The term “quiet quitting” has become a thing. It all started with a seventeen second TikTok video that went viral, in which the narrator says “it is not outright quitting your job but quitting the idea of going above and beyond at work.” Since then, quiet quitting has been covered…

Let’s start with an interesting observation: so many “influencers,” “optimizers,” and “wellness” and “happiness” gurus don’t have partners or kids. …

On the wall of my local gym, where the coaches program training based on how athletes feel, hangs a chart that details RPE, or rate of perceived exertion. Commonly used in high-performance sport, RPE is a helpful tool to balance effort and recovery. More time in upper zones means more…

Most people have had the experience of losing themselves while listening to a musical album, viewing art, watching an athlete’s peak performance, or hiking in nature. What all of these events have in common is that they minimize your ego. …

The truth about working through challenging situations — Fake toughness is easy to spot. It’s the guy picking a fight at your local gym. The anonymous poster acting like a hard ass on message boards. The bully at school. The executive who masks his own insecurity by yelling at his subordinates. The strength coach who works her athletes…

How to feel — and do — good over the long haul — Anyone who is serious about excellence comes to learn that it is based on perennial principles, which extend beyond any one person or pursuit. Excellence takes time, is non-linear, and there are a variety of paths to get where you want to go. Here are nineteen interrelated habits for the…

How heroic individualism perpetuates impossible expectations, and what you can do about it — Even before the pandemic, people were feeling that their work was unsustainable. Many were on the edge of burnout, overwhelmed by the unrelenting frantic and frenetic energy of today’s world. A common experience was, and still is, a mix of fatigue and restlessness, nervousness and dread. It is helpful to…

Knowledge is knowing something, wisdom is knowing when and how to use it — Something I discuss often with my coaching clients is the importance of taking even the best advice with a grain of salt. …

On the power of showing up and behavioral activation — Conventional wisdom says that positive thinking, enthusiasm, and inspiration are key to living a good and productive life. But that’s not entirely true, at least not according to the latest psychological science. …