I don’t like traditions - I find most of them stuffy - but I have one that is religious…

A religious tradition - those words often make us think of a church or mosque or temple. I have one of those in that vein of thinking - Sabbath - every Saturday I treat like a holiday. I unplug for the most part, we eat like it’s Thanksgiving, friends and family get together, if it’s good weather we are hiking or playing outside. If someone watched me every Saturday on mute and with no calendar around they would think I was celebrating Thanksgiving with the amount of food and people I surround myself with.

But that’s not the one I was thinking of when I picked out the picture above. The one I was thinking about was my yearly tradition - 24 years running - of taking 5-6 days in the hot Arizona sun with temperatures around 115-120 degrees and playing golf - a lot of golf - 36 holes/day type golf for each of those days.

When at the dentist getting my teeth drilled or in moments of insane stress - I go in my mind to my happy place in North Scottsdale with views much like the image above on every. single. hole.

I’m obsessed with the sunshine - I love the heat - I love the architecture - I love the wildlife - the flora - and yea to enjoy all of that, I swing a club around all day with some friends.

Like many traditions or habits - I’m not sure that was the plan from day one - my sophomore year in college. But now I look forward to it the other 360 days/year.

How about you? Do you have any traditions? Ones you like? Ones you dislike?

As I get older, I find more and more - my body, my brain and my spirit - love routine and rhythm. There is some data to that idea.

The Power of Rhythm

In an era of biohacking and wearable tech (shout out to the new Whoop announced last week), it’s easy to forget a more ancient—and perhaps more powerful—health practice: the quiet strength of rhythm. Daily, weekly, yearly rituals, repeated over time, become the habits that shape not just your day, but your health, relationships, and long-term vitality.

Research increasingly shows that consistent routines rooted in tradition can lower stress, enhance immunity, improve sleep, and support emotional stability[^1]. Whether it’s a morning walk, a family dinner, or a weekly Sabbath, practices repeated in rhythm create alignment across body, mind, and relationships.

Here’s what the data shows:

• Biological rhythms regulate everything. The body’s circadian system governs not just sleep, but hormone release, digestion, and cellular repair. Disruption increases the risk for heart disease, obesity, and mood disorders[^2].

• Morning routines improve decision-making. People who follow consistent morning rituals tend to report better focus and productivity, likely because they reduce “decision fatigue” early in the day[^3].

• Spiritual or reflective habits enhance emotional health. Daily or weekly practices like prayer, journaling, or gratitude rituals are linked with lower anxiety and improved coping mechanisms[^4].

• Family rhythms foster relational health. Regular mealtimes, end-of-day check-ins, and unplugged weekends are associated with greater marital satisfaction and deeper parent-child bonds[^5].

• Micro-traditions matter. Even brief, repeated habits—like drinking water first thing in the morning, or taking a short evening walk—can anchor the nervous system and reduce inflammation[^6].

Integrating Rhythm into Your Life:

• Choose one time of day—morning, midday, or evening—and add one nourishing habit.

• Keep it simple and sensory: light a candle, play calming music, or drink hot tea to engage the body.

• Involve your spouse or family in one shared weekly rhythm—like Friday night dinner or Sunday morning walks. May I suggest Sabbath 🙂 

• Revisit and adjust rhythms seasonally. What works in winter may shift in summer. The power is in the repetition, not the perfection.

Rhythm doesn’t ask for everything. It asks for one thing: return. Daily, gently, consistently. In the end, who you are is shaped less by what you occasionally try and more by what you repeatedly do.

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I’d love to hear about your health journey. 👋

I write this newsletter each week because I feel my best when my body, mind and soul are all healthy. I want the same for you. If you feel like you’ve seen something valuable here, please do me a favor and forward this newsletter to a friend or let me know what you think by replying or texting me - (310) 879-8441

I think the world is in desperate need of healthy, happy men who love the strong women in their lives with a self-sacrificing type of love.

I have found the following four books to be the 4 books every man should read and every woman should want their man to read.

• Good Energy - What makes for a Healthy Body and Mind?

• The Masculine in Relationship - How to Win the Trust, Lust and Devotion of a Strong Woman

• The Man’s Guide to Women - The Science of Happy Relationships

• The Desire of Ages - Leadership in a World of Cowards

Here are a few other links to things that have changed my life:

Whoop - Track your HRV and REM Sleep

Function Health - Optimize Your Health via 100+ BioMarkers

Here are a few topics I think you’ll love if you haven’t checked them out before:

How to Breathe for Better Health

How to Supercharge Your Sleep

The Power of the Sauna

-Jared

P.S. - This newsletter does not provide medical advice. The content, such as graphics, images, text, and all other materials, is provided for reference and educational purposes only. The content is not meant to be complete or exhaustive or to be applicable to any specific individual's medical condition.

References:

[^1]: Sweeny K., Carroll P. J., & Shepperd J. A. (2020). The role of routines in promoting psychological resilience. Current Opinion in Psychology, 35, 129–134.

[^2]: Walker, M. P. (2017). Why We Sleep. Scribner.

[^3]: Baumeister, R. F., & Tierney, J. (2011). Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength. Penguin Press.

[^4]: Koenig, H. G. (2012). Religion, spirituality, and health: The research and clinical implications. ISRN Psychiatry.

[^5]: Fiese, B. H., & Schwartz, M. (2008). Reclaiming the Family Table: Mealtimes and Child Health. Pediatrics, 122(Supplement 2), S277–S286.

[^6]: Chen, L. J., et al. (2021). Walking and inflammation: A randomized controlled trial. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 94, 236–243.