The Reset
One idea to help you reset your routine
The Reset
One idea to help you reset your routine
Time for a morning walk!
I am not sure what your definition of a geek is, but this summer I’ve been getting my light meter out to measure the light levels in various different destinations I’ve visited.
Anyway…just take a look at the top row and compare it to the bottom.
This matters because until recently, our ancestors would have spent the entire day outdoors, yet today we spend 92% of our days indoors.
In other words, we have all suddenly become light-deprived.
And the effects of this are real. By suppressing melatonin (which is a powerful antioxidant) and by contributing to circadian disruption, light deprivation means:
- 30% less focus in the mornings
- 50% more fatigue in the afternoons
- Reduced sleep quality
- Increased risk of diseases like breast cancer and prostate cancer
Fortunately there is an easy fix, namely….
Get outside for a morning walk
Research shows that even a short walk in the morning (the consensus is 20-30 mins) can offset many of the harms we experience with being in permanent twilight.
And what is July, if not the perfect month to start making this a habit?
You can use your morning walk in several ways:
- Actively prepare and think through your day
- Listen to music, a podcast or just switch off and notice nature
- Add a weighted rucksack to experience enhanced health benefits
There aren’t many serious issues with such a simple solution – thankfully this is one of them so GET OUTSIDE!
The Recharge
A few things that have recharged me this month
The Recharge
A few things that have recharged me this month
My month:
June was another super busy month with workshops in Birmingham, Frankfurt, London, New York and China.
I often visit New York in June, but this year there was the World Cup and the Knicks winning the World Series. The atmosphere in town was amazing – something apparently called ‘collective effervescence’ – great phrase.
I usually treat work trips as a chance to catch up on work and watch TV in my pants, but this year I treated myself to go and see Hamilton on Broadway. It was…amazing.
There’s something powerful about being deeply absorbed in a shared experience. I remember a couple of times an actor was crying, sweat dripping down their face and the audience was completely silent, totally absorbed. It almost feels like a sacred experience. I’m not sure if there’s a phrase for it, but there should be…collective captivation?
Anyway I resolved to go to more musicals, which I clearly love, even when the easier thing is to watch another re-run of The Office with a Pot Noodle.
What I’m reading / watching / listening to:
Obviously the Hamilton soundtrack.
Something that recharged me:
My portable AC. I am not a great sleeper at the best of times, but the heat in London was something else this month. I am not sure I would have got through it without (*consults notes*) the EcoAir ARTICA 8000 (Energy Class A).
