Just chill out and admire some nature
How to really relax
There is an unassuming practice I do daily that has a bigger impact on my mood than you’d expect if you just heard it.
I always try to go out to work a bit earlier than I have to. I then spend those 5 or 10 extra minutes staring at a lake I pass on the way. Then when walking back home I try to repeat it.
But what’s the point of this?
I do this practice for two reasons:
Existing more in the moment – grounding myself in the present was for me the single biggest fix for overthinking
Conscious rest – I think we kind of confused leisure and rest. When we’re constantly consuming something there is no space for our thoughts to unravel, form ideas, and make space for new thoughts. “Doing nothing” for even 10 minutes feels really relaxing – try it.
There is also the part about learning how to admire the inherent beauty of the world, but if you’re interested in my hippie take on the subject you can watch my last YouTube video.
Or feel free to ignore it and check out other updates ⬇️
📚 What I’ve been reading
A section for updates about my reading journey – read along, get inspired, or just treat it like an accountability buddy.
Update on the reading progress:
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (710/1243 pages)
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin (223/375 pages)
Doing this segment was a great idea. Knowing that there is a regular check-in for what I’m reading helps keep me accountable.
As for how it’s going: The Count of Monte Cristo is still amazing, but I’m thinking of DNF-ing The Creative Act. Beyond one piece of advice (about creating for the sake of the creation rather than for yourself) I haven’t found much worthwhile. It seems to me like the book is trying really hard to be deep but misses its mark. Resulting in vague semi-spiritual advice.
The good news is that this leaves room to finally start reading the Tao Te Ching.
➡️ Up next
I think I have an idea for how to make this newsletter more community orriented and interesting for you.
Don’t worry introverts – interacting won’t be mandatory ;) But it will be an opportunity to help shape my future videos.
Instead of writing the main segment about a video I already finished – I could instead write about the subject I’m currently working on. Then you’ll get a bulleted list of talking points I have planned so far – and if you think that there is something I should add or expand on – you can message me directly about it.
Let me know if this is something you’d be interested in.
Thanks for reading,
Luke from Unwritten Tomes