Monday Musings…
3 Positive things that I've enjoyed this week and every week. Everything, and anything from nutrition to interesting podcasts, books, a quote that resonated with me or productivity tips. Sometimes just my general musings and thoughts I've had that week..
1.) James Clear’s Newsletter
I only discovered James Clear this year after hearing him interviewed on a podcast and then going on to read his best-selling book, Atomic Habits. I highly recommend his book, if you want to know more about how to form new habits and remain consistent. But, also for undoing 'bad' habits. I think for any health care worker, specifically, Nutritionists or Dietitians, I found it informative in relation to the psychology of behaviour and helping people form new habits.
He also has a very famous newsletter which I have recently signed up to, and for once it's a newsletter I am regularly reading!! It's clear why it's so popular (over 1,000,000 subscribers!?) It is always short, concise and follows the template of '3-2-1', = 3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question. I am really enjoying it and it has brightened up my week. This newsletter always gives me something to consider and gives me pause for a little self reflection. Here's one of the quotes I particularly enjoyed this week....
“ People generally have more control over their actions than their feelings.
But we can influence our feelings by taking action.
Take one small step. Move the body first and the mind will follow."
- James Clear
https://jamesclear.com/newsletter
2.) The Forest App
This is a productivity discovery I enjoyed this week! Probably quite widely know about... but basically, you hit a button set to a timer (normally 25mins) and once you start the timer a tree starts to grow on the screen. If you click off the app during the time, or 'give up' by stopping the timer the tree dies. You can track how many trees are in your forest, and how many hours of concentration you achieve each day. I have found it very motivating so far and doing short sharp bursts of work has helped.
It's something I have always known about doing just never actually tried it as there was too much friction in setting up my own system. This app has removed friction and I am now able to implement it so easily. So far so good!! Great for studying or for any task you need a little help concentrating on.
3.) Buying a Ukulele!
The final positive highlight of my week is a little random! I have been reading about the benefits of learning an instrument on building new neural pathways recently (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2996135/) , which inspired me to give it a go! Also I haven't really tried to learn an instrument since being a child so wanted to test my ability, and my patience as an adult!! I've tried guitar before and found it really hard... so Ukulele...smaller...cheaper….& less strings!
So far it's been a great distraction, and finding something completely different to studying is a great use of time on breaks and also just helps me switch off a bit. I'm finding I'm reaching for a mindless scroll on Instagram much less frequently too!
I'll let you know how I get on... so far no evidence of gained neural pathways....!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ukulele-ukelele/b?ie=UTF8&node=407857031
Happy new week! I hope reading my three musings brings a little positivity into your new Monday..
Annie xx
