Select Page

An Insider's Guide to Behavior Change

behavior change heading with mountain biker
We’re all trying to make the right choices in our pursuit of happiness. On the road to good habits, however, evolution and our own psychology have thrown in plenty of obstacles. In this section, you’ll find articles to break down the biases, habits, and behaviors standing in the way of better health, better relationships, and the career you really want. Everything from hacks to new habits, the most scientifically verified research to the latest findings, this section will cue you in to life’s secrets that most people are missing out on.

Becoming Indistractable

The big things like success, acclaim, and financial freedom really come down to the small things, like daily routines, key behaviors, and managing distraction, exercised over a lifetime. We’ll look at how to stop procrastinating and how to stay focused. You’ll feel more in control of your daily routine.

Changing Habits

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit,” wrote Will Durant. We like to think we’ll gain success in one big leap, but it’s a mastery of our daily life choices that makes all the difference. Your habits are the building blocks of your days, your days are the building blocks of your weeks, and your months, and your years. A science in itself, changing habits is the key.

Making Better Decisions

We have more decisions than ever to make, about careers, friendships, and our health, to name a few. Experts have found that biases that we are not aware of skew our perception of our options and create blind spots on our choices. The more you understand these blind spots, from confirmation bias to status quo bias, present bias to hyperbolic discounting, the better you’ll be able to steer around your mental obstacles to make the wisest life choices. No one wants to look back on their life and wonder if they could have done better. Make yourself proud by building the best life you can achieve. We’ll show you how to make better life choices to meet your goals, be an A-player, and maximize your strengths.

Top Articles on Behavior Change

Unlocking Focus with the Distraction Tracker

Unlocking Focus with the Distraction Tracker

Use this tool to stop wasting precious time on distractionThink you’ll explode if you try one more ineffective productivity hack? Here’s what you need to know to actually hack back distraction: There are only three causes of any distraction: an internal trigger, an...

read more
The Crucial Difference Between Distraction and Diversion

The Crucial Difference Between Distraction and Diversion

Understanding the distinction is the first step to managing your timeBecause I write about distraction and how to avoid it, I often get asked the question “Aren’t distractions sometimes a good thing? Don’t we all need some distraction in our lives?” Nope!The Big...

read more
Decoding Self-Serving Bias: A Spy’s Guide to Clear Thinking

Decoding Self-Serving Bias: A Spy’s Guide to Clear Thinking

Nir’s Note: Shane Parrish is the writer of the popular blog Farnam Street, where he shares insights on decision-making, mental models, and lifelong learning. He is also a former cybersecurity expert and intelligence officer. This excerpt about the cognitive bias known...

read more
This Meeting Could have Been an Email: From Time Suck to Unstuck

This Meeting Could have Been an Email: From Time Suck to Unstuck

End boring, useless meetings once and for all.We’ve all been in a dumb meeting—one that makes you think, “This doesn’t even apply to me,” “I’m learning nothing from this,” or, worst of all, “This meeting could have been an email.” I’m sure you’ve commiserated with...

read more
When Do You Feel Most Creative? Why Ideas Bloom at Bedtime

When Do You Feel Most Creative? Why Ideas Bloom at Bedtime

Schedule time for mind wanderingMore times than I can count, I’ve slid under the bedsheets, turned off the light, and shut my eyes…only to have a great idea pop into my head. I’ll toss and turn for a while, hoping I’ll forget the thought. But if it’s a good one, I’ll...

read more

32 Morning Affirmations: Rise & Shine! [Science-Backed]

 Science shows self-affirmations can shift our mindset and behavior.Even if you’re not sure about the power of morning affirmations, the science behind them is–when used correctly, self-affirmations can significantly affect your mindset and behavior. They have...

read more
Scheduling for Life’s Surprises: When Timeboxing is Toast

Scheduling for Life’s Surprises: When Timeboxing is Toast

You have more control than you think Some days, the world seems intent on sabotaging your timeboxed calendar. A meeting goes longer than expected. The daycare center calls to say that your child is ill and has to be picked up ASAP. A project you thought would take an...

read more
Messaging App Madness: How To Stay Productive [and Sane]

Messaging App Madness: How To Stay Productive [and Sane]

Nir’s Note: This guest post is by Stedman Blake Hood, Co-founder and CEO at Dispatch.When they came on the scene in the 2010s, enterprise messaging apps delivered the fast collaboration companies craved. A new world of internal messaging dawned in which anyone could...

read more
How to Build an Irresistible Product for VC Investors

How to Build an Irresistible Product for VC Investors

Venture capital (VC) is a great opportunity for new entrepreneurs seeking to bring a product to life—but the funding is incredibly difficult to secure. A 2021 Harvard Business Review survey of almost 900 VC firms found that they consider 101 opportunities on average...

read more