Almost everything we want in life takes hard work and repetitions to achieve: quality relationships, a good job, physical, mental and financial health, etc.
When faced with two options, consider the harder route. Physical discomfort is not something to fear. In fact, the more we embrace it (up to a point), the more benefits we receive. Saunas, cold showers/ice baths, fasting, and intense exercise all produce discomfort – and all provide benefits we’re deprived of when sitting comfortably in a temperature controlled environment, gorging on the nearest food at the first sign of hunger.
So get out of your comfort zone, put in the reps, and don’t forget to push yourself.
If You’re Not Seeking Out Challenges, How Are You Going to Get Better? | Ryan Holiday
Steal from the Naive and Give to the Rich
New investors have flocked to online trading platforms like Robinhood during the pandemic – and they’re not doing well. Trent Hamm offers four things to keep in mind when venturing into stocks and options, including this gem:
If you’re doing stock and options trading, it’s with an aim to beat the market, and when you’re playing that game, you’re playing against extremely well-funded people with a lot of tools and brainpower who have studied this problem inside and out. You may be able to identify a few things and make a profit some of the time, but the odds are heavily against you being able to do it consistently outside of a market bubble.
Investing Is Not a Video Game, So Don’t Play It Like One | The Simple Dollar
For the Price of a Cup of Coffee…
… I still run across firms where they’ve decided that employees should pay for their own coffee. This is insane. From a standpoint of productivity, alertness, and creativity, you want your employees to drink as much coffee as they can tolerate, so creating any barrier whatsoever to having that next cup is just plain stupid.
Employers take note.
3 Ways to Use Coffee to Increase Collaboration and Innovation | Inc.
(M)ask Questions
Masks aren’t going away any time soon. In fact, they are becoming increasingly mandatory in many parts of the world. Still have questions about our new, masked reality? The Guardian has answers.
How to stop your glasses steaming up – and 19 other essential facts about face masks | The Guardian
Hot Tips
We’re now in the dead of summer – at least in the northern hemisphere – where higher temperatures mean lower sleep quality. Air conditioning is an effective solution. But there are other ways to keep your cool.
13 Sleep Tips for When It’s Hot AF | BulletProof
Brain Gain
Our processing speed slows down as we age – and shift work doesn’t help the situation. Need another reason to get off the couch?
exercise, such as running, benefits an aging brain in such a way that it performs more like its younger self.
Couch Potato No More: How the Benefits of Exercise Transfer to the Brain | SingularityHub
Equipment Not Required
Speaking of exercise, gym time remains risky. In fact, some big names like Gold’s Gym and 24 Hour Fitness have filed for bankruptcy. Fortunately, expensive gym equipment isn’t needed to build strength.
Get Ripped with This No-Equipment 6-Move Workout | Outside
Stay healthy-
Jason Glenn