Well Rounded
Issue 8: Cheers to Another Year Around the Sun.
“There’s a world where I can go / And tell my secrets to / In my room / In my room / In this world I lock out / All my worries and my fears” — In My Room, The Beach Boys.
Hello all, good evening, and welcome back. We’re nearing the end of January, but I hope your resolutions are still going on strong. For many, this month is a fresh start. Some people make a list of goals they hope to accomplish. Some enter the year without any specific intentions, but look forward to a positive year ahead. Others find that when the clock strikes twelve and outside goes a parade of cars honking and fireworks going off in the distance, it’s just about the same day as any—it’s indifferent. All of them are fine. Today, I curated these articles with the intention for you to think and reflect on the topics of society, productivity, and wellness. See what’s to leave behind and what to move forward with.
This week’s (really cool) cover design of Well Rounded takes inspiration from many, and a full breakdown will be lengthy, but necessary. So I prepared a document where I dive into the process, references, & specifics.
Lastly, I want to offer my sincere thank you to you for continuing to care about my work. I really do appreciate it. I hope you enjoy and cheers to another year around the sun. It’s going to be a good one.
People & Society — The Anti-Social Century from The Atlantic
First point—which is unrelated to the content of the article—is the amazing cover graphics by Berlin-based Max Guther for this piece (pictured above). Very cool 3D-rendered, Sims-like avatar characters. He also designed the homepage graphics of the Drake Related site. You could create a similar model on Blender—a free-to-use software to create 3D objects.
Back to the topic. For the past few years, I’ve seen people make “ins” and “outs” list; what habits they want to adopt or get rid of. “Less time online” is certainly in most peoples’ out—me included. Most recently, I’ve come across a post that asks the internet this exact question. The top-liked comment was, “in: being more present, out: doom scrolling on social media.” I think 2024 was the year where we collectively felt the adverse effects of spending so much time online (or what the internet calls being “chronically online”) that we’re starting to take a step back and reflect on our relationship with it. People spend a lot of time scrolling and there’s a term—brain rot—that was ironically coined by the internet itself to describe excessive internet usage. So it’s not surprising nor new that statistics show aloneness among the people is rising. Technology is everywhere, it’s impossible to escape. But honestly, who can blame who? As I’m writing this in a coffeehouse, I spent 10 bucks on a Matcha Latte. It’s only so common that I hear, “I can’t leave the house without spending $50.“ And so the online escape persists.
Observations and conversations tell me that TikTok has been one of the popular apps in which people spend a large portion of time on. I can definitely speak for myself in the past. But last September, I deleted the app (only re-downloading it briefly during the holidays, and other odd times), and you’d be surprised at how fast you adapt to it being gone. If I think about my time on the app, I can’t tell you what useful information the algorithm served me. I also rarely have the Instagram app on my phone. When needed, I use the web browser or open on desktop.
This essay by The Atlantic is very well done. The writer Derick Thompson begins by explaining the shift in social society with the invention of cars and television sets from the 70s. Beginning 2000s, with the innovation of portable technology like mobile phones, isolationism is only becoming more prevalent; from the design of modern-day homes (TV in every bedroom) to relationships (dating apps, texting instead of face-to-face) to the way we present ourselves to the world (think 5 AM morning routine videos of cold showers, gym, supplements with the underlying message of “being one step ahead of other people & proudly solo”) to broader events (polarization in the recent US election), the influence runs deep in our culture.
Here’s a striking excerpt:
“In a healthy world, people who spend lots of time alone would feel that ancient biological cue: I’m alone and sad; I should make some plans. But we live in a sideways world, where easy home entertainment, oversharing online, and stunted social skills spark a strangely popular response: I’m alone, anxious, and exhausted; thank god my plans were canceled.”
I mention this article because I think it’s worthwhile to reassess our relationship with the web—the advantages, disadvantages, and what we can do to improve our quality of life. After all, if the small decisions we made as a society led us here, we can also create habits that lead us back to a social one.
“No one can say precisely how to change a nations’ moral-emotional atmosphere, but what’s certain is that atmospheres do change. Our smallest actions create norms. Our norms create values. Our values drive behavior. And our behaviors cascade.”
Productivity — What makes work meaningful? from the Harvard Business Review
“We found that being in a state of awareness helped people experience more meaningful work week-to-week. […] They become more attuned to their coworkers and their everyday interactions, are more active listeners, stronger communicators, and understand more clearly the context behind people’s words and actions (including their own)”
We spend a lot of time at work and with this time, our identities intertwine. “About four-in-ten [American] workers (39%) say their job or career is extremely or very important to their overall identity (Pew Research Center).” You may love, like, dislike, hate your job, but at the end of the day, it’s important to be somewhat content, or at least develop a co-existential relationship with your work to keep your personal wellbeing at bay.
The piece explores how awareness plays a role in meaningful work, as well as small habits to perform to inch closer towards achieving this awareness. They include mindfulness, journalling, fostering relationships, and feedback sessions. The article goes in-depth.
Wellness — Why Is the American Diet So Deadly? from The New Yorker
Europeans say that the food in America is unhealthy. Other complaints: un-walkable and how gaining weight is so much easier in the country. It does not help that stores like Costco sells things in bulk—many of them packaged and processed—at really good prices.
When I’m at the grocery store, it’s difficult to overlook frozen food when they’re so much more convenient. Pop a frozen dish in the microwave for a minute or two and viola, you have dinner. Chinese, Indian, or Western—don’t worry, they have it all.
But still, I try to be discerning when shopping for food. I check the Nutritional Facts label, and specifically eye the Sugar and Sodium percentage. Truthfully speaking though, I don’t have a metric to compare these numbers to. What % is considered high? And what’s low? And if I examine the label closer, what’s High Fructose Corn Syrup in the ingredients?
It’s only recently that the term “Ultra-Processed Food (UPFs)” entered the mainstream, first coined by Brazilian epidemiologist (someone who studies infectious diseases) Carlos Monteiro.
“According to Monteiro’s NOVA Food Classification System, Group 1 foods are unprocessed or minimally processed: nuts, eggs, vegetables, pasta. Group 2 includes everyday culinary ingredients: sugar, oils, butter, salt. Butter and salt your pasta, and you have a Group 3 food: processed, but not automatically unhealthy. But add a jar of RAGÚ Alfredo sauce—with its modified cornstarch, whey-protein concentrate, xanthan gum, and disodium phosphate—and you’re biting into Group 4 ultra-processed fare. […] If you can’t make it with equipment and ingredients in your home kitchen, it’s probably ultra-processed.”
This article follows the author Dhruv Khullar in learning about UPFs through observing trial experiments and having conversations with experts, where research seems to only be new and views, opposing and controversial.
I personally follow a simple rule of thumb; limit the amount of food in packages (ramen, chips); replace with fresh substitutes (vegetables, meat).
Casual Readings —
I finished reading The Sun Also Rises, a novel written by Ernest Hemingway; published 1926. It’s a straightforward read; there is no need for deciphering any words, which is nice. Sentences are simple and descriptive adjectives are limited. It’s his “Iceberg Theory” that I mentioned in an earlier newsletter; less is more and basic wording can paint a vivid picture in the mind. In some ways, it allows certain dynamics and relationships to be interpreted uniquely to each reader, which I think is what the book itself is most remarkable for. Story-wise, there wasn’t exactly a build-up to a climax. It was more of a scene-piece; of the Lost Generation and the period after World War I in Western Europe. The novel depicts the drinking and café culture of Paris, then the bull-fighting fiestas in Pamplona (Spain), somewhere between Spring and Summer. For some reason in my head, I pictured Northern Italy of Call Me By Your Name.
Now back in the swing of life, I frankly do not have much time to read. But I’m working my way through Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch; published 2013. I bought this book over a year ago, read about an-eighth way through, and somehow never picked it back up. But I’m starting over. Tartt’s writing style is the complete opposite of Hemingway’s; very descriptive. This should be interesting and I am excited to get into it.
Tu Parles Français? —
One of your goals this year might be to learn a new language. It surely is one of mine.
I want to improve my French. To start, I took myself to a French-language bookstore here in the city to find a novel. My store of choice: Librairie Le Port de tête, located at 269 avenue du Mont-Royal Est. You know what they say. The best way to learn a new language is through immersion, and if you can’t do it in person, the second best way is through books. I’m lucky to have both. But still, it's going to be a patient process, where I will be reading with the book on one hand and Google Translate on the other. But I’ve learnt more than a few words already. The book in question is Albert Camus’ The Strangers (or should I say L’ Étranger). It's an interesting choice though. Of the few words I learnt in the first two pages, they include dead (morte), deceased (décédé), and funeral (enterrement). C’est okay.
Five Great Videos —
Some videos I recently enjoyed. And for your convenience, I added all of these videos into a Youtube playlist.
what’s good in new york? (by Emma Chamberlain). Home video meets street interview with a touch that makes it personal. Emma walks around the Big Apple, exploring the good and bad.
The Day After 9/11 (by Duncan Skiles). This video is made with footage of New York City on Sept. 12 & 13, 2001. Shot on a camcorder, it brings about an atmosphere with no narration.
The Marías: No One Noticed | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. A beautiful performance.
THE SUBSTANCE | Making-Of Featurette | MUBI. A 30-minute behind the scenes video of the body-horror film. Really interesting to see how the special effects were made, with minimal CGI.
Field Notes —
I found myself featured in a recent The Weekender (Substack’s newsletter), in the Arts and Photography section. It’s an image from one of my notes’ mood board. The photo itself was sourced from Pinterest. Merci, Substack.
I’ve been regularly updating the January Spotify playlist throughout the month. We have a mix with Lana Del Rey, Alex G, The Beach Boys and more. Take a listen before the February/2025 playlist drops in the next newsletter.
I’ve done four written interviews with creatives in the past—all taking different themes—as part of The Conversation Series. If you’re looking to feel inspired, visit the catalog here.
Thank you for reading the eighth issue of Well Rounded. I appreciate your time. Maybe go for a walk, take in the views, and reflect a bit. Take it easy. Anyways, I hope you have a great week ahead.
-CS
Hey CS, I found the cover design quite striking and read through your design doc. Keep doing what you do