Self-Improvement Archives

How to Be Skeptical: 3 Ways to Identify Bullshit

Do you tend to believe everything you hear? Would you like to foster healthy skepticism without falling into the trap of cynicism? Let’s be frank: The modern world is replete with bullshit—a phenomenon that professors Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West define as the use of misleading evidence to persuade an audience. But, we aren’t defenseless against this bullshit, they argue. Read more to learn how to be skeptical and identify bullshit in its many forms.

Is the 10,000-Hour Rule True? It Depends on Your Goal

Is the 10,000-hour rule true? How long does it really take to become proficient in a skill? There’s a notion going around that you must invest 10,000 hours of practice if you want to adopt a new skill. But, that’s not quite the way it is. In The First 20 Hours, skill acquisition expert Josh Kaufman sets the record straight. Read more to learn the truth about the 10,000-hour rule.

2 Common Barriers to Self-Care & How to Overcome Them

Do you feel guilty when you practice self-care? Do you think it’s a waste of time? Grace Beverley wants you to stop seeing self-care and productivity as opposites. She discusses two common barriers to self-care and shares advice on how to overcome them so that you can take care of your health and be more productive as a result. Keep reading to learn about these barriers to self-care and the remedies.

The Antidote by Oliver Burkeman: Book Overview & Takeaways

Does it feel like happiness is always a step ahead of you? Have you ever tried to think positively and still felt unhappy? You’re not alone. Many people find it difficult to feel happy no matter how many positive thoughts they force themselves to think. Oliver Burkeman’s The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking sheds light on this conundrum. Continue reading for an overview of this book that might lead you to take a new approach to happiness.

What Skill Do You Want to Learn? How to Take the First Step

What skill do you want to learn? How should you go about choosing among the countless options? Skill acquisition expert Josh Kaufman provides a step-by-step process for mastering the basics of any new skill with only 20 hours of practice. His system favors efficiency, so the first step is to choose a skill wisely and then attach a specific goal to it. Continue reading to learn how to take the first step toward learning a new skill in a way that sets you up for success.

5 Reasons to Stop Chasing Success: It’s a Treadmill to Nowhere

Do you tend to fixate on your goals? What do success stories often leave out? Common self-help advice encourages you to set and relentlessly pursue goals designed to realize your ideal version of yourself. Oliver Burkeman notes that striving to achieve such goals creates five adverse effects that prevent you from attaining true happiness and success. Keep reading to learn how chasing success too often leads to failure and dissatisfaction.

How to Prepare to Learn a New Skill: 5 Tips for Efficiency

If you want to learn a new skill, should you just dive in? How can you maximize your chances for success and keep from squandering resources? Once you’ve chosen a new skill to learn, Josh Kaufman suggests you conduct research to learn about the skill and prepare what you need to practice it. Acquiring knowledge and information about the skill beforehand allows you to practice smarter and avoid wasting time and energy on ineffective techniques. Read on for Kaufman’s advice on how to prepare to learn a new skill before you start practicing.

3 Drawbacks of Positive Thinking in the Pursuit of Happiness

Are self-help books truly helpful? What common theme has problems of its own? If you’ve explored self-help advice, you’ve likely come across the belief that thinking positively is the only way to achieve true happiness and success. According to Oliver Burkeman, this widely accepted belief has three downsides that impede happiness. Continue reading to learn about these drawbacks of positive thinking.

14 Technology Addiction Group Discussion Exercises

Do you have a technology addiction? Are you ready to tackle it? Compulsively checking your Instagram feed may seem like a far cry from drug addiction, but the two are more closely related than you might think. The good news is that you can meet your technology addiction head-on by answering questions that get to the root of the issue and provide a path forward. Continue reading for several exercises designed for personal use or as part of a technology addiction group discussion.

3 Ways to Accept Your Emotions (Even the Ones That Aren’t Fun)

What’s the difference between your experiences and your perceptions of them? What’s a simple way to mitigate disappointment? It might seem counterintuitive but, if you want to find true happiness, you must accept your emotions—all of them. That’s the view of Oliver Burkeman, who provides three methods for embracing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Read more to understand Burkeman’s argument and techniques that can put you on the road to happiness.