ColdShower #66🥶🚿 A racing mind, forming accountability teams, and good stress

Never in the history of forever has anyone agreed to calm down when told.

Jan 10, 2024

Shower thought via Reddit.

The ColdShower: Weekly thoughts for better health, habits, and happiness.

We’re doing it

“Quiet brain, we’re going to sleep.”
Forming accountability teams
Is there an upside to stress?

Recharge

“You’re a lot”

I hear this often. Coupled with “Where do you find all of your energy”. I stay active. My body seems to as well (diagnosed with an “overactive bladder”… whatever that means). Along with my mind.

I’ve come to terms with this. I like high-energy environments. I thrive on output.

But what happens when things slow down?

Doing laps in my head

Last week I struggled with a racing mind. My head would hit the pillow, but my mind was zooming through laps at the Daytona 500.

I had multiple nights of lying in bed for hours.

Then I had a thought. Or maybe a dream? An epiphany perhaps? — “Just listen”.

Just listen

It’s my mind after all. This was a freeing thought. In a world where it’s easier than ever to be absorbed by outside sources, maybe I should be “tuning in” more often.

…Just not in the middle of the night💤💤💤

Refine

Movie gif. Ben Stiller as Tony Perkis in Heavyweights runs from a stage, down the aisle, with his hands up for high fives, but only one audience member gives him one.

Forming an accountability team

Accountability January, Part 2. (Need to catch up? — Part 1)

Mark outlines the process for forming accountability teams in Chapter 4 of the Accountability Team Handbook. It’s a process that requires careful planning and adaptability over time. Mark’s process includes:

Identifying potential team members
Setting clear expectations
Sharing Goals
Establishing a regular meeting schedule
Choosing a communication method
Creating a supportive environment
Reviewing & adjusting (as necessary)

The LittleTrail Runner example

One of my priorities this year is launching the LittleTrail Runner business (+ children’s poem book). Last year I built a habit of writing poems consistently and started sharing them with my wife and my Aunt Timmie.

But I had no goals, or structure, and had yet to start on many additional steps necessary to launch a business. So I started with goals — and made them specific & measurable.

Ex - Complete one poem per week through March 1st.

Make it easy

I asked my Aunt Timme and my wife, Jordan, to keep me accountable. It was a natural fit - Jordan has an interest in the poem book and business and my Aunt enjoys reading and writing poems. Plus, we already had a group text for sharing.

What I added was clear goals and expectations from my team. I committed to weekly updates on the business (for Jordan) and sending a new draft poem each week through our group text. And the expectation from my team is attention, guidance, and feedback while I work through this process.

My biggest takeaway: Make it easy, and choose a team with a shared interest.

Easy - Communicate clear intentions, make your goals SMART, and use technology everyone is familiar with.

Shared Interest - Before forming an accountability team, partner, or coach ask yourself - “What’s in it for them?”

Rethink

Stress Goals

Rethink: Is there an upside to stress?

Dr. Christian Poensgen from Beyond Productivity thinks so. Check out his latest newsletter. He references the new book, “The Upside of Stress”, and why setting “stress goals” is good for your mental and physical well-being.