Learn From My Mistakes

Short story of how I break life chaos into small, solvable problems - 3 min read.

I almost dropped my protein-powered smoothie on the floor of my favorite gym, and one thought kept painfully bouncing around in my head:

“How am I supposed to take my Instagram selfies today?! All the mirrors are taken!”

Now, to be fair, I don't actually drink smoothies. Or take gym selfies. But that day at the gym was wild.

The usually half-full gym was bursting at the seams.

The place felt like a nightclub — except instead of drinks, people were sipping protein shakes and grunting through deadlifts. Personal trainers were working the floor like DJs…

Of course. It was January 2nd.

New Year’s resolutions had landed, and the crowd was sweating buckets trying to start fresh.

The group class I specifically came for?

Overcrowded. No spot for me.

Bummer.

That was one of those moments where I thought, "Maybe I should just work out at home." (Another one was COVID - but that story's a little less cinematic.)

Anyway, it made me wonder: Why do we always wait for "special" days to start something important?

So I did some digging.

Turns out, there's a name for this whole thing - Temporal Landmarks.

Mondays. The first of the month. January 1st. Birthdays.

They give us clean mental coordinates to say, “Now I begin.”

Starting a new habit on some random Thursday afternoon?

Too weird.

Our brains hate it.

(I still don’t get how this works in the U.S., where weeks start on Sunday. But hey - I’ve been officially American for a couple of years now, and we (I can say “we” already) are used to strange stuff like inches, pounds, and the fact we named 2,000 pounds a ton but didn’t bother with a name for 1,000. Explain that.)

Anyway, back on track.

Temporal Landmarks are sneaky.

They’re productivity traps dressed up as fresh starts.

Because here’s the thing:

When we commit in November to purchase a gym membership starting January 1st…

What do we do in December?

Exactly. We treat it like a free month to binge-watch, overeat, and "mentally prepare."

If you deprioritize it now, what makes you so sure you won’t do the same after the shiny date?

So, are we doomed?

Most people - yep.

(They don’t read this newsletter. Sorry, natural selection in action.)

But if you’re here, you’re already curious. So let’s keep it that way.

The only Guide you'll need (until you find a real one)

• Move fast, break things.

(Credit to Facebook for this gem from their early startup playbook.)

Translation: If something matters, don't wait. Fix the mess later if you have to.

If it’s important to get fat, grab the cookies now — you clearly stocked them for a reason!

You can always start your workout habit after February 29th — the next leap year.

• Substitute, don’t stack.

Instead of ironing and folding laundry, I convinced myself that wrinkles build character.

• Customized “If This, Then That” triggers.

If my afternoon looks packed, I work out in the morning.

(Some days I wish I had a third option, like skipping the thing entirely. Honestly, skipping has been my best cardio lately.)

So yeah, that January 2nd was crowded, chaotic, and kind of ridiculous.

But so is waiting for motivation to magically show up.

No, there's no need to wait for a Monday, a new year, or a planetary alignment.

By the time those roll around, you'll likely have a fresh excuse queued up.

(Sorry to any astrology fans. Or not sorry. If Mercury's in retrograde, just blame it. Worked for me.)

Believe it or not, I started cutting back on sugar before I even ran out of cookies. Turns out, willpower mostly looks like an empty pantry.

Why wait? February 30th is never coming.

Till next time.

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How to Stop Overthinking - 5 min read.

While reading this, I picked up a few new words: rumination (the tendency to dwell on negative experiences) and illeism (referring to yourself in the third person). I was already familiar with Solomon's Paradox, but this article offers some really practical advice on how to actually work with these concepts.

Surface Area of Luck - 4 min read.

I'm a big believer in luck (hey, as an American citizen, I'm free to practice any religion!). But did you know you can actually prepare yourself to get lucky? Well, here you go.

My 7 Rules for Happiness - 6 min read.

I'm not saying I agree with all seven, but this one earned its spot: "5. Stop listening to people who are paid to make you angry." For the past three weeks, I've been getting most of my world news from my wife. Skipped the news, kept the good stuff - like breakthrough tech. Mood's been noticeably better.

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If you're looking for something to read, this book's worth considering

In Never Split the Difference, Chris Voss shares negotiation skills built from years of high-stakes FBI work. This book teaches clear, practical strategies that can help you stay calm, communicate better, and solve conflicts — whether you're at work, at home, or anywhere important decisions happen.

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Interesting facts about Her Majesty:

Mechanic During WWII: As a teenager, Elizabeth joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II, where she trained as a mechanic and truck driver, making her the first female royal family member to serve in the military.

First Monarch on Email: In 1976, Elizabeth became one of the first heads of state to send an email, decades before most people even knew what the internet was.

World-Record Traveler: Elizabeth visited over 100 countries without ever needing a passport. As sovereign, she did not require one, yet she holds the record for the most-traveled head of state in history.

No Driver’s License Needed: Despite never taking a driving test, the Queen was famously seen behind the wheel, especially at her Sandringham estate—perfectly legal, as licenses are issued in her name.

A Fan of Mimicry: Friends and family often noted Elizabeth had a wicked sense of humor and was particularly skilled at doing impressions, sometimes mimicking world leaders and heads of state in private moments.

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