Issue #117: Plan for Chaos
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, January 31st. One of the greatest athletes ever was born this day in 1919 - Jackie Robinson. The first African-American to play in MLB, he was an all-star on the field (Rookie of the Year, MVP, 6-time All-Star & World Series Champion), but more importantly changed sports forever. No player will ever again wear number 42.
“It’s not how good you are now, it’s how good you’re going to be that matters.”
From the Lab: Plan for Chaos
Take Action: If-Then Technique
Speed Read: Helping a Blind Man See
Tuesday QR: No Bake Dessert for V-Day
Bucket List: Hanging with Butterflies
The percent of respondents that selected improved mental health as their #1 resolution for 2023. Improved fitness (39%), losing weight (37%), better diet (33%) and improved finances (30%) rounded out the top 5. (Forbes)
From the Lab
Unlike Max (Thrive25 Co-Founder who is on-pace to achieve his #1 goal for 2023 - see yesterday's Issue 116), I hit a bump in the road already and have NOT written in my “Fun Journal” every day.
What Happened?
For the first two weeks I almost surprised myself (that should have been a warning sign) that I consistently wrote down something fun from that day and some ideas to make tomorrow fun too.
But then my 2-yr old got sick. So more time with him during the day meant late nights working and sleep walking mornings.
What’s the first thing to go when time "disappears" - anything not yet a habit.
So one night I missed writing, then another.
After 2-3 days I kinda felt like I failed - so what was the point.
Most of us significantly underestimate how much we can get done in our available time. Why?
Because when we plan out our week or consider new goals (like my Fun Journal), we envision everything going as planned.
Doing this - we’re not prepared for when sh*t hits the fan.
Instead, build habits around the unexpected - Plan for Chaos.
Take Action
If you miss a day or are behind in your goal - don’t think it’s a failure. What am I going to do - wait until the arbitrary date of Jan 1, 2024 to restart my Fun Journal? Figure out what happened - see if you can correct and jump back on the horse (BTW - no one is watching - it’s just about you, so hit reset).
If-Then Technique (from James Clear). To plan for chaos - actually map out probable ways your schedule goes to hell and come up with what you’re going to do in that scenario. For example - if I know I’ll still be working at 11pm, then I’m going to take a 5 min break to write in the journal before I go to bed.
Reduce Scope/Stick to Schedule - his other recommendation is to do the bare minimum that will still keep your system intact. We talked about this yesterday - how Max has a 5-30 min meditation goal and some days 5 min is all he’s got - but that’s a win. James Clear committed to writing an article every Mon & Thu. After getting food poisoning one night, he wrote “This post is coming!” Not great for the reader - but given his chaos it was the minimum he could do and stick with the schedule.
For more on James Clear and how to Plan for Chaos click HERE.
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Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
Feeling Good on Tuesday: YouTube star MrBeast has made a living off YouTube videos centered around expensive stunts. Recently, he’s shifted his focus to philanthropy and posted a video in which he helps 1,000 blind people to see. (YouTube)
Making Food Labels Make Sense: Speaking of vision, the FDA continues to move forward with new regulations on more transparent food labels. We’ve discussed front-label packaging (Issue #22) and new nutrition guidelines (#35) that came from the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health. See our guest post from Mohammed Iqbal who was there (#82). But progress isn't happening fast enough. (Read more)
More Billions to Live Forever: Last week, we highlighted Bryan Johnson (Issue #115) and how he’s tackling aging one organ at a time. Here’s a view into the actions of several other billionaires (and a few millionaires to provide “perspective”) as they invest in companies to keep the inevitable at bay. (Business Insider)
Tuesday QR (Quick Recipe)
Need to get some healthy treats for V-day? These coconut lemon bars come out looking like cupcakes, don't require any baking, oh and they're awesome!
Bucket List
Tassili n’Ajjer
The Saharan Desert has always felt mystical - whether it's the butterflies that flap their wings to start hurricanes 🤷♂️ or the scenes in blockbuster films from Indiana Jones to James Bond. But maybe the right word is majestic.
Tassili n’Ajjer is the largest national park in Algeria - 8x the size of Yellowstone. While many visitors stay along the coast and explore Algeria's Roman ruins, the vast landscape of Tassili n’Ajjer boasts deep red dunes and pillars of Tadrart Rouge acting like natural Saharan skyscrapers. Accessible only by a four-wheel-drive vehicle, this national park is home to thousands of ancient works of rock art, stretching back to when the desert was a thriving savanna, as well as to the active nomadic Tuareg culture.
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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25 Labs LLC does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.