In January, I wrote about my hopes and expectations for the new decade: “Something big will hit us. If not this decade, then one of the next. It will come out of the blue. A new vector. A bio attack, a pandemic, cyber warfare, eruption of a huge volcano. Something we won’t be expecting. Something…
Category: Health
The Four Pillars of the Good Life: Health, Wealth, Love, and Happiness
[This is a talk I recently gave at Ideaweek 2020 by MOI Global.] When preparing the remarks to share with you, I was reminded of the Stanford commencement speech by Steve Jobs from 2005. I remember vividly watching it in 2006 on YouTube, just as I was graduating from college, and it made a big…
4000 Push-ups Challenge (in January)
I’ve completed a 4000 push-ups challenge this month, together with about 30 others from my Crossfit gym. I decided to apply the “Margin of Safety” principle and did 150 per day, so I finished a couple of days early. It was a real challenge for me, as push-ups are one of my least-liked exercises. I…
Why I Stopped Drinking Alcohol
This thread reminded me that it is now 10 years since I stopped drinking alcohol. I haven’t had one drop since. Sometimes people ask me: Why not just one glass? Why stop completely? Why not enjoy life? The simple answer is: It simplified my life. It’s easier to quit something 100% than 98%. It eliminates…
Power Nap with Binaural Beats
I enjoy taking occasional power naps after lunch or in the afternoon. I rarely fall asleep, but when I do, it really is refreshing. One tool I discovered are Binaural Beats: A binaural beat is an auditory illusion perceived when two different pure-tone sine waves, both with frequencies lower than 1500 Hz, with less than…
This too shall pass
Life is a roller coaster with lots of ups and downs. It sometimes is a struggle to keep a balance, to not get carried away by the extremes. I have found the following mantra useful: “This too shall pass.” It’s a reminder that, given time, most things revert to the mean. Feeling bad? Having an…
Improve Your Sleep with Noise Cancelling Headphones
I have been using my Bose QuietComfort 20 for several years. I use them on planes, on trains, in co-working spaces, and even to help me sleep. I discovered that they are actually quite comfortable to sleep with. I don’t use them often to sleep. When needed, they worked very well. Noisy neighbors, having to…
Screen Time Management: How to Enable Downtime in iPhone Settings
A friend recently suggested to use the “Downtime” feature in the iPhone’s Screen Time settings. When enabled, all your apps are blocked, except for the ones on your “Always Allowed” list. How to enable “Downtime”:1. Go to Settings2. Go to Screen Time3. Go to Downtime4. Enable Downtime and customize settings5. Go back to Screen Time6….
My Notes from TEDxBasel 2019
I enjoyed the recent TEDxBasel 2019. Here are my notes: Choose your prioritiesMake health and happiness your main priority. Who would enjoy success or wealth without being healthy or happy? Tips from a Michelin-starred chefUse a cooking apron. It will transform your mindset and you’ll feel like a chef. Try cooking with tea. Use lots…
Why I created a Facebook page
Inspired by Rolf Dobelli’s book, I stopped using Facebook six months ago. Mainly because I was addicted, and also because the constant social comparisons and the instant gratification treadmill became toxic for me. (I’m still using Messenger/WhatsApp for one-one-one contact.) The downside of leaving Facebook was that I lost a distribution channel for my content,…