Slow but Steady: Does It Really Win the Race?

A snail crossing a crack in the ground, representing a "slow but steady" mindset.

Is slow but steady always the best approach? Or are there times when snap decisions are better? A slow but steady approach to decision-making can help you make more purposeful and thoughtful decisions. However, having expertise in an area allows you to make good quick decisions, too. Read on for more on the benefits and drawbacks of a more thoughtful approach.

What Is Deliberate Practice? Working on Specific Weak Points

A woman swimming laps underwater in a public pool.

What is deliberate practice, and how can you use it to get better at something? What can this style of practicing do for your performance? Deliberate practice is a method of identifying your weaknesses and specifically targeting them, instead of generally practicing an entire set of skills. This process focuses your energy on where you need improvement the most. Continue reading to learn how deliberate practice works.

10,000 Hours to Become an Expert: Why Practice Matters

A silhouette of a pesron writing at a desk with gears and clouds in the sky.

Does it take 10,000 hours to become an expert? What does research say about how much practice you need? The idea that you need 10,000 hours to become an expert is backed by the research of psychologist Anders Ericsson and is famously cited in Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers. While there’s some debate around this exact figure, most agree that a lot of practice makes the difference between experts and non-experts. Read on for a look at all sides of the 10,000-hour debate.

Having a Purpose in Life: 3 Ways It Contributes to Happiness

A man on a sailboat looking at the sunset on the water.

Where are you headed in life? What are you striving toward? Do you believe that your life has value and meaning? In The How of Happiness, Sonja Lyubomirsky unpacks the factors that fuel happiness and provides practical strategies to nurture and sustain it. One way is to find and create purpose in your life. Keep reading to see how having a purpose in life can bring you lasting happiness.

Benefits of Intrinsic Motivation: Virtuous Cycles of Improvement

A man climbing a cliff of a mountain.

What are the benefits of intrinsic motivation? How do intrinsic rewards keep you motivated? The benefits of intrinsic motivation include being able to develop virtuous cycles of improvement and practice. This means that if you enjoy practicing, you’ll get better, which means you’ll continue to enjoy practicing and stick to it. Read on to learn how to develop better patterns of improvement.