I curate articles from around the web that present an interesting perspective or helpful information using technology to improve our wellbeing. Each of these articles were featured in my November 2019 newsletter. I send out an update twice a month along with some notes on my latest work. Sign up for my newsletter here.
Broken Bones
I suffered a broken wrist and separated shoulder, both requiring surgery.
It was late October and I was nearly ready to leave San Francisco for Helsinki for the Biohacker Summit when I was hurt. With my dominant right arm pretty much immobile for weeks, I wasn't able to write to you for over a month. But I'm slowly able to get back to more projects. I can now type with both hands again!
Actually, the day I could tie my own shoes again was a huge win, as well as buckling my own belt, or when I could get off the pain medication and get my brain back. It's each of these humbling small wins I've celebrated to keep motivated when the slow road to recovery seems to drag on.
One of the biggest lessons I've had to learn is how to slow down. I can't do as much as I was before the injury, and for someone who likes to optimize myself and my productivity, it's been the hardest challenge other than the physical pain.
As an athlete, attacking the physical injury rehab is a familiar process. I have a deep toolkit of resources, many of which I've written about on my site. Most useful has been my habit program to work in the daily physical therapy exercises. I don't normally use a habit tracking app, but in cases where there are so many new habits and variations on timing, it's difficult to find anchors for them all. My go to habit tracking app is HabitMinder.
Before all that, my mind was left with one final question for the surgeons as I entered the operating room. Would I be able to play golf again? For me, I find the lifelong practice of the game a great metaphor for life.
"The most important shot in golf is the next one.” -- legendary golfer Ben Hogan said.
In golf, where your ball lays is where you are. It doesn’t matter the shot you hit before, you have to regroup, reassess and look forward to the next one.
Yes, I should play golf again, and my next shot from here comes with the knowledge of what I learn from this experience.
NOVEMBER
The skeptic’s guide to gratitude that won’t make you want to roll your eyes
It's that time of year when we are supposed to reflect and be thankful. After an injury, taking stock on what I'm grateful for is part of the recovery and resilience toolkit. But as this skeptic's guide to gratitude points out, "if you’re experiencing family problems, work stress, physical or mental health issues, the idea of just being “grateful” can often feel…well, ridiculous."
According to Natalie Dattilo, Ph.D., director of psychology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry, "opening yourself up to gratefulness also requires giving credit to something or someone besides ourselves, which can be difficult for a skeptic."
What's interesting is a gratitude practice is more than for emotional health. Growing research connect its mind-body benefits, including reduced risk of depression and anxiety, and a boost in happiness, wellbeing, and body image. Gratitude has been linked to improved sleep, less stress, lower blood pressure, and improved immune function.
This is a great article for skeptics and gratitude practitioners alike. Check out the full article for details from its list of how to authentically practice gratitude every day (without being super obnoxious about it):
Take your gratitude temperature throughout the day.
Recognize the good and the bad.
Say thank you. Often.
Do a favor for someone.
Record your thoughts…in some form or another. -- I especially liked this one as it highlights Naikan, a Japanese style of gratitude journaling that answers what you’ve been given for the day, what you’ve given to others, and what harm you’ve caused.
Stick with it.