“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.”
The First Sip
When Randy Long was cleaning out his garage a few weeks ago, he found a bucket of old baseballs.
But they weren’t just any old baseballs…they were the ones he used to toss around with his son and grandson.
With his boys grown up and out of the house, he no longer had a need for the baseballs…
So he wrote a quick note, taped it to the bucket, and dropped it off at the local batting cages near his house.
Here’s what the note read:
“Hope someone can use some of these baseballs in the batting cages. I found them cleaning my garage. I pitched them to my son and grandson for countless rounds.
My son is now 46 y/o and my grandson is 23 y/o. I am 72 and what I won’t give to pitch a couple of buckets to them. They have both moved away.
If you are a father, cherish these times. You won’t believe how quickly they will be gone.
God bless
P.S. Give them a hug and tell them you love them every chance you get.”
A picture of the note immediately made the rounds on social media and Randy and his family have been covered on virtually every media outlet since.
The internet “fame” doesn’t do much for Randy, who says he doesn’t have a lot of use for social media.
As his grandson says, “He is still not completely sure what Twitter is. He even calls hashtags ‘hashbrowns.’”
But if there’s one noteworthy outcome for Randy, it’s that his grandson recently drove two hours back to his hometown to hit the cages with the man who used to toss him batting practice all those years ago.
“It went well,” Randy said. “We both still got the swing in. I was able to throw a few of them for strikes out there, too.”
I think the message here is simple.
It’s not about baseball, or kids, or nostalgia…
It’s about cherishing what you have and finding joy in the small moments.
What seems mundane or tired right now could be something you long for in 10 or 20 years.
Enjoy what you’ve got and let people know that you love them.
That’s a timeless message – but one that’s especially powerful today!
1 Caffeinated Neurohack
Feeling stressed?
A little rhythmic breathing can help you bust the tension and instantly feel better.
Science shows that slow, rhythmic breathing activates the vagus nerve – which is the massive nerve that runs through most of your body and links your brain to your heart, gut, and lungs – and relaxes the body.
The vagus nerve is also part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for slowwwwwwwwing down the fight-or-flight response and returning the body to a normal relaxed state after a stressful event occurs.
When your brain realizes that it no longer has to run or fight, blood flow returns to your hands, feet, and organs.
This leads you to feel more relaxed.
Anway…
You can activate the vagus nerve by doing the following:
- Breathe in through your nose for a count of 5.
- Rest for a count of 2.
- Breathe out through your mouth for a count of 6.
Repeat this process for a minute or two and you’ll feel a sense of calm rush over your body.
I recommend doing this a few times each day – particularly when you feel overwhelmed.
Marketing Psychology Quick Hit
I’m a huge animal lover.
I’m happiest and most relaxed when I’m petting my pup.
It just puts me in a super grateful frame of mind.
And apparently I’m not alone!
According to a recent study, viewing images and videos of cute animals for just 30 minutes has a positive impact on your health.
More specifically, the study found that, during and after viewing:
🐶 Participants’ heart rate fell
🐶 Blood pressure dropped
🐶 Anxiety levels plummeted by 50%.
This study reminds me of another piece of research from a couple of years ago that found posting pictures of pets on social media leads to better engagement than traditional content.
The study revealed that content with pets gets 295% more comments and 19% more likes.
That’s HUGE!
I don’t think it’s any coincidence that viewing images of cute animals reduces stress AND that brands see more engagement when they share this kind of content.
So my challenge to you this week is pretty simple…
Post some content with your pet – or find cute pictures of animals online.
Your audience will love it – and you’ll lower your own stress levels in the process.
(Pro Tip: If you’re trying to maximize engagement, use pictures of dogs over cats. Statistically speaking, 5x as many people are self-reported dog-lovers.)
Do This First Thing Monday AM
People like to argue over the best meal of the day…
But when it comes to the most important, there isn’t really much debate to be had.
Aside from supplying you with energy, a balanced breakfast is shown to boost cognitive functioning, lower high blood pressure, and help you stay within an ideal weight range.
The biggest pushback I hear from people is that they don’t know what to eat for breakfast.
And in most cases, this means they’re in a hurry and don’t have time for 20 minutes of prep work in the kitchen.
If that’s you, I want you to try out this Avocado and Poached Egg Toast recipe tomorrow morning.
It takes less than 12 minutes.
Avocados and eggs not your thing?
Here are some other quick breakfast recipe ideas.
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Take Care,
Jeremiah
