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Bias for novelty
If you’re used to the same routines every day—same route to work, same apps and websites, same friends—then you have a lot to gain by exploring. Try a new coffee shop, restaurant, or bar. Visit a nearby local town. Don’t order your favorite dish, set out to find a second favorite. Don’t be surprised to…
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If they can do it, so can you
When I was 18, I had contemplated wearing contact lenses for at least a couple of years. I had a hunch that I’d look a little better without glasses. But I’d gotten familiar with wearing them, and I didn’t know if the effort put into wearing contact lenses would be worth it. This sense of…
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Document whatever’s in front of you
On Sunday evening, I saw a man sitting at the back of a vintage shop in Daikanyama. He sat on a small stool, with his backpack tucked between his legs. His right hand held a blank notebook open, his left held a black pen. He drew the scene in front of him—racks of pants, shirts,…
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Be mindful of what you’re getting good at
A friend of mine had moved from Toronto to Hong Kong for work. When he first arrived, he didn’t know anyone. He had a decision to make: He could get really good at spending time by himself, including sitting at home in the evenings and watching TV. Or, he could get really good at socializing.…
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In praise of the early morning flight
Flying in the morning means waking up really early. It’s exhausting and inconvenient, so it deters a lot of people. The type of people who decide to make this tradeoff, and show up, are usually particularly responsible. They’re punctual. They want more time at their destination, so much so that they’re willing to wake up…
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Make a list of pains you prevented
When you warm up and stretch your muscles before exercise, you’re preventing pain. You’re lowering the chances you’ll get injured. It’s useful to remember the purpose of preparation is to help you get ahead of pain. Your present feels ordinary, maybe even slightly boring, because your past self didn’t borrow from its future. It may…
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AI is useful because you can blame it
Imagine you’re about to do something brave. Maybe you’re writing a cold email to someone you admire, or applying for a job. If you wanted a second pair of eyes or gut check for your email, you needed to ask a smart friend. That way, you’d feel confident—at least another person thinks your work is…
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Three lessons from giving dishes an extra rinse at dim sum
When I was growing up, my parents and I went to dim sum every Sunday afternoon with my grandparents. The first thing we did after we sat down was order a teapot of boiled water to wash our cutlery. We started by pouring boiled water in our cups, which we then poured over a pair…