Your Happiness & Well-Being and the Future of Healthcare

August 18, 2020

“We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality.” 

“Freedom (n.): To ask nothing. To expect nothing. To depend on nothing.” 

“What greater wealth is there than to own your life and to spend it on growing? Every living thing must grow. It can't stand still. It must grow or perish.” 

- Ayn Rand

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Hope you are having a great week. I’m off this week with kids.

A number of you have written to say you enjoy the articles I share, therefore from today you will receive two emails weekly from me.

One on Monday / Tuesday which will just be things I have curated for you that I believe you’ll enjoy and on Thursday / Friday you will get what has been our regular weekly email.

If you find this useful, please share with others and recommend they subscribe.

We are currently read by +700 amazing people and I’d like it to be +1,000 before the summer is over.

This week’s articles are all around health, well-being and happiness.

Wishing you a great week.

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Why Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant than ever
The British philosopher Bertrand Russell wrote about the need to learn how to value idleness. His observations and insights on the value of leisure were made in an era of mass unemployment, which makes them just as pertinent today. The author’s conclusion: we must learn to relish the fruits of idleness.

Wellbeing as One System: Mind, Body, and Place
Andres explains why wellbeing is not to be understood as a mechanical component, but more as a living system across mind, body, and even the world around us. Reconnecting with nature is particularly important (with a growing body of scientific literature explaining why). At the end of the article, Andres offers a few simple “tips” that are helpful for creating a culture of wellbeing.

Feeling Stuck? Five Tips for Managing Life Transitions
The author of the recently published “Life Is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age” offers five tips to successfully cope with change and to battle the lupus in fabula: (1) start with your transition superpower, (2) identify your emotions, (3) shed something, (4) try something creative, and (5) rewrite your life story.

A Single Session of Exercise Alters 9,815 Molecules in Our Blood
New research shows, extensive molecular changes occur during and after physical exercise. Once again, this underscores how consequential activity is for our physical and mental wellbeing, including our capacity to make better decisions.

How The 'Lost Art' Of Breathing Can Impact Sleep And Resilience
This is about a new book (“Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art”) that sheds fascinating light on something to which most of us pay little attention but that is fundamental for our mental and physical wellbeing (we typically take about 25,000 breaths per day — often without a second thought). Some insights:  taking "slow and low" breaths through the nose can help relieve stress and reduce blood pressure; exhaling relaxes the body.

What have been some of your practices to be healthier and happier in the last five months?

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I believe COVID has been a catalyst for all of us to think much more about our own health and well-being. In the last few months we have all lived much simpler, and potentially healthier and happier lives.

A number of forces are now coming together to bring the same disruption and technology to healthcare as we have seen impact other sectors.

What does all of this mean for investing and markets?

The team at a16z had a great note and video discussing the the Great Unlock and where to look for opportunities.

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Fact Of The Day:

In a polarised America, it’s surprising what actually brings the nation together. Around 53% of Americans voted in 2018; 68% of households own a pet and 77% decorate a Christmas tree – but a whopping 82% are members of Amazon Prime.

We all love Bezos.