The Weekly Upgrade #7
Why you can't focus, Yoga, and a book that will help you get the most out of life.
Happy Monday!
I’m switching around the order of the sections this week. Let’s dive right in.
Something I learned
Humans have evolved to be easily distractable.
Ever wondered why you get distracted by every shiny object even when you’re trying to focus on something important?
It’s not entirely your fault. Optimizing for focus on a single task wasn't crucial for our survival in the wild.
As a species, we’ve evolved in environment that was vastly different from the one we live in today. Being able to spot opportunities and react to threats quickly was crucial for our survival. That is why our brains are constantly distracted by novel stimuli.
The easiest way to combat this tendency is to remove distractions from your environment. Here are a few that I find useful:
Turn off notifications on your phone
Put on noise cancelling headphones
Work in a room alone, not in a cafe or a coworking space
Use the pomodoro technique to stay focused and take occasional breaks
A Weekly Challenge
Yoga for 7 days straight.
A lot of us don’t give our bodies the attention they deserve.
Yoga is a great place to start some form of physical activity. Even if you’re a regular at the gym, Yoga really helps with flexibility and a mind-body connection.
I’d recommend starting with this free 7 day beginner course by Breathe & Flow on Youtube.
It’ll take you 30 minutes each morning, but it’ll guarantee you a good start to your days.
A Book Recommendation
On The Shortness of Life, by Seneca.
A classic by the Roman Philosopher, Seneca, that will help you pack more meaning into your limited time on planet Earth.
A Thought to Ponder
What advice do you think your 80 year old self give your current self?
If you like this newsletter, I’d love to hear from you. If you think it can improve, I’d like to hear from you even more.
I wish you a wonderful week ahead.