“The high value put upon every minute of time, the idea of hurry-hurry as the most important objective of living, is unquestionably the most dangerous enemy of joy” – Hermann Hesse
As we reflect over the holidays and at year’s end, I want to share exercises in ‘deconstruction’ that I found fruitful this year. I find myself resisting boredom so frequently and earnestly that I take occasional, deliberate countermeasures to be bored.
Often, this takes the shape of stripping down daily habits that, over time, become crutches. To lay my mind bare, so to speak. Then I see what’s left behind in the lacuna.
How do I feel? What am I interested in? What thoughts or memories have I been crowding out, consciously or subconsciously?
No, this is not expressly about markets. And yet, it is about investing. These are exercises in allocating attention, a precious form of capital.
- Don’t drink coffee for 3 days
- Don’t eat for 24 hours
- Don’t use your phone for 18 hours
- Take a long walk alone, without your phone
- Sit still with as little external stimulation as possible for 30 minutes
Your body and mind are great at giving you direction. They need variety to tell you something new, and space to process the old.