• Purchases that change your life ($300 or less) • Things to call yourself out on • 7 powerful personal growth challenges • My new podcast obsession • A genius dating app idea
I don't consider myself a materialistic person, but I do believe a few key purchases can dramatically improve someone's life.
There are 1,700+ replies to this post, so I'm going to leave it up to you to explore.
But just for fun, I'll add my own list:
1. Kindle - 1,000 books in your pocket. Do I need to say more?
2. Gym membership - It's cliché at this point, but we all know how valuable exercise is. If there was a pill that provided the same benefits, it would be the best-selling thing in the world.
3. High quality bedding + pillow - Similar to exercise, the value of sleep can't be understated. You spend 1/3 of your life in bed, it's worth investing in.
4. A very sharp chef's knife - Sharp knives are not dangerous, cheap knives are. You'll never regret investing in a high-quality knife if you cook at all.
5. Toddy Home Cold Brew Coffee System - Ok, a bit more niche, but this thing seriously saves me like $30 every week.
6. A good pair of running/walking shoes - Like sleeping, you spend a huge portion of your life standing/walking/running. One of the best decisions I ever made was going to a shop and getting fitted for running shoes.
7. Apple AirPods Pro - Ok, maybe this one's a bit materialistic. But I use these things every day for multiple hours. Genuinely couldn't live without them.
Alright, those are mine.
Your challenge: Reply to this email with a purchase of $300 or less that has changed your life for the better.
A list of things to call yourself out on
Source: everydaysolitude on IG
A friend sent me this image last week.
It got me thinking about how often we ignore our own self-sabotaging behaviors.
We say we want a certain outcome, but conveniently avoid the work it actually takes to get there.
It reminds me of one of my all-time favorite self-reflection questions from legendary CEO coach Jerry Colonna:
How am I complicit in creating the conditions I say I don’t want?
Read that again.
It's one of those questions that stops you in your tracks.
One that shakes you by the shoulders and forces you to confront the gap between your intentions and your actions.
Most of us already know the answer.
We just don’t like looking at it.
This week, embrace that discomfort and call yourself out—not to feel bad about it, but to finally start doing something different.
7 personal growth challenges that could improve your life
I don't mean to scare you.
But the year is nearly half over (39.8% to be exact).
What better time to embrace a personal challenge and shake up your routine?
I grabbed this list from my friend Ben Meer, who creates some of the best personal development content on the internet.
For me, I'll be taking more tech-free days.
While I love using technology to build and share things I care about (like this newsletter), I’ve noticed that weeks when I’m constantly plugged in are the same weeks I feel the most scattered.
Maybe you can relate.
Something to try: Pick one of these challenges (or come up with your own) and do your best to stick with it.
Ok, maybe it’s just me, but I get irrationally excited when I stumble on a podcast that hits that perfect mix of smart, funny, and weirdly life-affirming.
Each episode dives deep into a different “-ology” (think: volcanology, felinology, egyptology) through conversations with brilliant scientists.
I specifically wanted to recommend this episode on "Social Prescribing", which explores how doctors are now prescribing community, purpose, and connection instead of just medication.
It was so good, I bought the guest’s book before the episode even finished.
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