We hit 1K+ subscribers 🎉
To celebrate, I’m opening up my calendar for one day only in August to chat 1-on-1 with some of you amazing readers.
Spots are limited, sign up here → Screen Smarter Coffee Chat
There’s nothing in my life that’s evolved more than…
My workouts. My understanding of fitness. And my relationship with my body.
It’s been a journey of trial, error, and a whooole lot of being wrong.
Very humbling…
So much so that I try not to give gym advice.
But there’s one strategy that I can’t keep to myself (and it’s not about reps, technique, or form)
It’s psychological.
It’s changed how I train, and helped me get screen smarter in the process.
The Line Concept
It started with a podcast (like almost everything I learn these days)
On The Huberman Lab, Dr. Andy Galpin shared a simple practice:
Before entering the gym, he physically draws a line in the ground. He sets his intention on the amount of effort he wants to accomplish. And he doesn’t cross the line until he’s ready.
Once he crosses it, he’s in. Fully!
No texting.
No distractions.
No switching playlists mid-set.
Here’s a clip from the series:
The idea is to prepare yourself mentally but also set boundaries with your phone.
You decide before you step in:
- What am I listening to?
- What’s the plan?
- What’s off-limits?
My Experience
I’ve been drawing metaphorical lines for a couple of years now (no chalk involved, my gym wouldn’t like that 😄)
It’s taught me the following:
I don’t go to the gym just for physical exercise. But also for brain and focus training.
It’s somewhat of a sacred space for me. I certainly don’t want to be reachable while I’m there!
Music is optional and shouldn’t always be relied on. I only use music sparingly on days when I need an extra boost.
The results have been great:
✓ Time that's fully mine
✓ Stronger mind-muscle connection
✓ I stopped losing count mid-set like I used to
✓ Workouts are shorter and way more productive
✓ Sharper focus during workouts that carries over into the rest of the day
Drawing the Line
Your phone can boost your workout. Pumping beats or an interesting podcast.
But it can also completely demolish it.
Work emails. Amazon delivery updates. A “quick” reply to Dad.
And that’s not just true at the gym.
It’s true everywhere.
That’s why I started applying the line concept to other aspects of life.
Here are some examples:
No email during meetings. No more “sorry, can you repeat that?”
No phone at the dinner table. Take that time to connect with others!
No social media before noon. Start the day clear-headed and on your terms.
No phone in bed. This should be the fattest line of all 😄
Before you commit to something, ask yourself:
What am I here to do?
What won’t I allow to hijack this time?
So if your days feel scattered, your workouts feel meh, or your brain feels fried…
Don’t add another productivity hack.
Just draw the line.
Thoughts? I’d love to hear from you. Hit reply and let me know. I read every email!
See you next week,
George
P.S. Your opinion means a lot! Totally optional, but a quick testimonial really helps the newsletter grow.
