Hey guys, it’s your ol’ pal Barman! Remember me? No…?
This isn’t a fancy long post or anything, but I felt like bestowing some advice unto my loyal readers (well, what’s left of them anyway… like 3 people?) In fact, it has nothing to do with affiliate marketing. It’s a shortie, but goodie. That’s what she said.
Dump Your Brain
Dear diary,
A lot of people find writing to be very cathartic, and as of late, I must add myself to that group. I don’t mean blogging either – I mean personal writing that is only meant for you as a way to get your thoughts on paper. Writing helps to organize your thoughts, helps you be become more creative, and allows you to solidify your thoughts and goals. The most important benefit, at least to me, is that its much easier to remember ideas. It’s impossible to keep every little idea you come up with in your head. You’ll just forget them over time, and keeping them on random post-it notes isn’t a going to cut it in the long run.
So… how does one actually ‘write’ for one’s self?
Option A – Write 750 Words – I can’t remember how I stumbled upon this technique, but it’s definitely worth trying, even for a few days. The goal is to write 750 words in a blank Word doc every day. Just get all of your thoughts, emotions, cares and concerns out there. Do nothing else until you’re done.
I tried this for about 2 weeks and found it very beneficial. The only problem is that it takes some time. 750 words is not that easy. You’re supposed to go fast but you still want to form complete sentences. I’d find myself writing for 20-30 minutes then getting stuck for the last hundred or so words. Maybe if I stuck with it for a month I’d get better at dumping out my brain, but I just didn’t enjoy it that much.
So yes, it’s something every one should try at least once just to see how they like it. I prefer the physical, but shorter alternative …
Option B – Keep a Psychical Journal – I picked this up from Steal Like an Artist, which is in itself, a truly excellent book. I think affiliate marketers tend to be too analytical ( which isn’t always a bad thing ) so sometimes we get stuck crunching numbers so long we forget to separate ourselves from the computer. The fact that every one in this industry just rips each other’s landing pages shows that creativity is lacking.
Even if you’re a creative type ( you design landing pages ), 99% of your time is still probably spent on a computer or device. One great piece of advice I picked up from this book is to keep your digital space and your physical space separate. Make things with your hands, draw, paint, whatever – just get your creative juices flowing in a way that doesn’t involve a keyboard and a mouse.
My best takeaway from the book was to keep a journal. No instructions really. Just do what suits you. I use my journal to reflect on the day, plan goals, and keep notes on books I read. Nothing major, but it frees up my brain to do other things ( sparks the creative flow, plus I don’t have to remember so much when it’s written down instead).
You can even write about things you’re grateful for, which you’ll find to be a very real method in finding happiness.
Now, some of you will think this is all some hokey pokey jib-jab bullshit, and in truth – it probably is. But we’re in an age where every single fucking thing we do is done on a computer. Over time, it just fries your brain. It helps to get back to the basics, get in touch with nature, the outdoors, your inner self, and all that other shit… namaste.
Dump Your Fat – Intermittent Fasting
How many times have you heard that eating 5-6 times a day is the best way to lose weight and speed up your metabolism? I know I’ve heard it a million times, and until very recently I believed it. But the truth is – we really don’t have to eat that much. In fact, our bodies can very easily deal with not eating for 8, 12, 16, or even 24 hours.
A few weeks ago I stumbled upon some articles that changed my outlook on the “5-6 meals a day thing”.
This first is Experiments with Intermittent Fasting by Dr. John Berardi. Berardi has been an author on one of my favorite sites, T-Nation, for a long time. His Gourmet Nutrition Cookbook is tits. What he says is the truth.
Anyway – in the free PDF, Berardi experiments with various types of fasting. He’s an already fit male specimen, so to see him getting benefits from intermittent fasting was eye opening. Imagine what a fatty could do?
Then there’s another article from a different site called Intermittent Fasting 101 – How to Start Burning Fat. A shorter read, but same point. There are many benefits to intermittent fasting and its worth experimenting with.
Don’t get me wrong though – intermittent fasting isn’t easy for me. I still love food. But doing it once in a while makes me appreciate what hunger really is and allows me to separate real hunger in my gut versus imaginary hunger in my brain ( which is brought on by belief that we have to eat 5-6 times a day…. or the munchies.)
The people in affiliate marketing tend to be one of two types – you’re either a fat greasy neckbeard, or you’re a health-conscience, paleo-eating, Cross-fit training machine. There doesn’t seem to be any middle ground. Either way, I think all people will benefit from implementing the occasional intermittent fast into their lives. Not pointing any chubby fingers, but a lot of you motherfuckers are getting your stomachs stapled or bypassing it entirely. How about the cheaper alternative – not eating?
