I’ve had a tumultuous relationship with to-do lists over the years. On the one hand, I need them. They lighten my cognitive load and remind me of tasks that I would otherwise forget. They provide a menu of productive options when I’m unsure what to do with my time. But on the other hand, I’ve found them to be unwieldy and even overwhelming. I used to just collect all possible… Read More »Organizing Your Tasks With To-Do List Categories
Planning your day the night before has long been touted as a keystone habit of highly productive people (by, for example, Stephen Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People). But there’s another reason to plan your day the night before, one that might be more important to you than getting things done: It will make you happier. 1. Mental Offloading Planning tomorrow tonight reduces your cognitive load, which… Read More »4 Reasons Planning Your Day the Night Before Will Make You Happier
Damn! Why is this so hard? I should be good at this already! We’ve all been there. This thought might arise when we’re playing a game or a sport. It could pop up during a miscommunication with your partner or child. It’s probably most common when we’re learning something, whether for work or school or just for a hobby. Many of us walk around with mistaken assumptions about how life… Read More »The Power of the Practicing Mindset
A good friend of mine has a saying: “We’re not here for a long time. We’re here for a good time.” When he says that, he’s usually talking about having fun, enjoying your life, not being afraid to take risks. He’s an avid backcountry skier, which can be dangerous. You could fall off a cliff or run into a tree. You could die in an avalanche. But, he argues, those… Read More »We’re Not Here For a Long Time