The Journal #10
Nerve. Potential. Abstinence. Vodka.
01. HEALTH - Joe Gaunt
Viva Las Vegus
Ever heard of the vegus nerve? Maybe you’ve heard the term fight, flight or freeze?
The vagus nerve is an essential part of the parasympathetic nervous system and plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis (system balance) by overseeing a vast array of bodily functions. It is instrumental in controlling mood, immune response, digestion, and heart rate, highlighting its significance in health and disease management.
The vegus nerve links from the brain stem through the neck and into the abdomen, influencing various organs along its path. It serves as a critical communication link between the brain and these organs, modulating functions related to the fight or flight response, rest and digest system, and immune regulation.
Joe’s top health tips for supporting vagus nerve stimulation;
Deep Breathing and Meditation: Practices like meditation and yoga can increase vagal tone, enhancing resilience and reducing symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders.
Cold Exposure: Brief cold showers can stimulate the vagus nerve, potentially improving mood and reducing inflammation.
Diet: A fiber-rich diet, probiotics, and omega-3 fatty acids can positively affect vagal activity, promoting gut health and reducing inflammation.
Physical Exercise: Regular, moderate exercise can increase vagal tone, improving heart rate variability and overall cardiovascular health.
Social Engagement and Laughter: Positive social interactions and laughter can stimulate the vagus nerve, enhancing feelings of well-being and reducing stress.
02. MINDSET - Jonny Grayshon
The Plateau of Latent Potential
Did you know it takes a bamboo 5 years to grow its network of roots before even sprouting above ground.
Then within weeks it can shoot up to 90m in to the air.
How many times have you started something new, only to feel deflated or beat so you quit?
Dieting
Cardio training
Setting up a business
Trying to get a match on Tindr
The magic happens when you least expect it, after consistently applying yourself, regardless of the apparent lack of results at the time.
We fall into the trap of thinking progress should be linear and constant.
Weight loss should be 1kg a week, every single week!?
Far from it!
It’s slow, up and down and sometimes feels like nothing is happening, or even going backwards.
Just like my blue belt journey in Jiu Jitsu.
This is known as The Plateau Of Latent Potential.
The ones who are desperate to get the end result often get frustrated far too early and end up disappointed and frustrated. They often quit.
The ones who love and embrace the process, install good systems and are prepared to see it through always get the best, long lasting results.
Winning takes time.
03. WILLPOWER - Mike Bates
Abstinence
‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder’
A saying usually reserved for love and how we feel when away from those we care about the most.
But could it be used differently?
What if I was to switch out a couple of words but leave it sounding the same?
‘Abstinence makes the heart grow stronger’
In other words, saying no to something you love as a means of gaining strength.
Now, I’m not suggesting you stop loving people or take a sabbatical alone in the desert but I am advocating abstinence and making life just a little bit tougher on yourself as a way to increase your happiness.
It’s counter-intuitive but it works.
This is something I’ve done almost constantly throughout my adult life and I believe it has paid off in the long run by making me a more robust and resilient man.
Examples:
No booze (I haven’t drunk for 2 years).
No hot showers (I often do this if I’m feeling soft and always start my daily morning shower cold - starting my day doing something I don’t want to do is a non-negotiable and it ticks the vagus nerve stimulation Joe speaks of above).
No people (I spent 46 days alone on the ocean - by far the most difficult to date) - not recommended.
I feel like I’m harder to kill because I choose the harder path in life.
Recently I chose to give up caffeine for lent after hearing about other NXT45 community members doing something similar.
I love a good coffee and knew that I would miss it.
I also knew that I would often reach for caffeine first thing in the morning and that was potentially having a negative effect to my circadian rhythm and overall sleep quality (although I never drank coffee after lunch for that very reason).
So for 6 weeks I chose decaffeinated options and resisted the urge to slip when I felt tired or in need of a lift.
It wasn’t perfect, progress never is (see Jonny’s piece above). I probably drank 5 caffeinated coffees over that 6 week period and all prior to important speaking appearances when I needed complete focus.
Interestingly I found that I didn’t really miss it.
I always intended to bring it back into my life but to use caffeine strategically rather than habitually.
I’m back in control and that makes me stronger.
My four rules for caffeine intake now are the following:
Never consume within the first 90 minutes of waking.
Never consume after lunch.
Never drink more than 400 milligrams in one day (a couple of strong black Americanos).
Take it strategically prior to exercise or bouts of intense concentration (speaking, writing or teaching).
I’ll leave you this week with a quote from a recent interview I gave. It pretty much sums up how I feel about life and the options we’re so often faced with.
‘Life presents us with choices: the easy route or the challenging one. I opt for the challenge every time because the easy path, though tempting, leads nowhere’
You can read the full interview here
04. QUOTE
“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less”
Socrates
05. TIP
Vodka a superb household cleaner.
You’ve heard of the power of vinegar as a versatile cleaning agent but not so keen on the house smelling like fish and chips?
Use vodka neat on tough stains such as red wine, grass and vomit. Blot using a clean cloth and rinse with water, repeat.
Create a vodka dilution of 4 parts water to 1 part vodka to tackle pretty much any greasy surface cleaning including windows and glass. Spray and wipe as needed.
Vodka is also a great deodoriser. Add a small glass full to your washing machine to treat dirty smelling clothes, Jiu Jitsu gis and towels or hang and spray using the dilution above. Use neat on underarm clothing seams to treat underarm stains and odours.
Finally (and there are plenty more), dab neat onto sticky tag residue to quickly remove from glassware and pretty much all surfaces.
The more you use for cleaning the less you have to drink.
Win, win!
The Journal by NXT45
