Boredom, biohacking, and bringing equitable education to rural Nigeria

A 3-min update from Jess :)

If you’re new here: Hey, welcome! I’m diving into human longevity and biotech. Reach out and shoot me a book recommendation anytime! (seriously, I’m curious) :))

Are you bored? I’m not offended if you are—boredom’s a good thing.

Burnout loomed menacingly near this month, which is why I took a step back from the frantic, fast-paced life I’d been enjoying and embraced a bit of boredom. Apparently, it makes you a more creative, less-stressed problem-solver…

Yet, ever the skeptic, I decided to try this on myself. As an experiment, I actively created time to just…think. I started painting again—and would do so for hours at a time—in complete silence save for random thoughts running through my head.

The finished work! Taken in weird lighting but with 100% joy.

I’ve found that I generate my best ideas while bored. For example, this ferocious (just kidding, respectful) debate on the ethics of longevity. You’re the judge, by the way 😉

Anyway…how do you harness boredom to improve your creativity? The 180 I did from feeling guilty at the thought of a break to actively doing nothing wasn’t too complicated. Simply let yourself think, and only think. Ideas:

• Read the Apple Terms and Conditions

• Watch a clock tick

• View the Pitch Drop Experiment live

Whenever you’re ready, turn your attention to a creative task, and you’ll be astonished by the brilliant novelty of your new ideas.

Project Updates

Bringing READ-E to Life

What started out as a hackathon project to reduce raise girls’ literacy rate in Nigeria is readily becoming reality. Since placing Top 10 at the Digital Inclusion Challenge, our team has been working to code READ-E - but that’s just the first step. More updates to follow! :)

Biohacking Bacteria

I’m setting up my own at-home lab! The ODIN has bioengineering kits at a fraction of what it would cost to order the equipment from an institution. I’ve been dreaming of hands-on experience forever. Overcome with excitement, I made my first impulse purchase in years and ordered this kit to make bacteria glow.

A cold apartment means bacterial growth is slow, but we’re getting there! I’m waiting for a bit more growth before putting it in the transformation mix :)

Cool Content

The almighty YouTube algorithm dropped a hidden gem in my recommendations - this beautiful lecture series by Professor Sapolsky of Stanford! I’ve never heard behavioural biology taught in a more engaging, hilarious and thought-provoking way.

p.s. He also has a great book on how our physiology, environment and psychology interact to form human nature.

My Content

I was featured in a couple things this month!

• A publication on neuroplasticity in the Tellura Youth Science Journal

• A podcast on appreciation with Laura Gao and Uma Darbha

Closing Remarks

No need to say it’s been a hell of a year, we’re all intimately familiar with that phrase by now. Instead, what I wanna say is thank you. If you’ve made it this far, thanks for being here :) you’re probably a badass wise person and I think we’d be friends. Drop me a line on Twitter, LinkedIn or good ol’ email. Whatever 2021 brings, we’re better, wiser humans who can face it and more.

Real talk though - let me know (on a scale of watching paint dry to skydiving) how boring this newsletter was. I love feedback! Here’s to a great 2021 :)