#82 Taking a break

Hi friends,

How is 2024 going?

We’ve crossed the halfway point, which is a good time to check in with yourself on how things are progressing.

If you set goals for the year, now is a perfect time to revisit them. If not, consider how you're doing in relation to the three key pillars of life: Health, Wealth and Relationships.

Balancing all three is the ultimate goal, and if you’ve achieved that, I salute you and offer my heartfelt respect. Sometimes, one aspect may need to take a backseat for another to progress, and that’s okay. Recognising this and having a plan to restore balance over time is crucial.

Journaling prompts

Over and above an in-depth review of each goal, here are a few of the journaling prompts I used for a more holistic look back at the first six months:

• Which achievements am I most proud of?

• When did I drop the ball?

• How have I grown?

• How did I contribute?

• Did I communicate my wants and needs enough?

• Who do I need to thank for their support?

How is your battery?

This is also a good moment to assess your energy levels. Have you been getting enough rest? Remember, there are different types of rest; a mix of all is important.

The 7 types of rest:

• Physical: Break from physical strain through relaxation, stretching, massage, and sleep.

• Mental: Relief from cognitive demands via mindfulness, meditation, or other calming activities.

• Emotional: Processing emotions, seeking support, and setting boundaries to promote peace and joy.

• Social: Nurturing supportive relationships while distancing from draining interactions.

• Sensory: Limiting sensory stimuli such as noise, screens, or bright lights for a calming effect.

• Creative: Inspiring creativity and imagination through hobbies, art, or daydreaming.

• Spiritual: Finding purpose and connection through practices like prayer, meditation, or spending time in nature.

Battery low: Insert charger

I have a two-week holiday planned for the start of August, an annual break where I disconnect completely from screens and technology. It serves as a recharge for the second half of the year, and during this period, Plane Thoughts also goes on hiatus.

My check-in clarified that my battery is running low, and I need to bring this break forward. As I've increasingly emphasised in recent weeks, it's important to slow down and live a balanced life. Therefore, Plane Thoughts will be on an extended break until mid-August.

I'm working on an exciting new project I'll share in September.

I wish you the very best of summers.

— AJ

On my bedside table:

An extended list given the upcoming break:

📚 Fiction: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

“What’s the world’s greatest lie?” the boy asked, completely surprised.

“It’s this: at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world’s greatest lie.”

🎙️Podcast: Huberman Lab - Mental Health toolkit: Tools to bolster your mood and mental health

Emotional granularity: “The more specificity we can put to labelling our emotions, the better off we’re going to be in terms of our mental health.” (1:00:30)

🎬 Video: You're Destroying Your Mind - How to Control Dopamine, Ali Abdaal

I am very interested in dopamine, and more so presently, as I am currently 11 days into deactivating my Instagram account. I’m curious about how shutting off a dopamine-driven reward system I have used daily for years is likely affecting my brain and body.

💬 Quotes:

1: “The real value in setting goals is not in their achievement. The acquisition of the things you want is strictly secondary. The major reason for setting goals is to compel you to become the person it takes to achieve them.” — Jim Rohn

2: “Attention isn't free. It's the most valuable thing you spend.” — Shane Parrish

3: “It’s nice to be beautiful. But it’s beautiful to be nice.” — My father

🎙️Listen to me narrate this edition: Spotify | Apple 

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Thank you!