Ever since reading The 4-Hour Workweek a decade ago I started applying the Low-Information Diet and stopped following the news: no newspapers, no news websites, no news on TV. The principle is simple: Quit the news. If it’s important enough you will hear about it from the people around you. In most cases, you won’t…
Category: Happiness
10 Life Lessons from Navy SEAL training
Here are ten lessons from William H. McRaven’s 2014 commencement address, which I can highly recommend to watch. 10 Life Lessons from Basic SEAL training: 1. If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.“If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.” 2….
Zero-based budgeting
Simplify your life by using this powerful principle: Remove something completely. Then add back what you miss. Instead of “I want to use Facebook less often”, remove it completely and then add the elements back that you miss. Instead of “Let’s keep this, because I might need it someday”, get rid of it now and…
I (almost) bought a Tesla Model S
As a fellow Mustachian, I am quite proud to not own a car. I save a ton of money and headaches. But I have my weak moments. One such period was last summer. I convinced myself to buy a used Tesla Model S (after renting one last year). I went through the whole process: research,…
Contemplating Mortality
It’s healthy to reflect on the nature of impermanence, especially our human mortality. The Stoics recommend to prepare for your own death every day. During one of my daily reflections, I looked it up. Each day, 150,000 humans die. That means that in 2019, more than 50 million people will die. It’s good to remember…
Asking big questions
As the year is coming to a close, it’s the perfect opportunity to ask some big questions. I recommend to do it in writing: Which people in my life are toxic? How can I reduce contact with them? Which relationships do I want to nourish? Am I investing my time & energy into the things…
The constantly evolving morning routine
I’m a big fan of morning routines, because they help me get a good start into the day. However, they are never static. As my life progresses and evolves, so do my mornings. Here is the current version: I get up at 06:45 I read the daily teaching in The Daily Stoic book (German version) I do…
My favorite books of 2018
As 2018 is coming to a close, I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you the most important books I have read this year. Enjoy! My favorite books of 2018 1. The Art of the Good Life by Rolf Dobelli (audio version):This was the most important book I read in 2018 (I’ve read the original German…
Canada/USA West Coast Trip
I’ve recently spent 6 weeks on the west coast of Canada and USA, and I wanted to share some impressions. My favourite spot in the Rocky Mountains, between Jasper and Banff. Canoeing on Clearwater Lake. Random wisdom on the street. My favourite burger. 100% plant-based. My new friend. Grizzly bear Boo. Whitewater rafting on 7 celsius cold…
My favorite books of 2017
On the Shortness of Life by Seneca Lying by Sam Harris Letters From a Stoic by Seneca Managing Oneself by Peter Drucker Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey Shoe Dog by Phil Knight Digital Gold by…