At My Best: Practices for Optimal Function
By: Jamil Lawrence
Tags: Optimal Function, Best, Habits, Best Practices, Optimization

When I listen to interviews or read memoirs of people who’ve accomplished their intention, I look for the practices that they believe allowed them to be at their best. In the spirit of reflection, I’ve collected my personal practices, which are actionable steps I can take to be present with life and exemplify my purpose. When I’m feeling tired, down, confused, anxious, frustrated, or helpless, it’s been at least one of these actions that have pulled me back to optimal functioning. When I’ve observed that I’m at my best and feeling focused, grateful, and present, I’ve realized that I’ve been unconsciously doing one or more of these practices as well. They are largely anecdotal, and they are what works for me, but perhaps they can help you too.

In no particular order, here they are:

Journaling About Peaks and Valleys

When scared, anxious, frustrated, or any number of negative emotions, I write down my thoughts. It grants me some distance to see that there’s actually a choice in the emotion (reaction) that I chose to associate with any event in life. I put my thoughts down on paper exactly as I would in a conversation with a friend. “I’m worried about ___________ because ____________.” Also, while feeling elated, victorious, jubilant, or other strong positive emotions, I journal to reflect on why I’m feeling on top of the world. My journal prompt begins with: “I’m feeling victorious because ________________.”

With both the positive and the negative emotions, they’re likely due to the emotions I experience due to my perception of perceived success, failure, or external circumstance. I try to reflect on the fact that it was an internal state (which I can control) that produced the condition that I feel.

Reading Real Life Fiction and Reflection

Although it’s not exclusive to the genre, real-life fiction has the ability to stir up emotion in the strongest ways. A quote from The Shadow of The Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, reads “Books are mirrors: you only see in them what you already have inside you.” I recently read I Know This Much is True, and it stirred up a lot of frustration with the main character due to his decision making. Upon reflection, I realized I shared many of his thoughts, and perhaps my frustration was with decisions I have made in the past myself.

Food and Nutrition

Recovery

Consistently water, and add some lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and Celtic or Himalayan salt. I’ve found these combinations to keep me free of headaches and that ultra-drained feeling I sometimes get after very intensive workouts.

Iodine

Eating kombu and wakame seaweed as potent sources of iodine helps me maintain energy.

Potassium

White/yellow/sweet potatoes are actually very high and potassium and do a great job in maintaining a proper electrolyte balance. For me, this means I avoid muscle aches, headaches after working out, and I feel properly hydrated. A lot of people remember to get significant sodium, but potassium intake equally as important. Check out this lists of the top sources of potassium: https://www.myfooddata.com/articles/food-sources-of-potassium.php

Breathing

Wim Hof breathing

I’ve found that taking 10–15 mins to follow Wim Hof’s breathing exercises gives me peaceful energy.

Walking, Breathing Meditation

My version of walking meditation is a great way to get sun and wake up my body in the morning without being too strenuous. My routine is to inhale for eight steps and then exhale for eight steps. Some mornings I struggle with eight steps, and I will drop it down to six or even four if needed. I walk for anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes in this manner at a comfortable pace. I expect that it will feel a little less comfortable as the walk goes on, but I do my best to be at ease with it.

Daily Agenda

Every morning (or even at night ideally), I write down the list of things I want to accomplish. I may not accomplish every item on my list that day, but I have a much higher chance if it’s on that list. It gives my brain peace of mind. With nearly 100% observance, I’ve found that even if an item isn’t completed by the end of the first day, it will be completed with 3 at most, so I have patience with myself over uncompleted items.

Community:

I call up an old friend I haven’t spoken to since HS or college. I do my best to ask questions about their life rather than making it a rundown of my own life. I aim to truly listen to what they have to say.

Exercise

I favor consistency over intensity. I put in solid work, but recognize that this isn’t the workout to end all workouts. It’s not the one to get me the six-pack or the body fat percentage that I’m looking for. It’s a part of the process, and probably a smaller put than you put emphasis on. I don’t have to struggle to put effort into a tough workout: I do struggle to put down the phone or video games and hit my bedtime consistently, and the payoff is larger.

Avoid “I Will Be Happy When”

Whenever I can fill in the blank of the statement “I will be happy when ____________”, I know that I’m in trouble. This means that I’ve chosen to desire the perceived circumstances of the future over what I’m experiencing right now. In reality, choosing actions that will bring happiness in the present moment will lead me to my goal in a faster and more effortless manner.

Decision Making

Jump in, go with the thing that scares me, and everything will likely turn out alright.