Peak Health Wellness Insights Issue 9
Mental Resilience
This interesting study has uncovered that boredom, commonly considered a negative mental state, can increase creativity. These findings may have implications for how we view boredom and suggests that it may be worthwhile to allow for and even embrace boredom in the workplace, in the classroom, and during leisure activities.
If you are trying to solve a problem, perhaps try doing a boring task, as it might just help you come up with a creative solution.
Sleep
New research (and here) reveals that beyond all of the negative health consequences of poor sleep, it may also isolate us socially. The findings show that people who have experienced sleep loss are both less likely to interact with others and also tend to come across as socially unappealing. They themselves also report feeling more lonely and alienated, the mental states linked to many health and wellness issues and even increased mortality risk.
Nutrition
This ground-breaking study has discovered that identical twins, who have 100% the same DNA and a similar environment, have different taste preferences and different body responses to the same foods. This indicates that genes are only one piece to consider when personalising one's diet. It also supports that there is no one-size fits all, or even one-size fits most diet. Additionally, it suggests that the gut microbiome, which twins only have 37% similarity, must greatly impact metabolism, as does meal timing and exercise. Taken together, we can safely conclude pure nutritional labelling may be an incomplete representation of the health of a given food.
Fitness
This new research has identified a specific strain of gut bacteria that contributes to an improved capacity for exercise. Even more fascinatingly, it is present only in elite athletes and absent in sedentary people.
This discovery may have major applications for those that struggle to exercise. The thought is that introducing such bacteria into the guts of sedentary people, may make it possible to improve the capacity for these people to do meaningful exercise and motivate them to exercise more frequently.
Productivity Tip
Optimise podcast listening with the Overcast app. (Find it here). It shortens silence during the podcast to make the time spent listening quicker and more efficient.
Habit Hack of the week
In creating a new habit focus on SYSTEMS not GOALS.
Instead of setting the goal of making more sales, commit to making two calls every day. Commit to the process that leads to your desired goal for more effective habit formation and goal attainment.