Momentum Issue 45: Happy Hour
Importance
Everybody loves happy hour.
But this happy hour is different. This is a chunk of time in your day where you do something that makes you happy. This practice will not only make your day more meaningful and enjoyable, but it can fight mental health issues as well as help mitigate stress, both of which are going to positively impact your health.
When we are looking for ways to improve our health, sometimes we need to look beyond just diet and exercise. While these are undoubtedly important, health is so much more than what we eat and the type of exercise we do.
Health is holistic. There’s no point pursuing optimal health through diets and workouts if we’re not enjoying the journey.
By taking some time each day (it doesn’t have to be a full hour - even 10 minutes is great) to do something that we really enjoy, we can make a meaningful difference in our wellbeing.
“The need for rest makes sense when you consider how our ancestors lived. They didn’t busy themselves for eight-hour stretches of time (or even longer) day in and day out. Instead, they experienced brief moments of stress or danger, coupled with ample time to relax with their family and peers. The rhythm of their lives naturally allowed for periods of rest.” - Chris Kresser
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Implementation
“Getting rest means making time to do things you enjoy (that aren’t work related). That could be something active and outdoors, like going for a walk or visiting an amusement park, or it could be passive and quiet, like sitting down with a good book or heading to the spa. The key is making time for activities you enjoy.” - Chris Kresser
Figure out where in your day you’ll include your happy hour. You can decide the evening before or look at your schedule in the morning and see where you can incorporate this practice.
You can include this practice at any point throughout the day, but it seems to be most beneficial in the morning, before entering into the craziness of the day.
Figure out what you’re going to do. This isn’t time to be productive, or to get your workout in (unless you absolutely love working out of course). It’s time to do something you love, something that will nourish your soul, and will allow you to rest. For me, it’s a cup of coffee with a great book - not a business book, not a productivity book, just a book I’m really enjoying.
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One past Daily Nugget complements this week’s habit well: