Things I appreciate

shout-outs to the real ones

The NBA playoffs

The NBA playoffs (go sixers) have been going on for the past three weeks which means there are games worth watching nearly every day. My baseline quality of life is a bit higher knowing that, on any given day, there are many hours of basketball available to watch if I want. It's like having a TV show that you're really into and look forward to watching every night or weekend.

Building things to look forward to, even small things like episodes of a TV show, into your life is a high leverage and underrated way of improving baseline levels of happiness. They say half the fun is anticipation, so wouldn’t it be nice to be anticipating all the time?

I advocate for this practice, but on multiple scales. You should have a daily or weekly thing to look forward to like a TV show or brunch with friends. Something small that occurs frequently.

You should also have something more substantial to look forward to on the 6-18 month time horizon. Maybe moving to a new city, getting a promotion, running a marathon, or launching a project. Most people do a decent job at this (even if unintentional) because the structure of life is somewhat conducive to big milestones every year or so.

Finally, you should have something slightly more substantial than your daily/weekly things that happens every month or so. My freshman year of college was pass/fail so I had quite a bit of free time on my hands. My thing to look forward to was trips scattered throughout the semester. Every few weeks, I'd visit a friend or meet them in a new city for a weekend. I scheduled them often enough that it always felt like one was around the corner, and it made life a lot more enjoyable.

Songs that make you feel alive

I talked about this on the podcast, but I recently discovered how powerful music is as a way to influence mood. Well maybe I already knew that, but now I'm actually using it to make my life better.

I listen to music when I wake up to help me get out of bed and it just makes the start of the day more positive. Sounds corny, but it's legit. You can also put on music when you're feeling tired and you'll find a new wave of energy.

I also listen to single songs on repeat when working. I'm not sure why, but it's really effective for when I'm writing and makes the process more fun.

What I'm listening to right now: Coffee Cake (Benson Boone)

This one coffee place in Brooklyn

When I was living in New York, there was this one coffee place I frequented (the name will remain a secret because I don't want it to get crowded). I did a ton of solid writing and work at that place and I'm convinced it might be one of best places to park yourself for an afternoon in the city.

It has pretty good coffee (not a coffee snob so my standards aren't too high) and a nicely decorated + spacious interior for working. The people who work there are nice and the place has all the amenities I need for a multi-hour visit: bathroom, wifi, outlets, and a variety of seating options (regular tables, high tables, a couch, and outdoor seating).

And most importantly, it's never crowded. It's one of the few coffee shops I've been to anywhere that consistently has a table available. On top of that, it's a block away from a much more popular coffee place that 1) isn't as nice and 2) is always crowded.

Every time I go, it feels like I've stumbled upon a secret hidden gem. Everyone else pours into the well known place while I look at the crowd inside through the windows and go straight to mine.

Silly internet games

Specifically, silly internet games that go way deeper than necessary or expected. The ones I'm a fan of are Basketball GM and Universal Paperclips.

These are, on the surface, silly internet games. But they are delightfully detailed with more depth than one can appreciate, even after many hours of play.

I like it when things are crafted. When a product is given more attention than it should under any reasonable standard. When it is clear it was made by someone obsessed with it.

Basketball GM, in particular, is endlessly playable. I've spent hours just looking at the stats from my past seasons just because they go so deep. Everything you could possible want to know is there.

Nice weather in a big city

The first nice day of the year in a big city is special. I don't think what I have to say about this will be better than what Helena Fitzgerald has already written so I'll just point you here.