The law of diminishing returns is the threshold at which productivity (or happiness) starts to plateau and may even reduce. It is related to what economists refer to as the point of marginal utility—where more input does not necessarily produce a corresponding increase in output. A lesson from history The Byzantine (Roman) empire was possibly … Read more
What separates us from our primate ancestors is our ability to think (hopefully intelligent thoughts.) But that comes at a price—we don’t just think. We overthink, thanks to our monkey minds. Our thoughts are constantly shifting, swinging, vacillating, like monkeys from one branch to the next. Here’s the 64,000-dollar question: Is the monkey mind a … Read more
It’s easy for productivity gurus to judge the procrastinators (those who believe in never putting off till tomorrow what can be done even later.) But many of these efficiency experts are plagued by an affliction themselves—the problem of precrastination. Their tendency to finish tasks early can be equally dangerous, and dare I say, counter-productive. How … Read more
There are three categories of people in this world: rule followers, rule benders, and rule-breakers. I firmly belong to the first camp—the followers, the kind who would rather not color outside the lines. You draw lines; I’ll stay well within them. You tell me what is and isn’t acceptable, and I’ll do my best to … Read more
After religion and politics, food is probably the most contentious subject out there. The truth, though is, you are what you eat. Not just literally, but metaphorically too. We are influenced and molded by what we ingest and imbibe. What we watch, who we spend time hanging out with, the content we read —all add … Read more
Trivia for the day: A memomagnetist is someone who collects fridge magnets. Of all the things you could collect, I suppose fridge magnets aren’t that wacky because they can serve as constant reminders for essential life lessons. Especially lessons we need to remember but tend to forget. Such as this one: “This too shall pass.” … Read more
The English dictionary has more words than can fit in this paragraph to describe what happens when we don’t have deadlines. My favorites, off the top of my head, in no particular order, include the following: dillydallying, loafing, loitering, dawdling, wandering, squandering, and the catch-all term procrastinating. As an expert practitioner of all flavors of … Read more
Is it impossible to teach an old dog new tricks? I researched this question a little too literally. It led me to a quote from an actual dog trainer, an obedience training director at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA.) “Any dog can be trained. With some, you just have … Read more
You notice a suspicious lump on your neck, and before long, you’re overthinking your estate plan and whether the kids are going to be okay. Does that sound familiar? The world we live in is full of uncertainties. It can leave us frozen, unable to function. But putting our lives on hold while waiting for … Read more
The sun is guaranteed to rise every day (at least for the next few billion years). Sadly, we are not. The realization that we could have more decades behind us than ahead can be unnerving. The antidote to that is to go to bed fulfilled each day, knowing you did at least a few things … Read more
“Simplify your life” is not a directive to live a life of deprivation. You don’t have to turn into an ascetic and give up on all that you enjoy. It means you stop creating complexity out of simplicity. To keep it simple just means you let go of things that don’t matter to focus on … Read more
If you’re feeling a little too smug or perfect, I have the perfect antidote for you. Simply head over to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) website to check out some statistics on material and waste, and recycling. I kid you not; those numbers are strong enough to burst any bubble of righteousness we … Read more
Picture yourself at the beach. It’s crowded, but you manage to find a quiet spot. You settle in there comfortably with your eyes closed, tuned to the sounds of the crashing ocean waves. Then, a group of boisterous teens decide to set up camp near you, taking up the only other quiet spot on an … Read more
A NY Times article published sixty-six years ago, almost exactly to the day, ran this rather blasphemous-by-today’s-standards headline: “Queen keeps figure trim by walks and willpower.” The content that followed the headline was equally sacrilegious, describing measurements that should really be the subject of private conversations between the English Monarch and her seamstress. The piece … Read more
Nala, a house cat, started to act weird. She frightened other nearby cats and also stalked the quiet, old dog. She tugged at curtain rods, dismantling them, and chewed bits of the sofa. Nala’s behavior worried her owner, who then took Nala to a cat behaviorist (yes, an actual occupation.) The cat psychologist analyzed Nala’s … Read more
When he was 16, Einstein performed a thought experiment. He wondered if he could outrun a beam of light. Granted, Einstein’s visualizations were lofty, unlike the fascinations of most 16-year-olds I know—Nintendo Switch lite, Hollywood makeup mirror, DIY mochi kits. Einstein’s single thought experiment changed the course of human history in the 20th century. We … Read more
When a 3-year-old falls down and expects her already multitasking mother to come running to her, it’s adorable. A 30-year-old (adult-child) who expects people to go to her rescue every time she has a bad day isn’t a cute look. It is a sign of self-entitlement. A rapidly progressing ailment in our society. The cure … Read more
Ever have the hollow feeling of getting to bedtime and not having much to show for your day? We all go through times when it’s easy to get lost in the rigmarole of life. One day turns into another and another and another, and before you know it, you hit another milestone birthday and wonder … Read more
If you see a celebrity on a magazine cover flaunting six-pack abs, what thought runs through your head? That you need to go on a diet/exercise regimen to emulate those surfboard abs? Or, do you roll your eyes and attribute the celebrity’s abs to the army of personal trainers and chefs at her disposal, not … Read more
Have you insisted that you left the keys on the table only to find them later in your coat pocket? Or, had trouble recalling the name of the movie but can quote dialogue from the movie verbatim? Or, argue with your spouse about stuff you heard on the radio last week while you both swear … Read more