Combating Stress, Tackling Days In Quarters, And Pondering Death
Happy Thursday morning!
I hope you’re having a productive and exciting week.
Here is what I’ve been up to:
A writing course I’ve taken for the last month is nearing its end. As part of the course, I’ve published every day for the last 27 days (3 more to go). You can check out this collection of short 250-word essays on Twitter.
Once the course is done I’m diving (no pun intended) directly into coursework for the PADI Open Water Diver certification I’m heading down to Colombia for in early October.
Let’s dive in.
Live Longer
(Easily Fixable) Mistake: Overlooking the silent killer―stress.
The health detriments of stress are profound. Yet, it’s often overlooked as unimportant.
Luckily, effective strategies for managing it are freely available.
Half of the battle is ensuring your exercise, sleep, and diet are in check. Then you can turn to additional strategies such as meditation, breathing practices (box breathing, the physiological sigh, the Wim Hof method, etc.), engaging in hobbies, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Feel Healthier
Split your day into quarters.
Slipping up once isn't an excuse to throw the day away and "start again tomorrow."
To contain mistakes and eliminate the spiral effect while developing or dropping habits, split your day into quarters (morning, afternoon, dinner, night). If you veer off course simply get back on track next quarter.
Cultivate Purpose
Think about your death 3x daily.
The Bhutanese think of mitakpa (impermanence) three times per day (morning, afternoon, and evening).
You don't know when or how you will die―just that you will. Remembering your own impermanence is a useful decision-making heuristic (“deathbed decision making”), a reminder to focus on the important things in life, and will help you notice your own greed, anger, and ignorance.
And, as always, please give me feedback. What did you like or dislike? What do you want more or less of? Other suggestions? Please let me know. Just reply to this email, leave a comment, or send me a Tweet @jackrossdixon.
That’s all!
Until next week,
Jack