Hello and welcome to 4-Minute Friday where I share, in four minutes or less, the latest things I’m doing to enhance my health, save money, and make day-to-day life easier and more enjoyable.
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Habit Change:
I’ve started carrying my phone in my back pocket or bookbag.
Let me explain.
On the Huberman Lab podcast, Dr. Huberman highlighted multiple research papers discussing something I had never even considered. That being the harm cellphones can have on reproductive health when kept in close proximity to certain areas of the body.
Specifically, the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted along with the heat radiated by our smartphones impair testosterone production and thus sperm quantity and quality.
This is pretty scary stuff when you consider the number of men who carry a phone in their front pocket for a significant number of hours in the day.
It coincides with the drastically decreasing levels of testosterone and sperm quality among men in the United States… coincidence? Who knows.
But if you were to say it is a coincidence, you’d have quite the line of experts ready to argue with you.
The good news is there’s a few incredibly easy alternatives:
If you carry a bag, place your phone in it during commutes.
If you have a back pocket, utilize it instead of the front.
If you don’t have either, it’s better to carry your phone in your hand.
If you must put your phone in your front pocket, turn it on airplane mode and switch Bluetooth off as this will stop the transmission of the EMF waves.
Although the above targets men, think twice about holding a phone close to your head as well as a pregnant belly!
Quote I’m Pondering:
After revisiting some old podcast notes, I stumbled upon yet another gem by Alex Hormozi. He went on a slight rant discussing the misconception of finding your true passion.
He says…
“People want to find their passion, but you don’t find it… you create it. And you create it by getting good at something. And to get good at stuff, you start by sucking at it and then you don’t give up until you get good.”
Take that in once more.
I hope this resonates with someone else out there as much as it does me.
And it’s quite fresh as someone who struggled with this mindset throughout my college days.
I held the belief that my true passion would just stumble upon me in due time. Whether that be hobbies or my future line of work, I genuinely assumed I would try something once or shadow a certain line of work and fall instantly in love.
Now, as a slightly older person on this journey, I realize the delusion in that way of thinking.
An instant passion may develop for some, but those cases are the exception rather than the rule and Hormozi establishes that.
Instead of expecting to luckily fall into your passion, seek to develop one. This occurs through years of dedication and an intent focus on whatever it is for you.
One thing that comes to mind for me is lifting weights.
Early in college, I began weightlifting seriously and no, I wouldn’t have remotely considered it a passion of mine. I was absolutely clueless in the rec gym basement surrounded by guys (and gals) twice my size.
However, after thousands of dedicated hours, years of research, trial-and-error (more error than anything) and seeking mentorship, I would render I’ve developed a significant passion for lifting and putting down heavy objects.
It’s quite a strange hobby when you frame it like that.
As someone who loves instant clarification and a clear path, this is something I’m certainly going to continue to battle with. To that end, the quote above by Alex Hormozi will remain pinned in my notes to return to when a refresher is needed.
What I’m Doing More Of:
With the weather shifting, I’m back on the track of walking outdoors consistently.
I’ve discussed this extensively on HIB, but walking is totally underestimated when considering its benefits on health – both mental and physical.
Whether it be after a meal to enhance digestion and prevent glucose spikes or after a stressful meeting to decompress, walking is the answer.
Not only do I find a post-meal walk a hack for gut health, but I also come up with a vast majority of my HIB post ideas on a long stroll.
For a bonus, consider taking your earbuds out and letting your mind go where it wishes. If this sounds scary to you, it’s likely you’re the person who would benefit most!
I’ll put the cherry on top by leaving you with a quote by Soren Kierkegaard:
“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it.”
If that doesn’t fire you up to put your walking shoes on and head out, I’m not sure what will.
What else?
If you have a friend or family member (or yourself) you think would benefit from HIB, share their email with me using the message button above. I’d love to add them as a premium subscriber for a 1-month trial!
I’ll be releasing a post next week on circadian rhythm and how to dial yours in – very timely with the daylight savings time shift!
Don’t expect to blindly find your passion, do the dirty work of developing it.
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DISCLAIMER
- This is NOT Medical advice. Consult your medical professional before starting any supplement, diet regimen, or workout program.
This is EXCELLENT!!! I am going to tattoo the walking message on my forearm!!!