1/Healthy: Grayscale Mode on Your Phone
Do you ever feel like you’re slightly addicted to your smartphone?
Here is a tip to hack the craving: a built-in accessibility feature called Grayscale Mode removes the colors on your phone’s display.
Hypothesis: It takes much of the appeal out of social media apps. Thus, your time in lost-scrolling will be reduced.
Try it for one day and then check your usage.
Try it for yourself. Here is how (on an iPhone):
(1) Settings
(2) Accessibility
(3) Display & Text Size
(4) Color Filters → On
(5) Grayscale
Instructions for an Android phone
2/ Wealthy: Eating at Home to Save $
Eating out is often the most convenient option in today's fast-paced world. Despite intuition telling you that buying all the ingredients to make a less delicious pad Thai will cost you more than ordering it, recent data indicates that eating at home is becoming an increasingly cost-effective alternative.
A report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that the cost of groceries has risen slower than restaurant prices over the past year. Specifically, the price of food consumed at home increased by 3.5% compared to a 6.8% rise in food away from home.
Why the Shift?
Inflation Impact: Inflation has hit the restaurant industry hard, driving up costs for ingredients, labor, and utilities, which are then passed on to consumers.
Economies of Scale: Grocery stores and supermarkets benefit from bulk purchasing and lower overhead costs, allowing them to offer more competitive prices.
Home Cooking Revival: The pandemic rekindled a love for home cooking, with many people discovering the joys (and savings) of preparing meals at home.
Practical Benefits:
Cost Savings: Preparing meals at home can save you significant money. Regardless of location, the average meal cost at home is about $4, compared to $12 for dinner out (>$16 in high-cost states like NY, CT, WA, etc.).
Healthier Choices: Cooking at home allows for better control over ingredients and portion sizes, leading to healthier eating habits.
Family Time: Home-cooked meals allow families to bond and enjoy time together around the dinner table.
Example: Consider a simple pasta dish. The ingredients for a homemade spaghetti dinner might cost around $10 for a family of four. In contrast, dining out at an Italian restaurant for the same meal could cost $60 or more.
For those looking to cut costs and eat healthier, the evidence is clear: more time in the kitchen can benefit your wallet and your waistline (or glycemic index for the hardcore among you). So, dust off those cookbooks, don your apron and enjoy eating at home.
3/Wise: Virtue Self-Signaling
Maybe you’ve heard something like: "Integrity is what we do when no one is watching." But what if the real reason we act virtuously in private is tied to the story we tell ourselves? Virtue Self-Signaling Theory, rooted in behavioral economics and psychology, offers an intriguing explanation: we engage in morally good behavior to affirm our self-image as ethical individuals. This theory highlights our internal narrative about our moral character, providing a unique lens to understand human motivation and behavior.
The sequence is something like:
We have an image of ourselves.
We engage in morally good behavior to affirm it.
We are recognized as virtuous and enhance our self-image.
Repetition.
When we donate to charity, volunteer, or recycle, we often do so to reinforce our self-concept as virtuous beings. This internal affirmation can be just as motivating, if not more so, than external validation from peers. Maintaining a positive self-image is crucial for promoting consistent ethical behavior; the same is true for a negative self-image with consistent unethical behavior.
The societal implications of Virtue Self-Signaling Theory are significant. In all personal matters and those where your influence reaches others (as a manager, parent, neighbor, etc.), you can encourage ethical behavior by appealing to intrinsic motivations. Self-determination theory, for instance, posits that fulfilling universal psychological needs—competence, autonomy, and relatedness—leads to natural progression and satisfaction. Encouraging people to see personal satisfaction in ethical actions can foster a culture of sustained, virtuous behavior.
Understanding and harnessing the power of virtue self-signaling allows us to lead more intentional and self-aware lives. Setting personal goals that align with our values, reflecting on our motivations, and seeking opportunities to engage in behaviors that resonate with our ethical aspirations can significantly enhance personal growth. Recognizing the importance of our internal narratives allows us to cultivate habits that reinforce our desired self-image and contribute positively to society.
Summary: Do virtuous things to be a virtuous person.
Stay healthy, wealthy, and wise.
With warmth,
Fernando R.F.
(Note: A medical or financial professional does not write this blog. The writings of this blog are lightly researched opinions. It's essential to consult with a healthcare professional before significantly changing your diet or lifestyle, especially if you have any underlying health conditions. They can provide personalized guidance tailored to your individual needs. Researching and determining the best course of action with an expert is essential.)