SFH #197: A Weekly Resource
Cut out those distractions for clarity ✂️
Hi healthy friends and family 👋
I'm testing this new weekly version to get things rolling again and provide delicious healthy substance to your inbox. The purpose is to give you one idea on health, one resource to tap into, and a quote to ponder from the health world. And here we go.
IDEA 💡
Minimizing distraction is an idea I've contemplated, tested, and returned to repeatedly. The first time I experienced minimizing was the unintentional compartmentalization of my life while traveling abroad in Europe in the summer of 2001. The era of Internet cafes. Does anyone remember easyEverything, the orange internet cafe?
Backpacking before cell phones with occasional email updates and exchanges was beautiful. Apart from the occasional headline, I had no idea what was happening worldwide. I flew home in August, and the three months of general news and happenings meant little beyond what could be summed up quite briefly. Shrek was a big hit; the dot-com bubble still negatively affected the economy, and tension was mounting in the Middle East (you know what came next).
Simplifying and minimizing our lives cuts to the heart of things. We can increase our focus, whatever the priority at hand may be. By removing any external interruptions, noise, visual, social, internal mind running, etc., things begin to crystalize. Who is most important to us? What do we want to pour our time into? How do we face our feelings? I especially enjoyed focusing on that last one!
We have become time and space fillers. If you are bored, what's your first move? I go to my preferred app of the moment or my inbox. I'm upset or off-kilter; I could head to the internet for that item I've wanted to buy (maladaptive). Hopefully, I will get to the gym for a sauna or workout or even outside for a walk. (adaptive)
Reducing our distractions can reduce our stress. At first, it can feel free, but I promise you, from doing it a few times in my life, it gets uncomfortable. The first time I got rid of most of my possessions, I felt very bare and vulnerable, and I had quite the wake-up call about the consumption I participated in as a part of my day-to-day life. I suggest starting small to ease into things by eliminating your low-hanging fruit distractions. Delete some apps, declutter a room or two, or clean up your laptop to start.
There is something to learn about yourself and how you approach life in simplifying and minimizing distractions. Give it a try, and let me know what you find!
RESOURCE 💦
I love some Navitas; no affiliation at all here. The first time I tried something of theirs was their power snacks off the shelf at the grocery store. The boys eat those now for a healthy snack at home. My current favorite is their superfood adaptogen blend which I put into my latte concoctions and homemade smoothies. I highly recommend it if you'd like to give it a try. At the very least, pick yourself up some maca powder. Great addition on its own to smoothies, teas, and coffees. 😋
QUOTE 📣
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance—it is the illusion of knowledge." - Daniel J. Boorstin
from Peter Attia MD, Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity