This week I was inspired by Andrew Huberman’s podcast on The Science of Making and Breaking Habits. Specifically I have always been perplexed by afternoons and the information I took in gave me enough to work with.
What do you do with such an awful time of day? Well even before I heard this episode of Huberman Labs, I had a hunch that the best way to deal with afternoons and evenings in terms of getting any work done is to just continually set your expectations lower and lower the closer you get to bed time. And the research presented here definitely confirmed that.
Because our body is starting to shut itself down, 8 hours after we wake up! This is for most people that is, leaving out people who have shifted their clocks around. But for the rest of us who aren’t shift workers or parents nursing a baby, we will be fighting an uphill battle if we think that we can work the same way in the morning as we do in the afternoon and into the night.
If this topic interests you, then hang out with me on Elliott’s Podcast, and i’ll also play a new track that I’m just in the process of finishing up this weekend.
0:00 - Hello and COVID Toronto update
1:39 - Instagram Reels Op. Ed.
6:18 - Time Tracking Update
7:27 - Huberman on Habits
10:50 - Dealing with Afternoons
19:30 - Exercise in the Morning
29:00 - Sleep on Information
31:00 - 48 Hour Projects
35:00 - Music performance: Silent Syd
You can also listen on your favourite podcast player.
What helps you maintain your sanity as your day shifts into the afternoon and the expectation of being productive continues to dwindle?
My challenge to you this week is to work with a sense of lightness. For example if you have been working on idea and have to share it with your community on social media then let it go with a sense of ease.
If you are working on music, writing or any creative activity, try to unclench your jaw and relax a bit.
The great Thelonious Monk said, "There are no wrong notes, some are just more right than others". He also used to hit keys on the piano with his elbows which I think helped drive that point home.
So my takeaway is play piano with your elbows this week rather than with your mind which always feel like a stress generator. Elbows.
The bagel returns to its rightful place in the cosmos aka my belly. See you next week...
Elliott