Monday Seven No. 011
Superchill: Morning Map, Rest vs. Recovery, and Sitting
Hey Friends 👋🏼
I was busy moving all weekend but finally settled into our new place. It’s the 15th time I’ve moved in my life. More about the move in next week’s post which will be on Sunday as usual.
The past two weeks have been intense which seems to be my default operating mode. I’m not chill, at least not naturally. I’ve had to learn the hard way that rest and recovery are important and prioritize them accordingly. It’s a constant effort against the default.
I want to try something new. Instead of the usual random assortment of 7 things, this week’s post is all about rest, recovery, and relaxation. What I enjoy doing when I need to do nothing — I hope you find it useful too.
Let’s relax right into it…
Last week’s email had a 65% open rate. The top links were digital personal training Future Fit (I’m still giving out 1-month free trials) and noise-canceling app Krisp.
No. 011
1️⃣ LISTEN — Bob Dylan’s album Rough and Rowdy Ways inspired this week’s post (Spotify, Apple, YouTube). The man is 80 years old and just became the first artist with a Top 40 Album in every decade since 1960. It is an incredible album. Like any good album, I like to listen to it twice back-to-back for the first sitting. The first time to hear the sounds and the second to feel the words.
2️⃣ SIT — I meditate nearly daily. I’m usually switching between vipassana (breath work) and transcendental meditation (mantra). But what I’ve found the most useful is just sitting quietly and upright with my eyes closed for 60-minutes without any specific technique. Naval Ravikant talks about this and recommends 60-minutes to move beyond the internal chatter.
3️⃣ BREATHE — Two few breathing exercises to try. Box Breathing is simple — 4 seconds in, 4 seconds out, repeat 4 times. Wim Hof Breathing isn’t exactly chill, but it helps me get there.
4️⃣ WRITE — Morning Pages by Julia Cameron is a daily writing practice. Think of it as a mental cleanse with pen and pad. The idea is simple, you sit down and write long-from about anything that comes to mind. If you’re more of a visual person, you can try the exercise as a mind map. I like to start by writing Me in the center of a page and drawing lines to anything else that’s on my mind that day. I’m building the mind-map morning pages technique so if you’re interested in giving it a try send me a reply here.
5️⃣ LIGHT — I didn’t think I’d recommend a candle on here, but I love a fancy candle. Laboratory Perfumes Tonka Candle is so good that I light the candle just to sit and smell it. It’s the star of the show rather than the supporting role a candle always plays.
6️⃣ READ — Understanding the difference between Rest vs. Recovery.
7️⃣ QUOTE —
Time and quiet should not be luxury items. — Tim Kreider
Last Words
Did you like this themed format? Or do you prefer the usual variety? I’d love to hear what you think. You can reply with 1-2 quick lines (or more if you wish, of course).
As always, if you’re enjoying reading Sunday Seven, I’d love it if you share it with just one friend who you think would like it too.
Until next week,
Yashar