CONTEXT

What if our grandparents had it right all along?

They started their mornings with the newspaper and coffee—not scrolling through social media. They cooked Sunday dinners from scratch. They walked to the store and actually talked to their neighbors along the way.

Fast forward to today. We've got every convenience imaginable, yet we're more anxious, distracted, and exhausted than ever. Why?

Because our dopamine receptors are flooded.

Social media notifications. Breaking news alerts. Stock prices. Dating app swipes.

Dopamine is supposed to drip steadily throughout the day, not flood all the time.

The happiest people I know have figured out what our grandparents knew instinctively: offline is the new luxury.

Here are 7 old-fashioned habits that will make your life way better. Pick one to start this week:

THE 7 HABITS

1. Start your day with paper (not screens)

Keep a book by your bed. Every morning, read 10 pages before reaching for your phone. Pro tip: charge it in another room so you’re not tempted to doom-scroll.

The first hour of your morning impacts your mindset for the rest of the day. Your brain will thank you.

—

2. Elevate ordinary dinners

Buy a cookbook you're genuinely excited about. Every Sunday for the next month, cook one new meal from it.

You’ll be surprised by how much you enjoy the process of creating something new with your hands.

—

3. Keep a "free library" in your home

Buy a few extra copies of your favorite books. When friends come over and something relevant comes up in conversation, give them a copy. No strings attached.

Books are meant to be shared, not just displayed on a shelf.

—

4. The "little things" list

Buy a small notebook. Every night before bed, jot down one good thing that happened. Just one. A great podcast you listened to. A nice email you got from a client. A delicious dinner you ate. A hilarious moment you had with a friend.

Re-read the whole list on New Year's Eve.

You'll be shocked by how many beautiful moments you would've forgotten otherwise.

—

5. The white-space walk

Every week, take one 20-minute walk with no phone, no music, no podcast. Just you and your thoughts.

Boredom isn't the enemy. It's where your best ideas live. They just need a little white space.

—

6. Vinyl nights

Every month, listen to one entire album from start to finish. No skipping, no multitasking. Just appreciating.

Remember when music was an event instead of background noise? If you don’t have a turn table, listening to a full album on your speakers counts too.

—

7. The 1-min voice message

Whenever someone crosses your mind, send them a voice memo to let them know you're thinking of them.

Not a text. Not a DM. A voice memo lets them hear the warmth in your tone.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Phones were invented to connect us with those who live far away. But today, they disconnect us from the people closest to us.

There are 7 weeks left until New Year’s Eve. Try one of these habits every week for the next 7 weeks to bring some magic into your life.

And for these final months of 2025, give yourself permission to slow down a little. To spend less time on screens. To stop multitasking all the time. To do fewer things that matter more, with the people who matter most. 🤍

Much love,

Jade

P.S. I want to say a heartfelt congratulations to everyone who has joined the December 1st Archimedes cohort. If you’re still thinking about it, the final day to join is November 28th.

And good news! Ben Meer and I decided to teach one of our favorite Archimedes sessions, entirely for free.

Our free live training is on November 18th from 12-1pm ET. (Even if you can’t make it live, register to get the recording.) We’re giving away our best secrets to:

• Define your niche on LinkedIn

• Position yourself clearly to your target audience

• Create content that attracts the right opportunities directly to you

👉 Register for free here (it takes 60 seconds). Oh—and we’re giving away $200 in free bonuses to those who attend live. ‘Tis the season for giving, after all.

I can’t wait to see you then!