Every time you do something could be the last time you do it. — Recently, a relative told me a bizarre story. It all started like a typical day, he told me. He drove to work and did his job as usual. Then, at lunch, one of his co-workers approached him. “You know what,” she said unsuspectingly, “I feel like I need to exercise…

Why the pursuit of living in the present can make you miserable. — Recently, I visited Liseberg — a stunning amusement park in Göteborg, Sweden. It promised an absurd amount of fun. But when I got on the most popular roller coaster — a majestic, green, space-themed colossus of steel — something strange happened: I was stressed out. Not because I’m scared of…

The art of embracing imperfections while delivering remarkable work. — In case you’re wondering: Yes. I put that typo in the headline on purpose. Because one day, I'd like to be that kind of person. One who doesn’t sweat the details but still delivers remarkable work. An imperfectionist. After all, you still understood the title and clicked on it, right…

How to appreciate the little things in life again. — It crushes me to say this, but it’s true: For the longest time, I never knew how to appreciate the little things in life. And so, even my greatest achievements caused great disappointments. When I submitted my bachelor thesis after six months of draining work I was dead-tired for two…

The real reasons behind bedtime procrastination — and how to solve it. — It happened again. I feel as though a truck ran over me while I was sleeping. My brain is more like a blob of porridge than a block of well-functioning neurons. I’m uninspired, moody, and, of course, tired. The reason is something I’ve been struggling with for quite some time…

How to practice Wu Wei — the art of effortless action. — A few months ago, a 15-minute run changed my life forever. I know, I know, it sounds stupid. But let me explain. I used to have a toxic relationship with running. On every run, I’d tell myself, “You have to run for at least 30 minutes, at least 5 miles…

Use the micro-sabbatical to deeply recharge on your own schedule. — Not too long ago, I was so stressed that even a single thought about writing turned my entire stomach upside down. I lost myself in insignificant details, neglected my health, and stopped responding to messages. Concepts like calm or clarity felt alien to me. But then, everything changed. I decided…

How not to overcomplicate absolutely everything. — A few weeks ago, I tapped into the power of a simple life. I had a 7kg rucksack strapped to my back, held a wooden stick in my right hand, and was hiking the Camino de Santiago. I made peace with myself and the world. Life felt light. But before…

3 powerful mindsets to relieve regret, anxiety, and confusion. — It hit me on an airplane somewhere over Argentina. Anxiety and regret started ricocheting through my skull like bullets in a fiberglass chamber. I sat strapped to my seat, staring out of the oval window at this beautiful sunset — peach-colored clouds intertwined with deep purple paintbrush strokes. And I…

10 lessons that will teach you how to be a human being. — I graduated from high school believing I had received the best education possible. I learned how to calculate the exact speed at which the universe is expanding. I spent thousands of hours translating the incredible (and dead) language of Cicero, Ovid, and Seneca. …

How to change your life in a year or less. — Using these ideas, I turned my life around in less than six months. I quit my Master’s program — and with that four years of engineering. (Take that, sunk cost fallacy!) Shortly after, I cleared out my apartment, crammed my most valuable possessions into a backpack, and moved to Portugal…

But not in the way you might think. — I’ve had the enormous privilege to travel the world at a young age. I visited the breathtaking beaches of Hawaii, roamed the raw outdoors of Alaska, and hiked through the stunning nature of Argentina. …

How to make unhappiness work for you, not against you. — Let’s be completely honest here: We spend most of our lives unhappy. In the summer it’s too hot. During winter it’s too cold. Everything in between is too inconsistent and unpredictable. We crave relationships. But once we get into them, we complain that they’re messy and complicated. We like the…