Hello Evolutionaries!  We hope the weekend has been relaxing and fulfilling.  Here's what we're upto this week.

WHAT WE ARE READING:

• Auggie and Me by R.J. Palacio.  We are fortunate enough to have a 9 year old daughter who reads like its going out of style.  This is her recommendation.  I haven't gotten to it yet, but if the first book, Wonder (now also a major motion picture), is any indication, it will be well worth the investment in time.  Heartfelt and well written book about empathy, kindness and being human.  
• Farmocology: Total Health from the Ground Up by Daphne Miller (who wrote the book we were reading last week, Jungle Effect).  An interesting investigation into biodynamic farming and its relationship to health and medicine.  Definitely a fresh perspective.
• Why We Sleep, Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker
• Did anyone read this article in the NY Times this week?  It's an interesting look into friendship and its relationship to health and also offers up some tips on how to nurture our connections.

MOVEMENTS OF THE WEEK:

• Dead Hang.  Why?  Several reasons.  Spinal decompression, decreasing the risk for back injury, posture correction, grip, rotator cuff, shoulder, forearm and wrist strength, core stability.  You can do this from any overhanging bar.  We keep a pull up bar in our doorway and hang throughout the day.  Start with 30 seconds at a time and gradually work your way up to 90-120 seconds.   Before attempting this, make sure you've nailed your form.  Here is a good reference.  
• Post Dinner Dance Party.  Research shows that easy movement immediately after a meal has been shown to help lower blood glucose levels.  This could be a 20 minute walk or for us, a family post-meal dance party.  

FOOD EXPLORATION:

• Okinawan Cuisine:  Taking a page from The Jungle Effect, we decided to experiment with traditional Okinawan fare this month.  We are starting with Soba Noodle Soup with homemade fermented sprouted einkorn noodles...a mouthful both literally and figuratively, and adventurous undertaking indeed!  We will post the recipe and pictures soon.  Know any recipes we should try next?  PLEASE SHARE!

The first month of 2018 is just about over.  How are you doing with your resolutions?  If you've fallen off the bandwagon or find your enthusiasm quickly waning, you are not alone.  Apparently, 80% of resolutions fail by February.  Habits are extremely difficult to change and our resolutions are often too grand to allow for any changes in neurological wiring and therefore have little staying power.  So, how can we make change happen and stick?  Let's look at a few effective habit changing strategies.

1. Think small.  Small changes are surmountable and sustainable.  Small successes are gratifying and can cultivate the path to more change.

2. Set up goals.  For example, if you're looking to incorporate more exercise into your day, instead of resolving to visit the gym 5 days a week, resolve to being able to increase the number of push ups you are able to do per day from say, 20-100 in six months.

3. Establish some type of accountability.  Depending on your tendency and whether you respond to inner or outer accountability, you may need to get a friend, join a club or invest in a program to help stick to your goals.

4. Create a morning routine.  We've talked a bit about the importance of morning routines, and their role in getting things done.  Our will power is strongest in the earlier par to the day and decreases throughout the day.  By harnessing will power in the morning and setting the day up properly, we are more likely to follow through on our commitments.

5. Lastly, consider hiring a coach!

Enjoy the week friends!  Findings from the books we've been reading coming up next.  We'll also be posting some Superbowl pre-game strategies and recipes later this week.  Stay tuned.

A common habit shared by some of the most successful people in the universe is following a morning routine.  This is true for world leaders, business executives, athletes, actors, musicians, writers, and artists alike.  Why?  Morning routines set the tone of the day, help foster the feeling of connection and organization, and harness the strength of will power at its peak.  It builds momentum for all that unfolds throughout the remainder of the day.  Routines and rituals also happen to be a commonality between centenarians and super centenarians... aka people who live very long lives. Studies have shown that strong morning rituals help reduce stress and mental fatigue.  Perhaps this is part of the reason why.

My morning routine help me get going without having to ask myself the question, "Hmmm, what shall I do first", which can become extremely overwhelming and absolutely stressful.  I definitely don't get to do all the things on the list all the time, but it's never all or nothing.  I do what I can, and for the most part, here is what it looks like, weekdays and ends.  (Gregg's routine is very similar.  If you want to know exactly what it looks like, write a note in the comments).

1. Wake up naturally between 5 and 5:30am.
2. Rub some essential oils on my temples and third eye (usually lavender or frankincense).
3. Do a couple of rounds of breathing exercises (to be perfectly honest, I often tend to skip this).  
4. Meditate for about 20-30 minutes.
5. Perform a few mobility exercises, which are like meditation for my body (some combination of joint mobility or CARS, push-ups, The Founder move, spinal twists).
6. Make the bed.  This is 100% crucial....it is closure to all the morning habits that happen in the sanctity of my bedroom and I feel unsettled without it!
7. Drink a LARGE glass of water with lemon and a bit of sea salt.
8. While I'm drinking water, the coffee is brewing.
9. With coffee in hand, I try to write in my journal.  If my daughter is up and we need to get our act together quickly to get to school on time, I don't get to this.  When I do, I write at least 3 things I am grateful for, sometimes sketch and/or write random notes and plan out the day.

What does your morning routine look like?  Need some help putting one together?  Let us know!