Articles from 2010

These 111 articles live at addresses from 2010, the year their topics first appeared on this domain. Each one was written fresh for the relaunched site.

January (32)February (13)March (10)April (7)May (9)June (11)July (8)August (5)September (4)October (6)November (4)December (2)

Day 1Day 1: Write Your List of 101 Things to Do Before You DieDay 1 of the Just for Today Challenge: write a list of 101 things you want to do in your life, with prompts to get past the obvious and turn wishes into plans.
Day 2Day 2: Schedule the Dates That Matter This YearDay 2 of the Just for Today Challenge: put the year's important dates in your calendar now, from birthdays to rest days, so what matters doesn't get crowded out.
Day 3Day 3: Wake Up Earlier (Without Wrecking Your Sleep)Day 3 of the Just for Today Challenge: try waking up 20 to 30 minutes earlier, use the quiet time well and protect your sleep by going to bed earlier too.
Decisions & Goals5 Surefire Ways to Stick to Your New Year ResolutionsFive practical, research-informed ways to keep New Year resolutions going past February: make them specific, small, scheduled, shared and forgiving.
Day 4Day 4: Write Down Your 25 Proudest MomentsDay 4 of the Just for Today Challenge: list 25 moments you're proud of, big and small, to build confidence and notice the strengths you already have.
Day 5Day 5: Write Someone 10 Reasons Why You Love ThemDay 5 of the Just for Today Challenge: write ten specific reasons you love or appreciate someone, then share them. A small act with a surprisingly big effect.
Day 6Day 6: No TV (or Streaming) for TodayDay 6 of the Just for Today Challenge: switch off TV and streaming for one day, notice what fills the gap and decide how much screen time you actually want.
Day 7Day 7: Say Thank You, and Mean ItDay 7 of the Just for Today Challenge: thank people specifically and sincerely today, from colleagues to strangers, and notice how it changes your day.
Day 8Day 8: Phone a Friend (an Actual Call)Day 8 of the Just for Today Challenge: call a friend you haven't spoken to in a while. Why voice beats text, how to get past the awkwardness and what to say.
Day 9Day 9: It's Picture Day (Photograph What Matters)Day 9 of the Just for Today Challenge: take photos with intention, of people, places and small everyday things you love, and do something with them.
Day 10Day 10: Eat a Healthy BreakfastDay 10 of the Just for Today Challenge: eat a balanced breakfast with protein, fibre and some fruit or vegetables. Easy ideas, honest evidence and quick prep tips.
Day 11Day 11: Get Outside TodayDay 11 of the Just for Today Challenge: spend real time outdoors, ideally somewhere green. What research says about nature and wellbeing, plus easy ways to fit it in.
Day 12Day 12: Save Your Money (A No-Spend Day and a Savings Habit)Day 12 of the Just for Today Challenge: try a no-spend day, find three small leaks in your spending and set up one automatic transfer to savings.
Day 13Day 13: Take a Break from the NewsDay 13 of the Just for Today Challenge: step away from news and doomscrolling for one day, notice how you feel and design a calmer way to stay informed.
Day 14Day 14: Take Action on Your GoalsDay 14 of the Just for Today Challenge: pick one goal, define the very next physical action and do it today. How to beat planning paralysis and build momentum.
Day 15Day 15: Ask for What You WantDay 15 of the Just for Today Challenge: make one clear, direct request today. Why people say yes more often than we expect, and how to ask well.
Day 16Day 16: "You're So Beautiful" and Other Compliments Worth GivingDay 16 of the Just for Today Challenge: give at least five sincere, specific compliments. Why we hold back, why compliments land better than we expect and how to give them.
Day 17Day 17: Get Rid of Some StuffDay 17 of the Just for Today Challenge: clear out one area of your home in an hour. A simple keep, donate, sell, recycle method, and how to stop clutter coming back.
Day 18Day 18: Why You Need to Update Your Resume (Even if You're Happy)Day 18 of the Just for Today Challenge: update your CV or resume while you're calm. Why it matters even in a job you like, and a 60-minute method to do it.
Day 19Day 19: Why You Need to Take Care of Your HealthDay 19 of the Just for Today Challenge: one practical health action today, from booking an overdue check-up to a brisk walk, based on mainstream public-health guidance.
Day 20Day 20: Start a Gratitude JournalDay 20 of the Just for Today Challenge: write down three good things from today and why they happened. What the research says and how to keep it fresh.
Day 21Day 21: Be Charitable to Others TodayDay 21 of the Just for Today Challenge: give something today, whether money, time, skills or patience. What research says about giving and how to give well.
Day 22Day 22: Get More Quality SleepDay 22 of the Just for Today Challenge: give yourself the conditions for a good night's sleep. How much adults need, and practical sleep habits that help.
Day 23Day 23: Be Creative TodayDay 23 of the Just for Today Challenge: make something today, however small or imperfect. Why everyday creativity matters and twenty easy ways to start.
Day 24Day 24: Plan Your Meals for the WeekDay 24 of the Just for Today Challenge: plan a week of meals in 30 minutes, write one shopping list and prep ahead. Save money, waste less food and eat better.
Day 25Day 25: Turn Off the NegativityDay 25 of the Just for Today Challenge: notice and dial down negativity for a day, in your self-talk, your conversations and your media, without pretending to be cheerful.
Day 26Day 26: Examine Your Peer GroupDay 26 of the Just for Today Challenge: take an honest look at the people you spend most time with, how they affect you and how to invest in the relationships that help.
Day 27Day 27: Find the Laughter AgainDay 27 of the Just for Today Challenge: make room for laughter today. Why laughing with others matters, and simple ways to bring more play and humour into an adult life.
Day 28Day 28: Just Say NoDay 28 of the Just for Today Challenge: say no to one thing today that doesn't deserve your time. Why saying no is hard, and scripts for declining kindly and clearly.
Day 29Day 29: Just Say YesDay 29 of the Just for Today Challenge: say yes to one opportunity, invitation or new experience you'd normally turn down. How to choose a good yes and stretch your comfort zone.
Day 30Day 30: Be Present TodayDay 30 of the Just for Today Challenge: practise paying full attention to what you're doing. Why minds wander, and simple ways to be more present through an ordinary day.
Day 31Day 31: Suspend Reality for TodayDay 31 of the Just for Today Challenge: spend one day acting as if your limits were looser, to discover what you'd do if fear, habit and 'shoulds' weren't in charge.
Just for Today ChallengeAfter 31 Days: How to Review Your Challenge and Keep What WorksFinished the Just for Today Challenge? A step-by-step review to pick the two or three changes worth keeping and turn them into habits that last.
Decisions & Goals5 Quiet Success Factors Nobody Talks AboutFive unglamorous habits behind most lasting success: consistency, finishing, asking for help, managing energy and choosing what to ignore. With practical ways to build each.
Decisions & GoalsHow to Make Better Decisions That Move You Forward in LifeA practical decision-making method for life choices: widen your options, test assumptions, get distance and prepare to be wrong. Based on well-known decision research.
Purpose & MeaningWhy It's Never Too Late for Your DreamsWhy age is less of a barrier to new dreams than it feels, real examples of late starters, and a practical way to begin something new at any stage of life.
Money & WorkAre Books Worth the Money? How to Read More for LessWhether buying books is worth it, how to get more value from what you read, and practical ways to read widely for free through libraries, apps and swaps.
Decisions & GoalsWhat to Do When the Grass Isn't GreenerWhen a new job, city or relationship turns out no better than the old one: why it happens, how to tell disappointment from a real mistake, and what to do next.
Purpose & MeaningAre You Being Your True, Authentic Self?What authenticity really means, why it's linked to wellbeing, how to tell when you're performing rather than living, and small ways to live more in line with your values.
Money & WorkInvest in Your Most Important Asset: YourselfPractical ways to invest in yourself, in skills, health, relationships and rest, how to choose where to put your time and money, and how to avoid expensive self-improvement traps.
Book NotesCrush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk: Book OverviewAn overview of Gary Vaynerchuk's 2009 book Crush It!: its argument for building a personal brand online around your passion, what still holds up and what has dated.
Book NotesLinchpin by Seth Godin: Book OverviewAn overview of Seth Godin's 2010 book Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?, its argument about emotional labour, art and 'the resistance', and who will find it useful.
Book Notes100 Ways to Improve Your Life: What List-Style Self-Help Gets RightA look at list-style self-help ebooks like Dragos Roua's 100 Ways to Improve Your Life: why short tips work, where they fall short and how to use them well.
Book NotesThe Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin: Book OverviewAn overview of Gretchen Rubin's 2009 book The Happiness Project: her year of monthly resolutions, the ideas that make it work and how to design your own version.
Book NotesSwitch by Chip and Dan Heath: Book OverviewAn overview of Switch (2010) by Chip and Dan Heath: the rider, the elephant and the path, three ideas for changing behaviour when change is hard, and how to use them.
RelationshipsDo You Need to Let Go and Forgive?What forgiveness is and isn't, what research suggests about its benefits, and a step-by-step way to let go of a grudge without excusing what happened.
Habits & GrowthGarbage In, Garbage Out: Choosing What You Let Into Your LifeWhy what you consume, from media and food to conversations, shapes your mood and thinking, and practical ways to audit and improve your daily inputs.
Purpose & MeaningWhat Dream Can You Cross Off Your Life List This Year?How to choose one dream from your life list and actually make it happen this year: pick wisely, break it into steps, budget for it and protect the dates.
Money & WorkOne Sure-Fire Way to Start Your Emergency Fund TodayThe simplest way to start an emergency fund: automate a small transfer into a separate account on payday. How much to aim for, where to keep it and when to use it.
Habits & Growth10 Things You Can Do Right Now to Improve Your LifeTen small, practical actions you can take in the next hour to feel better and get your life moving, from a short walk to a single difficult email.
Decisions & GoalsWhat Would You Do If You Knew You Couldn't Fail?Use the famous question 'what would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?' as a practical tool: uncover hidden wishes, separate fear from real risk and take a first step.
RelationshipsKnow These Five Causes of Conflict (and How to Defuse Each)Five common causes of conflict at home and at work: unclear expectations, scarce resources, clashing values, poor communication and unmet needs, with ways to defuse each.
RelationshipsAre You a Pushover? How to Boost Your Assertiveness TodaySigns you might be a pushover, the difference between passive, aggressive and assertive communication, and practical scripts for standing up for yourself kindly.
Habits & GrowthWarning: Following These 5 Tips May Get You Out of Your RutFeeling stuck? Five practical ways to get out of a rut: change one routine, learn something new, move your body, talk to someone new and set one small, exciting goal.
Decisions & GoalsUsing Visualization to Get from Point A to Point ZHow to use visualization in a way research supports: picture the process and the obstacles, not just the finish line, and turn the image into a plan.
Decisions & GoalsThe Power of Analytical Thinking in Everyday LifeHow to use analytical thinking for everyday problems: define the real question, break it down, check your evidence, spot common biases and test your conclusions.
Money & WorkStarting Over with Nothing: Rebuilding Through an Information BusinessPractical steps for rebuilding after hitting bottom, from securing basics and support to turning knowledge into a small information business without big costs.
Purpose & MeaningAre You Paying Attention? Help Can Come from AnywhereWhy help, ideas and opportunities often come from unexpected people and places, and how to notice them: widen your network, ask openly and pay attention.
Decisions & GoalsThe Number One Shortcut to Success: Learn from People Who've Done ItThe most reliable shortcut to success is learning from people who've already done what you want to do. How to find mentors, ask good questions and learn from others' mistakes.
Stress & ResilienceThe Only Words You Need to Overcome Your Fears: "What If It Goes Well?"A simple phrase to loosen fear's grip, why naming emotions helps, and a practical step-by-step approach to facing fears gradually instead of avoiding them.
Purpose & MeaningStop Lying to Yourself: How to Spot and Drop Self-DeceptionThe common lies we tell ourselves, why self-deception feels comfortable, and practical ways to get more honest about your habits, relationships, money and goals.
Decisions & GoalsHow to Use 10-10-10 to Get UnstuckA step-by-step guide to the 10-10-10 decision method: how to weigh a choice over ten minutes, ten months and ten years, with examples and common pitfalls.
Habits & GrowthDo You Recognise Yourself in These 6 Stages of Change?The six stages of change from the transtheoretical model, from not yet thinking about it to lasting change, how to tell which stage you're in and what helps at each.
Stress & ResiliencePerception as Reality: How Your View Shapes Your ExperienceHow perception shapes experience, from the stories we tell about events to how others see us, and practical ways to check and reframe your perceptions.
Purpose & MeaningWhat If You Only Had One Week?A reflection exercise: what would you do with one week left? How the question clarifies priorities, what people tend to answer, and how to bring those priorities into ordinary weeks.
Decisions & GoalsHow to Stop Thinking and Start DoingHow to break out of overthinking and analysis paralysis: set decision deadlines, shrink the first step, act before you feel ready and learn from doing.
Purpose & MeaningThe First Step in Finding Meaning for Your Life: Know Your ValuesThe first step in finding meaning is understanding your values. A practical exercise to identify what matters most to you and see where your life already reflects it.
Purpose & MeaningThe Next Step in Finding Meaning: Turn Values into ActionOnce you know your values, the next step is acting on them. How to set value-based goals, build small daily actions and handle conflicts between values.
Purpose & Meaning50 Reflection Prompts (and Why We Skipped the Usual Quote List)Fifty reflection prompts for journaling and self-discovery, plus a handful of properly sourced classic quotes, and why so many 'inspirational quotes' online are misattributed.
Purpose & Meaning50 More Reflection Prompts for Journaling and ConversationFifty more reflection prompts on work, money, health, change, creativity and joy, for journaling, weekly reviews or deeper conversations with friends.
Purpose & MeaningFailure and Imagination: Lessons from J.K. Rowling's Harvard SpeechWhat J.K. Rowling argued in her 2008 Harvard commencement speech on the benefits of failure and the importance of imagination, and how to apply both ideas.
RelationshipsSeven Friends You Need in Your LifeSeven kinds of friends that make life richer, from the one who tells you the truth to the one who makes you laugh, and how to grow and nurture these friendships.
RelationshipsFive Ways to Add Connection to Your LifeFive practical ways to feel more connected: regular rituals with people you love, small talk with strangers, shared activities, volunteering and better listening.
Stress & ResilienceWhy Succeeding Starts with Treating Yourself KindlyWhy self-compassion, not harsh self-criticism, tends to support motivation and resilience, and practical ways to treat yourself more kindly while still aiming high.
RelationshipsHow Healthy Is Your Relationship? Signs to Look ForSigns of a healthy romantic relationship, common warning signs, a quick self-check and when to seek help, drawing on well-known relationship research.
RelationshipsHow to Heal Your Relationships After a RiftPractical steps for repairing a strained relationship: reflect first, reach out, apologise well, listen fully, rebuild trust slowly and know when to let go.
Money & WorkAre You Ready to Build Your Empire? Starting a Business SensiblyA practical readiness check before starting a business or side project: motivation, money, market, skills and support, plus how to test an idea cheaply first.
Purpose & MeaningLife Is Short, But Not That ShortBalancing 'life is short' urgency with the long view: why both matter, how to avoid reckless choices and endless postponement, and how to plan for a long, full life.
RelationshipsHow to Increase Your Negotiation Skills: Lessons from Getting to YesThe key ideas from the classic negotiation book Getting to Yes: separate people from the problem, focus on interests, invent options, use fair criteria and know your BATNA.
RelationshipsIs Win-Win Always the Best Negotiation Tactic?When win-win negotiation works, when it doesn't, the difference between expanding the pie and dividing it, and how to stay fair without being taken advantage of.
Stress & ResilienceThe Stress Buster Nobody Talks About: Doing LessWhy doing less, by cutting commitments, lowering some standards and protecting recovery time, can be the most effective stress reducer, and how to do it in practice.
Decisions & GoalsWhat Are You Waiting For? How to Stop Postponing Your LifeCommon 'someday' traps, from waiting for the right time to waiting to feel ready, why waiting feels safe, and practical ways to start living now.
Stress & ResilienceWarning: These Emotions May Be Affecting You More Than You ThinkHow unnoticed emotions like low-level anxiety, resentment, envy, guilt and loneliness quietly shape decisions and health, and practical ways to notice and handle them.
Purpose & MeaningCreate the Life You Want: Describe Your Ideal Ordinary DayA practical exercise: describe your ideal ordinary day in detail, compare it with your current days, and pick small changes that bring the two closer together.
Gratitude & HappinessHow to Write a List of 100 Things That Make You HappyWhy writing a list of 100 things that make you happy works, prompts to help you reach 100, and how to use the list on hard days and in ordinary weeks.
Decisions & GoalsDo You Recognise These Common Excuses?Seven common excuses that keep people stuck, from 'I don't have time' to 'I'll start Monday', what's usually behind each one, and how to respond to it honestly.
Money & WorkThe 4 Best and Worst Things About Being an EntrepreneurAn honest look at the best parts of running your own business (autonomy, meaning, learning, ownership) and the hardest (uncertainty, isolation, long hours, blurred boundaries).
Gratitude & HappinessSmall Ways to Make a Big DifferencePractical, everyday ways to make a positive difference for people and your community: kindness, generosity, local involvement and small habits that add up.
Decisions & GoalsWhy You Need to Write in Your Goals Book DailyHow a simple daily goals notebook keeps priorities visible: what to write each morning and evening, why writing helps, and how to keep the habit going.
Decisions & GoalsUnderstanding Your Chances in Life: Luck, Probability and Better BetsHow luck and probability shape life outcomes, why we misjudge odds, and practical ways to improve your chances: take more shots, reduce downside and stay open.
Purpose & MeaningIf You Could, What Would You Do Over Again?Using regret as a guide: what research says people regret most, how to reflect on 'do-overs' without dwelling, and how to turn them into choices you can still make.
Purpose & MeaningFinding Out Who You Really Are Takes Love and CourageSelf-discovery takes honesty and kindness. Practical ways to explore your identity, values and strengths, and why courage and self-compassion both matter.
Money & WorkHow to Get More Personal Freedom, Starting TodayPractical ways to gain more personal freedom: financial breathing room, control over your time, fewer obligations, portable skills and freedom from other people's expectations.
Decisions & GoalsAvoid the Trap of Thinking You Have Too Much to LoseHow loss aversion makes us overweight what we might lose and ignore what staying put costs, plus practical ways to weigh risks more fairly and take sensible chances.
Gratitude & HappinessThe Five Keys to Happiness: What Research Keeps FindingFive well-supported ingredients of wellbeing: close relationships, meaningful engagement, physical health, gratitude and generosity, with practical ways to build each.
Stress & ResilienceHow to Motivate Yourself in Times of StressWhy stress drains motivation and practical ways to keep going: shrink tasks, focus on what you control, protect basics like sleep and lean on routines and people.
Purpose & MeaningYou Don't Have to Travel Far to See the WorldHow to find novelty, culture and adventure close to home: be a tourist in your own town, explore food and communities, take micro-adventures and look with fresh eyes.
Stress & ResilienceWhy We Sabotage Ourselves, and How to StopCommon forms of self-sabotage, from procrastination to self-handicapping, the reasons behind them, and practical steps to recognise and interrupt the pattern.
Stress & ResilienceThe Victim Myth: Taking Back Control Without Denying Real HarmHow to move from feeling powerless to taking back control: the difference between being harmed and staying stuck in a victim mindset, and practical steps forward.
Gratitude & HappinessBeing Thankful: What the Science of Gratitude SaysWhat research says about gratitude, why it seems to help, its limits, and simple ways to practise thankfulness that don't feel forced or fake.
Purpose & MeaningThis Is Your Life: Living It on PurposeA reminder that this ordinary life is the one you get, and practical ways to live it more deliberately: notice how you spend time, align with values and enjoy now.
Gratitude & HappinessHow Clean Is Your Water? Safe Drinking Water and What You Can DoWater was the theme of Blog Action Day 2010. Where global access to safe drinking water stands today, what affects water at home, and practical ways to help.
Decisions & GoalsCreate Your Future Using a Vision Board (the Way That Works)How to make a vision board that supports real goals: choose specific images, include actions and obstacles, pair it with a plan and keep it visible.
Habits & GrowthWhy You Need an Ideas BookWhy capturing ideas in one place makes you more creative, what to write in an ideas book, and how to review it so good ideas turn into projects.
Stress & Resilience7 Ways to Stop Doubting YourselfSeven practical ways to quiet self-doubt: separate feelings from facts, collect evidence, prepare well, take small risks, limit comparison and treat doubt as normal.
Habits & GrowthAre You Ready to Learn, or to Teach, Today?Why learning and teaching go together, how teaching something deepens your own understanding, and practical ways to keep learning and share what you know.
Gratitude & HappinessLest We Forget: Remembrance Day and Why It Still MattersThe history of Remembrance Day on 11 November, the meaning of the poppy and 'In Flanders Fields', how it's marked today and simple ways to take part.
Purpose & MeaningWhat Can You Do When You've Lost Your Way?Practical steps for when life feels directionless: pause, look after the basics, reconnect with values, try small experiments and get support.
RelationshipsHow to Improve Your Listening SkillsPractical ways to become a better listener: give full attention, ask open questions, reflect back what you hear, resist fixing and notice what's left unsaid.
RelationshipsJealousy: How to Get Over ItThe difference between jealousy and envy, what each is telling you, and practical steps to handle them in relationships, friendships and at work.
Stress & Resilience7 Ways You Can Relax Right NowSeven quick, evidence-informed ways to relax in minutes: slow breathing, muscle relaxation, a short walk, grounding, music, a brain dump and a moment of kindness.

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