Pick 5: Skip the Small Talk, Walk A Mile, Replace Placeholders, Ignore This Rule, and Get A Free Quote

Pick 5 is Health Benefits Now’s weekly “pick 5 good things and share them with others” post!

This week we cover easy exercise, psychological tricks, a 5-minute quoting process, and a tip for making more interesting conversation with strangers!

Let’s get to it.

Skip the Small Talk, Wear A Graphic Tee
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Wearing something that stands out--especially a graphic T-shirt that might support your favorite band or hobby--creates an easy “Hey, you!” moment for strangers. Getting compliments feels good, but connecting with somebody over a shared love of Fleetwood Mac or Dachshunds is even better.

P.S. It’s also a great way to practice small talk, especially if you’re the kind stranger commenting on someone’s get-up.

Walk A Mile, Barefoot, In The Grass

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Did you know that you burn the same amount of calories whether you walk or run a mile? So if you want to burn 100 calories and enjoy the spring breezes, consider taking a walk this week. Even better? If you decide to go barefoot, science has proven that the contact between our skin and the earth has hidden positive effects on the body, such as:

• Increasing antioxidants
  
• Reducing inflammation
  
• Improving sleep
  

Maybe don’t walk barefoot in the city, or on your way to work or classes, but definitely take a stroll around your garden or take a minute to stand barefoot in your yard every now and then!


Replace Placeholders, Personalize Those Picture Frames

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How many of us have picture frames still filled with pictures of people we don’t know? It has that same distancing effect as keeping around Blu-rays still wrapped in cellophane or clothes that still have their price tags.

The ubiquitous Marie Kondo puts it this way: there’s a lot of “noise” in our environment when it’s filled with branded products. Generic pictures, price tags, cellophane, the brands on our soap dispensers--it all adds up.

Even if you don’t have pictures that fit your frames, try filling them with a piece of colored paper and writing a quote on them. By starting this personalizing/debranding step, you may suddenly find the perfect picture to quickly fill up that new space anyway.

You know, the Law of Serendipity.

Know The 10,000 Hour Rule, Then Ignore It

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Equally ubiquitous is Malcolm Gladwell’s famous “10,000 Hours of Intentional Practice = Mastery” Rule.

10,000 hours of intentional practice will finally get you mastery. 10,000 hours.

If you could choose one thing to become excellent at (and so many of us have multiple things we’d like to pursue), and you found the time and energy to commit 3 hours a day, you’re looking at entering the Big Leagues at around 10 years from now.

But that’s assuming life doesn’t get in the way.

How many of us even desire “mastery?” What are our actual goals? If you study a language for 3 hours a day for about 6 months in a country that only speaks that studied language, statistically you are good enough to hold conversations with locals. But according to this rule, you are nowhere near mastery.

But aren’t you able to use that skill for what it’s intended for, at a level of acquired ease that brings you choices?

That’s how we’d describe mastery.

What are the levels that come before that? If I want to improve at drawing, should I give up because, even if I draw an hour a day, I won’t be spectacular for another 27 years?

Being honest and upfront about the time costs of excellence isn’t a bad thing. But if, like for many people, it becomes a weight around your neck that causes you to dread practice and lose focus on the present moment, then it’s a hindrance.

So don’t pay attention to progress. Pay attention to process. How’s that for a bumper sticker?

Here’s one thing to keep in mind: no matter what you go to do, any repeat process is compounded by time itself.

For example, writing, reading, and editing are all skills that compound on each other. Even if you go a week between writing or reading anything new, when you go back to practicing those skills, you still have the foundation that you built up before. Foundations can go rusty, but they can’t be completely dismantled.

Most skills are like learning to ride the bike--once you learn, you don’t forget. The basic foundation is still there.

So get to know--and then ignore--the 10,000 Hour Rule.

Most masters becomes masters by accident anyway.

Under or Non-Insured? Get A Free, 5-Minute Quote

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Lastly, we wouldn’t be insurance agents if we didn’t think insurance was an important factor in our day-to-day living.

Because speaking of things that bring you choices, the goal of insurance has always been to prepare for a Major Rainy Day scenario that won’t eat at your life savings.

So, if you find yourself under- or non-insured, and didn’t think you had any options outside of Open Enrollment, we invite you to fill out a free, no-obligations quote. You’ll be contacted by a real human being who cares about finding you the best deal for you--not for the company.

We hope you get to apply even one of these Pick 5 Good Things this week! And if you’re interested in an insurance quote, just click the button below:

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Sign Me Up Scotty