There is little I love more than learning! Books are great. Podcasts are too. But short life learning lists are the most knowledge-dense and effective way to digest actionable tips. Learning from others is far more efficient than learning from your own mistakes!
I wrote my first 30 Life-Enhancing Learnings for my 30th birthday. I enjoyed compiling that list and planned to make it a yearly habit, but I missed publishing it last year. So this list contains my 32 top learnings over the past two years.
I wrote this post to reflect on the learnings that have improved my life. Some of the learnings may also be relevant for you. I hope you enjoy them and that at least one resonates!
Caveats
1) Health is the #1 priority. Being healthy positively impacts all areas of life, whilst bad health puts all else into perspective. Plans quickly shifted when I got Covid twice in the last two years. It was mild, but it reminded me to be grateful for my health and prioritise its preservation.
2) Get multiple medical opinions. It’s your health. Don't risk it by relying on the opinion of only one person. Medical professionals frequently differ. When they do, you’re the one that suffers. In my case, a lingering minor ailment was cured within six hours when a new doctor prescribed the correct treatment!
3) Balanced training. A healthy exercise regime should cover strength, endurance, and flexibility. It’s easy but foolish to neglect any area, and I tend to neglect flexibility. Improving my bench press is fun, but making marginal gains shouldn’t be at the expense of mobility workouts.
4) Life is short. It’s shorter when stressed. Although impossible to eliminate, be vigilant of stress. Is it worth stressing over and potentially shortening your life? Especially true in a work context. Many folks have highly stressful but well-paying jobs. Given that extreme stress is likely knocking a few years off your life, along with impacting your health right now, think hard about whether the extra money is truly worth it.
5) Eat porridge, but not just any porridge, Marleen’s porridge. Arguably the best porridge in the world. It’s tasty and nutritious, plus when eaten as a late breakfast, it fills me until late afternoon. Recipe for the world's best porridge.
6) Reduce meat consumption. Meat consumption, particularly red meat, is linked to many fatal diseases, including heart disease and certain cancers. I had briefly experimented with reducing my meat intake for environmental reasons but was unaware of the link to deadly diseases until I read ‘How not to Die’. Not smoking, not being obese, getting a half hour of exercise a day, and eating healthier (defined as consuming more fruits, veggies, and whole grains, but less meat) account for 78% of chronic disease risk. I became a vegetarian after reading the book.
7**)** Eat more veg. It’s good for you, tasty, and less calorie dense, so you can eat more! Many restaurants are accommodating if you ask for additional vegetables with your dish.
8**)** The plate method. Fill 1/2 of your plate with vegetables & fruit, 1/4 proteins and 1/4 grains & starches. Our traditional ratios are out of whack. The plate method ratios make it easier to eat a balanced diet and maintain my ideal weight. This article goes into more detail.