The January Binge
It is the end of January, and I am stuffed! As I wrote about in an earlier post, as January began I felt the need to go inward and do “quiet” activities. In satisfying this desire, I found myself on an input binge this past month, consuming as much content as possible across books, podcasts, and my “news” feed.
During this content feast I came across a few items worth sharing. One of these items is the New Year New You Challenge offered by the Daily Stoic. They are offering a second cohort which begins February 1st, which is why Holos is coming out today instead of Thursday, to give you time to sign up! I am usually skeptical of these types of programs but found this one thought provoking, not overwhelming, and additive to my life (and no, I don’t get any compensation if you sign up).
I hope you enjoy!
Something Interesting
Daily Stoic’s New Year New You Challenge
As the Daily Stoic says, the New Year New You Challenge is for “Every one of us (who) wants to improve, wants to be better. We all want to have better habits. Many of us even know what to do. Yet we can’t seem to actually do it. Time passes, the plans don’t come to pass, and then, as the Talking Heads famously sang, there we are, same as it ever was.”
I enjoyed this daily challenge so much so that when I saw it was being offered again, I wanted to make sure it was on your radar.
Sparketype assessment
I love tools, tips, and recommendations for living a purposeful life. And finding work which lights you up, whether paid or unpaid, is part of living a meaningful life. As the website for this free assessment proclaims, “discover the work that makes you come alive” by taking this free Sparketype test. It only takes about 10 minutes, and I found the results have helped clarify one of the components missing in my work life.
You can go even deeper with the book and podcast.
Something to Read
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman came out in 2021 but has been languishing in the stack of books by my bed. But timing is everything and this month was the perfect time for me to read this book.
The book is described as time management for mortals and tackles the “ultimate time management problem: the challenge of how best to use our four thousand weeks” and it “introduces readers to tools for constructing a meaningful life by embracing finitude (the state of having a limit or end, in this case the shortness of our lives).” Four Thousand Weeks, cover
It is Burkeman’s exploration of time and its relationship to living a meaningful life which I found intriguing and compelling. For example, he talks about how our “sense of self-worth gets completely bound up with how you’re using your time.” I am guilty of this, too often measuring the success of a day by how much I get done.
Reading this book is ultimately a kindness to yourself as it outlines “a saner way of relating to time and a toolbox of practical ideas for doing so.” Four Thousand Weeks, p. 26
Something For Listening
Twice in as many days, Rick Rubin’s new book, The Creative Act, popped up on my radar. The first was a highly rated review of the book (which I have ordered) and the second was an episode of the Rich Roll podcast (which I have listened to) where he interviews Rick Rubin.
I was not familiar with Rick Rubin and in case you are not either, he is the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings and founder of American Recordings. He is well-known for his intuition based approach to creativity. In his own words, he “set out to write a book about what to do to make a great work of art. Instead, it revealed itself to be a book on how to be.”
For anyone who loved Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (one of my favorite books), you will enjoy and find value in listening.
Something To Try
In my never ending quest for better sleep, I have added 2 new tools to my toolbelt. The first is 50mg of Apigenin, the active compound in chamomile, before bed. What I like about taking the pill form is it means less liquid near bedtime which reduces the need to get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.
The second addition to my bedtime routine is Bach Rescue Sleep Spray. As I get into bed I spray 2 pumps of the Rescue Sleep remedy on my tongue. And if I wake up in the middle of the night I use another 2 pumps which seems to significantly help me fall back asleep quickly. The Rescue Sleep Spray is a homeopathic flower essence designed to help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and calm busy, repetitive thoughts (the kind which love to surface in the middle of the night!).
Something Yummy
I am loving butternut squash noodles and fortunately a lot of grocery stores offer them already spiralized.
Simply coat the noodles with olive oil, toss in some chopped sage, sprinkle with salt, and roast at 400 degrees on a parchment lined baking sheet for about 20-25 minutes. While they are cooking chop up some garlic, sauté it in olive oil and toast some pine nuts. When the noodles are done, toss with the garlic, the garlic infused olive oil, and the pine nuts. Finish with a sprinkle of nutritional yeast. Yum!
Parting Thought
I am now ready for February and to be moving closer to spring. I am happy I honored my need to turn inward and “rest” this past month. Now I sense a bubbling up of energy and a desire to look outward, to create, and to engage again with the world.
To be continued…
