Hey there —

There’s a lot of hype around cold showers.

(Google “benefits of cold showers” and you’ll get over 145 million hits). So it’s no surprise that Matt took on the challenge.

But this comment from his video deserves a closer look.

If you haven't seen it, during the showers, Matt’s having a...not-so-good time. But once he gets out, he’s fired up for round two. So what gives?

It turns out, this confusing response is thanks to something called the “peak-end rule.”

This rule calls attention to the fact that we tend to overvalue the most intense parts and the final moments of an experience (aka the "peaks" and the "ends").

When Matt finishes his cold showers, his brain is flooded with feel-good endorphins that make him feel alert, clear-headed, and energetic. He finishes on a high note, so all that “swearing and screaming” from a few minutes ago is forgotten, and he's ready for the next chilly dip.

In short: we remember experiences in snapshots, not spreadsheets.

And once you recognize it, the peak-end rule starts to explain a lot.

It’s why we get nostalgic for past romantic relationships, even if the time together was rocky. We remember the highs of being together, not the blah we felt when they neglected us. It’s why we inhale fast food even when know we're not going to feel so hot in a few hours. Our memories prioritize the satisfaction of that first-bite.

But can we use the peak-end rule to our advantage? Absolutely.

🏋🏼‍♀️ Try ending your next workout with something low intensity (like stretching) so you can look forward to the next gym-sesh.

🙇‍♀️Push yourself to try new things. The peak-end rule reminds us we’re going to remember the highs of fun experiences, and forget the moments of lying passively on the couch. So take that hike. You might see a stunning view from the (literal) peak.

🍬 Make people remember you in a favorable light by ending the interaction on a positive note. Offer a compliment, bonus gift, or send a thank-you email.

The human brain is tricky. But when you learn how to use its quirks to your advantage you’ll be able to enjoy, things you never thought you’d even be able to do.

Cold shower optional. 😉

'Why Am I Not Rich and Famous?’ The Delusion of Our Times

Article | by Darius Foroux

For a cool $64 an hour, you can rent a private jet studio for your next Instagram post.

Talk about a bargain.

In his article, Darius Foroux dissects our tendency to replicate what the media emphasizes. Considering it prioritizes wealth, hustle, and status, it makes sense why people would rent a private jet studio to imitate a counterfeit luxurious lifestyle.

And considering the average person spends up to six hours a day on their phone gulping down entertainment, this imitation game can go too far.

It’s not long before we begin to ask ourselves:

“Why aren’t I as successful as this person?”

“Why don’t I have a private jet?”

“Where are my washboard abs and effortless Ryan Reynolds-like charm?”

These thoughts are a consequence of mistaking fantasy for reality. Darius puts it best:

When I say fake, I don’t mean it’s all a lie. I mean that it’s not a depiction of reality. A snapshot of someone’s life on Instagram tells you nothing about that person’s actual life. That’s how we should treat all those things: As pure entertainment, not as inspiration for life.

Foroux’s article is a useful reminder to take entertainment for what it is: amusement, and not a mirror.

Read this post →

The Science of Thinking

Video | by Veritasium

Quick question for you.

You walk into a store and see two items: a baseball bat and a ball. In total, the items cost $1.10. The bat costs $1 more than the ball.

How much does the ball cost?

Take a minute. Or don’t. Chances are you immediately guessed the ball costs 10 cents.

That's the wrong answer, but don’t beat yourself up about it. More than 50% of Ivy League students (MIT, Harvard, Princeton) also guessed incorrectly. 😳

We’re wired to take mental shortcuts to avoid cognitive effort. And as you’ve just seen, this intuitive process can lead us astray.

In Veritasium’s video, ‘The Science of Thinking’, he embarks on a deep dive into how the brain works, how we learn, and why we’re naturally lazy beings. Learn why....

🎷A musician would rather play the same familiar tune
🗺 We drive with the GPS on instead of learning the way
📹 You’d rather watch videos that give you a sense of understanding, without actually learning anything
⚾️ You answered "10 cents" without giving it more thought.

Thinking takes effort. Fighting through confusion isn’t fun. But if we want to be an expert in something, we have to be willing to break a mental sweat.

Because eventually, it’s the slow, deliberate conscious practices that you repeat enough times that leads to intellectual breakthroughs.

P.S The answer is 5 cents.

Watch this video →

Dissect

Podcast

Music junkie?

We’ve got the perfect thing for you.

Introducing Dissect, a serialized music podcast that does long-form musical analysis behind iconic Hip-Hop and R&B albums. The pod does “forensic dissections” of music, lyrics, and theories of artists like Frank Ocean, Kayne West, Kendrick Lamar, and Beyoncé (and yeah, we said “pod” because we’re cool like that).

Dissect’s mission is to help people slowww down and give listeners a newfound appreciation for the process behind creating music. After streaming Dissect, you’ll hear an album for the first time after listening to it hundreds of times before.

Check it out →

Jenny Lee

This week it’s all eyes on Jenny Lee, AKA 'The Minimalism Mentor'. Jenny runs a YouTube channel where she gives tips on how to run a minimal but profitable business balanced with an intentional lifestyle. If you’re looking for the simpler things in life, Jenny’s your person. 🙇🏼

Introduce yourself! Who are you?

I'm Jenny Lee, copywriter and minimalism mentor. I love all things intentional living, productivity, and iPad-related. I'm working to redefine "digital minimalism:" maximizing the use of technology to streamline and simplify the rest of your life.

Why do you create? Who is your content for?

I create short- and long-form content for anyone looking to improve their lives through essentialism principles.

The biggest lesson you’ve learned since you began creating content?

Sometimes we get lost in the world of toxic productivity or creating just to stay consistent, which can damage our spirit. Not only are breaks okay… sometimes they're much needed.

One thing you wish you knew before you started?

Don't wait until you refine your niche to publish. The topics you're passionate about will organically whittle down once you begin to see which ones feel best to you and your audience.

In one to two sentences, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring creators or self-development nerds?

If you always say, "I don't have the time," then do an audit of how you spend your time. Even those of us who have young kids and a full-time job (waves) can carve out productive hours here and there.

How much sawdust can you put into a Rice Krispie Treat before people start to notice?

For a homemade batch of Rice Krispie Treats, add 1/3 cup of sawdust to increase fiber intake. 1/2 cup is too much. Not only will people notice, but your recipe will be dry.

Check out Jenny's Youtube Channel →

Written by Alice Lemée

Edited by Matt D'Avella & Shawn Forno