Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 8/23/20
Build Your Second Brain
(Dean Yeong | deanyeong.com | 225 words | Subscribe)
Keep a file on your favorite note-taking app called “Quick Capture,” so you can jot down any thoughts as they come to you, and don’t have to worry about remembering them.
Then schedule time at the end of the day or week to review these so you can act on them, add them to your to-do list, or do whatever’s appropriate.
I like this because it’s so much simpler than most personal information management systems I’ve seen. My general belief is that self-help advice needs to make improvement easier, not harder.
11 Incredibly Easy Things to Stop Doing to Be Happier
(Steven Ray Marks | Self Helping Yourself | 2025 words)
Common ways people sabotage their own happiness that would be easy to stop, including:
- Arguing on the internet
- Doomscrolling and catastrophism
- Expecting people to be mind-readers
- Wishing things were better and dreaming up solutions to problems they have no control over
- Spending time around toxic people
- Taking it personally when someone’s a jerk
How to Deal With Difficult People
(John Hernandez | Addicted2Success | 900 words)
Sometimes there are difficult people in life that you can’t avoid. The best way to handle these are:
- Listen, then wait.
- Reinforce your relationship.
- Understand the person.
- Make progress.
As someone who’s generally able to get along with difficult people, I’d add that you shouldn’t argue with them. If they say something awful or stupid, just inwardly roll your eyes and move on. Challenging them will only make it worse.
Note: I recommend reading the last two articles in order. They connect well together, with both discussing ways to handle toxic people.
10 Unusual Problem Solving Methods
(Nelville Medhora | KopywritingKourse.com | Infographic | Subscribe)
If you’re stuck on a problem, here are some offbeat ways to reframe it that might help you find a solution. Suggestions include:
- Write out many solutions, then rank them by effectiveness and difficulty
- Thank the problem
- Think of a hilarious solution
Quiet Your Inner Critic – 5 Powerful Strategies
(Shane Walker | The Self Improvement Blog | 1000 words)
Ways to fight the negative voices in your head that prevent growth.
- Use counter-affirmations
- Write down your critical thoughts
- Challenge your inner critic
- Quiet your inner critic by disassociation
- Know your value
Self Helping Yourself Tweet of the Week
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