Currently reading: Schaamteloos delegeren by Taco Oosterkamp 📚
Finished reading: The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey 📚
A great introduction into personal effectiveness written in a easy to digest style.
Our go-to approach for problem-solving is to incorporate something new, rather than eliminate something existing
This phenomenon, also known as “elimination neglect” or “subtraction neglect,” is deeply rooted in our basic cognition. Research by Gabrielle S. Adams of the University of Virginia and her colleagues shows that people tend to add complexity rather than reduce it when faced with problems. This pattern has been consistently demonstrated in a series of 8 studies, where participants systematically overlooked that removing elements could be an effective solution.
This “addition bias” manifests in various contexts, such as building Lego models, planning trips, and even improving universities. People tend to add more layers of complexity, often leading to overcrowded schedules and inefficient processes. This behavior is not only limited to individual decisions but also occurs in group dynamics, such as meetings, where more and more items are added to the agenda without considering removing existing ones.
By becoming aware of this cognitive bias, individuals and organizations can learn to be more effective by considering what can be removed instead of added. This can result in simpler, more streamlined solutions that save both time and resources.
Related:
Each day I am loving Tana more.
This morning I have been looking at the publish function to convert any node into a beautiful web page.
For example this page that automatically shows all nodes I have tagged as music to recommend.
Please bring back Wolfram|Alpha to Soulver. ChatGPT is good with words, but I don’t trust it with my numbers!
Spiritual and social values make us happier than self-interest
People who value spiritual values and social relationships are much happier than those who focus mainly on their own achievements and possessions. How happy you are is directly related to what you value: spirituality is at the top, followed by your social relationships, your physical health, and lastly external achievements like money and status. This pattern shows that the more you focus only on yourself, the less happy you become.
This is because we are naturally social beings. People who prioritize their family and friends over their own well-being are ultimately happier than those who focus mainly on their own needs. Spirituality is seen as the least egocentric value because it helps you look beyond yourself, which psychologists call ‘self-transcendence’. In contrast, external achievements like career success and material possessions are the most self-centered values, which explains why they contribute the least to your sense of happiness.
This does not mean that personal goals and physical health are unimportant, but that they work best as part of a broader perspective where connection with others and meaningful values are central. Developing spiritual growth and investing in deep social relationships are therefore the most reliable paths to sustainable happiness.
Related:
📸 Autumn vineyard
There is no evidence of any effects of growth mindset interventions on academic achievement
While the concept of a growth mindset, as popularized by Carol Dweck, suggests that people can develop their basic abilities through dedication and hard work, a critical analysis of the literature shows that interventions designed to promote this mindset often do not lead to significant improvements in academic performance. This may be due to inadequate research, poor reporting, and bias in the studies evaluating the effectiveness of these interventions.
It is important to emphasize that the lack of evidence for the effectiveness of growth mindset interventions does not mean that the growth mindset itself has no value. The core ideas of the growth mindset, such as the belief that skills can be developed and that effort leads to improvement, can still be valuable for personal development and motivation. However, the specific programs and interventions designed to promote this mindset do not consistently result in improved academic performance, suggesting that there may be other factors at play that limit the effectiveness of these interventions.
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A habit is unconscious behaviour that is automatically triggered by an impulse
A habit has two parts: an impulse, and the behaviour that follows it. The impulse comes from a cue in your surroundings or in your head, and the behaviour arrives without you deciding anything about it. You only notice it when it does not happen. Not washing your hands after using the toilet, or going to bed without flossing, feels uncomfortable, and that discomfort is the proof that the behaviour no longer rests on a choice.
A habit like that is learned, not innate. That is exactly why it is useful: once the behaviour runs automatically, your attention is free for something else. Your brain outsources it, the way you stop thinking about changing gear after years of driving. So habits are not evidence of discipline, but of something that no longer needs discipline.
From that follows the limit that is easy to forget: not every behaviour can become a habit. Anything that asks for a judgement each time, or consists of a series of steps you have to think about, keeps demanding attention. That is a routine you run deliberately, not a habit that starts by itself. If you want something to become truly automatic, keep the behaviour small and attach it to a cue that comes back in the same place every day.
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📸 Aïguestortes
We have this fantastic national park at just a few hours driving from home, but it has been years since we went there for a good hike.
This weekend was a blast and I am sure this time we will return within months, not years.
