The Paradoxical Power of Idleness
In 1935, the influential British philosopher Bertrand Russell wrote an essay titled “In Praise of Idleness.” In it, he extolled the virtues of relaxation and leisure even in the face of withering...
View ArticleFiguring Out ‘The Good Life’
A few weeks ago, I had a great conversation with a few good friends about what exactly it means to “live the good life.” It turned out that we all had somewhat different views on what “the good life”...
View ArticleThe One Discount That Won’t Save You Money
Have you ever told yourself you’d go to the gym after just one episode of a TV show, only to end up watching five episodes and then skipping the gym altogether? If so, you’d be exhibiting a type of...
View ArticleHow Secular Buddhism’s Principles Can Help You Transform Your Financial and...
Over the past several months, I’ve written a number of articles about how different schools of philosophy have directly helped me to achieve greater personal and financial success. The first article...
View ArticleExternal Validation and Personal Finance
I participate in a couple of online book clubs with a number of old friends (and friends of friends) who have been spread all over the country. In these clubs, we read a book a month and discuss them...
View ArticleHow I Get Things Done, Personally and Professionally
I get a lot of somewhat irregular reader questions like this: What do you use to manage your to-do lists? Are you still using Todoist? And this: How do you use a pocket notebook? Do you use it for...
View ArticleA Deeper Look at 30-Day and 90-Day Challenges
One of my favorite self-improvement tools, whether it’s for financial improvement or fitness or diet or moral improvement or whatever, is the 30-day challenge. It’s a tool I’ve used for years to nudge...
View ArticleBeating the Diderot Effect
I recently enjoyed a great article by James Clear on the Diderot effect, as he names it. What is the Diderot effect, you ask? The Diderot Effect states that obtaining a new possession often creates a...
View ArticleThe Value of Time Tracking – And How I Do It
Over the past few years, I’ve made several small references to the fact that I’m a pretty active time tracker. I like to keep track of what I do with my time throughout the day, to the best of my...
View ArticleAn Update on Goal-Oriented Paper Planners and Some New Recommendations
A couple of years ago, I wrote a very popular article about goal-oriented planners, in which I reviewed a dozen such planners, pointed out who they were useful for, and then identified the one I was...
View ArticleHow I “Sharpen My Axe” Each Day – and Why
Last week, I wrote an article about goal-oriented paper planners. During that article, I mentioned that I actually use three planners/journals and I update them on a twice-daily basis, along with using...
View ArticleA Career and School Guide for Military Spouses
There are nearly 1.3 million active service members in the American military. Their valuable service plays a vital role, but often, their spouses face challenges securing employment. A 2018 report from...
View ArticleFree Finance Courses For Students and Professionals Alike
At the beginning of May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that approximately 20.5 million Americans lost their jobs in April. With the current unemployment rate hovering around 14.7%, it’s...
View ArticleGetting Started with Organizing Your Time and Tasks
As many of you know, I’m a pretty avid tracker of my tasks and the things I need to do. I do it mostly because I need to get those things out of my head — where they distract me and keep me from...
View ArticleDigital Detox: How and Why to Recharge Your Mind With an Unplugged Weekend
On a recent Saturday, I had quite an odd morning. I woke up, reached for my phone to check my email, but stopped myself before grabbing it. I got out of bed and instinctively reached for the Fitbit on...
View ArticleHow I Use Evernote, My Most Essential Free Online Tool
A few weeks ago, I answered an Ask the Simple Dollar question from Jim, who wanted to know how I use Evernote. I gave him an answer that almost stretched into something that needed to become its own...
View ArticleHow to Avoid Beating Yourself Up Over Little Mistakes
I have this little voice in my head that likes to slam me for the missteps I make. If I eat too much at supper, that voice will say, “Are you completely lacking in self control or what? You didn’t need...
View ArticleSTEM Education Resources: Free Computer Science Classes
.responstable tbody tr th { width:35%; } Earlier this year, job search powerhouse Glassdoor released its study of the 50 best jobs in America for 2017. The majority of the list involves STEM-related...
View ArticleFrugality, Productivity, and the Local Maximum
Bear with me a little bit as I go down a (hopefully interesting) side path. A few days ago, I read an interesting article by Cory Doctorow entitled How to Do Everything: Lifehacking Considered Harmful,...
View ArticlePutting It Down on Paper: A Look at 12 Goal-Oriented Paper Planners
A few months ago, I mentioned that I had been using a goal-oriented paper planner for a while in order to reflect on my daily progress toward various goals in my life. I had tried several in my quest...
View Article
