Unsolicited Advice
Why wait for readers to ask questions before suggesting solutions? An advice column that cuts out the middleman.
Tips for becoming more assertive
People will tell you to practise by starting small – “I would like a table near the window, thanks.” “I don’t want mayo on my sandwich, please.”
Your ability to focus declines after 30 (it’s not just because smartphones)
There are two totally separate systems that govern attention: your ability to maintain focus on the thing (‘enhancement’), and your ability to tune out other things (‘suppression’).
The Wile E. Coyote Principle: Stop doing things the hard way
Wile E. Coyote has some pretty good tools for catching prey, namely: teeth, claws etc. But he always uses methods he's unskilled at.
How to give unsolicited advice (if you really must)
Today’s unsolicited advice is that no one likes unsolicited advice, and most people are very bad at giving it usefully.
How I used a personal kanban to stop my brain turning into soup during lockdown
Once you understand the psychological principles that make kanbans so powerful, you can apply them to any productivity system.
There is no such thing as “fear of the unknown”
Say you get a promising job offer in a distant city and you’re nervous about accepting it. Are you afraid of "the unknown", or are you afraid the job will suck and you won't be able to make any new friends there?
Interviewers vs Volunteers: What type of conversationalist are you?
Interviewer see talking about yourself as arrogant and expect the other person not to do too much. Volunteers see talking about yourself as being vulnerable and expect the other person to do their fair share.
It's insulting to apologise for boring your conversation partner
The apology unintentionally says “I assume you’re not into [topic] AND I assume you can’t get interested in topics outside your personal interests.” Not nice assumptions!
Reasons to wear fancy houseclothes (written pre-pandemic)
They can be costumes, they can be the clothes you wish you would wear outside but won’t (my most recent robe is a rainbow space galaxy with sweeping sleeves and a watercolour unicorn on the back)
11 things to do instead of scrolling social media when you have a few minutes to kill
Like your date’s gone to the bathroom, or your lunch is in the microwave. You probably don’t want to be so compulsive about your phone, but what else are you gonna do while you wait?