I don’t believe boredom is caused by a lack of things to do. I don’t think that it is even caused by a lack of things you want to do. Rather I’ve found boredom is usually mislabeled to disguise a different problem. This is why most attempts to stop boredom don’t work, because they don’t […]
Archives for 2007
Is Willpower an Illusion?
Is willpower really that important? I’m doubting this assumption. It seems that the more I’ve learned about improvement and psychology, the less important willpower seems. Habits, energy management, and various human quirks seem to have pushed will into a smaller and smaller corner as a means to explain or plan for success. Now I’m starting […]
Get Happy: Making Decisions for Emotional Quality
Happiness is really hard to define. Why? Because happiness isn’t just one feeling (pleasure) or one experience (winning gold at the Olympics). Instead happiness is a broad assessment of a whole bunch of different experiences and feelings. Happiness isn’t usually a feeling itself, but an estimate of the average quality of your emotions. Last week […]
Friday Links 07-05-25
From the Web How to Prioritize – Steve Pavlina did an excellent job overviewing the CARVER system for prioritizing your goals. Unlike short-term prioritization like the 80/20 rule this system seems best suited to help decide what major projects you should choose between. How to Start a Business if You Know Nothing About Business – […]
I'm a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, podcast host, computer programmer and an avid reader. Since 2006, I've published weekly essays on this website to help people like you learn and think better. My work has been featured in The New York Times, BBC, TEDx, Pocket, Business Insider and more. I don't promise I have all the answers, just a place to start.