How Do You Value a Memory?

Welcome to Effective Habits, a weekly newsletter where I share evidence-based strategies and tools to help you live a happy, healthy, and productive life.

Today at a Glance:

• How Much is a Memory Worth?

• Shinrin-Yoku: Framework for Improving Health and Wellbeing

• The Riddle of Ambition

How Much is a Memory Worth?
Mike Troxell

Lights, Camera, ...
Memories, unlike material possessions, often grow in value over time, even when the experience itself is fleeting or unpleasant. While physical items depreciate, memories, especially of shared experiences, appreciate and bond us to others. Interestingly, our ability to remember is flawed—we remember the good and forget the bad, enhancing the nostalgia and elevating difficult experiences. Ultimately, valuing memories is deeply personal. For some, a high-paying job that costs time with family may not be worth the sacrifice, while others might accept it for the financial reward. The true cost of any decision is not just in dollars or time, but in the experiences you miss or create—paying in minutes or in memories. How we spend our money is a choice between accumulating material things or investing in moments that shape our lives, whether that’s surf lessons or a concert ticket.

Action!

1. Seek variety and intensity: To make lasting memories, choose experiences that add variety (uniqueness) and intensity (excitement). For example, add an adventure like kite-boarding to a relaxing beach vacation to make it more memorable. Intensity also plays a role: jumping into an icy lake, creates stronger, more vivid memory of that lake than the the 10 other beautiful ones you saw earlier. Choose activities that align with your interests, as you're more likely to remember them.

2. Reflect on trade-offs: Consider how your financial choices affect your ability to create memories. Spending on experiences, like vacations, may be more valuable than buying material goods. However, saving money with a longer commute or a demanding job might cost you time and memories with loved ones. Evaluate these trade-offs by asking if the price you're paying is in dollars, time, or missed memories.

3. Be mindful of lifestyle creep: As you prioritize experiences, be cautious of always wanting more. Once you've had a high-quality experience, like an international skiing trip with fresh powder, it may be hard to go back to lesser options. This "lifestyle creep" can make it difficult to be content with simpler experiences. Balance creating memories with avoiding the constant need for bigger and better adventures.

Shinrin-Yoku: Framework for Improving Health and Wellbeing
Sahil Bloom

Lights, Camera, ...
Shinrin-yoku, or "forest bathing," is a Japanese practice that that leverages time in nature as a form of therapy and healing. Studies show that spending just 120 minutes a week in nature boosts health and well-being. This simple act of reconnecting with nature could be a game-changer for your mental and physical health.

Action!

• Commit to a daily 15-minute walk in nature without any technology (at least for the rest of the month). You can do it with a partner, a friend, or alone, but avoid phones, music, podcasts, or audiobooks.

The Riddle of Ambition
Lawrence Yeo

Lights, Camera, ...
Ambition is a double-edged sword: it drives us to pursue our potential and achieve more, yet it often keeps us from enjoying the present moment. But what if your ambition was simply to be content with your current state? Could that be considered ambition too? Ambition typically involves striving for something beyond our reach, but if we’re content, the desire shifts from accumulation to preservation. Whether it’s maintaining comfort or honing a skill, ambition persists as long as there’s something to desire. Even when we’re at peace, the desire to maintain that state can still fuel ambition. This ongoing desire for improvement or maintenance means ambition never truly disappears; it just shifts focus. Thus, while ambition can sometimes lead us to chase external rewards, its true value lies in fostering self-awareness and humility, driving us to grow and refine ourselves continuously.

Action!

• Strive to balance your ambition between the drive for future growth with appreciation for your current state, recognizing that maintaining contentment itself is a form of ambition and achievement.

• Reevaluate your ambition if you find yourself prioritizing external rewards, like promotions or money, over the intrinsic value of the work itself. Rather than commoditizing your ambition, focus on using it as a tool for personal growth and self-awareness.

TOOL TIP

Clothing Arts: This brand offers pick-pocket proof travel apparel, such as pants, that are also comfy and reliable.

FUN FACT

The use of VR goggles on cows has been shown to increase cow milk production. These VR headsets were claimed to help cows relax by offering them sun-filled views of green pastures.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We are not liable for any risks or issues that may arise from using this information.