The Gist

We live in an age that is obsessed with not just “being”, but instead with well-being. And we live in a time when it seems eminently possible to be better than well, even. We can now strive to be the fittest, strongest, healthiest humans that ever existed. But we do not need to achieve such levels of “wellness” and fitness to thrive. Consider that modern humans have been around for some 300,000 ye...

Health, as they say, is the greatest wealth because without it we can't achieve any of our goals, care for our loved ones or contribute to society. Of course one of the biggest contributors to health is our diet but information on food can be confusing and contradictory. So let's get back to the basics on food and see how we can incorporate healthy eating into our daily lives. See full tra...

The start of a new year is often the time when we resolve to take better care of our health. But before we know it, our health goals can take a back seat as we deal with the busyness of life. We may get away with it for a while maybe relying on luck or good genes or youth, but sooner or later, health issues start cropping up for everyone. So over the next few weeks, let's examine the elements...

At the beginning of each year many of us look back at what we accomplished in the last one or look ahead at what we could achieve in the coming twelve months. Taking stock is a useful exercise because it forces us to pause and evaluate what we define as success and failure. In an increasingly performative world, its easy to equate external accolades and trendy experiences with the perfect life. So...

As we head into holiday season we often mark this time of year by gift giving. Whether its food, clothes, or money we look for ways to treat our loved ones to something special. Amid the shopping frenzy, we usually don't think of giving each other the gift of silence. Yet, there are so many reasons why silence makes the perfect present, both for ourselves and others. Here's why... See full...

Recently, as I was running errands with my youngest son, he was busy people watching. Out of the blue he asked me, "do all these people know who we are?'' It had dawned upon him that most people in the world were strangers to us. And, in turn, most of them didn't know we existed at all, let alone know us well. My son quickly went back to watching the world go by, but his question...

Heading into the home stretch of this year, the pressure is on to get everything done before the new one. Of course some of that pressure is external but some of it is self-imposed. So how do we sift through everything on our plates and figure out what really matters? When we feel torn between competing demands, our ability to prioritize can profoundly impact our productivity and our well-being. ...

Harvest festivals are common to cultures around the world. In Canada, the autumn harvest is a time when we are surrounded by fruits, vegetables and a spectacular array of leaf colours. The chilly fall weather makes the warmth of loved ones that much more special along with the smell of good food and the sound of crackling fires. To me, it is a time to relish the simple things in an over stimulated...

Human history is full of examples of our innate curiosity and creativity. As we evolved, we slowly but surely built on the knowledge of our ancestors. Occasionally, through some combination of luck and resourcefulness, we discovered or developed something truly revolutionary. Fire, the wheel, the compass, paper and agriculture. And more recently, electricity, flight, vaccines, the internet and art...

Last time, in Part 1 of this topic , we looked at how the remote versus in-person work debate is unfolding in different countries. Global trends aside, each of us must grapple with these questions individually. This debate rages on as we all try to navigate the ever changing waters of the workplace. Everywhere, people are wondering if remote work is here to stay or if it will be a relic of the pan...

For many of us, September is a month of transition. We're on the cusp of a new season, an autumnal chill in the air. Children are returning to school and adults are resuming a regular work schedule. But in a post-pandemic world, what does showing up for work really mean? It seems that some employers are heading towards a full return to work in person. Others are adopting a hybrid model, but st...

Last week, in part one of the productivity paradox, we looked at two main ideas - how small productivity changes over time end up having a big impact, and also how focusing on the process of getting to an outcome is as or even more important than the outcome itself. This week we look at how to stay focused and also balance immediate tasks with long term goals. See full transcript here. Photo credi...

Although productivity is something that’s talked about so much, it seems like a tough nut to crack. So over the next couple of weeks we’re going to dig into it a little more. Ever since the industrial revolution, it seems that our global culture has become increasingly focused on productivity.  From assembly lines to office work, from teams to individuals, we seem obsessed with doing ever more in...

With all manner of gadgets at our disposal, it is little wonder that we have trouble attending to one thing at a time.  As we wrote recently, our addictive devices can rob us of time to do deep work, be bored or daydream - all of which are vital for creativity.  It is easy to get caught up online, clicking one link after another, consuming information of little value.  Junk food for the mind if yo...

We humans share a capacity for learning from and adapting to our environments.  A common belief is that we all fall into a predominant learning style - visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic (i.e by doing) - or VARK.  Presumably, if knowledge is presented to us in a way that matches our preferred learning style, then we will understand it better.  But Derek Muller, who has a doctorate...

At a time when many people in our world have higher standards of living than any previous time in human history, there seems to also be a paradoxical and pervasive feeling of lack.  Many of us are blessed not only with having our basic needs met, but also the kind of affluence that our ancestors could never have imagined. And a level of material comfort that is still wildly out of reach for millio...

A while ago, we wrote about the amazing gift of language that is unique to our species and how it shapes our minds.  Given how important speech and writing are to our lives, it is worth pausing to examine if we can do both more mindfully.  Today we explore some key elements of day to day communication. See full transcript here. Photo credit: Priscilla Du Preez

As we go about our days, with a full 'to do' list and various responsibilities, we sometimes forget to be still.  It is easy to get caught up in the inner and outer restlessness of life, to always focus on the next problem, to look for the clouds in the silver lining. We also make the mistake of looking at joyous people and assuming that they must be lucky, have blessed lives where things...

The summer months are upon us and with that comes the opportunity for a less scheduled existence, at least for a short while before everyone gets back to work and school in autumn. Many of us are likely craving some 'me time' this summer, a fairly modern phenomenon borne of having more leisure than our ancestors. While leisure is important and wonderful, me-time can also be about reflectio...

I first came across the idea that life is not an emergency when reading the book Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...and it's all Small Stuff by the late psychologist and author Richard Carlson. I was in my twenties then, full of ambition and ready to compete, so I couldn't fully relate to this idea but it stayed with me. As I've grown older, it makes more sense to me with each passing y...

In many parts of the world, people are starting to move into vacation mode. Children are wrapping up the school year, dreaming of lazier summer months. Along with them, we adults might be looking forward to a slower pace too, to getting away from the everyday to relax or travel. Yet, planning and going on vacations can involve its own busyness, leaving us longing for home again, relishing it's...

There are times in our lives that feel like lulls - valleys between busier peaks of activity. Those periods might leave us feeling bored, searching for busyness again. Yet, such lulls can be a precious time to reflect on our experiences. And we don't even need to wait for life to present us with these opportunities for stillness. We can, in fact, carve out a little bit of time to pause and con...

Across time and cultures, humans have always loved a good story, filled with themes of adventure, love, and good against evil. Even today we seem to enjoy drama, whether its in modern day books and movies, political scandals or celebrity gossip. But when it comes to our own lives, drama can be draining and hold us back from doing constructive, positive things. Being human means that difficult patc...

Now that my own children are growing up, I find myself nostalgically observing babies and toddlers I see. I am always amazed, and a little jealous frankly, of their ability to be in the moment. In their world, everything happens right now. Whatever they are experiencing - joy, sadness, hunger, sleepiness - takes over and they remain blissfully unconcerned with past or future. Of course, we can&#39...

As modern humans, we seem intent on keeping busy. But where in all this hustle and bustle can we find time to care for ourselves? While we hear a lot about self-care these days, it can feel like yet another thing we have to do! But with a little creative thinking and by expanding our definition of self-care, it doesn't have to be. So let's explore some ways of nourishing ourselves amidst o...