Self-Improvement Archives

How a Flow State Affects Brain Waves & Performance

What’s the relationship between a flow state and brain waves? How do your brain waves change when you enter a flow state? According to Steven Kotler’s book The Rise of Superman, in a flow state, the brain waves you produce temporarily change, allowing you to perform at your best. He specifically describes five of the brain waves that are positively affected by entering a flow state. Read on to learn more about how achieving a flow state affects brain waves, according to Kotler.

The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey: Book Overview

What is Chris Bailey’s The Productivity Project about? What is the key message to take away from the book? The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey is the culmination of his year-long project to become as productive as possible. Bailey spent the year after graduating from business school researching, writing about, and experimenting with productivity. Below is a brief overview by The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey.

How to Get Your Brain to Focus: Steven Kotler’s 4 Methods

Want to know how to get your brain to focus? What is a flow state? How can it help you achieve deeper focus? According to Steven Kotler, if you want to learn how to get your brain to focus, the secret is to master a state of flow. He claims that entering a flow state allows you to achieve your most ambitious goals, and in his book The Rise of Superman, he provides four methods for achieving the flow state. Read on to learn how to get your brain to focus, according to Kotler’s four methods.

How to Supercharge Your Productivity and Time Management

Do you want to improve your time management skills? How can you maximize your productivity per unit of time? Time management isn’t just about prioritizing what’s most important, but also about minimizing what isn’t important. Therefore, the key to effectively managing your time is knowing which tasks to minimize (or even eliminate altogether). Here’s how you can supercharge your productivity and time management game by eliminating tasks from your to-do list.

Being in Denial: How Lying to Yourself Corrupts Your Soul

Do you feel like you’re living in denial? Why do people deny what they know deep down is true? Denial is a psychological coping mechanism for protecting yourself from pain or discomfort. While being in denial about something can help you numb the negative feelings that will result from facing the truth about a situation (or yourself), it can be dangerous in the long term. Keep reading to understand the psychology of denial, why living in denial is harmful, and how to overcome it and face the truth.

How to Set Realistic Goals That Still Challenge You

Why is it important to set realistic yet challenging goals? How can you set these kinds of goals? According to author and journalist Steven Kotler, it’s much easier to concentrate on and achieve realistic goals rather than overly ambitious ones. In The Rise of Superman, Kotler provides useful suggestions on how to set realistic goals that still provide some level of challenge. Read on to learn how to set realistic yet challenging goals, according to Kotler.

3 Different Types of Fallacies: Sharpen Your Reasoning

Do both sides of an argument warrant the same amount of consideration? What’s the difference between correlation and causation? You’ve probably experienced this: You hear something that sounds great. But, when you think it through, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. A fallacy could be to blame. The more you know about fallacies, the better you’ll be able to evaluate information and arguments. Continue reading for a brief overview of three different types of fallacies.

Is Not Knowing Yourself Normal?

Is not knowing yourself normal? Why is it hard to know yourself? How can you develop a stronger sense of self? According to the authors of The School of Life, not knowing yourself is normal because your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs can constantly change. They say, due to this, no one has a fixed identity. However, if we don’t attempt any self-reflection, we may end up making poor choices over and over again. Read on to learn why not knowing yourself is normal and how you can develop a stronger sense of self.

How to Overcome Cognitive Biases: The Top 3 Methods

Do you want to free your mind from psychological biases? Is it possible to be 100% free from bias? While it’s not possible to be totally free from bias, you can actively work to reduce it with study and practice. As a result of overcoming your biases, you will view the world more objectively, make better decisions, and become less prone to anxiety fueled by biased thinking. Keep reading to learn how to overcome cognitive biases.

Managing Distractions: Tips From a Productivity Expert

Do you get distracted a lot? How do distractions hinder your performance? Getting distracted not only wastes your valuable time but also makes it more difficult to resume focus. Attention research has shown that employees focus on a project for 11 minutes before being interrupted, and on average it takes them 25 minutes to refocus. Here are some tips for managing distractions and preventing them from stealing your focus.