You have absolutely nailed it with this piece. Everyone is asleep on this one.
This is exactly why I am commuting for two hours each day with no stimulation whatsoever. I have committed to 1,000 hours, and next week will mark hour 100. Exactly as you say, the fog clears and the feeling comes back - it's only clearly visible in the rear view mirror.
Everyone needs a clear plan on this one (although maybe they could skip the high vis vest, that's optional).
to anyone reading, the easiest way to start doing this is to do your morning routine in "silence".
usually, the transition from stimulation to destimulation (watching youtube to reading, scrolling on phone to working) is uncomfortable because your brain has to re-regulate itself, which is why tools such as short walks or staring at a wall help bridge this gap.
however, when you wake you are almost always going to be in a destimulated state. this means that no uncomfortable transition has to occur, and you can simply maintain the destimulated state throughout your morning (shower, breakfast, brush teeth, stretch). I usually spend at least an hour before engaging with any form of media or device. I've found this slower, quiet start to the day helps alleviate headaches, brain fog, I think clearer and am more motivated, it's basically cheats that haven't been patched.
and I found it far easier to get used to silence and boredom by starting my day in that manner instead of having to transition from a stimulated state into state of boredom. (hope this made sense, basically do morning routine with minimum stimulation and stand outside for a bit)
Excellent piece. I'm guilty of always filling the silence when I'm doing the boring tasks, like chores. I tell myself a podcast is my treat for doing them. But also who am I kidding? It's not a treat, it's a constant stream.
At the risk of venturing far from my competence, I suspect you are right. I have been trying to do just that, and did find after about three or four weeks, I found I was tonnes more comfortable with silence. And then a few weeks on actively enjoyed it. As you say, it's a training, and a huuugely valuable one to do.
I turn to substack instead of traditional social media on my phone. So I have something easily accessible to me when I want mental stimulation but can’t whip out a book. Recently I was on a flight and I had to turn my phone on airplane mode. I was disconnected and I was enjoying a book. While reading ideas did surface and I wrote them down as I was reading. Something about dissecting an already information heavy piece of literature that’s extremely stimulating and rewarding. Breaking it down, questioning it, interpreting it, and building upon it. I don’t read fictions. I read about business development, organization skills, operational structure, and the philosophy behind these things in order to develop a better understanding of the work I do.
A majority of these comments look like recommendations, so I wanted to add one that I found useful. Note taking. Even if it’s mental. But physical note taking is much more rewarding. Try it. Not on your phone. On paper.
Ditched social media for 40 days. I now give myself 30 minutes a week. Never felt better. The art of reduction is the real way to do “self improvement” rather than to “stack habits” that other people recommend. It is however important to use the time that you gain from reduction to add habits that will allow you to flourish in alignment with your nature.
ive been practicing this and i cn vouch that the two best ideas i've had in the past 2 weeks were from me walking without any music or podcasts. it's difficult to commit to no screens during meals, but its nice to taste the food
Invest in ear plugs..! I’ve been using them for 1 year now primarily for sleep, which then evolved to reading/studying and just blocking out the noise -32 decibels. They’re the ones commonly used on construction sites. They’re perfect for sleep, creating absolute silence, concentration on any task and it’s an incredible way to sit with your own thoughts without all those surprisingly pesky noises we don’t register but our brains do!!
I used to know and actually do most of these things, but after some “tough time” I realised that I dropped most of it. Most of these habits, sitting with your thoughts, no-phone eating, being in silence. And this article was not just a great reminder, but also some basis, that most of us have lost. I think we even stop thinking with our own thoughts even.
So yeah, don’t wanna go deep just wanted to say thank you for this paper. Loved it!
You have absolutely nailed it with this piece. Everyone is asleep on this one.
This is exactly why I am commuting for two hours each day with no stimulation whatsoever. I have committed to 1,000 hours, and next week will mark hour 100. Exactly as you say, the fog clears and the feeling comes back - it's only clearly visible in the rear view mirror.
Everyone needs a clear plan on this one (although maybe they could skip the high vis vest, that's optional).
to anyone reading, the easiest way to start doing this is to do your morning routine in "silence".
usually, the transition from stimulation to destimulation (watching youtube to reading, scrolling on phone to working) is uncomfortable because your brain has to re-regulate itself, which is why tools such as short walks or staring at a wall help bridge this gap.
however, when you wake you are almost always going to be in a destimulated state. this means that no uncomfortable transition has to occur, and you can simply maintain the destimulated state throughout your morning (shower, breakfast, brush teeth, stretch). I usually spend at least an hour before engaging with any form of media or device. I've found this slower, quiet start to the day helps alleviate headaches, brain fog, I think clearer and am more motivated, it's basically cheats that haven't been patched.
and I found it far easier to get used to silence and boredom by starting my day in that manner instead of having to transition from a stimulated state into state of boredom. (hope this made sense, basically do morning routine with minimum stimulation and stand outside for a bit)
everyone has potential
potential means nothing if you don’t use it
Exactly something I needed , thank you for writing this piece.
This is my first read from Ixcarus and it's already one of my favs. Keep giving more. :)
Excellent piece. I'm guilty of always filling the silence when I'm doing the boring tasks, like chores. I tell myself a podcast is my treat for doing them. But also who am I kidding? It's not a treat, it's a constant stream.
Well said! But sooo hard to just choose silence.
It is, but only because I've trained my brain to not like it. I hope this will change in time.
At the risk of venturing far from my competence, I suspect you are right. I have been trying to do just that, and did find after about three or four weeks, I found I was tonnes more comfortable with silence. And then a few weeks on actively enjoyed it. As you say, it's a training, and a huuugely valuable one to do.
This read is so powerful, beautifully encapsulated everything
Walking as a means of thinking - That's an insightful validation.
Let’s grow together by supporting one another if you’re also new on Substack, feel free to subscribe and I’ll gladly do the same.
Well, the modern environment is neurologically hostile by default. Unless we learn to navigate it, we will continue having underwhelming results
Thanks man , I will always grateful to you for my whole life 🥹🫡🫡🫡🤗🤗🫨
Airplane mode
I turn to substack instead of traditional social media on my phone. So I have something easily accessible to me when I want mental stimulation but can’t whip out a book. Recently I was on a flight and I had to turn my phone on airplane mode. I was disconnected and I was enjoying a book. While reading ideas did surface and I wrote them down as I was reading. Something about dissecting an already information heavy piece of literature that’s extremely stimulating and rewarding. Breaking it down, questioning it, interpreting it, and building upon it. I don’t read fictions. I read about business development, organization skills, operational structure, and the philosophy behind these things in order to develop a better understanding of the work I do.
A majority of these comments look like recommendations, so I wanted to add one that I found useful. Note taking. Even if it’s mental. But physical note taking is much more rewarding. Try it. Not on your phone. On paper.
Ditched social media for 40 days. I now give myself 30 minutes a week. Never felt better. The art of reduction is the real way to do “self improvement” rather than to “stack habits” that other people recommend. It is however important to use the time that you gain from reduction to add habits that will allow you to flourish in alignment with your nature.
ive been practicing this and i cn vouch that the two best ideas i've had in the past 2 weeks were from me walking without any music or podcasts. it's difficult to commit to no screens during meals, but its nice to taste the food
Invest in ear plugs..! I’ve been using them for 1 year now primarily for sleep, which then evolved to reading/studying and just blocking out the noise -32 decibels. They’re the ones commonly used on construction sites. They’re perfect for sleep, creating absolute silence, concentration on any task and it’s an incredible way to sit with your own thoughts without all those surprisingly pesky noises we don’t register but our brains do!!
As always, love your work Ixcarus!!
Jay 🇦🇺
Insightful, as usual.
Blank wall hey? OK.
Thinking in terms of a phone fast every evening from 6-bedtime.
It's a start.
I used to know and actually do most of these things, but after some “tough time” I realised that I dropped most of it. Most of these habits, sitting with your thoughts, no-phone eating, being in silence. And this article was not just a great reminder, but also some basis, that most of us have lost. I think we even stop thinking with our own thoughts even.
So yeah, don’t wanna go deep just wanted to say thank you for this paper. Loved it!