Good morning and happy Monday!

“Sometimes magic is just someone spending more time on something than anyone else might reasonably expect.”
— Raymond Joseph Teller

Oh that is good!

Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, was known to get up and train “the basics” at 4am every day. When asked why he spent so much time on the fundamentals when he was at the peak of his powers, he simply said mastering the basics was what made him the best. In other words, there were no shortcuts. It takes time, repetition, dedication, and a willingness to do what others aren’t prepared to do to be the best.

Ok, we’re not all trying to be the best basketball player in the world, but I’m sure we would like to be the best version of ourselves. What are you willing to do to become a better version of yourself?

List five things that you could add to your daily/weekly/monthly routine to help move you in the direction of the you you aspire to be. Which of these will you start before Christmas? (Yep, the other C-word…)

Daily rituals
Winter presents unique challenges that can feel overwhelming and even frustrating. Here are three daily rituals from the great book Rituals for Every Day that can help you adapt to the darker mornings and effectively handle stressful situations.

Bed of nails
An ongoing quest for improving my quality of sleep (and some pretty random Instagram algorithms) has led to the purchase of my first Shakti mat, aka ‘bed of nails’. It’s a lovely coloured, slightly padded mat with 6,000-odd tiny spikes that promote an “acupressure experience you won’t forget”. A week of nightly 20-minute sessions already has me appreciating a sense of calm and easing of shoulder tension… Get yours here.

Faraday to the rescue
“Smartphones are great. Sometimes they’re even better when they’re quiet.”

Stolp have made these super simple Faraday non-radiation cages that you can put up to six smartphones in and lose the distractions. Designed to promote healthy boundaries (literally) around our devices, it’s a great way to turn off from work, the socials, news, etc. and reconnect with real people at home. Check it out here.

Create an awesome week, you deserve it.

Big love,
Luke