Focus app + intellectual epiphanies

Learn: Focus productivity app, intellectual epiphanies, new addiction  

Reading Time: 3 minutes 17 seconds 

 Hola from Colombia, 

I hold two strong beliefs. 

I believe we’ll look back at this time period in utter shock of 2 consumption habits:

1. What we put in our bodies (processed foods, refined sugars, booze, seed oils)

2. What we put in our minds (scrolling social media on autopilot, notifications, scattered attention)

In this era of mass consumption, think of this newsletter as Pepto-Bismol but for your brain.

💻 Focus Mate

Focus Mate is a virtual co-working productivity app I’ve been loving. (I’m actually using it right now as I write this.)

Here’s how it works: 

1. Pick a 25 or 50-minute timeslot 

2. Get paired with an accountability partner 

3. State your goal for the sesh at the beginning, mute yourself, and get it done!

And it really works. 

How so? It taps into the 5 behavior triggers to achieve a flow state: 

• Pre-commitment (schedule in advance)

• Implementation intention (booking sessions is how you’ll get something done)

• Task definition (stating your objectives)

• Accountability (timeliness score)

• Social pressure (share your goal and progress)

They give you 3 free sessions a week (also only $5 month for unlimited). 

Check it out here for your focused deep work. 

​​🔆 Intellectual Epiphanies 

My favorite note I keep is titled “2022 Highlight Reel” where I store my values, goals, projects, etc. 

In the note, I have a section for “Intellectual Epiphanies.” You know those aha moments when something clicks?

You gotta capture those puppies before they vanish quicker than Greg Oden's NBA career.

One epiphany I captured earlier this year was this 30-second clip from Tom Bilyeu.

I now disconnect my self-worth with being good/smart/successful/etc (outcome)... Instead, I connect with being a LEARNER (process). 

This not only shields me from uncontrollable outcomes. But it actually propels me to constantly learn and take pride in that process.

Check out the clip here. 

 📱 New Addiction

Remember going to restaurants and they’d ask what section you wanted “smoking or non?” then seat you accordingly? 

Same with smoking on airplanes. Of course seems crazy now, but not long ago it was the norm. (The smoking ban was implemented just 22 years ago for US flights.)

So how'd we go from chainsmoking cigs, to binging sugar, to now mindlessly scrolling our phones? (and sometimes all 3 at once!)

While the Malboro man, Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino, and push notification tantalize our scattered monkey brains... we tend to forget one simple question.

How does this actually make me feel?

Try checking in with this question (rating 1-10) for whatever you're consuming this week.

Happy Sunday amigos,

Mitchell 

Ps. How to find out