Would you try Self-Anthropology?

(4 minute read)

Well hello, 

Happy SELFHOOD Sunday! 

I hope this email has found you somewhere comfy, preferably with a beverage (hot or alcoholic) and a few minutes carved out just for you. 

Today we’re exploring - Self Anthropology. 

The art of documenting every menial thing you do in a day. 

I’m joking, but also kinda not. 

[A QUESTION]

What were you doing yesterday at 15:25?

Seriously. Sit and think about it. 

Where were you? What were you thinking about? How were you feeling?

Just me?

[A LESSON]

In many ways, we’re wired to stumble through life. 

Yes, you’ll acknowledge the big things; a win at work, an argument with a friend, deciding to train for a marathon etc. But those smaller in-between bits; forgetting to floss, smiling at that stranger, stress eating that second Kit Kat… 👀 often fade into a (very forgettable) blur. 

And when you think about it, it makes sense. Can you imagine having to consciously decide every single thing you thought, said and did? Setting reminders on your phone to get dressed in the morning, or breathe. Very few of us would make it.

Which I can only assume is why evolution delegated, and now here we are with 95% of the choices we make being automatic and irrational. 

Hence the stumbling.

(You can learn more about this HERE)

Where it gets sticky is when you take a step back and realize that also means 95% of the choices and actions that make you who you are, are unconscious.

You didn’t actively decide them.

*Self-Anthropology enters the chat

Anthropologists study the art of being human. 

They explore our origins as a species, the present-day cultures, and any emerging trends that provide insight into the collective future ahead. When it comes to humans, they’re the experts.

So theoretically, they’d probably know what humans were doing at 15:25 yesterday. 

This isn’t a topic they learn through books and theories, they build their expertise by getting out into the world. They observe with curiosity and patience and when anything of note arises, they write it down (this is obviously a massive oversimplification, but just go with it).

They‘re called field notes, and it’s from those notes that the themes, patterns and insights start to emerge.

SELF-Anthropology is where we adopt a similar observant approach, but to our own lives.

You pick a day. Take time-stamped notes throughout. Review your findings. Identify the patterns and insights that emerge. Adjust accordingly.

Given our previous conversation about the 95% thing, it’s a simple (not easy) tool to explore, investigate and regain consciousness over your life.

So,

[A DARE]

I dare you… to conduct your own Self-Anthropology experiment this week.

Decide on a (very average normal) day and approach it as an active observer of your own life.

All you’ll need is:

1. A method for capturing notes (could be an app on your phone, or a physical journal).

2. Curiosity and intrigue.

Your notes don’t have to be neat, tidy or make any kind of sense. They do need to be timestamped though (here you can laugh at one of mine - it’s something we do throughout the Self Series).

Your task is to write down all of it down.

Odds are you’ll probably start the day strong, then forget about mid-afternoon (you’ve got that 95% working against you remember), but that’s fine, no stress, just pick back up where you left it.

Accountability helps - so if you have friends you think would also enjoy this, forward this email and dare them too.

I think that’s everything. Any questions, just hit reply.

Happy Self-Anthropoligising!

See you on a Sunday.

L