notes #20: on avoiding stagnation

I’ve spent the past few weeks building a system on Notion to better manage the one billion seconds I have left. And I’m documenting the entire process.

Because of the daily posting on Instagram on top of full-time work and other commitments, I’ve been feeling quite burnt out lately.

But I think the reason why I’m pushing through is because I enjoy what I do, and believe that my work has value and will eventually compound into something meaningful.

On stagnation

Recently, I’ve been thinking about a quote Jeff Bezos took from Richard Dawkins’ The Blind Watchmaker in his final 2020 shareholder letter at Amazon:

It may seem rather specific to biology, but it’s actually rather relevant to our daily life:

• Exercising is about ensuring the body doesn’t revert to a state of equilibrium

• Expanding our knowledge and strengthening our thinking also has the same effect

Temperature could refer to our energy, our personality, and our intensity towards life. One needs constant work in order to avoid the natural draft towards equilibrium — whether that’s death, conformity, mediocrity, or tyranny.

And because time is a factor in all of life, we are constantly racing against time to stay out of equilibrium — or the natural inevitable decay.

In this light, growth is not a desire, but a requirement. To do nothing is to decay; to grow is to stay alive.

So what

This idea overlaps with many another schools of thought about how we should go about life. It’s nothing new — but it does provide a fresh perspective on the importance of growth, and why we need to constantly work (and that there’s no such thing as complete relaxation or an end per say).

Consider why some people say life is suffering or how others say that the grind never ends. It’s not a pessimistic view of things but rather how things work. And the goal is simply to make the work worth doing.

I’ve personally been struggling to stay out of equilibrium when it comes to my personal health. And I know exactly why — I just keep finding excuses.

But as Atomic Habits shares: any kind of habit can be formed and the key is in choosing the right environment and triggers.

That’s it for today. Thanks for reading.

Cheers,
Joesurf

🧠 Weekly Notes

📖 Book [10/10] — Atomic Habits by James Clear

• Identity Drives Behaviour: Lasting change comes when habits are tied to identity. Example: “I am the type of person who works out,” not “I want to exercise.” Small wins reinforce this identity over time.

• Habits Are a Feedback Loop: Cue → Craving → Response → Reward. Designing habits means mastering this loop—make cues obvious, cravings attractive, responses easy, rewards satisfying.

• Focus on Systems, Not Goals: Goals set direction, but systems drive progress. The aim is to fall in love with the process—not just chase outcomes.

• Tiny Changes Compound: Just 1% better daily compounds massively over time. Conversely, 1% worse habits quietly erode progress.

• Environment Shapes Habits: Design your surroundings to support good behaviours. What is visible and easy will happen more often.

• Top Quotes:

  • “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

  • “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”

  • “Success is the product of daily habits—not once-in-a-lifetime transformations.”