Lifestyle Archives

Overview: Ikigai by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles

What is the book Ikigai about? How do Francesc Miralles and Héctor García’s explain the Japanese concept of ikigai? In their book Ikigai, Héctor García and Francesc Miralles teach you how to apply the Japanese concept of ikigai, or life purpose, to your own life. You can think of your ikigai as your “existential fuel.” It’s the thing that keeps you going in life and the reason you get up in the morning. Here is a brief overview of Francesc Miralles and Héctor García’s book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long a Happy Life.

The Journey of Life: How to Make Life Worth it

What is the journey of life? How does Robert Pirsig explain this idea in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig uses his motorcycle road trip to help explain the journey of life. He talks about life philosophy, family, and how to find meaning. Read more about Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and the journey of life.

Soccer With the Auschwitz Guards: Lose or Die

What does Lale do when he’s tasked with putting together a soccer team to face the Auschwitz guards? What horrific job is he given the next day? What news does Gita get from home? In The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Lale is instructed to put together a soccer team to play against the Auschwitz guards. The team knows that if they embarrass the guards, they won’t survive. They must put on a good show. Continue reading about the soccer match with the Auschwitz guards.

The Way of the Essentialist: Living a Clutter-Free Life

What is the way of the essentialist? How can adopting the essentialist lifestyle help you keep your life clutter-free and focus on what’s important? The way of the essentialist is a lifestyle philosophy that is premised on the principle of ‘do less but better’. Essentialism helps you create a system for streamlining your life in a way that keeps you focused on priorities. Keep reading to learn about the essentialist lifestyle.

How Do You Define Quality? Here’s Pirsig’s Answer

How do you define quality? How does it work in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? So, how do you define quality? In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Pirsig explains that there are several phases of quality, each of which can be achieved by pursuing free and original thought. Keep reading to find out the answer to the question “how do you define quality?”

Essentialism by Greg McKeown: Less Is a Lifestyle

What is the central premise of Essentialism by Greg McKeown? What does he mean by “the disciplined pursuit of less?” In his book Essentialism, Greg McKeown makes a compelling case for the disciplined pursuit of less (but better). It is a lifestyle philosophy that is premised on pursuing only things that are at the core of your identity (the essentials) and disregarding the rest (the nonessentials). Keep reading for more about Greg McKeown’s lifestyle philosophy of essentialism.

Time Blocking Method: The Key to Insane Productivity

Do you often feel like there isn’t enough time in a day to accomplish everything you’ve planned to do? Have you tried the time blocking method? The time blocking method is a time management technique that integrates the functionality of a calendar with a to-do list. It involves chunking a period of time—typically a day or week—into smaller segments that are scheduled for specific tasks. Keep reading to learn about the time blocking method.

Deep Work vs. Shallow Work: Reduce Shallow Work

What is deep work vs. shallow work? How can you reduce shallow work time from your schedule? “Deep work” is focused, uninterrupted, undistracted work on a task that pushes your cognitive abilities to their limit. In contrast, “shallow work” describes tasks that aren’t cognitively demanding – like answering email, filling out paperwork, and attending unproductive meetings. Keep reading to learn how you can take steps to reduce your time spent on shallow work.

Lale’s Concentration Camp Escape Meant More Danger

How did Lale make his concentration camp escape? How did he jump out of the pot and into the fire? In Heather Morris’ historical fiction novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Lale escapes a concentration camp in Vienna. He ran into Russian soldiers who he thought might help him, but quickly realized he was forced into another dangerous situation. Continue reading about Lale’s concentration camp escape.

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone: Live With Discomfort

What does getting out of your comfort zone mean? Why is this so important? In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig explains that discomfort is relative. He says that learning to live with discomfort and getting out of your comfort zone will improve your life. Read more about Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and getting out of your comfort zone.