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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Book I’m Reading:
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.
Rather than a book, I’d call it a how-to manual of sorts.
In this non-fiction read, Pressfield explores one of the most potent sources of unhappiness that lives inside all of us.
That being what he calls “Resistance”.
We’ve all felt Resistance. Heck, we experience it every single day.
Driving by the gym and taking another rest day.
Saying we’re going to work on that project and then scrolling for hours.
Putting off studying for a big exam until closer to the deadline.
Watching another episode rather than getting to bed.
Reaching for the snack instead of going to bed slightly hungry.
“Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.” - Pressfield
Although Pressfield leans heavily on examples of Resistance causing havoc to creative pursuits such as writing, acting, and painting, it’s just as much in play with decisions related to our health and wellness.
And one of the most frustrating things in the world is knowing we should (or should not) be doing a thing and then allowing our impulse – Resistance – to take the wheel rather than saddling up and choosing what we deeply know is best.
Although reading this book won’t do the hard work for you, it’s opened my eyes to the things in my life where my internal Resistance is winning.
Simply being aware of this has already led to benefits.
Supplement I’m Doubling Down on This Winter:
Vitamin D.
I recently saw an infographic illustrating the most common vitamin deficiencies in the United States.
The extreme outlier was the sunshine vitamin.
Unfortunately for many, that sunshine thing isn’t a luxury for a good part of the year.
And with very few foods boasting a good amount of Vitamin D, supplementation may be necessary to ensure you’re in the proper range.
The benefits Vitamin D has on mood, bone health, and our immune system make getting this right highly important.
It’s impossible to give blanket recommendations on dosages without knowing your current levels, but a quick blood test will do the trick… especially as we head into winter.
I personally benefit from 5,000iu of Vitamin D daily but speak with a qualified healthcare professional to find out what’s best for you!
I recommend pairing it with a Vitamin K2 supplement (mine has both in one) to promote calcium deposition to the right places!
Podcast Episode Recommendation:
Morgan Housel on Huberman Lab.
Definitely a unique guest for a podcast predicated on cutting edge science but as you listen, the interconnectedness starts to make sense.
Housel, venture capital firm partner and author of the NYT bestseller The Psychology of Money is one of the most well-spoken people I’ve come across in the podcast space.
The ideas he shares are thought out and well-curated which makes for a great conversation.
Especially when Huberman can intertwine connections between financial concepts and our innate neurobiology.
In this episode they discuss how our relationship with money can reveal a lot about our overall psychology, the true connection between money and happiness, the importance of saving, and much more.
One idea that opened my eyes is Housel’s take on the thought that money gives way to a more satisfying life because it allows for luxuries such as fancier vacations.
But he says that it isn’t the vacation itself that is imparting the feeling of happiness, it’s the unobstructed time spent with people you cherish. And in reality, while money can indeed give way to more of these experiences, there’s a much simpler way to reverse engineer this concept which takes away the need for an overflowing bank account.
Such as logging off at 7pm, putting the phone away, and spending unstructured time with your friends and family.
It really can be that simple if we allow it to be.
What else?
Christmas is closing in… start that holiday shopping if you haven’t already. You’ll appreciate getting it done early when those final days come creeping in, especially if those Amazon trucks get behind!
Overcome the resistance to live the life you desire.
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DISCLAIMER
This is NOT Medical advice. Consult your medical professional before starting any supplement, diet regimen, or workout program.