You read the books, you listen to the podcasts, you gather advice, to-do lists, strategies, frameworks. And yet, you stay stuck. Why? Not because you’re missing something out there. But because you lack access to what’s already in here—the tools and resources hardwired into you. So if you’ve been circling a specific problem or decision, try the below formula for one week. I guarantee you’ll make progress. If not, get your money back. Every morning or evening, right after or right before going to bed, block 15-20 minutes and do this: Step 1 — Kidlin’s Law: write it out Write out in detail what the problem is. What do you know? What assumptions are you making? You’re not necessarily solving it right away. You’re simply describing it in as much detail as possible. Bringing some order to the chaos in your head. Very important: pen and paper only. Then every day, add any new thoughts, ideas, and insights. No editing. No judging. Just write down exactly what comes up. Step 1b - Keep your phone far away from you A study testing the “brain drain” hypothesis showed that “the mere presence of your smartphone occupies limited-capacity cognitive resources, thereby leaving fewer resources available for other tasks.” In simple terms: when you try...

If you’re someone who feels guilty about taking breaks throughout your work day… this brain scan finding might change everything: Your brain is actively working for you while you “do nothing”, and the best thing you can do is to get out of its way. Here’s what I learned from the book Rest by Alex Pang: When you’re resting, your brain is almost as active as when you’re focused. One particular study, back in the 1990s, showed that there’s as much going on in the brain while reading text (a cognitively complicated activity) as while staring at a blank wall. It’s just a different kind of activity, driven by different brain regions. As soon as we stop concentrating on an external task, our brain automatically switches on the Default Mode Network (DMN) - a series of interconnected sections that are involved in mind-wandering, daydreaming about the past and future, and introspection. This kind of brain activity is hugely important and valuable. The DMN is busy processing, connecting, and consolidating ideas - completely outside of our conscious awareness. “It is clear that the brain’s creative work is never done, that even in its resting state the brain is plugging away at problems, examining and tossing out possible answers, looking...

Tell me if this sounds familiar: You resolve to make a change for the better in your life. Maybe to walk more. Or to stop drinking. Or to pick up that breathwork habit again. You tell your partner about it. You put your resolution in writing. You actually make the change. It works. It feels good! You’re happy about it. Your partner is thrilled. Then you backslide. Why? Are you some kind of slob who has no willpower? Biology tells us: not necessarily. Backsliding is a universal experience. Every one of us resists significant change, no matter whether it’s for the worse or for the better. Our body, brain, and behavior have a built-in tendency to stay the same within rather narrow limits, and to snap back when changed—and it’s a very good thing they do! Ultimately, your nervous system doesn’t care about your good intentions. It cares about keeping you alive. Just think about it: if your body temperature moved up or down by 10 percent, you’d be in big trouble. The same thing applies to your blood-sugar level and to any number of other functions of your body. So your system is constantly keeping track of what’s changing and adjusting as necessary. This condition of equilibrium, this resistance...