Issue #206: Out of Time
Good morning. It’s Thursday, June 29th.
Today’s Quick Win
From the Lab: Out of Time
Speed Read: Mosquito Days on the Rise
Thursday Night In: Summer Garden Crustless Zucchini Pie
“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.”
The number of hours an average user is logged into slack on any given day. Users are actively sending/receiving messages for 1.5 hours per day. Want some of that time and mindshare back?? (Source)
From the Lab
We grew up in a suburb of Cleveland and I recall thinking how fortunate my dad was to have an office right in town and not have to commute an hour to/from work (he eventually worked from home - was just ahead of his time I guess).
But aside from the commute, most of my friends’ parents came home for dinner and hung out on the weekend without the constant pull of their job. That’s not to say that people didn’t work their ass off in the 80’s and 90’s - capitalism was in full swing.
But the divide between work and personal life was much bigger.
Today there is no divide - the smartphone has made sure of that.
Busyness is at an all time high and “there’s a pressure to fit ever-increasing quantities of activity into a stubbornly non increasing quantity of time in the day.” (Four Thousand Weeks)
Our schedules - especially since the pandemic - have gone completely off the rails. We’re working or seeking productivity all the time. This has a profound impact on our circadian rhythm - which has never been further disconnected from nature and affects our sleep and a whole host of health problems. (See Huberman Podcast)
So why are we working so damn hard? Why aren’t we living in the world that John Maynard Keynes predicted where we’d work 15 hrs/week?
According to Oliver Burkeman - the source of our anxiety and workaholism is the need to “know” that our efforts will make the future better.
But this keeps us from living in the present.
How many of us have said “when I get through this project…” or “when I get the next promotion…” or “when I get done with this week’s list of tasks…”
But trying to be more productive isn’t the answer - the more we do, the more our “To Do” list grows. It’s never-ending.
Look - we have to work to have financial means and we have responsibilities to take care of our homes, our families, ourselves.
But beyond that, know this - you’ll never finish your list. You’ll never be caught up, and you’ll never be sure that what you’re doing makes the future better.
While still taking care of yourself and the people around you - recognize time is finite and you can only do so much.
As Sam Harris suggests, live each moment as if it’s the last time you’ll do whatever it is you’re doing - so that you actually “live” in the present and appreciate it.
Five simple words…
“I don’t mind what happens.”
That’s not to say you should stop caring…
Or stop trying to influence the future.
But accept and embrace whatever it brings. That’s what life is all about.
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Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
First Eyes, Then…: Researchers used machine learning models to successfully predict which components of amino acids are most likely to safely deliver therapeutic drugs in animal eye cells. The models identified 127 different peptides that would bind with melanin. This could be a breakthrough in treating glaucoma and macular degeneration. (Read more)
Mosquito Days: Climate change is creating optimal conditions for mosquitos, leading to an increase in "mosquito days" across the US. These insects suck - I hate them! But they also present a real public health risk. Mosquito days occur when the daily temp is 50-95°F and humidity > 42%. Interestingly, regions like Texas, where temperatures frequently exceed 95°F in the summer, are experiencing a decline in mosquito days. (Learn more)
Nothingness Isn’t Absolute Emptiness: So we all know the Big Bang theory, but scientists struggle to reach the very, very beginning. The concept of a First Cause and a singularity highlight our limitations. There’s still more to relativity and quantum mechanics - or quantum mechanical nothingness. At least your brain will get bigger reading this… (Big Think)
Thursday Night In | Summer Garden Zucchini Pie
We’re back on our egg kick! This crustless zucchini pie is packed with protein and plenty of healthy summer vegetables that add a ton of color and flavor. Bake it, eat it, freeze it, eat it some more…
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We’re 40-something dads that felt our bodies and minds start to slow down and we’re not ready for that. We found too much information on every subject. So we started Thrive25 to transform what we’ve learned into something useful for the rest of us to spend just 3-5 min a day to optimize our health & longevity.
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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.