Shortform Books

Attention Management Strategies: Choosing Your Focus

Do you struggle to focus on the right things? How can you make sure you’re channeling your attention in the most effective way possible? According to Chris Bailey, the author of Hyperfocus, the quality of the tasks we pay attention to determines the quality of our lives. When we focus on high-quality tasks, we perform high-quality work and have a high-quality impact. When we focus on low-quality tasks, even if we perform high-quality work, we will have a low-quality impact. Here are two helpful attention management strategies to help you decide what truly deserves your attention.

Why Being Too Honest Isn’t a Good Thing

What are the dangers of being an “open book”—being too honest about your feelings, beliefs, and intentions? How can excessive honesty work against you? People tend to be “open books” because talking about feelings and intentions comes naturally. There are two reasons for that: 1) watching your mouth — monitoring and controlling what you say—takes effort, and 2) they believe honesty and openness will win people over. Here’s how being too honest can work against you.

The Inflationary Big Bang & the Fine-Tuning Problem

What is the inflationary big bang model? Does it solve the fine-tuning problem? The big bang theory implies that the universe’s initial conditions had to be “just right” in order for human life to be possible. Physicist Stephen Hawking concedes that this requirement points to a problem with the theory. He discusses the inflationary big bang model as one way to address the problem. Keep reading to learn about the inflationary big bang model.

Urgency Addiction: The Modern Dilemma

Have you ever been faced with a crisis, come up with a solution, and felt that incredible sense of success and relief? How does a sense of urgency create a false sense of accomplishment? Although urgent situations are stressful, resolving them creates a high that you can become addicted to. However, urgency addiction is a self-destructive habit that only temporarily fills a void, whether it be the lack of a larger purpose or a desire for a sense of achievement. Here’s why handling urgency is so addictive, according to Stephen Covey.

What Is Task-Shifting—& How Does It Hold You Back?

What is task-shifting? How is it different from multi-tasking? We often talk about multitasking—doing more than one task at a time. While we certainly do this, we probably are engaged far more often in task-shifting—rapidly switching our focus from one task to another. Productivity expert Chris Bailey explains task-shifting and provides two reasons why it lowers productivity. Read on to learn about task-shifting and its impact on success.

How to Set Up a BuJo Future Log

What is a BuJo future log? How do you set it up and use it? A BuJo (or bullet journal) future log is a way to keep track of future events that wouldn’t be in your immediate schedule—such as birthdays, holidays, and appointments. Ryder Carroll, the author of The Bullet Journal Method, says the future log is an important part of an effective bullet journal. Here’s how to use a future log in your bullet journal.

A Brief History of Time Review & Critical Reception

Is A Brief History of Time worth reading? Are its concepts easy enough to grasp? A Brief History of Time is Stephen Hawking’s exposition of modern physics. The book answers questions about the nature of reality, predetermination of the future, the universe’s origins, black holes, and time travel. Hawking strives to make the answers to these big questions accessible to a general audience. Keep reading for our A Brief History of Time review.

How to Get Inspired: The Bullet Journal Solution

Are you feeling like you’re stuck in a rut? Do you want to know how to get inspired again? If you’re stuck in a rut, feel demotivated, or uninspired, try bullet journaling. Keeping a bullet journal can help you explore every aspect of your problems in order to find solutions. It can also divert your attention to another project, which is a proven way to find inspiration. Here’s how to use bullet journaling to rekindle your inspiration.

The Brain on Autopilot: How It Impacts Productivity

How does the brain function on autopilot? Are there any advantages to being in autopilot mode? Productivity expert Chris Bailey explains that our brains operate on autopilot by default. Instead of choosing what to focus on in advance, we react to the external triggers that pique our interest. Keep reading to learn about the pros and cons of the brain’s autopilot mode.

How to Use Honesty as a Manipulation Technique

Can honesty be manipulative? How can you use honesty to manipulate others? One of the most effective manipulation techniques is to surprise your target with honesty or generosity. This approach disarms people by allaying suspicions and bringing out their inner child—they respond with eager, childlike gratitude. You, too, can use honesty and generosity to disarm and distract others from your schemes. Here’s how honesty can be used as a manipulation tool.