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, develop a better mindset, make day-to-day life easier, and other shenanigans.
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Food I’m Mass Consuming:
Sourdough bread.
I admittedly fell off the bandwagon months back by opting for oatmeal or yogurt in the morning out of ease.
With some extra free time, I’m back on the fried eggs and sourdough grind which reacquainted me with its benefits.
I’m quite sensitive to foods that don’t agree with me, and I feel the effects for hours afterwards… no more details needed. But sourdough bread causes zero issues with my digestion and leaves me at an adequate satiety level without the bloat or discomfort that other forms of bread often bring about.
Not only that but sourdough bread has a laundry list of benefits that make it a better choice over other varieties.
Outside of it tasting better and being thicker than others, it also goes through a fermentation process giving it that unique sour flavor resulting in profound health benefits for our gut and other systems.
Building on this, sourdough bread is more highly nutritious and contains fewer preservatives than your traditional run-of-the-mill bread. Just take one look at the ingredient label on the package and you’ll see what I mean.
Sourdough bread also boasts a lower glycemic index meaning it’s less likely to spike your blood sugar if that’s something you tend to struggle with.
Bonus points for learning to make your own!
And topping it with some cottage cheese, local honey, and cinnamon…
Don’t hate it until you try it.
Mindset I’m Embracing:
They say an image is worth a thousand words.
But how about an image with 17 words under it? I’m curious what the going exchange ratio behind that is but that’ll have to wait for another day.
No idea where I was going with that but give the image another glance.
Many, including myself, swear by the cliché psychological framework that the journey is more significant than the destination.
That the process > outcome.
That the person who loves walking will always go further than the person who loves the destination.
And this is all fine and dandy.
We all should focus on the journey, not the end-moment where all the hard work comes to a final resolve – which as far as I’ve heard, apparently never arrives.
But what’s more important – and maybe what allows you to embrace the process more wholeheartedly – is the people you surround yourself with along the way.
Those small daily moments with co-workers, friends, family, and so forth add up to more than we’re conscious of.
Having a tribe that you both enjoy spending time around and that provides you with motivation to grow and improve yourself is more impactful than any other personal development strategy I’ve found.
Just something to think about this week when you’re filling out that planner.
Final Marathon Push:
Tomorrow checks in as the 4-week countdown to taking on my first marathon.
The bumps and bruises of a heavy training plan are starting to appear, but I recognize them as side effects of doing this volume of activity rather than a fault in the system… although stretching a little longer might do me well.
And there are a couple things I’ve learned these past 12 weeks that apply directly to a marathon training block, of course… but also apply to nearly every goal you set for yourself.
First, reverse engineer your plan.
Take whatever your goal may be – a marathon time, number of books read, or a commission at the end of the year.
Then construct a training program of sorts with mini goals along the way to ensure you are on the right track. Otherwise, you’re left without direction which we all know bodes terribly for achieving anything significant.
Second, never miss two days in a row.
I’d be lying if I said my marathon training plan was perfect and there weren’t any setbacks along the way – that’s not realistic with any extensive plan. Yet, if you don’t allow yourself to fall short two days in a row, momentum builds, and great progress ensues.
Third, fuel and recover.
Although this one is more directly applicable to physical training at face value, I’d argue it’s just as important for non-physical goals. If your gas tank isn’t filled with highly nutritious foods and other external inputs (think social media, relationships), it will sputter out early on the journey.
The same holds true for getting optimal rest and relaxation. Burnout is a real thing and prioritizing recovery through proper sleep and other activities you enjoy is essential.
And maybe most important, teaming up with accountability partners along the way is a game-changer. No matter the goal you set, you can always go further with others than you can on your own.
What else?
Long weekend ahead! What are some actions you can take over these next few days to ensure you wake up Tuesday morning proud of yourself and feeling ready to attack the short week rather than waging war against that snooze button?
Life hack: Find your tribe.
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DISCLAIMER
This is NOT Medical advice. Consult your medical professional before starting any supplement, diet regimen, or workout program.