Wrapping Up 2024: My Top Recommendations for a Better 2025
Article #115 of Life Unlocked - A newsletter by Dr Yath Prem, MD
Dear Friends,
As 2024 winds down, I’ve been reflecting on the experiences, habits, and tools that made this year both memorable and productive. It’s been a year of exploration and re-building for me. From a career shift to married life in the suburbs, I’ve been redesigning my routines and building new habits. To help you kickstart 2025 with inspiration, I’m sharing my top recommendations across books, podcasts, tools, and more. Here’s to starting the new year on the right foot.
Books to inspire your year
Die With Zero by Bill Perkins - A thought-provoking guide to rethinking how we spend time, money, and energy for maximum fulfilment. It’s about living fully now rather than saving it all for later (or worse, retirement).
Outlive by Peter Attia - A deep dive into longevity, focusing on prevention over cure. Attia’s focus on extending healthspan, not just lifespan, offers actionable advice for living a better, longer life.
Slow Productivity by Cal Newport - Newport’s insights on meaningful work and deep focus provide a roadmap for stepping away from hustle culture and embracing intention.
Podcasts for growth and curiosity
Modern Wisdom w/ Chris Williamson - Big ideas, self-improvement, and life hacks delivered multiple times a week. Always engaging, with plenty of actionable takeaways.
Huberman Lab w/ Andrew Huberman - Packed with evidence-based advice on sleep, fitness, and human performance. Perfect for optimising yourself in both physically and mentally.
Making Sense w/ Sam Harris - Complex topics like ethics and philosophy explained with clarity. It’s a podcast that demands focus but leaves you feeling wiser.
New purchases worth the investment
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 - A compact yet powerful camera for both vertical and horizontal content. I was sceptical at first, but its quality and portability blew me away. Both the built-in mic and clip on mics are really good.
Ultrahuman Ring (gifted) - Tracks sleep, stress, and activity with precision. It’s sleek, subscription-free, and reasonably priced. A great tool for health enthusiasts. I’m lucky to be gifted this but will have probably bought it over a Whoop eventually.
Uniqlo Airism T-Shirts - Lightweight, breathable, and incredibly versatile. They fit perfectly, wash well, and rarely need ironing. I now own about 6 of these in various dark colours.
Old purchases I still love
AirPods Pro - Several years on, still unbeatable for sound quality and portability. I use mine daily and has become an essential companion for work, podcast walks, and workouts.
ON Running Cloudswift 3 trainers - Lightweight yet supportive, they’re perfect for everything from casual walks to all-day wear. The fit is clean and the branding isn’t overpowering.
Lululemon Linerless 7" shorts - The ultimate all-rounder for gym, lounging, or casual summer outings. Durable, comfortable, and perfectly designed. So good that I bought 5 pairs and hope they never stop making these.
Accessories and tools for everyday life
Logitech MX keyboard and MX 3S mouse - Switching from Apple’s setup to this ergonomic combo has been a revelation. Perfect for multitasking between devices.
Lavazza Modo Mio Jolie coffee machine - My morning essential (90-minutes after waking of course) for great-tasting, strong coffee from pods that beat Nespresso for intensity. Espresso Passionale (11/13 intensity) is my go-to pod.
Kindle Paperwhite 2024 edition - An upgrade that’s made reading even more enjoyable. The bigger, brighter screen and faster performance are worth it. Coming from the 2019 non-Paperwhite model, this feels like heaven.
Life hacks I learned in 2024
Building GPTs to automate tasks - Creating custom GPTs has saved me hours. With a bit of YouTube research from reputable creators, you can tailor one to your needs and make life easier.
Not charging my phone overnight - Preserving battery health is simple: avoid overnight charging and use a fast charger minimally during the day. Small effort, big payoff.
Fast-tracking meal prep - Pre-prepared ingredients save time and stress. Marinated meat or pre-chopped veggies are worth the extra cost for the convenience they bring.
As I look back on 2024, these recommendations reflect the tools, ideas, and habits that added the most value to my life. Whether it’s a great book, a life hack, or a piece of tech, each has made my day-to-day more fulfilling. Here’s to 2025; may it bring growth, joy, and balance. I hope you find inspiration here, and if you have any recommendations for me, I’d love to hear them.
Warm regards,
Dr Yath Prem, MD
If you’d like to support my work - I’d love a coffee.