Workouts for the Mind
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March 6, Routine or Poutine?

March 6, Routine or Poutine?

👨‍🎨 What do Picasso, Freud and Murakami have in common?

March 11, 2024

Mental Fitness for the Modern MYND

Besides being the ‘greats’? A routine. Yep, you heard us … a ‘simple’ routine.

Starting your day on the right foot isn't just about avoiding the snooze button, it’s about setting your morning up so you can win each day. You heard us - win.each.day!

Science shows that morning routines are very, very good for us. These routines include things like: consistent wake times, hydrating properly, moving your body, exposure to sunlight, and engaging in focused work. And the benefits of a great routine? Well - you are chillin’ with the MYNDY crew here so we’ll focus on their ability to drastically improve our mental fitness → feelings of focus, energy, and resilience.

So, where can you start or maybe add to your routine? Inspired by Dr. Huberman’s morning routine (yep, him again) here are a few tips:

Waking up time during a certain time range: Pick a specific time or a range of time to wake up and do not snooze (ugh, we know!). Instead of snoozing, try a 10 to 30 minute Yoga nidra listening session (known to induce restorative, pseudo-sleep). Science Says: Psychology studies highlight the benefits of waking at a consistent time for improved metabolic rate and mood regulation.
Getting Sunlight in the morning: Post-wake-up, step outside for 10-30 minutes, opting for sunlight exposure over screen time. Science Says: Morning sunlight exposure is linked to better mood and sleep by synchronizing our circadian rhythms, essential for combating insomnia and depression, according to research.
Creating space for focused work blocks: Prioritize deep focus over digital distractions. Dedicate a certain amount of time to undisturbed work. Science Says: Engaging in focused work sessions without external interruptions aligns with psychological principles for enhancing productivity and creativity.

We know it’s easier said than done to set up the right routine and optimize it. Just remember:

Situation: Personalization is key. What works for one person, doesn’t work for another (check out the daily routines of famous people below) – routines are highly situational and taking stock of your situation before uphauling your routine allows you to set yourself up for success.
Duration: Your routine can be 1, 5, 18, or 123 minutes. It doesn’t matter, just start somewhere.
This is not a vacation: This shouldn’t be something you decide to do at a random time of day or year (like vacation!?) - tie a new morning routine to something you’re already doing religiously (what time your kids wake up, your dog's first bark of the day or when your local coffee shop opens).

And finally…we’d love to learn about your morning routines - what you’re doing, craving, and loving - as you know, we’re continuing to build something new and special here at MYNDY and your feedback is incredibly valuable.

Survey Here (<1 Min)

INSPIRATION

(Why we share this: This is a spark of info + research that gets you excited to practice Mental Fitness)

“When you look below the surface, giant leaps aren’t really giant leaps at all. They’re a series of ordinary choices that suddenly become noticeable. If you look for the magic moment, you’ll miss how ordinary becomes extraordinary.”

— Shane Parrish

PERSPIRATION (Why we share this: These are fun + small exercises to work out your MYND for impact)

A classic NY Times Connections Puzzle from earlier this week. Group words that share a common thread - there are 4 groups of 4. Answers are below!

CELEBRATION

(Why we share this: This is a way to celebrate your MYND and the MYNDY community)

Let’s celebrate the fact that everyone’s routine looks a little bit different. Which of the famous creatives does your routine resemble the most?!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Shout out to the NY Post for this week: can you guess what the top 3 happiest cities in the US are?

How was the newsletter this week? We’d love quick your thoughts:

Loved it 🤩 | So-so 🙃 | Not for me 🥴