Sohail Virani • 2023-08-06
And how you can leverage it to transform yours.
Hello readers, Happy Sunday and welcome back to Vitality Digest. We're making an early start this time because we want to kick off your week with fresh content. We're not quite sure which day you consider the beginning of the week so let us know below!
In this week's edition, we’ll debunk the Perfectionism Myth, discover a Life-Altering Productivity Software, Unravel the Secrets of Our Second Brain, and more.
Perfection, the enemy of good!
What is the Perfectionism Trap?
Perfectionism is the belief that anything less than flawless is unacceptable. Many times, it sets unrealistic standards for oneself, leading to constant self-criticism, anxiety, and the fear of failure.
If you consider yourself a perfectionist, you may have noticed that from time to time you try to avoid taking risks, procrastinate due to fear of not meeting expectations, and experience burnout from the relentless pursuit of flawlessness. Ultimately, it becomes a never-ending cycle of dissatisfaction.
At times, I must confess, I fell into the perfectionism trap myself, especially in academics. My sole focus became achieving back-to-back A+ grades, all to see that gratifying email announcing my place on the term's Merit list and another accolade to boost my LinkedIn profile.
Now, don't misunderstand me; striving for a high GPA can undoubtedly be beneficial in one's career journey. However, it's crucial to consider the opportunity cost, the time invested in studying, and whether the actual return on investment aligns with our expectations.
If you managed to achieve your desired outcomes, congratulations, and keep soaring! But often, we fail to realize that a good enough score could have been attained with far less time and effort invested. Imagine all that available time that could be expended in building up new skills, fostering healthy relationships or simply having fun with your friends and family.
How can you beat it?
Have no fear of perfection, you’ll never reach it.
Salvador Dali
Notion
Developed by Notion Labs Inc., Notion is a productivity and project management software that has set the bar for versatility. I discovered Notion in 2021 during the Pandemic era when like many others, I was going through a self-improvement phase (which still continues today).
To this day, I can confidently declare that no other tool has had a more significant impact on my life than Notion. It has become my ultimate productivity ally, facilitating everything from note-taking and content planning to team projects and budget tracking—all seamlessly within one platform.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve signed up for this newsletter after purchasing one of the many templates that we offer and are well aware of how useful Notion is. That’s awesome.
But there’s so much more to Notion than meets the eye.
Here are some more stuff you can do with Notion:
Also if you’re just getting started with Notion, I’d appreciate it if you the link below to sign up. It’s an affiliate link, which means you’re directly supporting me and all the content I make.
Link: https://affiliate.notion.so/bpy82v6t9vts
The Gut-Brain Connection
The human body's complexity never ceases to amaze us, and one of the most fascinating revelations lies in the "Gut-Brain Connection." Our gastrointestinal system, often referred to as the "second brain," houses a vast neural network that communicates with our primary brain, influencing our thoughts, emotions, and overall well-being. This connected network is known as the Gut-Brain Axis.
The gut-brain connection doesn't stop at emotions; it also affects cognitive function and mental clarity. An unhealthy gut can lead to brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and impaired memory. Conversely, a well-nourished gut can enhance cognitive performance, focus, and mental agility.
Here are three ways to maintain a healthy gut and therefore a healthy mind
Philipp Dettmer [Founder of Kurzgesagt]
Source: The Guardian
Meet Philipp, the founder and head writer of one of the most popular science-based youtube channels: Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell. The channel focuses on making complex scientific topics easily accessible by explaining them from a holistic perspective.
At fifteen, Philipp dropped out of high school but found inspiration in a remarkable teacher, igniting his passion for learning. He pursued studies in history and information design, focusing on infographics, shaping his journey.
Philipp’s channel, Kurzgesagt initially started as a passion project during his last year in college. Their first video on evolution went viral and people started loving the channel’s way of explaining things. He then committed to work full-time on his passion.
Today, Kurzgesagt is one of the most beloved channels on youtube with 20+ million subscribers and they constantly produced deeply-researched high-quality videos.
In 2021, Philipp also published his first book Immune- A Journey Into the Mysterious System that Keeps You Alive which instantly became a New York Times bestseller.
Philipp’s journey is a specimen, showcasing the importance of inspiring mentors in life who can enable us to achieve our maximum potential and create a positive impact.
Establishing a Feedback Loop
Establishing a feedback loop is vital for promoting a flow state of mind. Feedback serves as a continuous stream of information, providing real-time updates on our performance and progress. When we receive constructive feedback, it helps us adjust and fine-tune our actions, leading to a sense of mastery and control over the task at hand.
Timely feedback helps maintain the delicate balance between the challenge of the task and our skill level, which is a key element of achieving flow.
Also, Flow itself is intrinsically rewarding, and feedback reinforces this rewarding experience, making us more likely to seek the flow state again.
Self-reflection is a powerful tactic that can be useful to course-correct our lives and establish a feedback loop. You can do so by journalling every day or writing your thoughts down on a piece of paper after completing a certain activity.
That’s it for this week’s issue. If you liked what you read, please share it with your fellow friends and family.
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Thank you so much for reading.
Stay vital and have a great week.
Yours truly,
Sohail