Book of Early March 📖Prologue: Hue Capital’s Commitment to Leadership 👔The Plot Thickens: The Dark Side of Daylight Savings 😶‍🌫️Epilogue: The Return of What’s In My Shopping Cart 🛒(PAID)

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Everybody knows a good leader when they see one, but to become one takes a little more. Ya gotta have guts, charisma, and loads of experience to back it all up. Developing skills are critical to achieving this balance. This is where Hue Capital comes in. Hue Capital is a media platform that produces career, business, and wellness content for rising industry leaders.

I’m humbled that Hue Capital is sponsoring this week’s newsletter.

HC hosts webinars, networking events, and a variety of content for rising professionals.

With Down To Earth, I strive to reinforce leadership and independence as necessary, valuable qualities.

I am confident that Hue Capital can effectively guide us in achieving them.

I’ve met quality people at HC events, and have enjoyed several opportunities as a result. If you like newsletters, I recommend HC’s The Multi-Hyphenate.I have a few articles on their website too!

The Dark Side of Springing Foward 🌥️

By the time you read this post, the clock will have shifted forward one hour from the time of my writing it.

While Daylight Savings Time (DST) isn’t exactly time travel, some supernatural effects seem to accompany it.

Today, you might see people trudging around like zombies, deprived and confused from the loss of a Sunday morning hour.

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As years pass, sleep starts to feel more precious. It’s a far cry from the days of my youth, when I would wake up to my mom painstakingly changing the stovetop clock on the “spring forward” day.

“We lost an hour!” She would say with a tinge of concern.

Shrugging, I’d make my way to the fridge and forget all about it.

Children are wizards in that way. Immune to the effects of age, time, and loss.

These days, it isn’t that simple.

The “spring forward” impacts over 1 billion people across 70 countries around the world, meaning there are lots of cranky humans trudging around this morning.

Much of this is simply because we’re losing sleep.

Imagine being on the road, driving hundreds of miles in the night. You’re exhausted, agitated, and bored.

To make matters worse, the clock obnoxiously jumps from 2 to 3 A.M.

Combine that with the hundreds of millions of drivers experiencing something similar, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

This chart illustrates the impacts of DST, with accidents and heart attacks increasing as sleep and mental health decrease.

“Spring Forward Sunday” (as we’ll call it) is among the worst days for productivity and safety alongside Super Bowl Monday and the opening round of March Madness.

It’s the equivalent of a non-alcoholic hangover, doubling in its deleterious effects if combined with an eventful Saturday night.

Okay, I hear you. Enough with the bummers. Now for the upside of DST: more sun!

Benefits of DST/Longer Days

• Enhanced Mood 😇 More sunlight can boost serotonin levels, often referred to as the body's natural 'happy' hormone. This can lead to improved mood and a lower risk of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
• More Time for Exercise 💪🏾 With more daylight in the evening, people tend to be more active, engaging in outdoor activities, sports, and exercise after work, which is crucial for physical health and fitness.
• Better Sleep Patterns 😴 Although the transition into DST can temporarily disrupt sleep patterns, the subsequent longer periods of daylight can help regulate the body's internal clock, leading to improved sleep quality over time.
• Social and Community Engagement 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Longer days facilitate social interactions and community participation, from neighborhood walks to outdoor events, fostering a sense of belonging and well-being. Nothing like a long evening of conversation as the sun is setting.

Tips for Adjustment 🔧

To adjust to the springtime DST change, make sure to:

• 🌤️ Spend some time outdoors this morning. Seek exposure to natural light (preferably before 10 A.M.) to stabilize your internal clock and improve alertness.
• 🛀🏾 Evening Routine: Maintain a relaxing bedtime routine and limit exposure to bright screens in the evening to support better sleep quality.
• ⛔️ Safety and Awareness: Exercise additional caution when driving or performing safety-sensitive tasks, recognizing the potential for increased fatigue.

If you’re feeling sluggish on this pre-spring morning, have no fear.

Simply trust in the powers of the The Day Star, with an eye on the string of late sunsets to come.

What’s In My Shopping Cart? 🛒

Back by popular demand, let’s review what I’m putting to use this week.

Sugar Snap Peas 🫛 I chef these up with coconut oil, onion powder, and black pepper. It takes something like 3 minutes to cook these on my stovetop. A great source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as fiber and iron, these low-calorie snaps are super affordable and convenient. The ultimate bachelor health food.

• Apple Cider Vinegar 🍎 When people ask me how I stay lean, I share this product with them. The vinegar can help increase stomach acid, which aids digestion and the absorption of nutrients. It also helps lower blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity, making this a valuable tool for diabetics and the like. Be mindful that this product is quite acidic, so be sure to drink your serving with a tall glass of water. Don't fear The Mother!
• Vital Farms Pasture-Raised Eggs 🥚 I love me some high-quality eggs. Pound for pound, I’m taking eggs as the Sugar Ray Robinson of superfoods. Pasture-raised eggs are rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids, essential for brain health, reducing inflammation, and lowering the risk of heart disease. This is because the hens have access to a healthier diet, including insects and vegetation as opposed to a formulated feed.

Popsicle Sticks 🦴

This is my secret to locking in❗️So, bear with me here for a second. You know the old man who always has a toothpick in his mouth? He’s on to something, and I’ve made a useful habit out of it. Picture yourself at your desk, intending to get some work done. How many “things” are you doing in the background? Listening to music? Tapping your foot? Twirling your hair? Sipping on a latte? Thinking about dinner plans? Responding to the group chat? Bookmarking a meme?

In writing, the amount of behaviors I’ve listed might sound excessive. But in our highly stimulating world, that’s just a Tuesday morning. We’re biased towards doing more, all the time.

Whenever I want to limit the amount of things I’m doing and focus on one critical task, I deploy one of these sticks. By giving me something to chew on, the sticks heighten my focus and sense of satisfaction, thereby eliminating the urge to invite more behaviors into my window of attention. Think of it like a socially acceptable adult pacifier. Keep reading to learn the science behind it.

Grit is a psychological trait defined by Angela Duckworth as a passion for long-term goals. It encompasses an individual's stamina and dedication to achieving their goals, despite challenges or failures. Gritty individuals are more likely to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and see failure as a learning opportunity. Stick-chewing enhances grit and improves cognitive performance (attention, memory) through its repetitive, stress-reducing motion.

So, don’t be surprised when you see me using one of these. I’m just focused.

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