Hey there,

On this Saturday morning we hold the people of Ukraine in our minds and hearts. The unnecessary violence and loss of life is heartbreaking and hopefully a workable and peaceful resolution emerges soon.

Today I wrote about cringe productivity and this month we've got 3 fantastic (and free) events:

If you want to learn "Productivity 101"...

I'll be teaching first principles on time management and prioritization via a Productivity Hot Seat with Amanda Natividad. March 2 @ 12:30 PM PST, click here to sign up.
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If you want to start an Internet Business...

Marie Poulin and I are sharing 2-decades worth of pragmatic advice on starting and scaling creator-focused online businesses. March 4 @10:30 AM PST, click here to sign up.
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If you constantly feel like there's "not enough"...

My long-time coach Andrew Taggart and I will be discussing how to overcome the scarcity mindset and finally find peace with what you already have. March 10 @ Noon PST, click here to sign up.

The most cringeworthy productivity advice

Ready for the silver bullet?

A playbook that will 10x your productivity and create more than 24 hours in a day?

I hope you’re sitting down. Here it goes.

First, set your alarm for 4:27 am.

(Bonus points if you create an Instagram story documenting this feat.)

Next, strip off all of your clothes and jump into a cold shower.

Count to 60.

As you get dressed, write down 11 things you’re grateful for.

Then during your commute, listen to Atomic Habits on 2x speed (while drinking a Soylent).

When you set down at your desk, open up Headspace for a 10-minute meditation.

Then immediately eat the frog.

Voila.

With perfect execution, you’ll start your perfectly time-blocked day by 7:12 am.

(Yup, while the rest of the world is still brushing their teeth.)

We’ve all read a version of 8 Things You Should Do Before 8 a.m. to Perform at Your Peak Every Day. These articles are doused with cringeworthy productivity advice (and if you go travel deep into the Rad Archive, you’ll definitely find traces of this advice from my younger self).

I recently asked RadReaders which advice made them cringe. And let’s just say, y'all had opinions.

Khe Hy @khemaridh What's the most cringe-worthy productivity advice? February 20th 2022 5 Retweets 69 Likes

Yet we still read these posts and tweetstorms, as if they contain a hidden gem that can snap us out of our funk and make us feel more in control, happier and less stressed. But what unifies this cringeworthy advice?

And what do these failed hacks and shortcuts tell us about ourselves and our deepest desires?

Here are this week's top reads:

// one

Ben Stiller sees the world differently now

9 minutes | Esquire
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How does one balance professional ambition with parenthood. It’s a conundrum for many RadReaders, particularly those of us who intertwine self-worth and achievement (ahem.) Ben Stiller talks about navigating his "desire to fulfill the hopes and dreams" and struggling to be present for his daughter. While we're still in the magical window, this quote really hit home:

→ Read the article​

// two

If you had your dream job, would you be happy?

4 minutes | The Jungle Gym
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If you got your dream job tomorrow, would you finally be happy? We think so, but quickly fall into the when-then trap. Finding faults within our job allows us to avoid confronting parts of ourselves that might not be so fun to look at. The real secret? Learn to be happy without your job (and that there are no external solutions to internal problems.)

→ Read the post​

// three

How to create more luck

4 minutes | Twitter

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There’s no such thing as pure luck - there are thousands of micro-actions and habits we cultivate that put us in positions to allow luck to strike. How can we “create” more luck? Write in public, be the dumbest person in the room, talk to strangers, hangout with optimists, and follow your curiosity - to name a few.

→ Read the tweetstorm​

// four

Laurie Santos on why her Yale students have so much anxiety

8 minutes | The New York Times
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Psychology and the Good Life is one of the most popular courses at Yale - students are eager to learn techniques to live happier lives. There are so many books and podcasts about happiness - so why aren’t we happy? Because happiness is complicated. And it actually turns out that happiness has much less to do with the “big” things — like wealth or status — and much more to do with the “little” things — like spending time with your kids or smelling your coffee in the morning.

→ Read the article​

// five

The seven habits that lead to happiness in old age

5 minutes | The Atlantic
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What if we had a “Happiness 401(k)” that we can invest in when we are young and cash out when we're old? Just as financial planners advise clients to make retirement savings automatic and recurring, we can make intentional happiness deposits that will make old age much better. Where to start: Don’t smoke, limit drinking, maintain a healthy body weight, prioritize movement, practice coping mechanisms now, keep learning, and cultivate strong relationships.
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→ Read the article​

// From our community

Learn the fundamentals of design (in one weekend)

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​"Good design communicates trust." This quote has anchored my personal approach to design. Yet as someone who has literally zero design experience, the craft has always felt daunting and overwhelming. Colors, fonts, Figma, gradients - where does one even begin? Thankfully I discovered Nate's course and in the span of a weekend was able to create RadReads assets that communicate our vibe and ehos. The next cohort begins March 19th.

(This is not a sponsored post, just a full-throated endorsement.)

Below the fold

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LAST WEEK'S MOST READ

• ​When you see this email (run like hell) (RadReads, 1,306 clicks)
• ​What is the greatest paradox of becoming wealthy? (Ramit Sethi, 570 clicks)

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And finally, ‘Ye released his list of beefs and guess who made the cut, Peppa Pig.

Warmly,

Khe

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