Issue #250: Why We Work
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, October 10th.
Our thoughts to all those who lost their lives in Israel and to their families dealing with violence. 🙏
Today’s Quick Win
From the Lab: What’s Your True Identity?
Speed Read: Robots with Noses
Tuesday QR: Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
“The ego-self constantly pushes reality away. It constructs a future out of empty expectations and a past out of regretful memories.”
The percentage of employees that have experienced “burnout” in their current job - and 83% say burnout impacts their personal relationships. (Deloitte)
From the Lab
What’s the headline of your life?
How do you identify yourself to the rest of the world?
Are you a lawyer? A consultant? An entrepreneur?
Or would you first say you’re a parent? A spouse? An avid surfer who loves exploring the world?
You can’t have a conversation about health & longevity without talking about work and stress.
Work is about money - it defines our financial security and how we can live our life.
Work is about time - it defines how we spend our days and what we can focus on.
Work is about status - “work is the single most important way of proving your worth.” (Prof. Steven Vallas)
Headlines fill the media with stats like “89% of people have experienced burnout in the last year” and “76% of remote employees say workplace stress affects their mental health.”
It’s true that many employers are taking advantage of the fact that we need money; that we aspire to status; that we’re willing to trade-off our time.
But WE need to decide how to prioritize all of these factors in our life. It’s up to us to find what will really give us the best life.
It’s YOUR Journey
I’m as guilty as anyone when it comes to workaholism. Since I can remember I was in a rush to get in the advanced classes at school, make my way to Northwestern, get a career advising Fortune 500 companies as a clueless 23 year-old.
It continues to this day as I pour countless hours and mindshare into the planning and execution of the next phase of Thrive25.
But what are we chasing?
Financial Stability: Only 1 in 3 Americans feel like they have enough money to live how they want. What you need to cover basic bills varies by geography but a recent survey suggested $233,000 a year was enough to be comfortable.
It’s not surprising that this number jumped to $316,000 a year among those already making over $100K right now. It’s a classic trap - we adjust to our income and never feel like it’s enough so we keep working - pushing harder and harder.
Status: This one is even more compelling. Since the dawn of homo sapiens, we’ve gotten ahead because we are a social species that can work together. But this naturally forms small groups and within those groups forms certain roles - including leaders.
Today money and job titles represent our status - it determines how we’re viewed and/or respected across our community.
“That matters a lot to people. It matters to people, the evidence suggests, every bit as much as being rich, right, or powerful. Sometimes it can matter more than being powerful. To be powerful is not necessarily to be respected.”
We all naturally get triggered - we see someone driving a $100K car or living in a massive house - we wonder “What do they do for work? How did they get that house?”*
Yet - we know deep down that the relationships that matter, the respect that actually affects our life, and the “things” that improve our life don’t come from this superficial status or the money beyond a certain point - in fact, the stress of it all is literally killing us.
Instead, it’s the connections with friends and family, the experiences of real joy, and the ability to have the energy and health to actually live our best life that really matters.
When it comes to work - there’s a difference between engagement and compulsion. There’s real value in engagement and it can have a profoundly positive effect on us when we live out our purpose (Issue #187).
But that’s not the case if work is being used to fill a void or to impress others.
Don’t let work consume your health and your life:
Write down why you’re working - how does it make you fulfilled, how much money do you need to make for your family, how much time are you willing to give in exchange for that income?
Do your absolute best to not “chase” more and more money if it compromises the other priorities of your life - the law of diminishing returns is real (see Money Plan - Issue #142).
Don’t accept more time at work if it means not enough time for health, family and friends.
But here’s the BIGGEST thing:
You’re freaking awesome. The people that matter to you don’t first think of what you do - they think about how you always win your fantasy football league, about the sound of your laugh, and that you always show up for them.
Your work needs to impress you - no one else.
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
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Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
Cut the Hypertension with a Knife: Roughly 33% of adults worldwide have hypertension, which leads to heart attacks, kidney disease and stroke. Combating hypertension is not rocket science, we have the tools - yet 80% of those impacted aren’t getting adequate treatment. (WIRED)
Regenerating the Spinal Cord: Scientists designed a multipronged gene therapy to repair complete spinal cord injuries in mice. When partial spinal cord injuries occur in humans and mice, a natural repair mechanism takes place. With complete paralysis, this mechanism fails. It’s still early, but this could be a transformative design. (Source)
Robots with Noses: Dogs can sense epileptic seizures via volatile organic compounds (VOCs) the body releases before an episode. 50 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy, but there aren’t enough trained dogs to scale. An artificial “nose” can sense a pending seizure and alert someone to get to safety, privacy or take medication. (Big Think)
Tuesday QR | Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Savor these stuffed sweet potatoes, rich in fiber and vitamins! Sweet potatoes bring beta-carotene and potassium, avocados add healthy fats and folate, and Greek yogurt delivers a protein boost and probiotics, enhancing gut health. In under 30 minutes, enjoy a dish that’s not only flavorful but also packed with essential nutrients.
Pro Tip: keep a very close eye on the potatoes while they broil so they don’t burn
No Longer Quick…Tip: Not into the microwave? Roast the potatoes in the oven at 375°F for about 45 min, or until fork tender and done. This change will take the quick out of Quick Recipe (QR)!
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Why Thrive25
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.
This newsletter is for you and we truly value your feedback. Never hesitate to reach out to us at team@thrive25.com.
To health!
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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.