Monday Setup - August 24, 2020
Your Monday Setup - August 24, 2020
Welcome to the first “Monday Setup”, the perfect way to get your mind right for the week ahead. Let me know what you think in the comments!
Healthy Mentality
Skip a day, never two in a row. I learned this from James Clear’s excellent book about habits, appropriately named Atomic Habits. This is now my golden rule for working out. I use an app called “Streaks” to help me track and maintain this habit. You can set the rule to once every other day, based on completion or calendar day.
If you’re close to skipping your second day in a row, try a quick 7-minute workout. Make it easy, keep it simple.
This rule also works great for any habit you’re trying to reinforce (not exclusive to working out).
Wealthy Mindset
“Waste money” to improve your quality of life. This idea is not necessarily a new one to me, but the subtle shift in language made me pay attention. It comes from a podcast episode from the Tim Ferriss show. Essentially, there are areas of responsibility in each of our lives that cause an uneven level of angst, which could be resolved or lessened by simply spending money in that area. For you, this could be cleaning or cooking; in any case, there are many services that will take your money but leave you with time. You may think it’s extravagant at first, but there is true opportunity cost being squandered doing things you don’t like. Instead of compounding stress, you’ll have free time to do with what you like. Even if that newly purchased free time is just used for Netflix binging, it might just be what you need to focus your mind at work, or to unconsciously work through ideas for a side hustle or your version of the “Great American Novel”. It’s all about headspace.
Adam Grant also spoke about this concept, referencing the study reported on in this article. The science is clear: spending money to save time has real and lasting benefits. Even the smallest version of this can drastically improve your mindset.
Wise.
Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. - Benjamin Franklin
It’s been well documented that night owls can be as successful as early birds, but I believe there is gold in this quote regardless of the time you wake. To me, this quote is all about intentionality. Franklin’s schedule was optimized for success, because that came first to him. He had purpose. He woke with intention. Sleep is important, so if you’re a night owl, don’t worry about it - get enough sleep. But make sure that you are setting intentions for your day ahead and try your best to stick to a routine, so that each day’s newness is specific to your goals and not the trivialities.
There is a limit to the time assigned you, and if you don’t use it to free yourself it will be gone and never return. - Marcus Aurelius
“Freeing yourself” can mean different things to different people. To me, it’s owning my time, completely. I want to work on only that which is self-directed and personally exciting. Each day in which I make progress on a project with this potential payoff is a success.
What NOT to read this week
Sometimes, we find ourselves following our own minds down rabbit holes unintentionally. The following are some areas of the internet to avoid this week.
Republican National Convention is this week. Of course, there will be a lot of media, a lot of articles and podcasts and dark areas of the internet in which to lose yourself. Instead, check here for the schedule and speaker lineup. If possible, record it in advance and watch any of the events you’re interested in after the event has come and gone. Don’t let FOMO run your week.
November 3 is Election Day in the US. If you know who you’re voting for already, skip the headlines and just mark your calendars. Check on your local ballot locations if you’re taking extra precautions this year. If you are considering your options, check out each of these websites to inform yourself:
Joe Biden’s vision on his campaign website.
Donald J Trump’s “promises kept” website.
I’ll admit, it was more difficult to find specific agenda items detailed anywhere online from the Trump campaign related to his vision for the next four years, so here is an article that pieces together a few of President Trump’s thoughts over the last few years on what a second term might entail. Also, please excuse the snark throughout the article - there are some actual ideas in it!
What I'm reading now
The Artist’s Journey by Steven Pressfield. I’m a big fan of Steven Pressfield’s, especially after reading The War of Art. His books about the creative process are utterly invigorating. They’re concise and to the point, no bullshit. I highly recommend it if you have even the slightest inkling that an artist exists inside you.
A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin. I’m five books into the series, almost clear ahead of Martin’s writing. I’m almost always the guy who assumes the books are better than the shows/movies. In this case, they’re both excellent (Game of Thrones on HBO). This book specifically is very, very good. It’s worth reading, especially now that many of us have a little extra time - I’ve found that losing myself in another world is quite the antidote to imposed boredom. While Martin may not be quite Tolkien, he built quite an unforgettable cast of characters in this fantasy world of his.
What I'm working through
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about impostor syndrome. I’ve been asked to fill a new role on a project at work, one that requires more time, more knowledge, and frankly, greater expectations. The usual dose of meditation, therapy and journaling might not keep the tough days at bay, and much of my angst stems from a deeper place of low confidence. I have an understanding about how this originated for me, but to work through it I’ve been revisiting some lessons I learned from The Courage to Be Disliked, by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi. The book is a dialogue between master and student, debating Adlerian psychology. Alfred Adler believed that people could control their fate, and although it irks some of the “you don’t understand” or “woe is me” parts of my personality, it’s very uplifting to believe that I have the potential to simply change how I think about my limitations.