Good morning friends and happy December!
The crisp white frosts don't yet reach Barcelona, but the temperatures have dropped, scarves have been released and the city oozes with the smell of street-roasted chestnuts. So, with a ho-ho-ho, I'm delighted to share 5 social tips, tit-bits, treats and talking points, all of which I've come across or re-discovered over the past 2 weeks! Please enjoy!
1. What I'm reflecting on: Global Median Age - Recently, I've been noticing in the metro that most people seem younger than me these days. I started to wonder if this could be true. Did you know that the 2025 Global Median Age is actually 30.9 years. Having recently turned 31, it is now in fact official that over half the people in the world are younger than me! This is a good personal reminder that when I occasionally feel that I'm still 'too young' to do something, I'm kidding myself - the time is now!
2. What I'm using for languages: Masterlingo - This free and simple little browser extension is changing the way I'm learning languages and I just can't get enough of it! It allows you to highlight, translate and then save as flashcards phrases and words from websites in as many languages as you like, and then creates daily flashcard practice routines to help drill them. I'm finding this to be such a frictionless and effective way of amplifying my vocabulary.
3. What I'm cribbing from: Mindful AI Manifesto and Policy - The wonderful ChangemakerXchange community have recently released this wonderful AI policy. As with everything they do, it is co-produced, based on deep thought and extensive conversation. I am using it as a compass both for my own personal AI use as well as organisational AI use. If you work in any kind of organisation, this is well worth exploring and sharing.
4. What I'm researching: The health risks of animal proteins - As part of my book research, I am spending time sifting through hundreds of scientific papers on nutrition, healthcare, human psychology and climate science. I have been shocked to find out just how detrimental animal protein intake can be. From just one study: "Respondents (n=6,381) aged 50–65 reporting high protein intake had a 75% increase in overall mortality and a 4-fold increase in cancer and diabetes mortality during an 18 year follow up period. These associations were either abolished or attenuated if the source of proteins was plant-based."
5. What I'm practising: Getting laptop use down to 6 hours/day - I was quite frankly horrified last week to note that my laptop screen time averages 8-11 hours/day during weekday and around 5 hours/day over weekends. This includes work and leisure (such as movies). But realising that 11 hours constitutes 70% of my waking life has made me desperately want to make some changes. This week, I've set myself a firm 6 hour daily cap on laptop time. It's not easy - having to prioritise more rigorously digital work and play - but when I grow old, do I really want to say the majority of my life was spent sitting and starting at a rectangular screen?
📣 Opportunities from me and my network
💚 Help out with the Gaza Food Project. We're looking for volunteers to get us up and running.
💻 Looking for a website maintenance plan? Visit Circular Design, our non-profit web agency.
🥦 Become a Vegan Society Member for free if you’re under 26!
📖 Order your copy of Remnants of War, Migration, Love by Taha Salim.
⭐️ Know someone critically-minded? I’d love to nominate them for Aspen Rising Leaders.
That’s it for this fortnight! As ever, please let me know your thoughts and feedback – and send anything you’d like me to include in upcoming editions this way.
