Jonathan Nott
@jonathannott.substack.com
Drummer → Writer | Documenting the chaos of life and taking “no worries” seriously.
Take a peek at my journal > jonathannott.com
Take a peek at my journal > jonathannott.com
We are all vessels for creativity.
Let go and let it flow.
Let go and let it flow.
May 29, 2025 at 9:03 AM
We are all vessels for creativity.
Let go and let it flow.
Let go and let it flow.
This is a photo of me actively creating.
Part 3 of the creative process:
• Be present in nature
• Listen to your intuition
• See what is normally ignored
Part 3 of the creative process:
• Be present in nature
• Listen to your intuition
• See what is normally ignored
May 18, 2025 at 2:01 PM
This is a photo of me actively creating.
Part 3 of the creative process:
• Be present in nature
• Listen to your intuition
• See what is normally ignored
Part 3 of the creative process:
• Be present in nature
• Listen to your intuition
• See what is normally ignored
In a world where AI makes music, art, and poetry…
You’d think human creativity is obsolete.
But that’s exactly why it matters more than ever.
Here’s why making art in 2025 is an act of rebellion—and survival: 🧵
You’d think human creativity is obsolete.
But that’s exactly why it matters more than ever.
Here’s why making art in 2025 is an act of rebellion—and survival: 🧵
May 14, 2025 at 4:16 PM
In a world where AI makes music, art, and poetry…
You’d think human creativity is obsolete.
But that’s exactly why it matters more than ever.
Here’s why making art in 2025 is an act of rebellion—and survival: 🧵
You’d think human creativity is obsolete.
But that’s exactly why it matters more than ever.
Here’s why making art in 2025 is an act of rebellion—and survival: 🧵
If you constantly judge yourself…
If your mind never shuts up…
This might sound crazy.
But mushrooms changed everything for me.
Here’s what really happened: 👇
If your mind never shuts up…
This might sound crazy.
But mushrooms changed everything for me.
Here’s what really happened: 👇
May 13, 2025 at 2:00 PM
If you constantly judge yourself…
If your mind never shuts up…
This might sound crazy.
But mushrooms changed everything for me.
Here’s what really happened: 👇
If your mind never shuts up…
This might sound crazy.
But mushrooms changed everything for me.
Here’s what really happened: 👇
I didn’t find this photo. I slowed down enough for it to find me.
Creativity isn’t always about making—it’s about noticing.
Creativity isn’t always about making—it’s about noticing.
May 9, 2025 at 8:10 AM
I didn’t find this photo. I slowed down enough for it to find me.
Creativity isn’t always about making—it’s about noticing.
Creativity isn’t always about making—it’s about noticing.
3 travel essentials:
• Camera
• Journal
• Book
Would rather be naked without them 😂
• Camera
• Journal
• Book
Would rather be naked without them 😂
May 3, 2025 at 12:13 PM
3 travel essentials:
• Camera
• Journal
• Book
Would rather be naked without them 😂
• Camera
• Journal
• Book
Would rather be naked without them 😂
4. Connect FACE-TO-FACE with your troop (Activate social bonding)
Primates regulate stress through physical touch and presence.
No amount of texting or Zoom can replace what your nervous system expects: real human connection with your small, trusted tribe.
Primates regulate stress through physical touch and presence.
No amount of texting or Zoom can replace what your nervous system expects: real human connection with your small, trusted tribe.
May 1, 2025 at 2:01 PM
4. Connect FACE-TO-FACE with your troop (Activate social bonding)
Primates regulate stress through physical touch and presence.
No amount of texting or Zoom can replace what your nervous system expects: real human connection with your small, trusted tribe.
Primates regulate stress through physical touch and presence.
No amount of texting or Zoom can replace what your nervous system expects: real human connection with your small, trusted tribe.
3. LIMIT information consumption (Reduce threat signals)
Your ancestors processed limited information from immediate surroundings.
Try:
• One news check daily
• Limited social feeds
• Email batching
Your ape brain will literally register fewer "threats" to react to.
Your ancestors processed limited information from immediate surroundings.
Try:
• One news check daily
• Limited social feeds
• Email batching
Your ape brain will literally register fewer "threats" to react to.
May 1, 2025 at 2:01 PM
3. LIMIT information consumption (Reduce threat signals)
Your ancestors processed limited information from immediate surroundings.
Try:
• One news check daily
• Limited social feeds
• Email batching
Your ape brain will literally register fewer "threats" to react to.
Your ancestors processed limited information from immediate surroundings.
Try:
• One news check daily
• Limited social feeds
• Email batching
Your ape brain will literally register fewer "threats" to react to.
2. MOVE YOUR BODY when anxious (Complete the stress cycle).
Your primate body expects physical action after detecting a "threat."
Running, dancing, or even vigorous cleaning gives your body what it evolved to do after triggering anxiety—physical movement.
Your primate body expects physical action after detecting a "threat."
Running, dancing, or even vigorous cleaning gives your body what it evolved to do after triggering anxiety—physical movement.
May 1, 2025 at 2:01 PM
2. MOVE YOUR BODY when anxious (Complete the stress cycle).
Your primate body expects physical action after detecting a "threat."
Running, dancing, or even vigorous cleaning gives your body what it evolved to do after triggering anxiety—physical movement.
Your primate body expects physical action after detecting a "threat."
Running, dancing, or even vigorous cleaning gives your body what it evolved to do after triggering anxiety—physical movement.
Stop battling your anxious ape brain. Instead:
1. Create TECH-FREE periods daily (Return to the jungle)
This isn't self-care fluff—it's giving your threat-detection system time to realise there are no predators nearby.
The relief is immediate and profound.
1. Create TECH-FREE periods daily (Return to the jungle)
This isn't self-care fluff—it's giving your threat-detection system time to realise there are no predators nearby.
The relief is immediate and profound.
May 1, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Stop battling your anxious ape brain. Instead:
1. Create TECH-FREE periods daily (Return to the jungle)
This isn't self-care fluff—it's giving your threat-detection system time to realise there are no predators nearby.
The relief is immediate and profound.
1. Create TECH-FREE periods daily (Return to the jungle)
This isn't self-care fluff—it's giving your threat-detection system time to realise there are no predators nearby.
The relief is immediate and profound.
The evidence is everywhere:
Anxiety has increased 50% since smartphone adoption
The average person touches their phone 2,617 times DAILY
We process more information in a day than our ancestors did in a YEAR
Your anxiety is a NORMAL response to an ABNORMAL environment.
Anxiety has increased 50% since smartphone adoption
The average person touches their phone 2,617 times DAILY
We process more information in a day than our ancestors did in a YEAR
Your anxiety is a NORMAL response to an ABNORMAL environment.
May 1, 2025 at 2:01 PM
The evidence is everywhere:
Anxiety has increased 50% since smartphone adoption
The average person touches their phone 2,617 times DAILY
We process more information in a day than our ancestors did in a YEAR
Your anxiety is a NORMAL response to an ABNORMAL environment.
Anxiety has increased 50% since smartphone adoption
The average person touches their phone 2,617 times DAILY
We process more information in a day than our ancestors did in a YEAR
Your anxiety is a NORMAL response to an ABNORMAL environment.
This explains why modern anti-anxiety approaches often FAIL.
We're treating the symptoms while ignoring the fundamental truth:
You're not broken.
You're not weak.
You're not failing.
You're an ape with a smartphone trying to process 100,000× more information than you evolved to handle.
We're treating the symptoms while ignoring the fundamental truth:
You're not broken.
You're not weak.
You're not failing.
You're an ape with a smartphone trying to process 100,000× more information than you evolved to handle.
May 1, 2025 at 2:01 PM
This explains why modern anti-anxiety approaches often FAIL.
We're treating the symptoms while ignoring the fundamental truth:
You're not broken.
You're not weak.
You're not failing.
You're an ape with a smartphone trying to process 100,000× more information than you evolved to handle.
We're treating the symptoms while ignoring the fundamental truth:
You're not broken.
You're not weak.
You're not failing.
You're an ape with a smartphone trying to process 100,000× more information than you evolved to handle.
98% of your DNA is identical to chimpanzees.
Your brain evolved to:
• Scan for physical threats
• Maintain small social groups
• Process limited information
• React quickly to danger
Then we gave this primate hardware unlimited WiFi access.
The results are predictable.
Your brain evolved to:
• Scan for physical threats
• Maintain small social groups
• Process limited information
• React quickly to danger
Then we gave this primate hardware unlimited WiFi access.
The results are predictable.
May 1, 2025 at 2:01 PM
98% of your DNA is identical to chimpanzees.
Your brain evolved to:
• Scan for physical threats
• Maintain small social groups
• Process limited information
• React quickly to danger
Then we gave this primate hardware unlimited WiFi access.
The results are predictable.
Your brain evolved to:
• Scan for physical threats
• Maintain small social groups
• Process limited information
• React quickly to danger
Then we gave this primate hardware unlimited WiFi access.
The results are predictable.
Your anxiety isn't a modern disorder.
It's an ancient survival mechanism overwhelmed by Instagram, email notifications and 24/7 news.
You don't have an anxiety problem.
You’re experiencing a mismatch: ape biology vs digital reality.
Here’s how to calm your inner ape in a world on WiFi 🧵
It's an ancient survival mechanism overwhelmed by Instagram, email notifications and 24/7 news.
You don't have an anxiety problem.
You’re experiencing a mismatch: ape biology vs digital reality.
Here’s how to calm your inner ape in a world on WiFi 🧵
May 1, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Your anxiety isn't a modern disorder.
It's an ancient survival mechanism overwhelmed by Instagram, email notifications and 24/7 news.
You don't have an anxiety problem.
You’re experiencing a mismatch: ape biology vs digital reality.
Here’s how to calm your inner ape in a world on WiFi 🧵
It's an ancient survival mechanism overwhelmed by Instagram, email notifications and 24/7 news.
You don't have an anxiety problem.
You’re experiencing a mismatch: ape biology vs digital reality.
Here’s how to calm your inner ape in a world on WiFi 🧵
Once you accept you're a monkey:
• Life simplifies
• Play returns
• Expectations become realistic
• Compassion replaces judgment
• Present-moment awareness grows
You stop fighting against millions of years of evolution and start working WITH your primate brain.
• Life simplifies
• Play returns
• Expectations become realistic
• Compassion replaces judgment
• Present-moment awareness grows
You stop fighting against millions of years of evolution and start working WITH your primate brain.
April 29, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Once you accept you're a monkey:
• Life simplifies
• Play returns
• Expectations become realistic
• Compassion replaces judgment
• Present-moment awareness grows
You stop fighting against millions of years of evolution and start working WITH your primate brain.
• Life simplifies
• Play returns
• Expectations become realistic
• Compassion replaces judgment
• Present-moment awareness grows
You stop fighting against millions of years of evolution and start working WITH your primate brain.
But there's a crucial difference:
Apes don't JUDGE themselves for being apes.
They don't lie awake wondering if they're successful enough apes or if other apes are doing ape-ing better than they are.
Our overthinking brain creates this suffering.
Apes don't JUDGE themselves for being apes.
They don't lie awake wondering if they're successful enough apes or if other apes are doing ape-ing better than they are.
Our overthinking brain creates this suffering.
April 29, 2025 at 1:58 PM
But there's a crucial difference:
Apes don't JUDGE themselves for being apes.
They don't lie awake wondering if they're successful enough apes or if other apes are doing ape-ing better than they are.
Our overthinking brain creates this suffering.
Apes don't JUDGE themselves for being apes.
They don't lie awake wondering if they're successful enough apes or if other apes are doing ape-ing better than they are.
Our overthinking brain creates this suffering.
Look at humans:
• Social media (digital play)
• Dating apps (mating selection)
• Politics (fighting for dominance)
• Online communities (social bonds)
Same behaviours, fancier tools.
• Social media (digital play)
• Dating apps (mating selection)
• Politics (fighting for dominance)
• Online communities (social bonds)
Same behaviours, fancier tools.
April 29, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Look at humans:
• Social media (digital play)
• Dating apps (mating selection)
• Politics (fighting for dominance)
• Online communities (social bonds)
Same behaviours, fancier tools.
• Social media (digital play)
• Dating apps (mating selection)
• Politics (fighting for dominance)
• Online communities (social bonds)
Same behaviours, fancier tools.
Look at what happens when apes gather:
• They play
• They groom each other
• They fight for dominance
• They form social bonds
• They communicate with sound
• They play
• They groom each other
• They fight for dominance
• They form social bonds
• They communicate with sound
April 29, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Look at what happens when apes gather:
• They play
• They groom each other
• They fight for dominance
• They form social bonds
• They communicate with sound
• They play
• They groom each other
• They fight for dominance
• They form social bonds
• They communicate with sound
98% of your DNA is identical to chimpanzees.
Yet we're having mental health breakdowns pretending we're rational beings who should have life "figured out."
This cognitive dissonance is killing us.
5 ways accepting your monkey brain transforms mental health 👇
Yet we're having mental health breakdowns pretending we're rational beings who should have life "figured out."
This cognitive dissonance is killing us.
5 ways accepting your monkey brain transforms mental health 👇
April 29, 2025 at 1:58 PM
98% of your DNA is identical to chimpanzees.
Yet we're having mental health breakdowns pretending we're rational beings who should have life "figured out."
This cognitive dissonance is killing us.
5 ways accepting your monkey brain transforms mental health 👇
Yet we're having mental health breakdowns pretending we're rational beings who should have life "figured out."
This cognitive dissonance is killing us.
5 ways accepting your monkey brain transforms mental health 👇
Day 4/7 of the 2 minute reset challenge.
Making this a habit removes the decision fatigue.
When work focus drops, I don't think - I just move.
Making this a habit removes the decision fatigue.
When work focus drops, I don't think - I just move.
April 12, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Day 4/7 of the 2 minute reset challenge.
Making this a habit removes the decision fatigue.
When work focus drops, I don't think - I just move.
Making this a habit removes the decision fatigue.
When work focus drops, I don't think - I just move.
Day 3/7 of the 2 minute reset challenge.
Jumping jacks + Pushups
These micro-interventions work because they force presence.
Can't overthink while counting reps! What's your experience so far?
Jumping jacks + Pushups
These micro-interventions work because they force presence.
Can't overthink while counting reps! What's your experience so far?
April 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Day 3/7 of the 2 minute reset challenge.
Jumping jacks + Pushups
These micro-interventions work because they force presence.
Can't overthink while counting reps! What's your experience so far?
Jumping jacks + Pushups
These micro-interventions work because they force presence.
Can't overthink while counting reps! What's your experience so far?
Thank you for reading <3
If this hit home, follow for more mental liberation techniques: @ItsNottJonathan
If this hit home, follow for more mental liberation techniques: @ItsNottJonathan
April 11, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Thank you for reading <3
If this hit home, follow for more mental liberation techniques: @ItsNottJonathan
If this hit home, follow for more mental liberation techniques: @ItsNottJonathan
The real path to excellence isn't starting perfect.
It's consistent imperfect action that eventually weaves you a fine tuxedo.
But you have to start naked first.
The masterpieces you admire began as awkward first attempts by people willing to be beginners.
It's consistent imperfect action that eventually weaves you a fine tuxedo.
But you have to start naked first.
The masterpieces you admire began as awkward first attempts by people willing to be beginners.
April 11, 2025 at 1:46 PM
The real path to excellence isn't starting perfect.
It's consistent imperfect action that eventually weaves you a fine tuxedo.
But you have to start naked first.
The masterpieces you admire began as awkward first attempts by people willing to be beginners.
It's consistent imperfect action that eventually weaves you a fine tuxedo.
But you have to start naked first.
The masterpieces you admire began as awkward first attempts by people willing to be beginners.
After weeks of regret, I finally understood:
UGLY ACTION is better than PERFECT STAGNATION.
I had to embrace a brutal truth: my early work would never meet my standards because beginners don't create masterpieces.
That's not a flaw in the system.
That IS the system.
UGLY ACTION is better than PERFECT STAGNATION.
I had to embrace a brutal truth: my early work would never meet my standards because beginners don't create masterpieces.
That's not a flaw in the system.
That IS the system.
April 11, 2025 at 1:46 PM
After weeks of regret, I finally understood:
UGLY ACTION is better than PERFECT STAGNATION.
I had to embrace a brutal truth: my early work would never meet my standards because beginners don't create masterpieces.
That's not a flaw in the system.
That IS the system.
UGLY ACTION is better than PERFECT STAGNATION.
I had to embrace a brutal truth: my early work would never meet my standards because beginners don't create masterpieces.
That's not a flaw in the system.
That IS the system.
When I wanted to journal, I needed the "tuxedo of pens".
That perfectly balanced fountain pen that glides across the page.
The 600 Bic ballpoints in my drawer?
"Not good enough."
Meanwhile, real writers were filling pages with whatever pen they could find.
That perfectly balanced fountain pen that glides across the page.
The 600 Bic ballpoints in my drawer?
"Not good enough."
Meanwhile, real writers were filling pages with whatever pen they could find.
April 11, 2025 at 1:46 PM
When I wanted to journal, I needed the "tuxedo of pens".
That perfectly balanced fountain pen that glides across the page.
The 600 Bic ballpoints in my drawer?
"Not good enough."
Meanwhile, real writers were filling pages with whatever pen they could find.
That perfectly balanced fountain pen that glides across the page.
The 600 Bic ballpoints in my drawer?
"Not good enough."
Meanwhile, real writers were filling pages with whatever pen they could find.