Unsolicited Advice
Why wait for readers to ask questions before suggesting solutions? An advice column that cuts out the middleman.
A better question than ‘what do you do?’
What you want is something that a) sounds pretty normal, you’re not going too far off social script and b) has a range of possible interpretations, so they can dodge any uncomfortable topics.
How to instantly draw slightly better (even if your starting place is 'terrible')
Look ahead of the line you’re drawing, not at the tip of your utensil where it meets the canvas!
Phrasing questions to experts so you get answers that will actually help you
Don't ask "Can I use x technique?" Ask "What effect does x technique have? When is a good time to use it?"
I let a neural network write this advice column
"Sometimes I try to invite people over and they don’t show up. Sometimes they arrive late and leave early. This isn’t a failure on my part."
Get smarter quickly by looking every quote you see up on Quote Investigator for a week
The problem is that if you consume a bunch of these bad facts, you’ll never be able to build up a an accurate picture of how the world works.
Make difficult life decisions by separating the emotional phase from the execution phase
The main reason people feel stuck is because they’re trying to figure out what they want and what they’re going to do about it at the same time. The result is gridlock in your mind.
Make a List: Beyond to-do lists
Make a List by Marilyn McEntyre is a book on how to use lists for journalling / emotional exploration / figuring stuff out, etc.
Free virtual co-working sessions for people struggling to focus
Body-doubling is the ADHD strategy in which you basically work alongside someone who is also busy working (not talking). For some reason it makes a huge difference in our ability to focus.
Why you feel worse after a nap and more tired on holiday
When you’re overworked and overstressed, you’re full of adrenaline and cortisol, and that’s masking your fatigue like a bunch of black coffee would.
“Narcissists ruin self-love for the rest of us”
People try so hard to avoid being seen as narcissistic, so only narcissists advocate for themselves at all, which is not a great system for selecting who has power and influence in society.