Summary of the book "The Comfort Crisis" - By Michael Easter
Key Concepts in this book:
- Although modern living is convenient, it does not make us happy.
- Our mental health is improved by physical challenges and new experiences.
- We may re-energize by allowing ourselves to be alone and bored, as well as spending time in nature.
- Distinguish between cravings and genuine hunger, and realize that it's normal to feel hungry from time to time.
- Thinking about death and impermanence might assist us to be happier and have more meaningful lives.
- We need exercise to have a happy, healthy life — ideally outside, with other people, and while carrying weights.
- Deconstruct your assumptions and seek out new experiences.
- People feeling disillusioned with modern life.
- Restless spirits craving an Into the Wild experience.
- Anyone interested in improving their physical or mental health.
What am I getting out of it? Get out of your comfort zone and keep moving forward.
Are you feeling at ease? Do you like to relax on a plush sofa or drive in a cool car? For the most part, modern living is quite comfortable, especially when contrasted to how our forefathers and mothers lived.
The author chose to step beyond his comfort zone by spending a month hunting caribou in Alaska's tundra and contemplating his own mortality in Bhutan. What was his conclusion? Exposing oneself to higher degrees of physical and emotional discomfort can be beneficial to all of us. It's possible that it's the way to genuine happiness.
In this summary,
- You'll learn how even three days in the woods may improve your life.
- Why we should eat and exercise like our distant ancestors.
- And the startling reason why Bhutanese people are among the world's happiest.
1. Although modern living is convenient, it does not make us happy.
The author awoke in his lovely, cozy bed every morning. He drove to work and sat in an ergonomic office chair for the whole day. He groped for his smartphone the moment he became bored. He sat on a luxurious couch in the evenings, binge-watching TV and munching on junk food. His workout routine was also relaxing, since he worked out in an air-conditioned facility.
In some ways, life was pleasant. To achieve such a serene, comfortable existence, he'd worked hard and conquered his alcohol addiction. But one day, he wondered aloud, "What would happen if I got rid of all these conveniences?"
The main theme is that modern living is convenient, but it does not make us happy.
Every day living has been a struggle for thousands of years — a fight for survival. Our forefathers and mothers spent practically every waking second looking for food and shelter. The ordinary individual did not begin to enjoy the amenities we now take for granted, such as a constant food supply, until very recently in human history.
Our lives are definitely simpler now, yet convenience does not always equate to pleasure. Indeed, many people appear to be more anxious and miserable than ever before. Mental problems, such as increased anxiety levels and work burnout, have supplanted physical survival hurdles. Attempts to numb ourselves with food, booze, or screens only serve to exacerbate our displeasure.
Humans are programmed to seek comfort, but this isn't always a good thing. According to some anthropologists, people were genuinely happy thousands of years ago. We had simpler, easier-to-satisfy wants, and we were naturally alert, living in the present moment.
The author decided it was time to face suffering after thinking on his ultra-comfortable existence. He challenged himself to a month-long hunting journey in the Alaskan bush while sleeping in a tent. All of life's conveniences would be taken away.
For him, this journey was a life-changing event. He felt calmer, fitter, and more in tune with the natural world after only a few days.
It's possible that camping in Arctic Alaska isn't your idea of a fun holiday. However, as you'll see in the following few concepts, there are many more, more straightforward methods to use suffering to change your life.
2. Our mental health is improved by physical challenges and new experiences.
There's going for a stroll and then there's walkabout — an Aboriginal Australian rite of passage. Young men traverse the Australian outback for up to six months, enduring temperatures of up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Lack of food and shelter, as well as the existence of some of the world's deadliest snakes, are all obstacles.
Similar rites of passage exist in many cultures across the world. Young people return home with increased physical and mental strength, as well as a better sense of self, after enduring rigorous difficulties.
Many young Americans, on the other hand, are scarcely permitted to walk outside unattended. As concerned parents violently eliminate any conceivable impediment or risk from their children's life, "helicopter parenting" has evolved into "snowplow parenting."
Here's the main point: Our mental health is improved by physical challenges and new experiences.
We get stronger as a result of our challenges. This process is referred to as "the toughening theory." Researchers at the University of Buffalo polled a broad, diverse sample of Americans about stressful events in their life, such as major sickness or the death of a loved one. The individuals' health was then examined by the researchers.
Surprisingly, those who had faced challenges had better levels of mental well-being and general contentment. Their adversity hardened them, making them more robust and capable of dealing with new obstacles.
Of course, being fully consumed with unpleasant events isn't healthy. A secluded existence, on the other hand, isn't ideal. We need to strike a balance. In other circumstances, this entails deliberately seeking out new challenges and experiences, therefore constructing our own rites of passage.
Before he ever arrived in Alaska, the author recognized the advantages. He broke his customary regimen as he prepared for the trip. He was researching survival techniques and calculating calorie requirements instead of zoning out in front of the same old TV shows. Forcing him to master new abilities and think about new topics was the ideal method for him to break free from autopilot and clear his mind of mental clutter.
Changing your habit and acquiring a new skill are two examples of how you might cleanse your thoughts. You can try something different, but it will be more difficult and uncomfortable. Would you be willing to accept dullness and alone as a part of your life?
3. We may re-energize by allowing ourselves to be alone and bored, as well as spending time in nature.
No one would hear him if he yelled. No one would notice him if he danced nude. In the heart of the Alaskan tundra, he was utterly alone.
The experience was both unsettling and empowering. The author mused on how uncommon true isolation has become during his few hours alone. We're practically never by ourselves. We can keep in touch at all times thanks to technology. Despite this, roughly half of all Americans report feeling lonely. It's been dubbed a "loneliness plague" by some.
What is the main point here? We may re-energize by allowing ourselves to be alone and bored, as well as spending time in nature.
While it may seem contradictory, spending more time alone is one of the most effective methods to overcome loneliness. It's easier to live with periods of seclusion – even a pandemic lockdown – if you can learn to be comfortable in your own company. Solitude has also been demonstrated to have additional advantages, such as better creativity and empathy, according to research.
Boredom may be helpful, and it is especially crucial for creativity. However, because of our reliance on smartphone diversions, we can no longer bear boredom. As a result, we're starting to feel burned out, and many individuals are experiencing alarming levels of mental exhaustion.
It is sometimes beneficial to our brains to do nothing. We need to put our phones aside and spend time in nature, gaze at trees rather than screens, to truly recharge.
Numerous research have been conducted on the advantages of spending time outdoors. There's the Japanese idea of "forest bathing," for example. Stress, anxiety, and sadness levels drop dramatically after only two hours in the woods. Even patients with heart or renal issues seem to benefit from a walk in the woods.
Any type of natural setting may be pleasant, but to truly experience the advantages of nature, you must travel to the wild. Spending time in natural parks produces a better sense of rest and relaxation than spending time in urban parks, and the effects can endure for a long time.
Military veterans who went on a four-day rafting trip were still reaping the advantages a week later, according to a UC Berkeley research, with substantial decreases in PTSD symptoms and stress levels. They were happier and more at ease.
Your brain is refreshed when you spend time in nature. But where does that leave the rest of your body?
4. Distinguish between cravings and genuine hunger, and realize that it's normal to feel hungry from time to time.
Fad diets aren't long-term solutions. Simply simply, they are ineffective. Only 3% of persons who lose weight are able to maintain their weight loss. We're lousy at calculating how much we consume, which is part of the problem. In a 1992 study of overweight persons, researchers discovered that participants who thought they were eating approximately 1,000 calories were actually eating twice as much.
Why is it so difficult to eat less calories? It all boils down to pain — hungry sensations are impossible to ignore.
This is the most important message: Distinguish between cravings and genuine hunger, and realize that it's normal to feel hungry from time to time.
Cravings for food are common. Our propensity to nibble on sweet delicacies or calorie-dense snacks has evolved for a reason. Take a look at how our forefathers lived thousands of years ago. Because food was scarce, the human body had to function as a pantry. In order to prepare for periods when food was limited, people had to eat more.
Thankfully, most of us don't have to worry about where our next meal will come from these days. However, cravings persist, and we eat for the wrong reasons - stress, habit, or boredom. It isn't true hunger.
The key to losing weight is to eat less and only when you're truly hungry. Try not to succumb to the need to eat as soon as you begin to feel hungry. If you're worried and desiring comfort food, for example, go for a short stroll instead. You could quickly find you weren't actually hungry.
Fasting for short periods of time has health benefits as well. Autophagy is a vital biological process that eliminates unhealthy cells from the body. It's the body's approach of "getting rid of the garbage" - cells linked to cancer, Alzheimer's, and other diseases. Snacking on a regular basis hinders the body from doing this necessary function.
The author learnt to be comfortable with the discomfort of hunger on a camping trip in Alaska. It was challenging at times, but he gained a new appreciation for food as well as a better understanding of his own habits and hunger. However, he'd have to embark on a totally different adventure for his next life lesson.
5. Thinking about death and impermanence might assist us to be happier and have more meaningful lives.
The author was in a good mood at the time. However, he learned about the cosmic calendar while listening to a webcast. This notion compresses 14 billion years into a single year. The big bang happened at 12 a.m. on January 1st. Early in September, the Earth was created. On December 30, dinosaurs were extinct. Humans didn't arrive until the 31st of December, at 11:59 p.m.
The author was taken aback when he learned about this. He was struck by the realization of his own mortality and insignificance. He and his loved ones would be dead in no time. It was a really unsettling discovery.
Here's the main point: Thinking about death and impermanence might assist us to be happier and have more meaningful lives.
We attempt to avoid thinking about death in the West. When a loved one passes away, we're urged to remain busy in order to divert our attention away from the loss.
People of the Kingdom of Bhutan, located in the Eastern Himalayas, have a distinct perspective on mortality. In fact, they're urged to consider their own deaths up to three times every day. Deceased people's ashes are fashioned into clay pyramids and displayed in public places. After all, death is an inevitable part of existence.
Bhutan's status as one of the happiest countries in the world piqued the author's interest, and he decided to pay a visit. He learnt about Buddhist ideas and realized that contemplating death and impermanence may make people happier on his journey.
Here's one way to think about it. Death is a precipice. Every single one of us is on the verge of collapsing. We can't avoid it, therefore we shouldn't try to ignore it. We may, however, vary the path we take to get there, such as taking the slow, scenic route. We should live thoughtfully, accept reality, and cultivate thankfulness rather than fearing the inevitable.
It's not simple to change your mind on death. However, if you want to be happier, try it - consider the cliff and how you may make the most of your voyage. And keep in mind that this does not imply a checklist mindset. Your mindset matters more than your accomplishments.
6. We need exercise to have a happy, healthy life — ideally outside, with other people, and while carrying weights.
Carrying, not killing, was the most difficult aspect of hunting. The author had to transport a portion of the caribou he'd shot on his Alaska journey. He struggled with his uphill walk because his rucksack weighted roughly 100 pounds. It was the longest and most strenuous workout he'd ever done.
We believe we know our physical limits, yet we frequently underestimate them. Exercising-induced weariness is often psychological rather than physical, according to studies. Our bodies are capable of a lot more than we think.
The main point here is that we need exercise to have a happy, healthy life — ideally outside, among other people, and while lifting weights.
Let's start by considering how much our lifestyles have changed. Our forefathers were quite busy. Hunters used to run and walk 25 kilometers a day on a regular basis. It's a marathon for us. It was "picking up dinner" for them. Living in an unpleasant, uncertain world where you're fighting for your life implies you're going to burn a lot more calories.
Modern life is the polar opposite. Twenty-seven percent of Americans do not engage in any form of physical activity at all. Sedentary behavior has become the norm, although it is far from normal in terms of our bodies. We weren't designed to sit for the entire day.
We weren't created to run on a treadmill while looking at a screen at a gym. It's certainly preferable to sitting, but there are many more effective and natural methods to exercise. We evolved by doing physical activity with our buddies outside, and this type of exercise is significantly more interesting and fun. After all, exercise includes a cognitive component. You get a lot more out of your training regimen if your mind is engaged as well as your body.
Another point to consider is that humans are natural carriers; as they travelled from place to place, they were always transporting food and goods. This type of exercise is quite beneficial to our health. Carrying weights is a cardio activity that may burn up to 2,000 calories per hour depending on the weight and terrain.
If you're looking for a new sport to try, consider rucking, which mixes weightlifting, outdoor training, and social interaction. Similar to military training, participants trek while carrying weighted sacks. It's not easy, but it's a lot more interesting than a lone gym session.
7. Deconstruct your assumptions and seek out new experiences.
It's also hard to question our routines and beliefs.
Consider the significance of handwashing, for example. Most of us were frequent, if not compulsive, hand washers even before COVID-19. Hygiene is synonymous with health, or so we believe.
This is the most important message: Deconstruct your assumptions and seek out new experiences.
In Tanzania, Hadza people seldom wash their hands or bodies, and when they do, it is in muddy puddles. There are no toilets. Their hands get soiled as they prepare food, which is typically uncooked.
You'd think the Hadza would be in bad shape. Surprisingly, these unclean activities may have a role in significantly boosting their immune systems, at least by Western standards. They don't have Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or colon cancer, which are all on the rise in the Western world.
Scientists are beginning to question if our fixation with cleanliness is harming us. We may be damaging our health by sanitizing and sterilizing everything - our outsides with soap and our insides with antibiotics. Our hygienic practices might be to blame for our increased vulnerability to chronic illnesses and food allergies.
Perhaps the Hadza's approach toward hygiene, as well as other cultural customs and lifestyles, might teach us something. Take, for example, the so-called "sea ladies" of Japan and Korea, who dive into the frigid sea without wetsuits. According to research, they are less likely to acquire a cold, develop heart disease, or develop arthritis. Cold exposure may be beneficial to one's health.
But keep in mind that it's not simply about bodily sensations. Having new experiences is essential to living a fulfilling life.
The author returned from his Alaska journey with a greater sense of self-awareness and self-awareness, as well as a renewed respect for life. You may undergo a similar metamorphosis by searching out new, more intense experiences.
Consider your life to be a scrapbook. The book will remain empty if you continue to observe and do the same things; life will pass you by. A new page in your book is an exciting new experience, such as a trip or a physical challenge.
So, are you ready to start filling your scrapbook with photos? It may be uncomfortable at times. A full, meaningful existence, on the other hand, is unusual.
The primary message in this summary is that we believe that contemporary conveniences should make us happy, yet this isn't always the case. We need to venture out of our comfort zones and take inspiration from our distant ancestors if we want to live happier, healthier lives with a sense of purpose. If you're bored with your current routine and sedentary lifestyle, it's time to seek out new, physically demanding activities.
Advice that can be implemented:
Greenery should be all around you.
Even if you don't want to go camping in the woods, any time spent in nature may be beneficial to your health. Make an effort to spend more time in parks if you live in a city. Alternatively, consider adding some plants to your house or office — it's a quick and easy method to improve your attitude.
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