Embrace the monotony
A museum guard’s tale of long, slow hours on the job changed how I think about seemingly empty stretches of time
by Hannah Seo
Focus and attention
Motivation is good, but discipline is better
The Ukrainian boxing champion Usyk’s recent claim that ‘discipline is better than motivation’ was psychologically astute
by Christian Jarrett
Stressed about a date or an interview? Video games may offer a surprising salve
Video by the University of California
How to thrive as an adult with ADHD
Use ‘mindful self-coaching’ to help yourself overcome everyday ADHD challenges, from procrastination to feelings of overwhelm
by Lidia Zylowska & Joohee Seo
A brief escape from social media
After leaving my phone behind for a week and coming back to it, I saw my social media use in a stark new light
by Tamur Qutab
In an era of split attention, there is more than one type of ADHD
ADHD is typically thought to be wired into the brain early. But many cases may be better seen as products of digital life
by Paul Kudlow, Karline Treurnicht Naylor & Elia Abi-Jaoude
The eerie phenomenon that keeps popping up
Ever feel like a word or person you just learned about has been showing up repeatedly? There’s a term for that
by Hannah Seo
Dance showed me the untapped power of our attention muscle
Through tango, I sharpened attentional skills that make any moment richer. But these can be honed on or off the dancefloor
by Sara Melzer
The value of scribbling in the margins
Marginalia is far from inessential. It would be a shame if it died off in the digital age
by Richard Fisher
What the marshmallow test got wrong about child psychology
Self-control, grit, growth mindset – trendy skills won’t transform children’s lives, but more meaningful interventions can
by Tyler W Watts
Does progress seem slower when you constantly check on it?
Research on how we perceive the rate of change shows how you can be strategic about goal tracking and boost your motivation
by André Vaz
There’s joy in doing a job right. Just ask this artisanal pencil-sharpener
Directed by Kenneth Price
How to alter the passage of time to feel fast or slow
Knowing the psychology behind why moments drag or whizz by can give you a degree of control over your experience of time
by Martin Wiener
To become more attuned to the world around you, try sketching outdoors
Video by The Museum of Modern Art
Uncertainty is stressful, but here’s why we need to feel it
As much as people struggle with not knowing, we live in an uncertain world – and there are advantages to embracing that
by Jessica Alquist
I’m trying a different approach to listening
Practising Carl Rogers’s unconditional positive regard helps me be more compassionate and less judgmental – of myself too
by Molly Williamson