7 tips from Rolf Dobelli’s good life toolbox
Improve your life with every false step Whenever you make a big decision, write down what’s going through your mind — assumptions, trains of thought, conclusions. If the decision turns out to be a dud, analyse precisely what it was that led to your mistake. With each explicable error, your life will get better. Persistence in your analysis will pay off.
Construct a second persona Outside of a romantic relationship or very close friendship, rather than striving for authenticity you should adopt a second self. Restrict authenticity to keeping your promises and acting according to your principles. The barrier of a second persona shields you from toxic influences and establishes a degree of internal clarity.
Save money for freedom Save up enough money to allow you to quit your job at a moment’s notice without ending up in dire financial straits. One year’s salary, say. This will allow you to see and think objectively. If you haven’t saved enough yet, keep your fixed costs low. The lower your outgoings, the quicker you’ll reach your goal.
Be persistent Slow, boring, long-winded processes lead to the best results. The same goes for your life. And the more peaceful the life, the more productive. So less busywork, more endurance. Once you’ve found what you’re good at, stick to it. Likewise if you find a good spouse, a suitable place to live or a rewarding hobby.
Spend time creating wonderful experiences for yourself in the here and now The things we experience in the present are much more forceful, more intensely flavoured and colourful than our fogged-up recollections. Be consciously aware of enjoyable moments, physically perceive them instead of scrabbling for memories. Make the most of your present experiences instead of worrying about future memories. Savour the sunset instead of photographing it.
Write down your worries Fetch a notebook and title it My Big Book of Worries. Set aside a fixed time to dedicate to your anxieties. In practical terms, this means reserving 10 minutes a day to jot down everything that’s worrying you — no matter how justified, idiotic or vague. Once you’ve done so, the rest of the day will be relatively worry-free. Your brain knows its concerns have been recorded and not simply ignored.
Avoid problems before you have to solve them Prevention requires more than just knowledge; it requires imagination. Imagination means forcing yourself to think possibilities and consequences all the way through. Spend 15 minutes a week focusing intently on the potential catastrophic risks in your own life. Then forget all about it and spend the rest of the week happy and carefree.