Productivity

  • Don’t Remember What You Read (In Praise of Forgetfulness)

    Don’t Remember What You Read (In Praise of Forgetfulness)

    Advice on how to remember everything you read is plastered all over the internet. And to me — someone who juggles writing with studying languages and philosophy — this used to sound like the key to the promised land. Here was the antidote to living in a world of information overload. At last, I could escape the torturing anxiety […]

  • 5 Overwhelming Areas in Life You Can Declutter in 15 Minutes (Or Less)

    5 Overwhelming Areas in Life You Can Declutter in 15 Minutes (Or Less)

    I’ve studied and applied minimalism for a year now. It’s one of my favorite philosophies of all time. But when I first got into minimalism, it wasn’t easy. The whole shebang of simplifying and decluttering life used to feel endlessly exhausting. I felt pressured to get rid of 95% of my possessions, wear the same […]

  • 3 Key Lessons From Rest by Alex Pang

    3 Key Lessons From Rest by Alex Pang

    Sometimes you’re lucky enough to read a book when you really need it. For me, Rest by Alex Pang was such a book. See, at the time, I was spinning too many plates. Heavy plates. On the one hand, I did a full-time master’s program where I was head over heels in projects and courses. […]

  • Deep Reading: The Skill to Absorb Everything You Read

    Deep Reading: The Skill to Absorb Everything You Read

    Deep reading helped me level up my reading practice in every possible way: I become totally absorbed in books. Everything I read is more memorable. Books are more attractive to me than social media. Ironically, I discovered it after a long and painful reading drought that was caused by… reading too much. See, I stopped […]

  • This Is How You Beat Perfectionsm

    This Is How You Beat Perfectionsm

    In case you’re wondering: Yes. I put that typo in the headline on purpose. Because one day, I’d like to be that kind of person. One who doesn’t sweat the details but still delivers remarkable work. An imperfectionist.  After all, you still understood the title and clicked on it, right? Maybe you even clicked on […]

  • How to Simplify Your Sleep: 3 Steps to Go to Bed Earlier Tonight

    How to Simplify Your Sleep: 3 Steps to Go to Bed Earlier Tonight

    It happened again. I feel as though a truck ran over me while I was sleeping. My brain is more like a blob of porridge than a block of well-functioning neurons. I’m uninspired, moody, and, of course, tired. The reason is something I’ve been struggling with for quite some time: Going to bed earlier. Or, […]

  • The 2-Word Concept That Makes Everything You Do Feel Effortless

    The 2-Word Concept That Makes Everything You Do Feel Effortless

    A few months ago, a 15-minute run changed my life forever. For the first time in my life, I experienced the true power of Wu Wei. I know, I know, it sounds stupid. But let me explain. I used to have a toxic relationship with running. On every run, I’d tell myself, “You have to […]

  • The Micro-Sabbatical: How to Reset Your Mind in 10 Days (or Less)

    The Micro-Sabbatical: How to Reset Your Mind in 10 Days (or Less)

    Not too long ago, I was so stressed that even a single thought about writing turned my entire stomach upside down. I lost myself in insignificant details, neglected my health, and stopped responding to messages. Concepts like calm or clarity felt alien to me. But then, everything changed. I decided to walk the Camino de […]

  • 3 Journaling Techniques for Instant Clarity (with Examples)

    3 Journaling Techniques for Instant Clarity (with Examples)

    These three journaling techniques for clarity are my go-to prescription in case of confusion or brain fog. I’ve used them to make the most of hectic days. To survive emotional roller coasters. To find meaning. And they gave me the courage to abandon my engineering career — and start a new one as a writer. If you […]

  • Effortless Journaling: How to Start Journaling and Stick to It

    Effortless Journaling: How to Start Journaling and Stick to It

    Journaling is the most valuable habit I’ve ever discovered. Everything good in my life — improved mental health, sharper writing, greater happiness, better decisions — I can trace all these things back to keeping a journal for the past five years. This is because journaling is a highly effective keystone habit. What does that mean? Charles Duhigg tells us […]