Negative Visualization

Negative visualization (premeditatio malorum) involves intentionally imagining the loss of what you value. This Stoic practice delivers several benefits:

• It counteracts hedonic adaptation—our tendency to take blessings for granted
• It creates psychological resil...

There is an attention-training exercise that can reduce the feeling of anxiety.

Spend a few minutes each day practising the following:

• Listen to all the sound around you - the people chattering, birds singing, the sound of traffic.

1. Distractions are the biggest threat to doing deep, focused work. When working, avoid switching between tasks, checking emails, or checking your phone. If you can’t address something immediately, let it wait.
2. Clean and organize your workspace (and even your computer). Since our brains...