5 Things Not to Miss
1
CNBC
A life-changing money rule
Have you tried a no-spend month? I wrote a piece for CNBC about how it shifted my perspective on money, and included some tips if you’d like to try it yourself.
2
GRETCHENRUBIN.COM
Getting back on track for Determination Day
Research shows that most New Year’s resolutions are abandoned by the end of February. I’ve claimed February 28 as Determination Day — an opportunity to recommit to aims that have gotten off track. If you’re having trouble making progress on building a new habit, it may not be not specific enough. Try this short exercise to define your aim in a way that’s specific and measurable.
3
SUBSTACK
Don’t think; act
I had so much fun speaking with my old friend Daniel Pink, bestselling author of seven nonfiction books on topics ranging from human motivation to the science of timing to career reinvention. Dan shared some of his best Secrets of Adulthood, including the importance of who you surround yourself with, and why we should plan less and act more.
4
QUESTION EVERYTHING
What self-help gets wrong
I talked with Danielle Robay on the Question Everything podcast about the current “self-improvement” era, and which things actually move the needle. (Spoiler alert: getting enough sleep is a big one.)
5
REAL SIMPLE
14 tips for more happiness
I shared my best tips for increasing happiness through small changes with Real Simple.
Small Changes, Real Results
Ready for healthier habits that stick? Nourish pairs you 1:1 with a real dietitian, most users pay $0 with insurance. Personalized support for energy, weight, diabetes, fertility & IBS, all from home. Simple, supportive care that meets you where you are.
INTERVIEW
Michael Pollan
Michael Pollan is the bestselling author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and How to Change Your Mind. His new book, A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness, is available now.
Q: Can you suggest something we might try to help ourselves to become happier, healthier, more productive, or more creative?
Walk. I find my best ideas arise when I get up from the desk and walk. There’s something about the rhythm that meshes productively with thought.
Q: Do you have a Secret of Adulthood? A lesson you’ve learned from life the hard way; something you’d tell your younger self?
The secret of adulthood is that adulthood never really comes. We remain children, but children who look old.
Q: What simple habit boosts your happiness or energy?
I do a breathing exercise called Cyclic Sighing: two sharp intakes through the nose, with a long exhale through the mouth. Ten of those will center and calm you.
Q: Is there a particular motto that you’ve found very helpful?
I learned this one from Joseph Goldstein, the meditation teacher. When you’re striving to be present and to block out all the stimuli that assail us, say to yourself, simply, “Just this.” Works especially well when you’re out in nature.
Q: Has a book ever changed your life – if so, which one and why?
Not yet, but I keep reading in the hopes of finding the one.
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