Hey there!

Juan and Michael went to see the new Dune movie and it was amazing. If any of you take drugs, that would be the movie to do it for. And if any of you don’t take drugs, don’t let a bad experience keep you away from drugs.

Anyways, this week Michael’s girlfriend, Lina, will be our guest speaker. She will talk about the importance of morning routines.

Juan will talk about the Elephant in the kitchen, sugar. Michael will talk about why life seems to be accelerating.

HEALTH

Sugar is Evil

The average 8-year-old today consumes more sugar than our ancestors did in their entire lives.

🍰 The crazy sugar man
"That Sugar Film," released by Damon Gameau in 2014, documents his experiment of adopting the average person's sugar intake, despite not consuming sugar prior.

To match the average sugar diet, he needed to consume an equivalent of 40 teaspoons of sugar per day. This is a huge amount of sugar and you might think he ate mostly chocolate, ice cream, Coca-Cola, and other unhealthy foods. But no, he ate only healthy-looking food you can buy in the supermarket.

Here is an eye-opening sugar comparison to everyday food.

🫃 How it Affects Your Body
When sugar enters the bloodstream, it splits into glucose and fructose. The liver does not have a way of regulating fructose as it is so rare in nature. So what does it do with it? Well, it mostly converts it to fat.

In 60 days, Gameau gained 8.5 kg and 7% body fat without increasing his calorie intake. The big difference was the source of the calories. So not every calorie is the same. 

🧠 How it Affects Your Brain
The body relies on glucose for energy, but unstable glucose levels can impair mental function, possibly explaining concentration issues in children and mood swings after sugar consumption.

After eating sugar have you ever felt like you crash or get mood swings? Here is a great clip that explains why this is happening to you.

— Juan

TIME

Why Does Life Get Faster

New Experiences Feel Longer

Ever noticed how a day full of new activities can feel like it lasted forever? This is because when you do something for the first time, like maybe riding a bike in a new park or trying a new recipe, your brain is very busy. It's looking at all the new things around you, learning new movements, and trying to remember all of it. This is a lot of work for your brain, so the time you're spending on these activities feels much longer.

For me, the first time driving from my parents’ house to my Uni felt like an eternity. But as I made the trip twice a week then it felt faster and faster. This is because your brain remembers the different landmarks from the previous times, and so it doesn't have to work as hard.

Familiar Things Feel Shorter

Now, let's talk about why doing the same thing over and over makes time feel like it's speeding up. When you do something a lot, like your daily walk to school, your brain gets really good at it. It knows exactly what to expect, so it doesn't pay as much attention. This makes the walk seem shorter than it actually is.

It's like when you watch your favorite movie for the tenth time. You know all the lines and scenes, so you might not pay attention to every detail, and it feels like the movie ends quicker than the first time you watched it.

Make Life Feel Longer and More Fun

Want to make your life feel longer and full of interesting moments? Keep trying new things! When you go to places you've never been before, like a museum or a park in a different town, you give your brain a workout with all the new sights and experiences. Starting a new hobby, like painting or soccer, also adds lots of fresh moments for your brain to enjoy. And when you meet new people, you hear new stories and ideas, which makes your day feel even more full and interesting.

2023 was probably the longest, and best year of my life. I traveled to more countries, met more people, and tried more new things than ever before in my life. This resulted in it feeling like it was 5 years instead of 1. As opposed to how we’re already almost a quarter way through 2024 and I’ve barely left Rotterdam… :(

The Other Side: Getting Used to Hard Things

Finally, let's think about why doing hard things gets easier over time. The first time you try to do something challenging, like starting a new routine, it feels really tough. Each step in the routine is new and thus takes much more willpower, which makes the experience feel longer and harder.

But the more you keep it up, the more your brain gets used to it. Each time you go through the steps your brain will automatically know to start the next one. After a while, what used to be hard now feels much easier, and you might even enjoy it!

This shows us that by facing challenges and not giving up, we can grow and find joy in things that once seemed too hard. It's a great reminder that stepping out of our comfort zone can lead to amazing experiences and personal growth.

So in conclusion, push yourself to try new things. Don’t let your life fly away from you.

"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot." - Michael Altshuler

— Michael

Routine

Psychology of Morning Routine

Routines may appear boring. However, a routine isn’t confined to the monotony of working hours in the office every day. Your routine might entail exploring a new place every month. The essence lies not in the specifics of the routine itself, but in the sense of stability and security it provides to your subconscious mind through repeated actions and predictable results.

Your habits shape your mood, and your mood is the filter of your life

If you start your day with positive habits such as exercise, meditation, or journaling can set a cheerful and motivated mood for the rest of the day. Feel this: you wake up to the quietness of the morning while others are still in their dreams, the first ray of sunlight reaches your eyes, breathe, let the morning coolness run down through your body, and freshen up your head. Isn’t it nice?

Regulations of your daily actions deactivate your “fight or flight” instincts because you’re no longer confronting the unknown

Actively seeking information and knowledge about upcoming events or challenges can mitigate feelings of uncertainty. Being well-informed allows you to approach situations with confidence and preparedness.

Establishing clear boundaries in your personal and professional life helps reduce uncertainty and ambiguity. When you know what to expect and how to respond in various situations, you’re less likely to trigger the fight or flight response in response to perceived threats or uncertainties.

Routine provides a sense of safety for children and purpose for adults

For children, they may feel reassured knowing that after dinner comes bath time, followed by story time and bedtime. For adults, a structured routine helps adults prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and work towards their goals.

Your routine consistently reaffirms decisions and fosters contentment

Following a routine of spending quality time with loved ones, communicating openly, and showing appreciation reinforces your commitment to fostering strong connections. Each interaction within your routine serves as a reminder of the value you place on your relationships, leading to a sense of contentment and fulfillment.

A lack of routine is just a breeding ground for perpetual procrastination. It gives us gaps and spaces in which our subconscious minds can say: “well, you can take a break now,” when in fact, you have a deadline. But if you’re used to taking a break at that point in time, you’ll allow it simply because “you always do”.

First, we form habits, then habits form us.

Reference: 101 Essays that Will Change the Way You Think 

— Lina

TAKING ACTION

Sign up to our Accountability Clubs

Want a community to keep you accountable? Willing to put your money where your mouth is? 😂

How it works:
💸 Everyone makes the same deposit at the beginning of the month.
✅ Every day you succeed, you get paid back a small amount from your deposit PLUS the money from others who failed that day.
❌ Every day you fail, your money for that day goes to people who succeed.
🗓️ It is 5 times a week. Month-to-month contract. You can join or leave at the beginning of each month.

April Clubs you can join:
🏋️ Exercise 5 times a week.
⏰ Wake up early during weekdays.
📵 Digital minimalism during weekdays.
📝 Signup to join for April

We want to start some new accountability groups! So if you have some ideas for what you’d like to be held accountable for getting done, let us know 😉.

Highlights from Exercise Club: