Knowledge Marketplace
My First Million

My First Million

The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.

Back to Mental Models

Day Marking Through Novelty

The practice of creating memorable distinctions between days by introducing novel experiences, preventing time from blending into indistinguishable blocks and increasing life satisfaction

Decision Rule

When deciding how to spend discretionary time, prioritize experiences that will create a memorable marker that distinguishes today from yesterday, even if they seem less immediately productive

How It Works

Novel experiences create stronger memory encoding and emotional responses, making time feel more expansive and life more meaningful. Without novelty markers, days blend together and life feels like it's passing quickly without substance.

Failure Modes

Creating novelty without purpose, leading to chaos rather than growth

Abandoning all beneficial routines in pursuit of constant change

Making novelty so extreme it becomes stressful rather than enriching

Using novelty as avoidance rather than growth mechanism

Example Decision

Choosing between working an extra hour on familiar tasks versus taking 30 minutes to explore a new neighborhood, the day marking model suggests the exploration because it creates a memorable experience that distinguishes the day, even though the work might seem more immediately productive.