Hi everyone,
The days are getting longer and the energy is picking up for us to come out of the year-long hibernation that has been the pandemic. I hope that all of you are staying safe and preparing yourselves to get back to life because things seem to be moving quickly now. Stay safe out there and I hope you enjoy this week’s newsletter.
Financial Stability Tip: Get In Touch With The Share Economy
Last May, I gathered a carload full of things to take to the Goodwill, only to find that the local store wasn’t receiving donations due to the lockdown. With nowhere to go, my wife started using a “buy nothing” Facebook group; a hyper-local site where you can place things up for free for your neighbors. “Buy Nothing” is one of the best examples of online community building that has effortlessly transitioned into a real-life community that I’ve seen.
Tip: Join a “buy nothing” Facebook group in your local community and use that as your first stop before you purchase anything or donate your unused goods. We have given away everything from tables to wireless routers, and received books, puzzles and— my personal favorite—dry yeast last June when there was none to be found in the entire state of California. Here’s a great article about Buy Nothing groups.
Work/Life Balance Tip: Tweak Your Routine To Enhance Productivity
We are slowly moving towards a post-pandemic world. As things reopen, I have been thinking about how the routines I created in during the pandemic will translate into my post-pandemic life. There are parts of my routine that I hope remain well after the pandemic ends, especially as it relates to my productivity.
Tip: Take a bit of time to note and acknowledge the things that have been working for you during the pandemic. Whether it’s having more time to pursue your important projects while working from home or keeping your commitment to work out regularly, taking stock of your routines will help you stay focused on work/life balance well after we are out of the nation-wide lockdowns. Here’s a great article to help you set routines that will benefit your productivity.
Tips On Finding Meaning: Luck Has Nothing To Do With Success
Ask any practicing artist how they became successful and nine times out of ten, they will tell you that they had luck on their side as they built their career. In this article in Inc., Raj Jana argues that success comes from a combination of things that ultimately have very little to do with luck.
Tip: Instead of thinking about perfecting the final product, which is certainly an important element, Jana argues that careful preparation and investment in your process will give you far more potential to succeed. Invest in the process of learning and growing as an artist now so you’re ready to go when we come out of the pandemic.
Field Notes: The Passion Economy Is Real
Our ability to be in control of our own destiny in terms of building a career has never been easier than it is right now. The online tools that are available to us have never been easier to use and the potential to monetize our ideas has enabled many individuals to thrive at a time when our normal way of doing business has suffered greatly.
Tip: When it comes to exploring the Passion Economy, the very first thing to invest your time in is building community around the great idea you have. One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is when they spend hours building their idea before they see if anyone is interested in what they have to say or sell. Build community first, then figure out how you fit into the passion economy. Here’s a great article on The Passion Economy and the future of work.
The Way Things Work: Investing In Sleep
I’ve been experimenting a bit with my sleep habits and I find that I am the most productive when I get above seven hours of sleep, which inevitably cuts into time I have to dive into my deep work in the early morning or late at night. I’ve found that a little extra sleep means that I’m able to focus for longer periods of time which ultimately makes me more productive in the long run.
Tip: Everyone is different when it comes to the amount of sleep needed in order to be productive. Elon Musk famously had a breakdown in 2018 because he pushed his sleeping habits (or lack thereof) to an extreme. Give yourself permission to rest so that you can start each day with a renewed sense of energy and focus.
Things I Loved:
- When I heard this piece by Russian Renaissance live, it took my breath away.
- This amazing story about Singer-Songwriter/
Cardiologist, Dr. Suzie Brown. - New music from Kõu Kaur.
- I got back in touch with this Tiny Desk Concert by Monsieur Periné, one of my favorite TDC performances of all time! (They’re even better live!!)
- This frustrating way to take a break. I challenge you to make it to 2 minutes.
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