ZombieFit™ :: Vol 2

Professionals, Amateurs, and Zombies…

As the ole saying goes: the pros are just better at the fundamentals…

And isn’t it a bit perplexing that the fundamentals are so simple to talk about — and yet so difficult to implement consistently?

Trying to dial in a stack of habits that resembles a routine that’s worthy of being called a high-performance lifestyle is a quest that I’ve been on for most of my life.

I used to think that one day I would finally “arrive” — but now I know better. It’s a journey that never ends, and I’m starting to learn that the journey itself truly is the reward. In humility, I’ll freely admit that I don’t have all of the answers; I’m still learning.

I’m kicking off the ZombieFit™ newsletter to share what I’ve been learning on this quest for excellence — what is working, what might work for other people (but didn’t work for me), what I’m actively tinkering with in the present moment, etc.

So I know what you’re thinking — what’s all this talk about zombies?

I’m actually not a fan of horror movies or zombie themes in a general sense, but I can’t shake the idea that preparedness for the theoretical possibility of a zombie apocalypse is the ultimate litmus test for any legitimate high-performance lifestyle — at least any definition of one that’s worthy of my own respect and admiration. Plus, it’s fun, quirky, and allows for some fresh takes…

Because let's face it: if you're ready for the zombie apocalypse, then you're ready for anything else life could ever throw at you. And who doesn’t want that?

The Framework :: Body + Mind + Soul

The working definition for a high-performance lifestyle as I’ve learned to best define it intuitively rests on three foundational pillars of human existence: body, mind, and soul.

Body :: Exercise + Nutrition + Energy

The body is a machine. Provide it with the proper maintenance plan, and it'll last you for the rest of your life -- just like that 2003 Honda Accord one of my friends has been driving for the past 20 years that'll be eligible for "antique" plates soon.

I haven’t been able to find any get-jacked-in-1-month programs or crash diet programs that work. We’ll just focus on tried and true conventional wisdom that'll equip you with the power tools to avoid chronic illness and decrepitude.

A solid training philosophy, sensible nutrition guidelines, and reasonable sleep hygiene are the fundamental building blocks of physical fitness and sustained energy levels.

Fundamentals > Fads.

Simple -- but not easy.

Kind of like walking for 1 mile with 100lbs on your back just because you felt like checking that box…

Mind :: Mental Models + Deep Work + Attention Management

The human brain is the most sophisticated mechanism for cognition known to mankind — at least until we meet our new robotic overlords in the days to come ;)

That grey matter between the ears is an analytical powerhouse that can be our greatest ally when it's running a productive set of programs that focus our attention. It allows us to divide and conquer the work in front of us one slice at a time.

But as we all know, it can also turn us into our own worst enemy when it drifts, wanders, and becomes idle for very long. Just like computers: garbage in => garbage out.

The quality of our decisions largely determines the quality of our lives, and the quality of our decisions is highly correlated to the information we consume and how where we place our attention.

Again: simple, but not easy.

It makes a lot of sense that we would invest in feeding the mind with time-proven mental models, strategic frameworks, and tactical tools — and this is how we will maximize our odds of uncovering the highest quality information and making the highest quality decisions possible.

Soul :: Identity + Purpose + Connection

The soul is that essence of human existence that gives us a sense of identity, purpose, and connection to something greater than ourselves. It's elusive, difficult to define, and seemingly impossible to locate -- yet strangely intense and deeply familiar.

In Untethered Soul (a book I’d recommend that’s recently had a profound impact on my perspective) Michael Singer elegantly and convincingly makes a simple claim that’s worth your consideration: you are not your thoughts; you are the observer of your thoughts.

Issues of origin, meaning, morality, and destiny -- these are the pillars upon which the soul rests and that the greatest minds of both the east and the western traditions have contemplated for millennia.

It's unlikely that we will come to definitive answers that are any better than the intellectual giants before us, but we will surely discover good fruit and rich rewards from seeking truth and wrestling the most foundational questions down to the mat.

After all, the reward found in the journey. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Momentum is powerful, and objects that are in motion tend to remain in motion…

Simple. Not easy.

Simple but not easy questions to consider…

• Who are you — at your very core?

• What are the values and principles that define you?

• Can you identify yourself without the use of any customary descriptors like your name, title, or personal appearance?

• What are some of your most innate character traits, personal characteristics, or unique perspectives?

Until next week…

Command center -- out.
Matthew Russell
Head of Zombie Preparedness

P.S. - Thanks in advance if you’ll consider sharing ZombieFit™. Those little ticks in subscriber growth really help!