Gabriele Oettingen’s WOOP: Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan

A man, seen from behind, looking at a whiteboard that says "WOOP" illustrates Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan

Ever wonder why your ambitious goals remain unfulfilled despite positive thinking? What if there’s a more effective way to transform wishful thinking into meaningful accomplishments? According to Gabriele Oettingen, WOOP (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) offers a practical approach to achieving your goals by balancing optimism with reality. In Rethinking Positive Thinking, Oettingen explains that merely visualizing success isn’t enough. Keep reading to discover how you can apply this four-step method to finally achieve what matters most to you.

How to Delegate Tasks Effectively: Share the Responsibility

A manager delegating tasks to an employee by handing them papers

What are the benefits of learning how to delegate tasks effectively? What are the different types of delegation? Getting rid of unproductive tasks can free up your time and energy for meaningful work. However, it’s most likely impossible to eliminate every activity outside of your Productivity Zone, which is why Michael Hyatt recommends another strategy in Free to Focus: letting other people handle tasks for you. Keep reading if you want to start delegating tasks to other people so you can take the pressure off yourself.

How to Automate Tasks: 3 Areas of Your Life to Make Easier

A man looking a wall of work and wondering how to automate tasks

Do you know how to automate tasks? Do you want to make your workflow easier to reduce stress? Unfortunately, in many cases, simple tasks that you need to do regularly take up a great deal of time that you’d prefer to spend on more meaningful work. In Free to Focus, Michael Hyatt says that automation offers a powerful solution to this problem.  Let’s review three areas where automation can significantly reduce your mental load and boost your productivity.

Don’t Trust Your Gut: Overview (Seth Stephens-Davidowitz)

A woman wearing a cream-colored sweater and jeans reading a book that she's holding on her lap

Is big data the guide to making better life decisions? Can millions of data points on behavior replace your own intuition? In his book Don’t Trust Your Gut: Using Data to Get What You Really Want in Life, Seth Stephens-Davidowitz shows how big data can provide scientific answers about which life choices lead to better outcomes. He argues that you should rely on data rather than your intuition. Keep reading to discover how numbers, not narratives or instincts, can help you make smarter choices.

Self-Automation: Completing Routines Without Wasting Energy

A man standing in front of a sunny window doing a routine out of self-automation

Do you have daily tasks that are taking up too much time in your day? How can you automate your everyday tasks? In Free to Focus, Michael Hyatt suggests self-automation to spend less time on simple tasks. This strategy focuses on creating consistent habits and routines in your daily life. Check out how to self-automate routines so you don’t have to put meaningful time or energy into them.

The Role of Luck in Success: What Big Data Shows

A smiling woman in a bright yellow sweater holding a large four-leaf clover illustrates the role of luck in success

What role does luck play in achieving success? Can you strategically increase your chances of catching a lucky break? In his book Don’t Trust Your Gut, Seth Stephens-Davidowitz uses data analysis to explore the role of luck in success. He reveals that, while luck creates opportunities for everyone, those who succeed are the ones who consistently take advantage of these moments. Keep reading to discover how you can tip the odds in your favor by making choices that maximize your chances of success.

The Essential Daily Self-Care Checklist for Productivity

A daily self-care checklist next to pens and a drink on a blue background

What are the essential self-care habits you must do to be more productive? How does socializing increase your productivity? While you can’t create more time in your day, Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt says you can make the most of the time you have by taking good care of yourself. Tending to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being will maximize your energy and, consequently, your productivity.  Continue reading for the only daily self-care checklist you’ll ever need.

The Top 5 Happiness Activities, Based on Research Data

Two smiling women backpacking in the mountains illustrates happiness activities

What activities truly make people the happiest? How can you maximize your daily joy through deliberate choices? In his book Don’t Trust Your Gut, Seth Stephens-Davidowitz reveals that the most effective happiness activities aren’t passive pastimes but active engagements. The data further shows that these activities compound when they’re combined, creating an even stronger positive impact on your life. Keep reading to discover the five activities that can make you happy, and learn how to blend them for maximum joy.