“Survival matters more than performance.”
I recently watched a video about the concept of ergodicity (here's a great article if you prefer reading). It's the mathematical idea that if some activity has the chance to create irreversible consequences, you cannot rely on average returns.
What does this mean?
Applied to work, it means that long-term, not the person working hardest is the one that wins, but the one working hardest while avoiding burnout.
Ergodicity plays well together with the observation that consistency matters more than intensity. Better do small things regularly for months, than work hard for three weeks and then lose energy and interest.
How does this relate to mindfulness?
Mindfulness leads to you finding your own pace, doing things you enjoy. It's about learning to listen to your body and learning what makes you happy.
Take your time to regenerate, have fun, relax, and learn new things.
Enjoy your journey.
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have.” — Eckhart Tolle
Reading Recommendations
How To Unplug From Technology When You Need A Break
“Is going offline part of your regular routine? Here's how to unplug from technology and be more mindful when you need a break.”
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” – Anne Lamott
What's the Curse of Knowledge, and How Can You Break It?
“How can seemingly clear requests become so confusing? Why isn't it easier to understand what other people want? It could be the curse of knowledge.”
Some musings on how we write code
“Every codebase is different. Likewise, every team (cohort…pride? What’s the collective noun for engineers? A byte?) of developers have different standards for what constitutes quality. Often, code smells that are considered heresy for one gaggle of devs are taken for granted as ‘the way to do things’ by their counterparts across the road.”
Weekly Mindfulness Practice
Do a slow evening, or a slow morning.
For a slow evening, start half an hour before you go to bed. Breathe more consciously and slow down with anything you do. You’ll have time to let go of thoughts before you lie in bed.
For a slow morning, don’t use your phone for the first 30 minutes of your day. Do what you usually do to get ready for the day and add a mindfulness practice. Meditate, go for a brief walk, or drink your tea or coffee mindfully.
End Note
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Have a great week
Simon
PS: If you found an article you think others might like, and that fits this newsletter, I’d love it if you write me an email. Just reply!