2020 in Review, Experiments, Highlights & Systems for 2021

Child: Welcome to my Mommy’s podcast.

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This podcast is dropped at you by Wellnesse, my new private care firm that’s based mostly on the recipes I’ve been making at residence in my kitchen for many years. Many “clean” merchandise merely don’t work and because of this I’ve spent the final decade researching and perfecting recipes for merchandise that not solely get rid of poisonous chemical compounds however include components that work higher than their standard options and that nourish your physique from the skin in. I’m so excited to lastly share these merchandise with you and needed to inform you about our model new dry shampoo! It can be utilized numerous methods. You can sprinkle it in clear hair so as to add quantity and to increase time between washes, sprinkle it in hair that has not been washed in a day or two to soak up oil or sweat and you may work in to paint handled hair to take care of color-treated hair by not having to clean as typically. It comprises oil-absorbing kaolin clay and volume-boosting tapioca which work collectively to refresh hair on the roots. Lavender oil and cactus flower assist to steadiness scalp and strands’ pure pH. We even added hibiscus for wholesome hair progress. You can test it out and check out it at wellnesse.com and my tip is to seize a bundle to save lots of or subscribe and save as nicely!

Katie: Hello, and welcome to “The Wellness Mama Podcast.” I’m Katie from wellnessmama.com and wellnesse.com. That’s wellness with an E on the tip. It’s my line of non-public care merchandise, together with hair care and toothpaste. And I might love so that you can test them out at wellnesse.com.

This episode is a shorter solo episode, check-in, and plan for the following yr. And I might actually love to listen to from you guys on the finish of this episode within the present notes or on social media, as I plan forward for subsequent yr, realizing what a unique world it appears to be now and wanting to actually double down on the targets of supporting and curating group, particularly for mothers, which has all the time been the aim right here. But to start out, I believe we are able to all agree that this was a loopy 525,600 minutes this previous yr. I believe for many people, it’s been a trainer, it’s been a problem, a frustration, and a really, very lengthy 12 months. Speaking personally, I don’t assume I anticipated it to appear like this in January. I actually had different plans than what this yr introduced, and there have been loads of ups and downs I believe for many people, each in private life, in work life, in household life. I do know lots of people who’ve been by so much this yr. I’m trying ahead very hopefully to subsequent yr. And I might love to listen to from you guys on this, as nicely. But I needed to simply briefly recap a few of the experiments and plans I had for final yr and the way they really turned out this yr, those of 2020, and the way a few of them needed to be modified, in addition to issues I’ve realized this yr and issues I might like to cross on to you guys. And then additionally discuss by my upcoming 2021 experiments, techniques, and favorites, and get your enter on these as nicely. Because I very a lot consider Wellness Mama as a group. And your perception is actually, actually necessary to me.

So, to start, the experiments and highlights of 2020. I spend loads of time on the finish of yearly, planning ahead and creating techniques for the following yr and breaking that into quick, manageable tasks which might be deliberate out for these 12 months. I additionally normally set challenges and experiments for every month and a few larger ones for the yr as a complete. And I did that final yr as nicely. I’m gonna undergo a few of these now. And I’m in that course of now for 2021. And I’ll undergo that in a minute. I additionally, as all the time, will probably be spending the a minimum of first week of the yr, doing a water quick, which I’ll hyperlink to within the present notes for any of you guys who’re about why I try this and what I do. But the quick model is that I discover that’s a really useful psychological and religious reset as a lot as a bodily one. And I attempt to spend that point with household, attempt to spend it rereading issues like “Man’s Search for Meaning” and “The Four Agreements,” and actually re-centering my thoughts and preparing for the yr forward. I simply actually love that custom of eradicating one thing that’s such a standard a part of life, like meals and utilizing the time and the main target of that to actually hone in for the following yr.

And so in 2020, a few of the experiments, and highlights, and themes had been, for one, numerous household time. I believe this was a standard theme for many people, even when it wasn’t one which we deliberate to have in 2020. But actually, with all of the adjustments that occurred final yr, many people spent rather more time at residence than we usually would. And that, after all, had its ups and downs, I’m positive for all of us as nicely. But I attempted to be current and deal with the great issues of that household time and actually spend that point targeted on my children and the entire issues in our life at residence that I wouldn’t have usually had fairly as a lot time to deal with. And a technique that we did this was to actually curate our residence atmosphere as a result of we had been spending much more time in it than we usually would have been. And we did this in a number of methods.

We made studying a way more distinguished focus in our precise bodily atmosphere. So, anybody who visited my residence this yr most likely noticed piles of books in every single place. I’ll discuss extra about this in a while. But books are the one line merchandise on our finances that doesn’t have a cap. If children wanna learn a e book, I’ll get it for them. I typically myself get books on each Kindle and arduous copy. And I’ll clarify why in a while about that. But I made positive that there have been many books each on their Kindles and in our residence, and there have been always issues to learn. So once we needed to spend extra time at residence, there was all the time form of psychological stimulation simply obtainable. And it led to much more studying for all of us. And I believe my children, a few of them actually acquired into fiction. One of my sons learn, in response to his Kindle monitoring, about 4,000 pages on this final month alone of fiction collection that he’s having fun with. I’ve positively targeted extra on enterprise and physics was a enjoyable subject for me this yr and well being books. But we’ve all learn various things, however making the flexibility to learn and be taught a distinguished focus.

We additionally tried to curate our residence atmosphere to suit our life in different methods as nicely. Things like integrating artwork and health into our residence as these issues have modified. Our native artwork courses acquired canceled, gymnastics courses acquired canceled. So, I type of turned our home into an exploratory studio for the entire issues that we love. And that’s issues like, we have now a gymnastics mat now down our hallway. It’s like a 25-foot gymnastics mat, I believe. And the youngsters don’t ever stroll down the hallway. They both bounce, or handstand stroll, or cartwheel, or handspring. Whatever it’s they’re doing, they do it down the hallway. That little change has led to a lot further motion for them. And it’s been superb to see how a lot their steadiness and their handstand skill has improved, simply from that. Other issues like we put a climbing hangboard throughout one of many archways in our home, in order that anytime we stroll by that door, we are able to all simply dangle for a second, which previous podcast visitor, Aaron Alexander, mentioned is a superb factor to do each single day, even for simply three minutes. It’s actually useful to your again and shoulders. In truth, I consider he quoted a physician of some kind who mentioned that simply hanging for 3 minutes a day cumulatively, doesn’t even need to be uninterrupted, can eliminate most shoulder issues. We even have issues like gymnastics rings now hanging from the ceiling in all of their bedrooms. There’s a handstand stool in our lounge, a trampoline within the yard, and a slackline. Just something we might put that actually result in motion as a result of I’m a agency believer that we’re happier as people once we transfer, not train, which has been one in every of my classes of this yr. And so making an attempt to place issues in our method to make that straightforward and enjoyable, versus it being a factor that we had so as to add to our to-do listing. Same factor with artwork provides, having simply little containers or cups of drawing provides, or ink pens, or no matter it could be, and notebooks all through the home. So as children are sitting, they’ll simply draw and sketch. And realizing since I’ve had a lot extra time to be current with my children this yr, that they take heed to a few of what I say, however they typically emulate rather more of what I do. So once I make the time to take a seat down and draw, I typically find yourself with wherever from three to 6 of the youngsters sitting round me, which is a superb time for dialog. And since we’re all targeted on an exercise and never straight, like, making eye contact, I discover they have an inclination to open up extra in these form of actions. They’ve additionally used this yr as an opportunity to get me out of my consolation zone in a few of these areas and on board with the issues they like, whether or not it’s issues like studying to trip a hoverboard or making an attempt to do handstands, which they’re all nonetheless significantly better at than I’m however I can lastly a minimum of do. So it’s been a enjoyable yr of household bonding that manner.

In the identical manner, we have now actually doubled down on training this yr. But I believe loads of you might have heard me speak about our different strategy to training. And I take advantage of this yr as a time to actually hone and enhance that as a lot as attainable. We’ve all the time homeschooled however I do know many households are homeschooling or digital education for the primary time this yr. And I do know the entire work that goes into that. And my hat’s off utterly to all of you mothers and dads who’re navigating that for the primary time this yr. I discussed earlier than that I had designed a curriculum when my oldest was beginning college with the concept of going again to the primary rules and actually breaking down what children must be profitable in life, after which constructing from there. Because I actually firmly consider that the outdated script of go to highschool and get good grades and also you’ll achieve success in life shouldn’t be solely outdated, it’s simply blatantly not true anymore. And so I had been constructing this right into a curriculum with the concept possibly in the future when my children had been all grown, I might flip it into an precise curriculum for different households, considering that it might be a very long time earlier than digital studying was broadly accepted. And one of many silver linings of this yr is that timeline has now sped up. I’ve heard it mentioned that, in some ways, this yr introduced 2030 to 2020. And we noticed some huge technological advances and adjustments that might have taken years and years in different circumstances in society. So for all of the issues that it may not have been, this yr has been nice for that. So I constructed the system based mostly on minimizing e book time, maximizing efficient studying, and sustaining creativity as a result of I actually consider children are born with that. And that’s what I’ve been utilizing with my children. And I’m placing the ending touches on having the ability to share that with you guys. And we’ll have extra details about that within the New Year. But that’s one thing I spent loads of my time in 2020 actually engaged on.

On a private degree, pole vaulting has additionally been a theme of this yr for me, and never one which I might have actually ever anticipated. It is one thing my children acquired into considerably by chance as a result of it was a straightforward exercise that occurred to be very near our home. And all of them actually liked it and took to it, and nonetheless actually like it. And I, as a byproduct, ended up stepping into it as nicely. And what’s actually enjoyable about it’s there’s so many metaphors for all times that we’ve been in a position to discuss by about arduous work and never seeing the change for a very very long time, and placing within the effort on the basics, studying the fashions, studying the fundamentals, going again to first rules, after which seeing these repay. It’s additionally been actually particular to see now that I’ve youngsters, them specializing in their our bodies as this unimaginable instrument and machine that may do these superb issues. And not as a lot the deal with how they give the impression of being or they don’t look, which I want in hindsight that I had had at these ages. And it’s additionally had that impact on me, which was sudden. So, I had for a very long time, I’ve talked about this some, had health as a aim, primarily for the aesthetic. Of course, I needed the well being advantages as nicely. But it was to look a sure manner, not to have the ability to do a sure factor. And for me, this yr, I modified that in my mindset and began really viewing it as coaching with precise targets that I used to be working towards. And it completely revolutionized how I noticed my very own physique, and the way I considered myself, and what I assumed was attainable. So many issues I assumed that I couldn’t do or that I had a script in my head that I simply couldn’t do or I wasn’t an athlete, I used to be in a position to accomplish this yr. And it actually has been an unimaginable trip for me and actually highlights our household motto that we had been made to do arduous issues. And it’s been actually unimaginable to get to try this alongside my children. Full disclosure, I nonetheless can not pole vault as excessive as my seven-year-old can however I really like that they’ve all taken to it so nicely, and I really like that they problem me each single day.

I additionally am an enormous fan of making an attempt to work in, ideally as soon as a month, however a minimum of just a few occasions a yr, issues which might be outdoors of a consolation zone or which might be massive challenges. And one of many enjoyable ones this yr that you just may need seen me speak about was our Lego strolling world document, the place as a bunch of mothers, we lined a few miles on Legos within the span of an hour. And this was actually for example… I’ve all the time believed that mothers are essentially the most highly effective pressure for good on the planet. And I jokingly say that we’ve been coaching for this our entire lives, these of us who’ve children who’ve Legos. And I assumed this may be a form of enjoyable method to illustrate the concept we had been made to do arduous issues and in addition to actually deliver that focus to simply how unimaginable all of you mothers are. And it was a enjoyable, albeit somewhat bit more durable than we anticipated, problem that all of us did and a very enjoyable one. And I’ll put that weblog put up within the present notes for those who wanna learn it.

For me, there have been additionally small victories. So consistent with the concept of pole vaulting, I was afraid to get the other way up. Like, even in a handstand, I didn’t prefer to even, like, lean over a bar and dangle the other way up by my hips. After having children, my vestibular system appeared to have modified. And I actually struggled with being the other way up. And that was one other one I used to be in a position to conquer this yr, which looks as if a small victory, I might assume to lots of people. But for me, that actually was an enormous one which opened up a complete lot of latest actions that I can do. I even have talked about my inside journey this previous yr and the previous couple of years. I shared, I consider it was Episode 309 of this podcast, about my historical past with trauma, and the way I labored by that, and in addition how that led to fairly huge weight reduction. And I’ll put hyperlinks to each of these within the present notes as nicely. But that was very a lot an enormous theme for me this yr and what I’m actually, actually grateful to have had the time to actually deal with.

A theme yearly, however particularly in 2020, and a spotlight for me has been the concept of group. And I’ve talked about this so many occasions on the podcast, about how I believe group is among the most necessary issues we are able to do for our well being, having robust group and relationships with folks in actual life, not simply on-line. I believe this yr, in some ways, made that so much tougher nevertheless it additionally highlighted simply how necessary it’s. And so, that’s one in every of my phrases for the yr for 2021 is as soon as once more group and one which I’m going to be speaking so much about right here and making an attempt to actually present sources for as a result of I believe that is vastly, vastly necessary for psychological well being. And I believe it’s gonna change into much more so. I believe many people are seeing the unfavorable results of isolation for thus lengthy. And I believe we must be actually intentional going ahead about constructing group regionally as a result of it’s not a factor that occurs inadvertently anymore. It is one thing we have now to be intentional about. And so this will probably be very a lot a spotlight for me going ahead, each in supporting you all in doing that in your native areas and in addition in my very own space, persevering with to construct a group. We’ve really been engaged on constructing a group targeted on entrepreneurs and well being and wellness in our personal space. And in order that’ll be a magnet for me regionally as nicely.

I discussed that health was additionally a spotlight 2020. And till this yr, it was a factor I all the time did as a result of I felt like I wanted to do it for well being. And 2020 was the yr that it grew to become enjoyable and that I lastly understood why folks like to work out. I began lastly making use of issues that I did in each space of my life, like the concept of 80/20 and creating techniques which might be repeatable, to health. And I did loads of quick experiments this yr associated to this, together with one I’m nonetheless frequently doing and in the midst of proper now, of coaching alongside some native athletes who’re in coaching for the Olympics, and studying from them, and following their system with out questioning it. And it’s been unimaginable to see the adjustments in my very own power and in my physique from doing that, and in addition my very own skill, how rather more comfy I really feel in my physique, and the way rather more ready I really feel to do issues, which appears to be more and more necessary as my children grow old and may all leap larger and run quicker than me. I’m gonna be capable of sustain with them and now I’ve to really practice for that. So, extra on this in a minute, however I’ve a particular useful resource associated to this that I’ve been serving to work on that I’ll have for you guys quickly.

And I spotted additionally I by no means had closed the loop on this one. I discussed on Instagram, that I had completed one of many extra, I believe I worded it essentially the most troublesome factor I had completed within the identify of well being, and I by no means circled again and defined what it was. But search for a podcast on this quickly. It’s a factor referred to as Kambo, spelled Okay-A-M-B-O, which I had the chance to do considerably unexpectedly this yr and that had some fairly profound impacts on me. The quick model is that it’s a protected and authorized in all 50 states manner that they put frog venom into your lymphatic system by the pores and skin. And it results in a really fast lymphatic detox and another advantages as nicely. There’s loads of peptides current within the frog venom, they usually have a really dramatic influence on the physique, together with short-term vomiting. But loads of stuff past that. So, I’m gonna interview the practitioner who does Kambo, and who I did that with, for lots extra data. I do know that’s a fairly excessive one to simply throw on the market at excessive degree. But I needed to a minimum of point out it in somewhat extra element since I had mentioned that on social media after which by no means circled again. But that was most likely essentially the most excessive factor I attempted within the identify of well being this yr. And I will probably be explaining extra about that quickly.

In this podcast yearly, I additionally love to speak by a few of the issues I’m loving and that I really feel like are well being traits, together with some that I believe are gonna proceed going ahead. This yr, nonetheless topping my listing is the sauna. I did a month-long sauna experiment in the midst of COVID with a number of different folks in our group, the place I did lab exams earlier than and after, and tried to actually take a look at a few of the concepts in these research and meta-analyses about sauna use to see what sort of impact we’d see. And it was actually profound that even within the span of 30 days, we noticed adjustments that had been measurable in our lab measurements from doing what was thought of the medical dose, which was something over 20 minutes at 170 plus levels a minimum of 5 days per week. So, we did that. I’ve written about this some. And that’s very a lot nonetheless a part of my routine. I not too long ago additionally discovered a sauna referred to as Creatrix Solutions, which I’ll hyperlink to within the present notes with an affiliate hyperlink so that you guys can discover that straight. But it’s a a lot cheaper close to infrared sauna. And the benefit there’s it heats up in a short time. It doesn’t take up as a lot room or require its personal devoted energy provide or particular wiring. And penetrates the physique, so it heats up in a short time, heats up the physique in a short time, and it’s a straightforward to assemble outer cowl that’s each EMF examined and examined for all types of poisons. So it’s most likely the most secure one I’ve discovered. It additionally occurs to be the least costly one I discovered. So I’ll hyperlink to that within the present notes for those who guys have an interest. I believe that’s a very good possibility for lots of people who’ve been unable to actually strive sauna earlier than due to budgetary constraints.

In line with the sauna use, I’ve additionally consumed a complete lot of LMNT this yr. And that’s L-M-N-T, not ingredient written out, which is an electrolyte drink. And one of many traits I believe we’re gonna see increasingly in well being and wellness is that this deal with electrolytes and mineral replenishment. For a very long time, I believe salt was wrongfully vilified. And I believe we’re seeing the analysis to vary that now. People are nonetheless hesitant or don’t actually know the right way to reverse that. And I believe LNMT is a superb sensible product for doing that. And I additionally discover it essential after sauna use. I’ll put a hyperlink to that within the present notes as nicely. But it’s principally an electrolyte packet you could add to water and it’s sugar-free, dye-free, all-natural, and I seen a very massive distinction once I devour that recurrently.

Another pattern for me proper now, personally, I’m within the recipe testing section for the weblog for subsequent yr, and I’m mildly obsessive about Korean meals. I provide loads of Korean meals within the New Year, together with some very easy one-pan meals which might be budget-friendly and which might be actually, actually flavorful you could make actually shortly at residence.

Another pattern I’m seeing and I’m gonna share extra about quickly is, in the case of group and productiveness, utilizing techniques and apps. And one which I’m utilizing so much proper now is known as Notion. I’ll guarantee that’s linked within the present notes as nicely. But I take advantage of it for monitoring issues like my MITs, that are my most necessary duties for every day, my long-term techniques and targets, any tasks that I’m engaged on. I simply did a podcast that can air quickly about the right way to use Notion, particularly as a mother, for the entire issues that we have now to maintain up with. And I’ll share a few of the ways in which I do it as nicely. But I discovered {that a} actually, actually useful instrument.

I’ve been doing loads of analysis as nicely within the space of genetics. And I’ve talked about this on a number of podcasts however I needed to place extra element right here. And we’ll put extra notes on this within the present notes. But I like to recommend Nutrition Genome for genetic testing. If you haven’t completed it, I’ll put that hyperlink within the present notes. But they provide you an especially complete report of all of the vitamin way of life components associated to your particular genes. And I’ve discovered some actually useful data in there that actually helped my well being, an instance being I’ve loads of genes that depend upon choline. And I want extra choline than the common individual. But additionally, resulting from just a few IgG components, I can’t eat eggs very simply. I can generally eat duck eggs, however I can’t eat rooster eggs. And so, I’ve a tough time getting dietary choline. Just including a pair dietary supplements of choline drastically modified my vitality ranges and the way I felt. So some small suggestions from that actually had a dramatic influence on my life.

I’ve massive been an enormous fan this yr, I believe this will probably be a unbroken well being pattern, the flexibility to make use of information and quantify ourselves to determine what’s gonna work finest for us. I’ve talked so much about personalization and individualization in the case of well being, and about how on the finish of the day, we’re every our personal main healthcare supplier. And I believe we lastly are beginning to see the entire instruments which might be gonna make this extraordinarily straightforward, and cheap, and inside grasp. So, Nutrition Genome has been an enormous one on that on quantifying for me, so has a tool referred to as Levels, which is a steady glucose monitor. And I’ll hyperlink to that within the present notes as nicely. But it’s a monitor you put on for 2 weeks on the again of your arm, and it enables you to see your glucose response to every little thing you eat and to issues like train, and stress, and sleep. And that was actually, actually useful for me, even simply sporting it for a few weeks of dialing in what meals my physique likes and didn’t like. And I’ll ensure I hyperlink to the put up about how I take advantage of that as nicely. But that was a very useful quantification instrument for me.

On a product degree, I believe issues which might be going to proceed as traits and that I’m personally loving are olive oil. I’m gonna shout out to my good friend Tony Kasandrinos’ firm, Kasandrinos Olive Oil. They are by far my favourite. They have some superb reductions, particularly for those who subscribe, which I do, and I’ll put that hyperlink within the present notes as nicely. But I believe olive oil is among the few meals that just about the entire dietary philosophies agree on. And I discovered personally that I do higher with much less saturated fats. And so I’ve been focusing extra closely on olive oil, and I’ve largely eliminated issues like butter and coconut oil utterly. And I really feel actually, actually good once I try this. Also, once I’m not getting sufficient energy, and I have to sustain with my exercises, I’ll add further olive oil for the wholesome fat and really feel actually good from doing that. So I’ll put the hyperlink for the low cost there. I believe olive oil is all the time been in style with the concept of the Mediterranean food plan. And I see only a few sources that declare that olive oil shouldn’t be wholesome, however I believe that is one that the majority philosophies agree on and I believe we’re going to see growing consciousness about it.

Another firm I really like that I’ll share a reduction for is known as Just Thrive. And they’ve two specific dietary supplements. They have so much however the two that I take virtually on a regular basis are their spore-based probiotics and their K2-7. And these are ones that I additionally give to my children. Their probiotics are distinctive as a result of they’re shelf-stable and warmth steady. So you possibly can really add them to smoothies, baked items even. I put them in muffins or pancakes so I can get them to my little children. And the concept being if you need to refrigerate your probiotics, they’re most likely not gonna survive your abdomen acid or your physique temperature. And I really really feel a distinction in my digestion from their probiotics. And I’ve talked to a number of folks and together with some private mates who noticed actually dramatic enhancements of their intestine well being from these specific probiotics. They even have one referred to as K2-7, which is a fat-soluble vitamin and one which I take each day and had been giving my massive children. And I seen loads of profit from that one as nicely. So, I’ll hyperlink to each of these within the present notes.

Another pattern for me that I’ve been turning to so much, a good friend of ours or our mates really, Chas and Autumn, they personal an organization referred to as Paleovalley, they usually have naturally fermented beef sticks that as a result of they’re naturally fermented are additionally a supply of probiotics. And they’re an incredible supply of fast protein. I’ve talked so much in regards to the significance of protein and the way including extra protein was a key for me in bettering my well being. And their beef sticks are a go-to, for me, for positive. They have a reduction as nicely. So I needed to spherical up a few of these reductions and embody them for you guys within the present notes so you will discover them. And so these will all be at wellnessmama.fm.

Another pattern I believe we’re gonna proceed to see extra about is nootropics or issues that actually help focus and focus. I’ve been experimenting with loads of these this yr. And those I like proper now are ALA or Alpha-lipoic acid, Huperzine-A, Alpha GPC, Rhodiola, Paleovalley Neuro Peak, and some others relying on the day. And I don’t take these every single day. As I discussed, I don’t take something every single day however I are likely to stack these, particularly on days once I have to work and actually discover clear, focus, and don’t fatigue or get drained once I’m on these. And I believe we’re gonna proceed to see analysis and anecdotal proof about nootropics. Like every little thing, I believe that is an space we every need to experiment as a result of I discovered that most of the generally advisable ones made me actually jittery. But once I optimize my choline, like I discussed earlier than, and experimented with a few of these particular ones, that I felt actually, actually good. I’ll put hyperlinks to these as a place to begin. I believe it’s very, very individualized however these are some which were useful for me.

I additionally yearly set the aim to learn a minimum of 50 books. And I did that this yr. And I learn fairly a bit. And I’ll simply spotlight just a few of those I might really advocate from the e book listing that I learn this yr. I’ll additionally put up the start of my e book listing for subsequent yr within the present notes. So, if any of you guys wanna learn alongside with me or when you have any e book suggestions, I might love, love, love to listen to the books which were most impactful for you. And it’s a query I typically ask on this podcast, what e book or variety of books have modified your life and why? And I might love to listen to your reply to the query. Either message me on social media or attain out within the present notes at wellnessmama.fm, and let me know.

But of the 50 books I learn this yr, those that I discovered most fascinating, thought-provoking, or difficult that I might advocate, not essentially as a result of I agree totally with any of them however as a result of they made me assume. So, once more, I’m not selling these as I 100% agree with them, simply books that led me to assume fairly a bit. There’s one referred to as “The Holographic Universe.” This was advisable by podcast visitor, Shawn Wells. And I assumed it was a very thought-provoking take a look at a complete lot of matters, however particularly some concepts in regards to the mind. And I’ll depart it at that. I’m curious if any of you have got learn it, what your take is. I positively assume that the creator made some logical jumps. And I don’t agree with all of it nevertheless it did actually assist me have a brand new perspective on a number of issues.

Another e book referred to as “The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future” by Kevin Kelly. If you aren’t aware of him, he’s fascinating and he has a weblog you could learn. I’ll hyperlink to that within the present notes as nicely. But I like to recommend this e book as nicely. He goes by key ideas like screening, accessing, filtering, and principally form of broad concepts and the way they’re shaping and affecting our future. I assumed this was actually thought-provoking, and it modified the best way, as an example, I used to be occupied with redesigning The Wellness Mama weblog, simply to make it extra user-friendly with the best way that our brains are actually processing data. But it additionally was actually thought-provoking as a mum or dad to consider how our youngsters have grown up within the final 10 to fifteen years and the way their mind is gonna be really totally different than our mind was as a toddler, so how I can finest work together with them and use that to their benefit.

This is what I reread this yr, however I extremely advocate, “Poor Charlie’s Almanac.” And I’ve talked about him earlier than. I discussed him in my four-hundredth episode not too long ago a number of occasions once I talked about my psychological fashions and guidelines for all times, however I’m an enormous fan of loads of his work, and “Poor Charlie’s Almanac” has loads of it in a single place. He has concepts, like in any subject, know the opposite facet higher than they do. So for those who’re gonna have an opinion, know the opposite facet of that opinion higher than somebody who disagrees with you. Earn the correct to have that opinion. He’s additionally massive on issues like checklists and techniques, which I very a lot am as nicely, and issues like realizing your circle of competence and staying inside it. And he has easy concepts which might be very profound, like persons are typically extra profitable by merely making an attempt to keep away from being silly than by making an attempt to be actually, actually clever. And as an example, with circle of competence, realizing what you don’t know is extra helpful than being sensible. So he takes another strategy to loads of quite common issues. And I discover his writing and his talks very, very thought-provoking.

Another one which was only a enjoyable learn for me and for a few my children is “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!” It is by and a few Nobel Prize-winning physicist, Richard Feynman. And it’s loads of simply humorous tales about his life, nevertheless it actually highlights his mind-set and the way a lot he thought in a different way than loads of us. And I discovered it actually simply an interesting learn. And additionally, I used to be in a position to pull some form of new methods and approaches of considering by issues from that. “The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves” by Matt Ridley, that was a considerably well timed one for this yr. And whereas I didn’t agree with all of his factors by any means, I discovered it simply to be actually a thought-provoking learn and a fairly straightforward learn.

There’s a e book referred to as “Skin in the Game: Hidden Asymmetries in Daily Life” by Nassim Taleb, who I hope I’m saying his identify proper as a result of I’ve solely learn it, I’ve by no means heard it out loud. But I’m a fan of each e book of his that I’ve learn. And that is what I learn this yr. And a few of the core concepts on this e book are issues like, really do issues, don’t speak about them. I really like his thought of ditching the golden rule, which I’m positive you recognize, however treating others the best way you need them to deal with you and as a substitute, what he calls the silver rule, which is don’t deal with others the best way you don’t need them to deal with you. I assumed that was a very fascinating reframe as a result of if you take into consideration individuality and love languages, typically the best way we wanna be handled shouldn’t be the best way that others want or need to be handled. But if we keep away from treating others the best way we’d not wanna be handled, there appears to be extra universality within the unfavorable than within the constructive. So if we are able to simply keep away from doing issues that, like, are dangerous or unfavorable towards different folks, that’ll typically get us so much farther than making an attempt to anticipate and determine how they wanna be handled, which is probably going typically not the best way that we wanna be handled. He additionally has a e book, I didn’t learn it this yr, however referred to as “Fooled by Randomness,” which has some good factors as nicely. I like all of his work. “Fooled by Randomness” talks about issues like how life isn’t truthful, which makes the rewards of continued effort disproportionately massive. And this can be a idea that my children hear me lecture about every time they complain that life shouldn’t be truthful. And it’s an excellent from the philosophy of being a mother. And he additionally talks about issues like, we want our rational feelings to have the ability to resolve, however there are techniques for making that be just right for you versus towards you, after which the right way to know issues like the right way to use randomness to your benefit. So principally, the right way to use it for good when it’s innocent, but additionally use stoicism or your personal psychological vitality to deflect it or not give in to it when it’s dangerous. So, form of books throughout the spectrum there. Would love to listen to any e book suggestions, like I mentioned, that you just guys have. Those had been a few of my favorites for the yr. And I can hyperlink to some extra that I learn within the present notes in case you guys have an interest.

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This podcast is dropped at you by Wellnesse, my new private care firm that’s based mostly on the recipes I’ve been making at residence in my kitchen for many years. Many “clean” merchandise merely don’t work and because of this I’ve spent the final decade researching and perfecting recipes for merchandise that not solely get rid of poisonous chemical compounds however include components that work higher than their standard options and that nourish your physique from the skin in. I’m so excited to lastly share these merchandise with you and needed to inform you about our model new dry shampoo! It can be utilized numerous methods. You can sprinkle it in clear hair so as to add quantity and to increase time between washes, sprinkle it in hair that has not been washed in a day or two to soak up oil or sweat and you may work in to paint handled hair to take care of color-treated hair by not having to clean as typically. It comprises oil-absorbing kaolin clay and volume-boosting tapioca which work collectively to refresh hair on the roots. Lavender oil and cactus flower assist to steadiness scalp and strands’ pure pH. We even added hibiscus for wholesome hair progress. You can test it out and check out it at wellnesse.com and my tip is to seize a bundle to save lots of or subscribe and save as nicely!

I’m trying ahead to 2021. So I’ve talked about earlier than, I don’t make resolutions and I don’t even focus totally on targets anymore simply because these are very…I really feel like resolutions are very black and white, and result in that mindset of for those who deviate or break from it as soon as, it makes it simpler to simply hand over altogether. And I discovered, a minimum of for me, that I’m rather more motivated by experiments and techniques than by targets and resolutions. So that’s what I deal with.

Some of the traits of that that I’m specializing in this yr. So, one frequent one for me is to repeatedly query and consider every little thing I believe I consider, consistent with Charlie Munger’s thought of incomes the correct to have an opinion. So I’ve made my listing of these issues for this yr. It appears to in some methods get shorter yearly, however extra refined. And I’ll hyperlink to the precise listing of issues I consider to be true within the present notes as a result of I discussed that that is virtually like a spreadsheet. And it’s one thing I systematically undergo yearly and problem myself on objective with the concept if I’m already appropriate and I problem myself, I’ve solely really realized the opposite individual’s…or the opposite facet higher, which hopefully offers me extra empathy and understanding for that facet. And if I used to be incorrect, hopefully I determine that out. So I’ll hyperlink to my listing there. But that’s one in every of my recurring experiments is to problem myself on issues that am comparatively sure I consider to be true.

The cause I deal with techniques for the remainder of these, as a substitute of targets or resolutions, is form of an thought from Scott Adams, who’s the illustrator-writer of “Dilbert.” And he mentioned, “Set up systems and not goals.” And I might add experiments simply because these are enjoyable. But principally, I simply form of use that reframe. So, as I’m trying ahead to the New Year, on all these totally different ranges, as a substitute of simply setting a aim of I need to do no matter this one tangible factor is, organising techniques which might be repeatable, that can ultimately nonetheless result in that very same outcome however then the main target is on the system, not the aim, which is a way more constructive suggestions loop as a result of a system is repeatable, and sometimes a each day motion, versus a aim being a factor that occurs solely as soon as.

One factor I believe is necessary to notice right here, earlier than you possibly can arrange these experiments or techniques, you need to outline the place you’re going. I discovered that for me for a very long time, and I believe possibly for another folks as nicely, we don’t actually have a clear definition of what happiness is, or success, or love. And so, I believe an necessary start line is to outline what these issues are, these items that we wanna attempt for, after which outline what they really appear like. Some folks have completed this very succinctly. Naval Ravikant, I consider his says, “A fit body, a calm mind, and a happy home.” And that’s his thought of happiness and success. I believe it’s somewhat totally different for all of us, however having a transparent, concise thought like that makes it rather more attainable. And then we are able to construct techniques and habits round them. This additionally I really feel like helps us to be rather more content material and grateful within the second versus striving towards, “I’ll be happy when…….” which I discussed earlier than, I believe is a entice of the thoughts and sometimes very a lot not true. Naval Ravikant explains his as “Desire’s a contract we make with ourselves to be unhappy until a certain time.” So I discover that having tangible, attainable definitions, after which techniques to get there helps guard towards these.

So, all that mentioned, a few of my experiments and techniques for this yr. On The Wellness Mama facet, I’m going to lastly be going through alone insecurity about being on video and creating extra movies for Wellness Mama that will probably be on social media and in addition obtainable on the web site. I’ve all the time most well-liked to put in writing and tended extra towards the written phrase however I’ve realized that many individuals favor to be taught through video. And I had largely been avoiding this, I believe due to my very own insecurity and never eager to be on digital camera or see myself on digital camera. But in going through loads of my previous trauma and doing the interior work, that’s not a factor I’m as insecure about now. And so I’m excited to really delve in and get to transform a few of the content material that I’ve been making for the final 14 years into video. And this, I’ll speak about extra in a minute, but additionally will relate to the curriculum that I’m doing. And I’ll be educating loads of the modules of that through video.

Another frequent theme for me and is gonna be the identical in 2021 is to do experiments which might be out of my consolation zone. So, inside the final 12 months, I’ve completed issues like karaoke, like taking voice classes, like studying to be the other way up. One of those I’m going to be doing in 2021 and that you just’ll hear extra about quickly is stand-up comedy, which is, in loads of methods, one of many extra scary issues I can think about as a result of I don’t contemplate myself naturally humorous. But I’ve discovered that mothers, on the whole, we have now many facets of our each day life that lead in naturally to comedy or which might be comedic in and of themselves. So, I’ve been working with somebody to be taught this and I’m gonna be…there’ll be a public-facing manner during which I get to confront this concern. I’ll put it that manner. And I’ll allow you to guys know what it’s. So you possibly can watch alongside and hopefully be entertained, or if not, a minimum of heckle me.

I’m excited to announce that someday within the subsequent yr I hope to launch my new e book. The working title is “Zen & the Art of Dirty Dishes,” which for those who’re acquainted, it’s a play on the concept of Zen and the Art of motorbike upkeep, which is a e book I loved a very long time in the past. But it’s particularly for mothers and for having techniques, reoccurring theme for me, I assume, that lower by the chaos of each day life in order that we might be more practical, however much less careworn. And I hope to have extra particulars for you guys about that quickly once I’m really completed writing the e book and it’s simply within the strategy of getting it to you. So, extra to come back quickly.

I discussed earlier on this episode the concept of the curriculum I’m utilizing with my children. And like I mentioned, it wasn’t one thing I deliberate to do for one more decade. But then when digital training grew to become a lot extra distinguished this yr, I’ve been scrambling to get it in digital format. And I hope to launch that to you guys in January. So, preserve a watch out. If you’re not on my electronic mail listing, you possibly can join it at wellnessmama.com to search out out when that’s gonna launch. But the curriculum is known as Unstitute. And the concept is that it turns conventional training on its head. So somewhat than being targeted on simply e book work and time, and youngsters, like, from a data perspective, it’s a abilities up 80/20 extremely efficient, not even simply environment friendly, however efficient method to be taught, that additionally makes the educating half a lot simpler. So I stroll you thru constructing a framework for the fundamentals that children really have to know, letting go of the issues they don’t have to know, after which constructing an atmosphere that leads itself to creativity and significant considering in areas that they’re desirous about. And as a constructive of this, a very constructive byproduct is it takes a lot much less hands-on time, and youngsters are happier, dad and mom are happier, and there’s extra time for downtime or for no matter your loved ones desires to do.

I’ve additionally been working with the Olympians I’m coaching with on a health program that I hope to need to you in January as nicely. This is what’s helped me personally enhance my very own health drastically this yr, to the tune of just about doubling how robust I used to be on most lifts, and getting a lot, a lot, a lot quicker. But on a sensible degree, that additionally led to taking place a number of sizes and having muscle definition for the primary time. And the fantastic thing about it’s it’s targeted on what’s, once more, environment friendly and efficient, not simply taking time. So it’s nothing in any respect to do with spending an hour on the health club. It’s a brief, intense, however doable program that has outcomes shortly. So, preserve a watch out for extra details about that. But that’s one in every of my targets for 2021 as a result of I really feel like a lot of the data for lots of years that I used to be seeing about health, particularly for girls, was not useful or simply flat out incorrect. And if you apply the concepts of issues like 80/20 and minimal efficient dose, you will get a lot extra completed in a lot much less time, which is a large benefit for those who’re a mother.

As all the time, I’ve a aim of studying once more subsequent yr. I all the time attempt to set a aim of studying 50 books a yr. And I’ll put the listing of those that I’ve on my listing thus far within the present notes. I might love suggestions from you guys. And a word about this, I’ve a philosophy in the case of studying. Books, on the whole, are the one limitless merchandise on our finances each month. And I typically will purchase a Kindle model and a tough copy. And if I purchase the Kindle model, I ship it to our entire household on Kindle. Yes, we have now a household library, so all people can learn it. And for the youngsters, they get all of the enterprise books and all of the well being books, even when they will not be , that manner it’s there in the event that they ever wanna learn it. And I typically additionally get a tough copy, simply because I prefer to learn arduous copy, I like to put in writing in them. And I discover I’m more practical once I try this. And I make notes and spotlight. And then I’ve talked about earlier than in my eight guidelines for all times, I take advantage of the Feynman method, which is the concept if you be taught one thing, for those who can clarify it to a toddler concisely in a manner they perceive, then you definately’ve really realized it. And I strive to do that on the again cowl of any e book that I learn. So once I learn a e book, on the again cowl, I’ll spend one web page writing out, drawing out, or no matter, the important thing ideas of the e book. Then virtually all the time, if the e book was good, I cross it on to another person in my household or a good friend, sometimes to somebody who I believe it will probably profit essentially the most, and hope that, like, my notes and the Feynman method will assist them have higher recall, and assist them learn it as nicely. And then if I ever wanna learn it once more, I’ve the Kindle to learn or I’ll purchase a tough copy and repeat. But I’m an enormous fan of passing on books and passing on data. And in order that’s what I do with these 50 books. And then I’ve literal stacks of books, wherever that I might sit down in my home so I all the time have a spot to learn.

Another one in every of my targets for 2021 is to be much less scheduled. I, as you may need guessed, am very system-oriented and really scheduled. And I’m making an attempt to be much less so and to have the ability to be extra spontaneous and current, and to reduce work time as a lot as attainable. It’s troublesome with as a lot as I’ve on my plate proper now however that’s one in every of my targets that I’m working towards or not targets however techniques for subsequent yr, even when, for now, it requires scheduling being unscheduled.

Another focus for me in 2021 is supporting my children’ tasks. It’s been actually enjoyable as they’ve gotten older and thru Unstitute and our deal with entrepreneurship, they’re rising with all their very own pursuits in issues like enterprise and a complete lot of different issues. So I’m making an attempt to be obtainable and current to assist them with these items. Several of them are beginning their very own companies. We have a number of of them very desirous about chess proper now. And so we’re having time to play with them. For those desirous about artwork, having the ability to do artwork with them, persevering with pole vaulting as a household. And I actually have a couple who’re desirous about studying actual property, and so serving to them determine plans and work towards having an actual property portfolio as they grow old. But all these issues take time, so making an attempt to guarantee that I’m current to do these issues.

I additionally all the time yearly attempt to outline some new issues that I’m desirous about and that I need to acquire particular data on. So for final yr, I did voice classes. I did languages in a point. And then I did a complete lot of analysis on genetics. For 2021, I’m going to get again to enjoying piano, once more, with techniques. So I’ll have occasions that I try this and techniques that I comply with for piano, archery, and in addition getting again to portray. I wanna paint one thing for each room in my home. And these will probably be enjoyable hobbies which might be additionally a break from work for me. And as a household, we’re additionally engaged on ending our tradition wall, which I’ve talked about earlier than. But this can be a wall in our home that has paintings devoted to loads of our household mottos and mantras. And I wanna ensure we get this completed early within the yr. But a few of the ones you’ve most likely heard me say earlier than, you had been made to do arduous issues. Happiness is a alternative and a talent. Ask higher questions. You can be taught one thing from everybody. A factor I say to my children on a regular basis, “I love you unconditionally. There’s nothing that you can do that will ever decrease that or increase that.” Freedom is present in full private duty. Empathetic listening is a superpower. With nice duty comes nice energy. You can’t be free with out uncertainty. Perfection is achieved, not when there’s nothing extra so as to add however when there’s nothing left to remove, and go to mattress somewhat smarter than if you awakened. We additionally added this not too long ago from my good good friend, Tina Anderson, who owns Just Thrive, the probiotic firm, “Everything will work out perfectly for me,” which is her motto and we’ve adopted. And from Richard Feynman, “Genius is explaining complex things in simple ways.” And then additionally from Naval Ravikant, “All the real benefits of life come from compound interest.” That doesn’t simply apply to cash, as I discussed within the four-hundredth episode, that applies much more to abilities and relationships.

So, that could be a recap of my yr in 2020 and what I’m trying ahead to once more in 2021. And the questions I’ve for you, and I sincerely would love your enter on, whether or not you wanna reply to an electronic mail that I ship you or let me know within the present notes at wellnessmama.fm, and for the questions I might love your solutions to, what’s one of the best e book you’ve learn not too long ago? Would you be desirous about doing month-to-month experiments, and techniques, and challenges with me on totally different matters? If so, let me know sure or no. And additionally, when you have particular ones that you’d be desirous about discovering out extra about. What is the largest and most fun factor you might be tackling this yr? And what issues would you most like techniques for in your life that I will help with? I might be without end grateful for those who guys would reply these questions within the present notes at wellnessmama.fm. And you can find the entire sources I discussed within the present notes there as nicely. And I do know I say this each time and I imply it each single time, I’m so all the time extremely grateful to you for spending your most useful useful resource, your time with me at the moment. And each time that you just be part of me on this podcast, I don’t take that evenly. That is our most useful useful resource, and I’m actually, actually honored that you just share yours with me. And I hope that on this subsequent yr and on this subsequent episode, you’ll proceed to hitch me on “The Wellness Mama Podcast.”

If you’re having fun with these interviews, would you please take two minutes to depart a ranking or evaluation on iTunes for me? Doing this helps extra folks to search out the podcast, which implies much more mothers and households may benefit from the data. I actually admire your time, and thanks as all the time for listening.