Build your latticework of philosophies for a deeper and simpler life. — Curiosity about Japan is nothing new. After Japan opened to the West in the 19th century, its impact on the formal and decorative arts became so intense that the phenomenon was anointed as an ‘’ism.’’ Japonism or Japonaiserie has continued to thrive to this day, with influences in technology, anime…

An updated overview of my favourite apps and tools. — I love experimenting with different tools and apps to make my personal and professional life more productive and easier to manage. My 2021 Life Tech Stack received a great response, so here I am with an updated 2022 edition. What’s a tech stack, you ask? A technology stack or tech…

Save your mental energy for the decisions that matter. — I’m in a store, trying to pick a gift for my friend’s birthday. This should’ve been a quick errand, yet I’ve been walking through the aisles for the past 45 minutes, growing increasingly frustrated with myself. Just. pick. something! I end up walking out empty-handed. Our days are one long…

Four refreshing ideas from ‘How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big’ — Goals are for losers, and passion is bullshit. Scott Adams, creator of the popular cartoon Dilbert, says it like it is in his book How To Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that I enjoyed this much. It’s funny…

Strengthen the neural circuit in your brain involved in suppressing action. — How much genius are we losing to the compulsive need to scroll just a little bit more? The other day I realized something. Heads up, it's pretty depressing. Say we spend 2 hours of "wasted time" per day on our phones (and that's probably being kind). 2 hours x 365…

The science behind working in 90-minute sprints. — Our bodies send us clear signals when we need a break. Fidgetiness, hunger, drowsiness, loss of focus. Mostly, we override them. We find artificial ways to pump up our energy: caffeine, sugary foods, and our body’s own stress hormones — adrenalin, norepinephrine, and cortisol. A much smarter way would be…

But there’s a simple solution. — Download sample. Purchase. Return sample. Purchase. Click. Click. Click. Click. I’ll come across an interesting book, get excited, download it to my Kindle and start reading. Forget about the 2 other books I was so enthusiastic about last week. About 30–35% into the book, I lose interest. But not to…

How I use Readwise & Reader + Roam + Otter.ai + MyMind — If you write online, you need a note-taking system. Don’t believe anyone who says otherwise. What you don’t need is a complicated note-taking system. I see these online tutorials with elaborate tagging systems and color coding, and it makes my head spin. …