A&B #5

Hey friends,

I've watched The Social Dilemma recently to see what all the hype was about. Here's the core message: Social media is purposely designed to be addicting. The film is filled with ex-engineers talking about how they used psychology to keep people coming back to their apps, but doesn't share how to break free from it.So, here are some books that can help:

• Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

• Indistractable by Nir Eyal

• Deep Work by Cal Newport

PS: There's a social media challenge at the bottom of this email. Alright, let's dive in!

Podcast Update:This week I had NYT bestselling author Greg McKeown on the podcast to talk about his book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less.Greg's book isn't about doing more–it's about doing less, but better. In other words, identifying what is essential and focusing on that, instead of trying to do everything. If you ever found yourself busy, but not productive, this is the book for you.In our conversation, we talk about:

• Zoom fatigue & work-life balance

• Why being always busy can be dangerous

• When to take & when to pass on opportunities

And much more. As always, I've included timestamps so if you're short on time, you can skip to the parts you want. Listen and learn here!

Lessons From Reading:

Here are a few lessons from Essentialism:1) Make Yourself Unavailable  In today's world, being always on and available is seen as a positive, but that's far from the truth. Our best work is often done when we aren't available. Sir Isaac Newton used his two years in solitary confinement to write his famous work on universal gravitation. Inspired by Newton, Greg McKeown blocked off several hours every day to work on his book. Look at Bill Gates's famous "Think Week" as another example. Twice a year, he takes a week off to go to a remote cabin to read, write, and just think. Bill started this practice in the 1980s and continues it today. 2) Sleep Is Not For The WeakMany type A people still believe they can get more work done if they sleep less–they're wrong. The vast majority of people need 8-9 or so hours of sleep to be a high performer. One study found that the best violinists slept an average of 8.6 hours. We need to stop celebrating people who sacrifice sleep for work and instead encourage people to get their sleep.3) A Yes Here Is A No ThereLife is filled with trade-offs: When you say yes to one opportunity, you're simultaneously saying no to another. Before you agree to a task or event, ask yourself if it aligns with the big picture and if it's the best use of your time. Maybe you can delegate it or maybe it's just not for you. Don't be afraid to say no. Saying no may have a short-term impact on a relationship, but having boundaries will show people you value your time and they will respect you for it.  Actionable Advice:

• Create space to escape:

  • You don't need to have a "Think Week" like Bill Gates but perhaps create a "Think Day" by taking one Saturday or Sunday a month to read books, evaluate your goals, or work on a passion project you've been putting off.

• If you want to compete, get your sleep:

  • Your body will thank you for getting 8-9 hours of sleep and you'll be more productive, it's a win-win. Get those zzz's. 

• Just say no:

  • If something isn't a clear yes, then it's a clear no. If you need help saying no, here are 12 nice ways to say no.

Reading Tip:Want to learn how to take notes while reading? I share my note-taking strategy here.

Weekly Quote:"Never be ashamed to admit what you do not know. –Arabic Proverb

Photo of the Week:

Speaking of social media, we could all benefit from taking a break and spending more time reading.

Can you go for the next 24-hours without social media?

(Give it a try and let me know how it goes.)

Thank you for your support everyone, I'll see you next week!Read on,Alex W.