This quote comes from author and magician Eliphas Levi, and points to both a fortunate and unfortunate reality: you don’t really get anywhere by doing what you’re expected to do. More »
We’re all busy people, and there’s no doubt that it’s difficult to stick to our goals, especially when it comes to things that demand willpower to work towards, like eating healthier. The key here is that you have a limited supply of willpower, and when it’s gone it’s tough to stay motivated to do the hard things, even if they’re good for us. The solution? Pay yourself now to bolster your motivation later. More »
If you have the opportunity to telecommute regularly, or even work from home every now and again, the temptation can be strong to just put your feet up and forget about work unless you have to check in occasionally, clear out your inbox or dial into a meeting. Occasional slacking is fine, but there’s no faster way to get your remote work privileges revoked than to keep that up. Here’s how to resist the urge and stay motivated, even if there’s no one looking over your shoulder. More »
This quote from poet and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson is a simple reminder that we often prepare endlessly while never actually actively pursuing what we want. Practice is certainly important, but without applying it to real action it is nearly pointless. More »
Gamification. The word sends shivers of revulsion down my spine. Yet, as I stare at the list of claimable accolades for Visual Studio Achievements, a “motivational” extension for Visual Studio 2010 that allows coders to garner points by completing certain excessive programming tasks, I can’t help but wish I owned a copy of Microsoft’s latest IDE. More »
As much as we all put on a brave face, dealing with life’s crap every day can take a toll on our self esteem. Blog Pick the Brain has a great suggestion for a pick-me-up when you need it: keep a journal of awesomeness, full of the great things you do every day, and look at it whenever you need a personal lift. More »
This quote, slightly paraphrased, comes from Dennis Palumbo, a former screenwriter-turned-psychotherapist, writing about rejection. He says it as a reminder that rejection is often arbitrary and impersonal, so if you take it as a reason to be somebody you’re not you’re making a mistake. More »
Writing down your ideas so you don’t forget them can be sensible. But as photographer Chase Jarvis reminds us, sometimes it makes more sense to go ahead and just do something rather than putting in the never-never on some unspecified future to-do list. More »
This quote from Lao Tzu, founder of Taoism and author of the Tao Te Ching, is a good one to remember when we’re trying to accomplish anything. We often think the best approach is to devote large chunks of time to the things we feel are important, but a little effort every day can have a greater impact. More »
Our minds, and subsequently our bodies, are easily duped into thinking we’re being treated for something and then kicking into gear the mechanisms required to take care of ourselves. While placebos are usually associated with medicine, experiments and clinical trials, there’s an easy way to apply this type of mind hacking to your personal goals and use it to build better habits. Here’s how. More »
