Jonathan Vieker

A steady diet of high-quality nonfiction can help you solve many of life’s problems.

In researching and writing about time management for the last couple of years, I’ve explored multiple approaches, but I’ve gradually come to advocate one approach above all others.

Train-wreck mornings are a universal human experience.

I love to cross things off to-do lists.

In any job where we’re paid to interact with other human beings, becoming jaded is an occupational hazard.

I’ll keep it short.

The start of the academic year is my busiest time of year.

When did you last update your headshot?

“Use it or lose it” isn’t just a folksy saying—it’s a law of biology.

Being well-organized makes life easier, and trying new things makes life interesting.

In Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard, authors Chip and Dan Heath write compellingly about effective behavior change.

Our lives aren’t really ours.

It’s easy to equate understanding with creativity.

When attempting to solve a problem, we tend to try approaches that have worked for us in the past.

Intention isn’t enough.

Why is it possible to be so productive on an airplane?

Jazz musicians often practice material in all twelve keys.

“I’m grouchy because I’m tired, but he’s grouchy because he’s a good-for-nothing scoundrel who can’t control his temper.”

As a productivity nerd who works with college students all day, I’m naturally interested in what highly successful college students do differently than their peers.

Monster tumbleweed, with Loki in foreground When we lived in New Mexico, our first backyard was a giant sandbox.

Nerd Emperor here.1 We’ve talked before about why planning your day the night before is the bee’s knees.

What’s the best way to save more money?

I’m currently listening to Brian Tracy’s No Excuses!

My friend Erin recently hipped me to a great podcast episode: The Knowledge Project’s interview with psychologist Dan Ariely.

There’s an area of psychology called Applied Behavior Analysis that focuses on behavior change.

Are you too hard on yourself?

As an academic advisor, I obviously spend a lot of time talking to college students.

Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it.

It’s easy to overlook the role our immediate environment plays in productivity.

Jim Lovell, the commander of Apollo 13, knows something about workplace problems.

During my recent Think Days, I hit upon an intriguing idea.

Earlier this week, inspired by Bill Gates’ legendary Think Weeks, I took two days off work in order to sit around and think.

Note: As I wrote last Friday, I took yesterday and today as Think Days.

When he was CEO of Microsoft, Bill Gates spent a week, twice a year, isolated in a cabin in the woods.

Just a quick note for you today!

The rise of instant text-based communication has drastically changed how we communicate in the workplace, and if you’re over 30, you probably don’t need me to tell you.

“We could all use a little coaching,” business philosopher Jim Rohn used to say.

What are you “bad” at?

Your time on this earth is a juicy t-bone steak.

I’ve got a quick, super useful tip for you today: Ackerman bargaining.

As a college senior, I took an introductory philosophy course.

You’re deep in a nonfiction book when one of these realizations strikes you.

Doubt.

As we discussed on Tuesday, it’s easy to feel bad about what we’re doing or not doing.

Everything by longevity tends to get off course.

Yesterday, a colleague and I hosted a professional development event for ~40 colleagues.

To-do lists deteriorate over time.

Last night, I attended a career seminar at the university where I work.

Today’s post is short and sweet, and it’s based on a fascinating concept called the peak–end rule.

A few weeks ago, I bought a box of Pop-Tarts on a whim.