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- Aug 31, 2021
- 1 min
Formula for Motivation
Mark Manson calls his "Do Something Principle" one of the most powerful life hacks in existence. This principal states that taking action...
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- Aug 28, 2021
- 1 min
Formula for Discovering Your Core Values
According to career coach Ashley Stahl, a crucial step in identifying our dream career is to first pinpoint our Core Values. Core Values...
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- Aug 19, 2021
- 3 min
Formula for Not Being a Jerk
Once there was an old woman sitting beside a dusty traveling route between towns. A traveler came over the hill and sat down beside the...
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- Aug 17, 2021
- 1 min
Formula for Responding to Tragedy
As we've watched the tragic situation in Afghanistan unfold over the past several days, the natural reaction from many of us has been to...
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- Aug 16, 2021
- 2 min
Formula for a Better Road Trip
Have you ever been hours into a day-long road trip and wished for a better way? Ever fantasized about crazy new modes of transport that...
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- Aug 11, 2021
- 1 min
Formula for Comedy
"Comedy is tragedy plus time." This formula has been attributed to Woody Allen, Tig Notaro and a handful of others, but this sleuth...
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- Aug 10, 2021
- 2 min
Grace Goals: Tweaking the formula for habit change
The "Chain" method is a popular method for habit change. James Clear calls it the Seinfeld Strategy based on Jerry's method for churning...
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- Aug 4, 2021
- 1 min
Formula for Mastering Something New
Maybe you've heard the modern parable about the pottery teacher from David Bayles and Ted Orland's book Art & Fear. The wise teacher...
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- Aug 3, 2021
- 2 min
Formula for Contentment
There's an old parable about an American businessman on vacation in Mexico. One morning he is drinking his coffee by the sea and he...
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- Aug 2, 2021
- 1 min
Important Thing Cheat Sheet: NFTs
Cheat Sheets are my attempt to explain something *important* (i.e., it’s been all over the news) in a way that is fun and accessible. The...
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- Jul 29, 2021
- 1 min
Formula for Hacking Chocolate Chip Cookies
A thousand internet posts have been launched with claims to the BEST recipe for chocolate chip cookies, and I won't attempt to unseat...
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- Jul 28, 2021
- 1 min
Formula for Quitting
Think about your most annoying, soul-sucking, life-draining regular task. Maybe it's constantly picking up the small pieces of litter and...
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- Jul 27, 2021
- 3 min
Formula for Guilt-Free Shopping
When did consumerism transform into charity? Companies selling consumer goods from lunchboxes and socks to soap and medical scrubs are...
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- Jul 26, 2021
- 2 min
Formula for an Interesting Story
Sharon McMahon is a former high-school government teacher who, in the past 8 months, has amassed a following of 655,000 on her...
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- Jul 23, 2021
- 2 min
Formula for More Mental Energy
Is energy management even more important than time management? I linked to an article on the topic yesterday. Lack of time isn't really...
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- Jul 22, 2021
- 1 min
Formula for Meditating
Quick: what does "meditating" look like? Sit in the lotus position. Close your eyes. Focus on your breath. Clear your mind. Let your...
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- Jul 22, 2021
- 2 min
Formula for Controlling Time
China is a massive country, approximately the same distance across as the U.S. or Canada. So one would expect it to have 4 or 5 time...
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- Jun 16, 2021
- 2 min
Formula for Happiness
In 1998, the tiny Asian nation of Bhutan invented the concept of Gross National Happiness. This creative social yardstick was introduced...
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- Jun 14, 2021
- 1 min
The Formula for Good Life Choices
Researchers have found that the level of empathy we have toward our future selves is similar to the level of empathy we feel for a...
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- May 6, 2021
- 1 min
The Formula for Adulthood
On Kelly Corrigan's amazing podcast this month, she explores the five ancient secrets to modern happiness with a series of guests. Her...
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- Apr 28, 2021
- 3 min
Random Noun Rabbit Hole
This is an experiment in the "anything is interesting if you dig deep enough" arena. Use a random noun generator like this one to produce...
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- Apr 27, 2021
- 1 min
Important People Cheat Sheets
Have a suggestion for an Important Person? Please email alchemeblog@gmail.com. I'd love to hear your ideas!
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- Apr 23, 2021
- 2 min
Life Rules, in Seconds and Minutes
3 seconds: how long it takes to decide if we find someone attractive (and it takes even less time to fall in love!). 5 seconds: How long...
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- Apr 22, 2021
- 1 min
Formula for a Stunning 2021 Kitchen
Circular lights picture from Lauren Liess Interiors, black & White Island from Emily Henderson. Wood is back in kitchens, but...
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- Apr 20, 2021
- 2 min
Elevator Recipe: Salmon Everything Bowl
Salmon is delicious, but you won't find me eating many of its variations. No to salmon burgers, no to any kind of salmon patty, no thank...
