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The Newsletter | Edition 061
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In our Off-White Papers, we provide practical guidance on how to respond to our rapidly-changing world. This newsletter explores those topics in real-time, with information and action steps on how to make progress now.
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...FRESH START ENERGY
Whether it’s a new year (hello 2022!), a new job, or a new project, fresh starts provide the opportunity for reflection and change. But new beginnings can also feel intimidating and chaotic. Even the task of figuring out what goals to work toward can leave us frozen in place rather than moving forward. So, how can we harness the excitement of this time to make lasting changes without getting overwhelmed?
- Notice what your body is saying, from Payal Pereira
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Fine-tune your way through, from Shannon Gerety
- Give yourself some grace, from Meron Medhanie
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THINK OUTSIDE YOUR BRAIN From Payal Pereira
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TL;DRA brainbound approach to resolutions might make them seem daunting. But what if we start thinking beyond our brains, and instead use our hearts, our skin, the spaces around us, and the relationships we’ve built?
WHY IT MATTERSWhen making resolutions, we treat our brains as computers that cross off tasks in order to determine progress. This focus on the brain as the locus turns a blind eye to other ways of thinking across extra neural resources like our bodies, surroundings, and relationships. In Anne Murphy Paul’s book, “The Extended Mind,” she explores how our brains are receiving constant messages about how our bodies are functioning, which we can either attend to or ignore. Awareness of these signals, such as the pace of our heartbeats or our body temperatures, can boost performance and help us transform ourselves accordingly.
While growth mindsets that emphasize diligence and perseverance are great, oftentimes true creativity requires you to listen to your body. That’s why we sometimes get our best ideas not when we’re tied to our desks but when we’re going on a walk, taking a shower, and thinking beyond the three-pound lump of tissue inside our heads.
ONE THING YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW
Listen for cues from your body, your environment, and the people around you.
THOUGHTS
- If overwhelmed, take a minute to scan your body to see how you feel
- Design work environments that provoke thinking beyond the brain
- Be willing to have open-minded debates to help you see the flaws in your thinking
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IF IT AIN'T BROKE, FIX IT ANYWAY From Shannon Gerety
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TL;DRRoutine is healthy until inertia holds us back from experimenting with microchanges that can keep us curious, attentive, and mindful of progress.
WHY IT MATTERSWhen a union of workers at the London Underground network went on strike for 48 hours, only 37% of stations remained open. This forced commuters to experiment with their travel routes, resulting in 1 in 20 people finding a route that actually worked better than their previously trusted routine. The New Year offers a (voluntary) reason to reckon with our habits, an exercise that may lead us to find new treasures and create new neural pathways that keep our brains agile. One microchange I’ve made in 2022 is switching my alarm clock sound, a shockingly pleasant adjustment to my morning that I’ll never underestimate again.
ONE THING YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW
Encourage team members to explore and communicate small adjustments to your current way of working.
THOUGHTS
- Stay conscious of your complacency when new ideas are suggested
- Change your alarm clock sound, screensaver, desk lighting, or ditch the desk altogether
- Redesign your office space to be Lifespan Extending (jk)
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THE NEW YEAR MYTH From Meron Medhanie
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TL;DRThe beauty of subscribing to January 1st as the start to the new year is that you get to harness the collective energy of hope and optimism to propel you forward. But what if that’s not the right condition for you to make lasting change?
WHY IT MATTERSAcross time and space, our global family has used different moments to mark the new year and plant seeds for evolution. Some are guided by the power of the cosmos, some by nature and its rebirth, others by their personal new year. Amy Morin, mental strength trainer and psychotherapist, argues that the catalyst for transformation is the moment you’re ready to commit, and outlines five stages you'll go through before creating lasting change.
Now, we can all breathe (*holds space for a deep inhale and exhale*) and release the pressure that comes with the belief that January 1st is the optimal moment to reassess your life.
ONE THING YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW
Give yourself permission to start fresh at any time.
THOUGHTSConsider your personal circumstances at the start of this year and give yourself some grace. You might not be your clearest, strongest, most enthusiastic self, and that’s ok. Then, consider what conditions inspire you. Once you’ve got that, consider designing your environment to support you.
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SPEAKING OF FRESH STARTS, SYLVAIN IS HIRING. Are you a designer or strategist looking for the next step? We’re excited to meet you! Get in touch here.
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