Making the case for medocrity

Plus more health news | Email not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Health Matters]( [There's More to Life Than a Constant Drive for Success]( By Jamie Ducharme Health Correspondent Growing up, “good enough” was kind of a catchphrase in my house. If my mom forgot an ingredient in a recipe, or if a home-improvement project didn’t go exactly as planned, she’d shrug, laugh, and say, “Oh well. It’s good enough.” I didn’t fully embrace the power of “good enough,” however, until a few years ago, when the stress of reaching a huge career milestone—writing a book—tanked my mental health. During the many sleepless nights leading up to the book’s publication, I began to recalibrate my relationship with ambition and achievement. I realized that I’d rather be good enough and happy than great and miserable. That can feel a bit heretical in the U.S. While other cultures celebrate long lunches and six-week vacations, American capitalism is built on the idea of endless striving for material success, with little sympathy or patience for those who opt out. But, particularly since the pandemic, a growing number of people seem disillusioned with that lifestyle, if trends like "quiet quitting" and "lazy-girl jobs" are any indication. I think the quiet-quitters are on to something: lots of research suggests we'd all be happier and healthier if we could abandon limitless ambition in favor of accepting all the ways we're good enough. [READ MORE]( Share This Story What Else to Read [The 5 Best Ways to Control High Cholesterol, According to People With the Condition]( By Elizabeth Millard Here’s what people with high cholesterol have found works best for them. [Read More »]( [How to Find Your New Favorite Hobby]( By Angela Haupt Challenging, fun, and engaging hobbies have the power to make us happier and healthier. [Read More »]( [What to Know About Infusion Therapy for IBD]( By Markham Heid A look at how infusion therapies work, what’s on the horizon, and who might be a candidate. [Read More »]( [Why You Should Always Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them]( By Markham Heid The chemicals used in manufacturing clothing are potentially bad for your skin. (Originally published in 2019.) [Read More »]( [Is Hypnosis Real? Here’s What Science Says]( By Markham Heid Hypnosis may sound like nonsense, but there's evidence backing it up for weight loss, addiction, and more. (Originally published in 2018.) [Read More »]( ONE LAST READ [U.S. organ donations are woefully inadequate]( Last year, approximately 10,000 Americans who needed an organ transplant died before receiving one or were removed from the list because they were too sick. It doesn't have to be like this. As the Economist writes, the U.S. system could improve by maximizing the number of organs harvested and total transplants attempted. [Read More »]( If you were forwarded this and want to sign up to receive it daily, [click here](. Today's newsletter was written by Jamie Ducharme and Oliver Staley and edited by Oliver. [Want more from TIME? Sign up for our other newsletters.]( [Subscribe to TIME]( TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Connect with TIME via [Facebook]( | [Twitter]( | [Newsletters]( [UNSUBSCRIBE]( [PRIVACY POLICY]( [YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS]( TIME Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508 Questions? Contact health@time.com Copyright © 2023 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved.