“Let it sink…”

The risk here is the chance to form a false belief, financial catastrophe, and even health damage. Choose wisely. Control your inputs.

Power moves

I recently did an experiment on what affects my energy, and the results were interesting.

A few months ago, after dinner, I spent 1.5 hours on social media - mostly on X (people still like to call it “formerly Twitter”).

I told myself I was just trying to learn and understand how it works. It felt like I was being productive by “exploring.”

In reality, I barely understood anything, and I went to bed feeling like I had wasted a lot of time.

It left me feeling down. Not because I didn’t enjoy the scrolling (it was fine in the moment). But because I had other priorities, like writing another newsletter or finishing a book by Dan Ariely.

The next morning, I started with my favorite groove:

• Wake up, quick hygiene stuff.

• Cook breakfast for my family.

• While they eat and start their day, take a 45-minute cycling class.

• Shower and dress.

• Eat breakfast.

• Read 25-30 pages.

By 7:30 a.m., I had already spent the same 90 minutes as the previous evening, but this time, I’d accomplished so much.

I felt pumped, full of energy, and ready to win the day (what a cliche, but so accurate).

I thought, "Maybe I’m just a morning person.”

But then, a few days later, I tried a similar routine.

But…

With a twist.

I woke up, had breakfast, kissed my family goodbye (I work from home - another challenge for discipline since the fridge is literally around the corner!), and dove into social media.

After about 60 minutes (30 minutes short of my 90-minute timer), I felt “enough is enough” and closed the apps.

The next thing I remember, I was in the kitchen brewing tea and picking up some snacks…

Hm. Why?

Finally, I opened my to-do list for the day but somehow ended up on a news portal, trying to “catch up” on what happened overnight.

As we all know, the news is rarely good… This trick makes us watch more.

I started with the wildfire disaster in California. For some reason, I decided it was "need to know" rather than "nice to know". I felt so sorry for all those people impacted.

My brain overdosed on dopamine and craved more.

I wanted chocolate, YouTube, and the feeling of being productive - but none of it was satisfying.

Once I realized that, I shut the browser down.

Slowly, about an hour later I became more grounded.

By 10 a.m., I had barely accomplished anything.

What’s surprising, I did not feel “fresh” anymore.

That’s when I decided to switch gears.

I hopped on a mandatory call and, immediately after, rushed to my Peloton bike (please don’t judge me, I bought it pre-owned for about 40% of the retail price).

I didn’t want to ride.

Every cell in my body begged me to push it to the evening.

“There’s a list of tasks to knock out first,” my brain argued.

I felt tired and unprepared for a calorie burn.

But I felt that was a trap.

Not going to lie, it was off-schedule, and it took some effort to silence the voice in my head.

Starting the 45-minute cardio ride was tough, but finishing it was deeply satisfying.

I was drenched, physically tired, and gasping for air - but I no longer craved instant dopamine.

Interesting.

I was glad I noticed that shift.

After a shower and lunch, I got back to work.

By 12:45 p.m., I felt like it was 8 a.m. again - fully recharged and focused.

Over the next few days, I played with my “routine”.

Random three days a week, I worked out in the morning. On the other three days, I exercised later, around 4–5 p.m. (observant reader would notice I reserved one day for a recovery).

What I noticed was that late workouts felt like a fresh start, giving me energy and focus for another round of challenges until bedtime.

My takeaways:

• Staying active and doing things is energizing.

• Wasting time is depressing.

• I don’t need as much “rest” as I thought.

As for my workout routine, I keep it flexible. If I know it might be challenging to fit it in during the afternoon, I prefer to schedule it in the morning.

Otherwise - 4 pm looks like a sweet spot for me.

Our favorite digital finds

Short & Sweet

114 Books Reviewed in (About) One Paragraph - 30 min read.

Mark Manson, author of the bestselling The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, put a lot of effort into this summary to help us choose our next great read. Definitely worth a scroll. I’ve already added a few to my reading list!

How to feel like you have enough - 9 min read.

We all have a "scarcity mindset" – the feeling that you never have enough of anything (like time, money, or friends). This essay explains how to change our thinking so we feel less stressed and more successful.

Mental Liquidity - 3 min read.

Holding onto beliefs too strongly can hinder our growth and understanding of the world. One of the fundamentals of critical thinking is the ability to change our minds when new information becomes available. There’s a term for this: Mental Liquidity.

Press Play

I was unable to locate this song on Spotify. Here is a YouTube link to the fabulous Keiko Matsui’s “Tears of The Ocean”. A modern classic.

Add this to your shelf

What if everything you thought you knew about human history was only half the story? Sapiens reveals the untold truths behind our evolution and the world we live in today.

Unpacking the routines of interesting people

Bruce Lee - was a martial arts legend who combined incredible skill, groundbreaking philosophy, and charisma to inspire millions. He revolutionized martial arts with his style, Jeet Kune Do, and broke barriers in Hollywood.

Interesting facts about Bruce:

Fitness Pioneer: He was ahead of his time in fitness, combining strength training, cardio, and flexibility routines long before they became mainstream.

Water Metaphor: One of his most famous quotes, "Be water, my friend," encourages adaptability and resilience in life.

Philosopher and Writer: Bruce Lee was not just a martial artist; he was a deep thinker and philosopher, exploring themes of self-discovery, personal growth, and the nature of reality in his writings

Watch-worthy clips

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