It's that T.I.M.E of the week again!

The newsletter that provides actionable life lessons to a wealthier, healthier, and happier future.

The Friction Principle

Most of us rely on willpower to build better habits, thinking if we just push harder, we’ll finally become that person who wakes up early, exercises, drinks enough water, or stops binge-scrolling at midnight.

But willpower is unreliable. It fades with stress, decision fatigue, and late nights. What actually works, consistently, is friction.

The Friction Principle is simple: make good habits easier and bad habits harder. 

It’s about redesigning your environment so that the path of least resistance leads to the behavior you want.

Instead of forcing discipline, you remove obstacles, or you create them, depending on what you’re trying to do.

Imagine a slide. On one side, the smooth downhill slope makes it effortless to act. This is where you want your good habits to live. On the other side is a steep climb, that’s where your bad habits belong.

Let’s say you want to drink more water. Keep a full bottle in plain sight, not tucked away in a cupboard.

Want to scroll less? Log out of your social apps and hide them in a folder labeled “Time Waster.”

Want to exercise in the morning? Lay out your clothes the night before and keep your shoes by the door.

The less effort it takes to start, the more likely you are to follow through.

Why does this matter? Because when your environment nudges you in the right direction, you’re no longer relying on motivation, you’re flowing with momentum.

Try This:

• Choose one good habit you want to build. Then ask: How can I make it easier to start?

• Choose one bad habit you want to reduce. Ask: How can I make it harder to access, even by 10 seconds?

• Redesign just one small part of your environment this week, a drawer, a shelf, your phone home screen.

Hit that reply button and let me know how it goes.

Lately, I’ve been struggling to read books. Not just because life’s busy, but honestly? I just don’t feel like it. Turns out I’m not alone.

I watched a brilliant video by Mark Manson, and it nailed exactly what’s going on in our heads.

What’s Happening to Our Brains

• We can’t finish books, not because we’re lazy, but because we’re overstimulated.

• Studies show attention spans are shot: people check phones ~58 times/day.

• Streaming services are now crafting content to hook us within 7 seconds, Netflix starts with explosions and dead bodies for a reason.

The Real Problem

• Attention is a limited resource. With so much digital noise, our brains are constantly shifting.

• We’ve been trained by technology to crave quick dopamine hits (hello TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts).

• Reading a book requires deep focus, but our minds now default to distraction.

What We Can Actually Do

Manson explains that it's not about willpower, it’s about retraining your environment and expectations. He recommends using tools like Brain.fm (scientifically backed) to rebuild deep-focus habits. The point isn’t to go cold turkey on tech, but to intentionally practice focus like a muscle.

If you like reading and feel the same way I do, the takeaway is this: if reading, focus, or deep work feels harder lately, it’s not a personal failing, it’s the environment you’re in.

Start small and give your brain some quiet time to relearn depth.

“When people show you who they are, believe them!”

Set high standards for yourself and follow through on what you say.

Integrity is the real deal.

You can check out some more proverbs here.

Ambitious Question

What if your limits were your launchpad?

In case you missed this week’s newsletter, here’s what I shared:

TEACH – Inputs vs Outputs Ratio – We’re overstimulated, not overworked—balance input with meaningful output to avoid burnout.
INSIGHTS – Where the Smart Money Is Investing – Robert F. Smith shows how systems, structure, and smart risk drive real investment success.
MOTIVATION – What You Say Matters – Your words can wound or empower—choose them with care.
EXPLORE – Thinking vs Doing – Acting without thinking is reckless; thinking without acting is regret—find your balance.
Ambitious Question – When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Check it out here.

Feel free to share this if you gained any value from it. Feedback is also welcome.

THANKS FOR READING LEGENDS!