{"id":2570,"date":"2024-01-07T19:54:32","date_gmt":"2024-01-08T00:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/linacolucci.com\/?p=2570"},"modified":"2024-02-06T01:07:08","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T06:07:08","slug":"2023-year-in-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/linacolucci.com\/2024\/01\/2023-year-in-review\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 Year in Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Here\u2019s a look at how 2023 went for me. Thank you to<\/span> James Clear<\/span><\/a> for the inspiration. Read some of my previous Years in Review: <\/span><\/p>\n

2022 Year in Review<\/span><\/a>
2021 Year in Review <\/span><\/a>
2020 Year in Review<\/span><\/a>
2019 Year in Review<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\n

What went well? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

I started an AI podcast<\/h3>\n

For the past decade, I have wanted to create more content. At the end of every year I am disappointed in myself for not doing so. This year, I did it\u2026 I started an AI podcast! <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s called the Edge of Infinity<\/a> and is available on YouTube<\/a>, Apple Podcasts<\/a>, and Spotify<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

I interview other AI founders and researchers. We chat about where the field is going and make predictions about how things are going to look in the future. <\/span><\/p>\n

I still have that little disappointed voice inside me wishing I did more episodes. But\u2026 I\u2019m *very* proud that I started. <\/span><\/p>\n

I just did it. I didn\u2019t overthink things. Hoping to bring more of that energy into 2024. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I experimented with lifestyle habits<\/h3>\n

No alcohol<\/b><\/p>\n

I stopped drinking this year. My husband suggested we try it out in January. I thought it was a stupid idea (after all, we only drank twice per week) but went along and then was surprised by how challenging I found it not to drink. <\/span><\/p>\n

We had a routine of drinking on Friday and Saturday nights in our backyard while watching the sunset. I missed the alcohol. I especially missed not drinking on Fridays when my brain was still buzzing with work and a glass of wine was a reliable way to turn it off. <\/span><\/p>\n

It scared me how hard I found the month of not drinking and so we kept doing it. \u201cA little bit longer\u201d turned into the entire year. I\u2019m not steadfast about the \u201cno drinking\u201d rule. I\u2019ve consumed ~10-15 drinks all year – the vast majority on a single night with The Chainsmokers (who are investors in my startup) in Las Vegas. <\/span><\/p>\n

To be honest, I don\u2019t feel any better by not drinking. My stress levels are about the same. Skin, weight, and energy levels are all equivalent. I do sleep a bit better. <\/span><\/p>\n

The reason I continue not drinking is because (A) I don\u2019t miss it any more, (B) the long-term cognitive effects scare me*, and (C) I realized that I <\/span>hate <\/span><\/i>talking to people when buzzed. I would much rather socialize with my full wits about me, and I\u2019ve now gotten over the social pressure of feeling like I need to get a drink when out.  <\/span><\/p>\n

* I think<\/span> this Huberman episode<\/span><\/a> scared many people into not drinking. For me specifically, I got scared by the study showing dose-dependent decreases in gray and white matter volume, even for people consuming <\/span>only 1-2 drinks per day<\/span><\/i> (which is equivalent to the ~2-3 drinks I was consuming twice per week). Any measurable brain volume decrease is a pretty frightening effect in my book. Here\u2019s<\/span> the UK Biobank study<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Weekly sauna + cold plunge + meditation<\/b><\/p>\n

I continued the habit I started at the end of last year. I do 1 hour of sauna and cold plunge every single week (occasionally more than once per week). This year, however, I solidified the habit of meditation during these sessions. I meditate the entire time that I\u2019m in the sauna. It\u2019s my guaranteed time to practice focus and it increases the mental reset I experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although I don\u2019t feel any different with and without alcohol, I feel dramatically better with this routine. I definitely notice its absence in the weeks that I don\u2019t do it. <\/span><\/p>\n

Shoutout to Watercourse Way<\/a> in Palo Alto. I\u2019ve been to saunas all over the world and Watercourse continues to be my favorite. Archimedes Banya in SF and Cabanas Tulum Hotel in Mexico are also excellent. <\/span><\/p>\n

Learning to enjoy running<\/b><\/p>\n

I injured my shoulder while surfing in Hawaii and couldn\u2019t bear weight on my arm for months. With yoga and HIIT both out of the picture, I resorted to running, which I have historically despised. However, after a few sessions, I actually started enjoying it. <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s nice to get outside and see the neighborhood I am in. I do short 15-20 min runs. I noticed that I am more comfortable having a high (Zone 4) heart rate for longer periods of time compared to when I was only doing HIIT for cardio.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Digestive enzymes\u2026 aka magical pills<\/b><\/p>\n

I am allergic to dairy (I think. It\u2019s some sort of immune-mediated allergy to dairy products. It\u2019s not lactose intolerance). <\/span><\/p>\n

A few years ago I was in Spain and decided to f*** it and eat cheese and ice cream because, goddamn it, I was vacationing in Spain. By the end of the vacation I developed low-level pancreatitis and couldn\u2019t eat anything without substantial abdominal pain for over 1 week. Not worth it. <\/span><\/p>\n

This year I went to Italy and the same upper abdominal pain started developing despite my best efforts to not eat a lot of dairy (I had learned my lesson in Spain). By chance, I found a bottle of Pure Encapsulations Digestive Enzymes* at a local pharmacy. <\/span><\/p>\n

I decided to give it a try and voila! All my abdominal pain disappeared within the hour. It was magical. <\/span><\/p>\n

Note: I don\u2019t know how to explain the mechanism. I realize that it\u2019s weird for a (seemingly) <\/span>IgG<\/b> immune issue to respond almost instantaneously to an oral supplement. I\u2019d still like to understand it, but, in the meantime, I am so grateful for these amazing magical pills. <\/span><\/p>\n

*Pure Encapsulations is the main brand of supplements I buy in the US. The pharmacist – Izabella Wentz – is the expert I trust most on autoimmune-related topics. Here\u2019s<\/span> one of her articles<\/a> on digestive enzymes. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I spent serious time and energy on my jaw issues. <\/span><\/h3>\n

I have a rare degenerative jaw issue. About ~40% of my TMJ condylar bone volume has disappeared in the past 10 years and I developed a severe anterior open bite that makes it hard to eat.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s one of those medical conditions where there\u2019s nothing much that can be done. But, I promised myself that I would seriously invest in getting professional help this year, since I would like to avoid surgery in the future. And, since pain means that bone resorption is actively happening, avoiding surgery means trying to stop the jaw pain.  <\/span><\/p>\n

I spent about $5k and countless hours in appointments with specialists. Here are the top 3 things that worked for me: <\/span><\/p>\n