These links are references and ideas that I have found helpful for better work and life. They’re organized around four concepts–Effective at Work, Happiness & Fulfillment, Stability & Logistics, and Growth & Change.
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Effective at Work
Writing
Writing clarifies your thoughts, opens doors, creates connection, yields perspective, builds self-awareness, and slows down time.
“…the next thing most like living one’s life over again seems to be a recollection of that life, and to make that recollection as durable as possible by putting it down in writing.” – Ben Franklin
- Grammarly is a grammar checker with browser integrations
- Hemingway App is an online tool to help with concise writing
- Bird by Bird by Ann Lamott, has incredible tools, including the one-inch frame, sh*tty first drafts, and “bird by bird.”
- Sriram Krishnan maintains a page of interesting business memos
- Journaling is the simplest entry point to writing–I appreciate Michael Hyatt’s resources on the topic here, here, and here.
- The Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto explains writing effectively for work
Tracking Data
Simple trackers are surprisingly effective for sharing reality with skeptical audiences, including yourself.
- To be added: description of why trackers matter
- To be added: Example Tracker: save a copy (file -> save a copy) to edit for yourself
- Ben Franklin’s tracker for self-improvement
- Jim Collins description of his tracker for creativity (search “spreadsheet”)
Classic Reads
Books I’ve enjoyed on being effective.
- How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen
- Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey
- Ben Franklin’s Autobiography
- Crucial Conversations, by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
Happiness & Fulfillment
Well-being Practices
- Dr. Laurie Santos’s Course on The Science of Well-being and her Happiness Lab podcast have a great set of practices
- Shawn Achor’s TED talk and book have a great simple set of practices, also available here
Stress and Burnout
Links I’ve found helpful for stress relief and preventing burnout
- Adam Grant‘s podcast episode “Burnout is Everyone’s Problem” encourages celebrating small victories and finding meaning
- Anne Helen Petersen’s investigation of burnout highlights important aspects, including debt burden and technology
- This HBR article with tips from David Kessler is spectacular, and his book on facing grief, Finding Meaning, has great advice
- For me, personally, the daily practice most effective at reducing stress is taking B and D vitamins – article here.
Faith & Spirituality
My Christian faith is an important part of my fulfillment and happiness. Here are recent reads I’ve enjoyed.
- The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer, and the companion workbook How to Unhurry
- Living Life Backward by David Gibson is a study of Ecclesiastes, that deals largely with grief and mortality
- Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans is a series of reflections on faith and religion
- Whisper by Max Batterson is a book on prayer
- St. Ignatius’s exercises available in an abbreviated form online here.
Calm & Work 