Notes to self

Recommendations and insights based on research, books, films and more

Photo of a boxing match with a standing boxer in the ring and an opponent kneeling behind, lit by overhead lights.

GOALS AND MOTIVATION

Motivation is good, but discipline is better

by Christian Jarrett

A photo showing a person holding a bouquet of mixed flowers wrapped in brown paper, viewed from above and behind.

COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE

The words that make an apology convincing

by Alice Gregory

A switched-off smartphone on a bright yellow surface with fingerprints and smudges on the black screen.

TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA

A brief escape from social media

by Tamur Qutab

Aerial photo of Würzburg, a European cityscape with historic buildings, church spires and a clock tower under a partly cloudy sky.

Why ‘false authenticity’ is so unsettling

by Sam Dresser

An elderly man seated on a city street as skateboarders perform tricks around him.

Where are you on the ‘happiness curve’?

by Richard Fisher

A man in a tweed jacket viewing a framed German wanted poster on a wall in a museum or gallery setting.

FOCUS AND ATTENTION

The eerie phenomenon that keeps popping up

by Hannah Seo

A person lying in bed under a duvet, arms covering face; bedside table with books, a lamp, a mug and reading glasses.

Sleep is important, but not that important

by Alice Gregory

Page from a book with printed text about society and handwritten notes in the margin, including ’True but only in part‘.

FOCUS AND ATTENTION

The value of scribbling in the margins

by Richard Fisher

An adult and child looking at Santa inside a large snow globe with snowy trees at dusk.

EMOTION REGULATION

Seeing all the parts of a tough situation

by Matt Huston

MIND-BODY INTERACTIONS

How slow breathing calms down your brain

by Christian Jarrett

Photo of a person reading Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” with a red decorative cover while sitting near a window.

HABITS AND ROUTINES

My year of slow-reading War and Peace

by Freya Howarth

A group of office workers turned to face a colleague, clapping and smiling, in a modern meeting room setting.

WORK AND VOCATION

Are you saying ‘thank you’ too effusively?

by Christian Jarrett

People in a small, well-lit Japanese restaurant or bar, with a menu on the wall and beverages on the counter.

COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE

A little Japanese trick for saying ‘no’

by Richard Fisher

People dancing at an outdoor festival, colourful tents in background, clear blue sky overhead.

The beats that make us want to move

by Matt Huston

Three people chatting at a rustic bar in a pub, with a brick interior and various decorations.

Our relationships, in five dimensions

by Matt Huston

Pencil sketches of six faces and profiles on paper including bearded men and a woman with hair tied back.

MEANING AND THE GOOD LIFE

As if

by Sam Dresser

Black and white photo of soldiers and damaged tanks under trees in a wartime setting. One soldier crouches in the foreground.

CONFLICT AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

An unlikely meeting that shaped history

by Sam Dresser

A man with a beard sitting on a sofa with two young children, one resting on his head, in a room with bookshelves.

PARENTING AND FAMILIES

Being a dad has made my brain younger

by Christian Jarrett

A mountain peak with a walking path and hikers, under a clear blue sky with scattered clouds.

WONDER AND THE SUBLIME

The benefits of thinking about deep time

by Richard Fisher

Black and white photo of a man and woman sitting under an umbrella; the woman leans on the man’s shoulder.

COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE

True contact is found in silence

by Sam Dresser

Popular

People in a small, well-lit Japanese restaurant or bar, with a menu on the wall and beverages on the counter.

COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE

A little Japanese trick for saying ‘no’

by Richard Fisher

A person lying in bed under a duvet, arms covering face; bedside table with books, a lamp, a mug and reading glasses.

Sleep is important, but not that important

by Alice Gregory

Page from a book with printed text about society and handwritten notes in the margin, including ’True but only in part‘.

FOCUS AND ATTENTION

The value of scribbling in the margins

by Richard Fisher

MIND-BODY INTERACTIONS

How slow breathing calms down your brain

by Christian Jarrett

An elderly man seated on a city street as skateboarders perform tricks around him.

Where are you on the ‘happiness curve’?

by Richard Fisher

An adult and child looking at Santa inside a large snow globe with snowy trees at dusk.

EMOTION REGULATION

Seeing all the parts of a tough situation

by Matt Huston

A man in a tweed jacket viewing a framed German wanted poster on a wall in a museum or gallery setting.

FOCUS AND ATTENTION

The eerie phenomenon that keeps popping up

by Hannah Seo

Aerial photo of Würzburg, a European cityscape with historic buildings, church spires and a clock tower under a partly cloudy sky.

Why ‘false authenticity’ is so unsettling

by Sam Dresser

Popular

People in a small, well-lit Japanese restaurant or bar, with a menu on the wall and beverages on the counter.

COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE

A little Japanese trick for saying ‘no’

by Richard Fisher

A person lying in bed under a duvet, arms covering face; bedside table with books, a lamp, a mug and reading glasses.

Sleep is important, but not that important

by Alice Gregory

Page from a book with printed text about society and handwritten notes in the margin, including ’True but only in part‘.

FOCUS AND ATTENTION

The value of scribbling in the margins

by Richard Fisher

A traffic light showing a green transgender symbol in front of a historic city square with statues and buildings.

COMPASSION AND EMPATHY

To see your home city anew, try this

by Elena Seymenliyska

Four people enjoying churros with coffee at an outdoor cafe table, engaging in conversation and laughter.

COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE

Are people less talkative these days?

by Matt Huston

A person drinking next to a large poster depicting steaming coffee cups on a green background.

A way to enjoy more positive mental images

by Christian Jarrett

Two colourful birds on a branch one with wings spread against a blurred background.

COMPASSION AND EMPATHY

I’m trying a different approach to listening

by Molly Williamson

A man stands in a modern room looking at a large pink sculpture of tentacles outside the window.

What style of curiosity do you practise?

by Richard Fisher

Marble statue of a sleeping man with curly hair lying on fabric, arm draped over his head.

SLEEP AND DREAMS

The ancients dreamt the same dreams as us

by Sam Dresser

Black and white photo of an older man who is Christopher Walken in a suit gesturing while speaking into a microphone.

COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE

The voices that stick in our minds

by Matt Huston

A man with white hair in a suit sitting at the head of an empty boardroom table, facing forward, back toward the camera. Dozens of empty chairs line the outer edges of the room; windows at the rear of the room show trees outside.

WORK AND VOCATION

Don’t fall victim to the Peter Principle

by Christian Jarrett

Painting of a bearded man lying on a wooden bed with a patterned robe, resting his head on his hand, slippers on floor.

MEMORY AND NOSTALGIA

Forgetting in ancient Greece and China

by Sam Dresser