Self-improvement requires a healthy balance between going outside of your “comfort zone” to grow and learn new things, while also retreating back to your “comfort zone” when it’s time to relax and recharge.
Picture yourself in a classroom or at a meeting at work, and you want to impress your teacher or boss by showing them you are knowledgeable about a given topic or subject matter.
Which do you think would make you you seem smarter in the eyes of experts: 1) Rattling off as many facts as you know about the subject, or 2) Asking one insightful question that shows you have a grasp of the material and understand where key conflicts emerge.
Many of us are tempted to do the first. We falsely believe that if we show people how much we learn by reciting all the facts, then it’s clear we have a deep understanding of the subject. Naturally, the more facts you know about a subject the smarter you’re likely to be in it.
But asking one good question about a topic can often communicate a lot more information in a much simpler way. Asking good questions shows that not only do you understand the facts about a subject, but you also recognize the types of questions these facts will lead to.
We are often afraid to ask questions for fear of looking stupid, so it’s nice to know that one recent study shows that when individuals ask questions, they are actually seen as more competent and knowledgeable than those who don’t ask questions.
It’s easy to get lost in abstract thinking and over-philosophizing. The pragmatic thinker knows that their beliefs only matter to the extent that they have a real world effect on our lives.
Laptops, cellphones, television, video games, movies, iPads, and tablets. Nowadays there is no end to the amount of visual distractions we face on a daily basis.
While all of these technologies can greatly augment our lives, there is still a principle of moderation that we should consider at all times.
This is why I find it important to actively seek out ways to increase your “off screen” time. This is especially relevant if your job includes a lot of screen time, or you tend to spend the majority of your free time looking at devices in one form or another.
If this applies to you, then it may be a good idea to search for new opportunities to get away from those pixelated screens every now and then.
While all of the activities mentioned in this article are healthy and productive in their own ways, for the purposes of this article I see them as valuable reasons to just get away from screens, even if it’s just a short break.
Searching for a quick boost in motivation and inspiration? Check out these classic “self help” books that you can read in just one sitting.