ColdShower #56🥶🚿 Power of play, single-tasking, and turkey talk
When a pregnant women goes swimming, technically she's a human submarine
Shower thought via Reddit
The ColdShower: Weekly thoughts for better health, habits, and happiness.
Too.Much.Candy.
Getting back to play
Science of Single-Tasking
Thanksgiving conversation starters: Part 1
Candy Corn? Yes or Nah
Recharge
State of play
I had an effortless run last week. I ran fast, free, and had fun. There was no thought of pain, no fixation on the challenge, just me being fully in the moment in a state of play.
And then the alarm sounds
In our adult lives, we gradually get more serious. We’re no longer operating as children, where our main jobs are to have fun.
But what if we could add more play to our lives? What if we can harness some of the magic of an effortless run, or any activity we love that fully absorbs our focus and leaves us wanting more?
Bringing out our inner kid
I finished that run with multiple new writing ideas and a renewed sense of passion. There are benefits to play, namely stress relief and creativity.
Get out there! (and scroll down to my toilet links if you need inspiration)
Refine
One step at a time
Single-Tasking. The promise of getting more done, in larger chunks, with less stress.
Why does it work this way?
Science of single-tasking
Becky Kane said it best: “Multi-tasking is to your work what smoking is to your health”. Multitasking is killing our productivity.
It boils down to the flow state. Studies suggest we spend 46.9% of our waking hours thinking about something other than what we’re doing.
Single-tasking pulls us into flow, where we get absorbed in our work, unlock real creativity, and feel real happiness.
Single-Tasking Challenge #1
Meal-Times. That’s right. Just eating. No books, phones, or newspapers. I’ll report back next week.
Thinking about taking part? I’d love to hear it!
Rethink
Gobble Gobble
Turkey Talk, Part 1: Thanksgiving questions that don’t suck.
Loosen your belts and break out the deep fryer. We’ve entered November. This month we’ll explore 4 questions we break out during those potentially awkward Thanksgiving dinner moments to help us have real, meaningful conversations.
For the kids’ table: What’s one new singer/artist you think I would like?
At around age 31, we enter into a musical paralysis that’s almost impossible to get out of. Our tastes remain the same and we stop seeking new music. And if you rely on algorithms to serve up new music like I do, you’re in no better hands. Spotify will keep feeding the beast.
So ask the kiddos for some recommendations and give them a shot. Listen to their albums. You may find music you like, and you’ll have a conversation starter for next time.
Cheers!
Still On The Toilet?
THANK YOU for making it to the end!
I love all of your points in this newsletter! I've always been a multi-tasker that keeps my to-do list growing or my head-spinning but it is also a way I get things done. I do not see life's tasks any other way because there is always so much that has to be done. Not sure I can be a single-tasker except in Play-time! haha
PLAY - is very IMPORTANT and I agree it should be on the priority list at all ages! All work and No Play makes a dull person. My favorite play is horse-back riding and I've owned and rode horses since I'm 10. I still get that stress free, fully in the moment, feeling at 62 when I get up on that horse! (or bike, jetski, and now my new golf cart ) Go Have Some FUN !!:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
Monotasking is the new multitasking! Been saying it (to myself) for years, but much harder to do, especially in today's world where our attention is under attack from all angles, all the time. Best thing I've found for this is cultivating a mindfulness practice. Recommend the Waking Up app by Sam Harris. No results worth having come overnight, but stick with it and it helps us manage distractions while we monotask.