By Colby Kultgen
A Life-Changing Chart, The Importance of Discomfort and A Reset Button For Your Body
Read online / Read time: 3 minutes
Today at a Glance:
• Chart: who we spend time with
• Quote: buying an envelope
• Article: importance of discomfort
• Tip: a reset button for your body
• Event: build a $1M LinkedIn profile
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A chart that will change the way you see life
Every year this chart finds its way back to me.
I always stop to look at it, and it never fails to hit me hard.
It outlines how the average American spends their time over a lifespan: time with parents, friends, partners, children, coworkers, and time spent alone.
Here are my biggest takeaways:
1. Your time with parents and siblings collapses early. By your early 20s the hours you spend with parents, siblings and extended family drop sharply. If those relationships matter, you have to be intentional about visits and calls.
2. Coworkers dominate your 20s to 50s. Once you start working full-time coworkers become the people you see most. This is a reminder to choose workplaces and cultures carefully because they shape your daily environment for decades.
3. Partner time climbs slowly and stays high. Time with a romantic partner rises in your late 20s and stays fairly steady until retirement age. Choosing who you spend that time with is arguably the most important decision you'll ever make.
4. Children take a big slice but only temporarily. Parenting time ramps up in your 30s and 40s, peaks, then falls off sharply once kids leave home. The “child raising” window is intense but short. It can help you savor it while it is here.
5. Where you live shapes your social life. Since time with parents, siblings and friends drops largely because of distance, choosing where you live can be a hidden lever for how much you actually see the people you care about.
6. Plan for solitude in advance. Since alone time steadily rises after midlife, building hobbies, community groups or rituals now makes later years richer and less lonely.
Would love to hear your thoughts on this!
A quote about buying an envelope
Author Kurt Vonnegut talking about when he tells his wife he’s going out to buy an envelope:
This quote isn’t really about envelopes.
Well it is, but it’s about so much more than that.
The lesson: Just because something can be outsourced doesn't mean it should be.
Sure, you might save time by batching errands or automating them away, but you also lose the small, unplanned interactions that make life feel alive.
Those little “frictions” are often what give life its texture.
An article about the importance of discomfort
Sticking with the theme.
This article, Discomfort is the price you pay for a fulfilling life, hit me the same way.
It’s about how easy it is to over-optimize our routines in the name of “wellness” and end up sanding off all the edges that make life interesting.
One part that stood out to me was the author's list of items, which she refers to as “The Art of Inconvenience”:
- Tea kettles
- Record players
- Moka pots
- Bookstores
- Polaroids
- Magazines
Basically, things that take more effort, more presence, and more time than the easy alternatives. And because of that, they often give you a richer experience.
For me lately that’s looked like carrying an old point-and-shoot film camera instead of just using my phone.
It forces me to slow down, think about each shot, and wait for the prints, which somehow makes the photos feel more meaningful when I finally see them.
A health tip to reset your mind and body
Ok, I'm not going to lie.
I assumed this was some BS when I saw it.
But in the name of science, I was determined to give it a try.
And wow. I'm happy to report that this is legit.
I don't know much about lymphatic drainage, but I do know that after 15 minutes in this position, my lower back felt looser, my brain slowed down, and I came out of it feeling lighter and surprisingly relaxed.
Give this a try, let me know what you think.
P.S. I'm not a doctor, use your own discretion here.
A free masterclass you shouldn't miss
SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT.
If you’ve been curious about growing your personal brand on LinkedIn (but not really sure where to start), I have a fun surprise for you.
Ben Meer, Jade Bonacolta, and I are hosting a FREE MASTERCLASS on Tuesday, September 16th from 12-1pm EST.
We’re giving away our 7 secrets to build a million-dollar LinkedIn profile. Because your personal brand on LinkedIn has truly never mattered more than it does now.
Register here for free.
Can't wait to see you there!
😂
Have a great week!
P.S. Reply telling me what you enjoyed most!
(I read and respond to them all)
