Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

4 Healthy Work Habits That Will Help You Get Your Life Back

Do you use the Pomodoro technique when you work? Is quiet quitting for you? Does collaboration help or hurt productivity? Celeste Headlee wants to help you rebel against the productivity culture and get your life back. She urges you to free up time by doing more focused work, stop working more than you need to, work with a group when you can, and create a dream schedule that includes leisure time. Read more to learn about these four healthy work habits that can change your professional and personal life for the better.

What Causes Cruelty? It’s Not a Lack of Empathy

What causes cruelty? What role does empathy play? Does empathy have a dark side that we must avoid? There’s a common perception that cruelty is rooted in a lack of empathy. However, psychologist Paul Bloom argues that the real culprit is misused or misplaced empathy. He believes that empathy can motivate us to behave in ways that are unjust, irrational, violent, and cruel. Keep reading to understand Bloom’s argument that violence and cruelty don’t result from a lack of empathy.

What Is Motivated Reasoning? Steven Pinker Explains

What is motivated reasoning? Why is it important to be able to recognize it in yourself and others? Humans, despite our intelligence and ingenuity, often behave irrationally. Steven Pinker explains that people frequently fall victim to cognitive blunders that lead them down an irrational path. One of these blunders is motivated reasoning. Continue reading Pinker’s advice on how you can overcome this tendency and think more rationally about your choices.

How to Measure Employee Engagement With 2 Meaningful Metrics

What’s the difference between job satisfaction and workplace satisfaction? Why are both so important? Employee experience expert Russ Laraway says that employee engagement is at an all-time low and that ineffective management is the culprit. He explains what employee engagement means and how to measure it in a meaningful way that helps managers know how to draw the best out of their employees. Keep reading to learn how to measure employee engagement and, as a result, measure your effectiveness as a manager.

The Bigger Leaner Stronger Diet: Calories in, Calories Out

What’s the best diet to lose fat and build muscle? Which matters more—how much you eat or what you eat? In Bigger Leaner Stronger, Michael Matthews argues that you can get the physique you want without a trendy diet or a brutal workout. All it takes is a simple and scientific approach to nutrition and exercise. He advocates flexible dieting—a diet that allows you to lose fat, gain muscle, and eat the foods you love. Read more to learn about the Bigger Leaner Stronger diet and its “calories in, calories out” approach.

How to Start Living a Healthy Lifestyle: 3 Changes to Make Today

Are you a participant in today’s productivity culture? Are you ready to step off the treadmill and get a real life? In Do Nothing, Celeste Headlee argues that, by trying to do too much, people are working less efficiently and suffering professionally and personally. She shares several tips for changing the way we work and making space in our life for leisure and human connection. Keep reading for Headlee’s advice on how to start living a healthy lifestyle.

How Myside Bias Fuels Irrationality & an “Us vs. Them” Mentality

Which do you value more—the truth or fitting in? Do you allow your group’s beliefs to trump your better judgment? Most people agree on the importance of rational thinking and behavior. Still, irrationality is rampant. Steven Pinker explores why people hold irrational beliefs such as paranormal phenomena or conspiracy theories in his book Rationality. He identifies myside bias as one of the culprits. Read more to learn about this all-too-common tendency that impacts individuals and society as a whole.

The 3 Essential Leadership Skills for Managers

What’s the difference between a leader and a manager? Should managers bother to develop leadership skills? If so, which ones? Employee experience expert Russ Laraway laments the widespread problem of bad management. But, he has good news. He believes anyone can become a better manager by learning and practicing basic leadership skills: setting and reaching goals, coaching, and helping employees with career development. Continue reading to learn what Laraway thinks are essential leadership skills for managers.

The 5 Steps to Creating Your Bigger Leaner Stronger Meal Plan

Are you looking to burn fat and build muscle? What nutrients will help you do that? Are supplements recommended? In Bigger Leaner Stronger, personal trainer Michael Matthews promotes flexible dieting—a method of eating that helps you trim fat and build muscle without sacrificing the foods you love. He shares five steps to creating a Bigger Leaner Stronger meal plan that works for you. Read more to get the details on determining your goal, calculating your calorie target, calculating your calories-per-macro target, planning your meal schedule, and creating your meals.

Rational Compassion: Paul Bloom’s Alternative to Empathy

What should be the basis for how you behave? Why isn’t empathy the best guide? If we want to be kind and moral people, it seems obvious that we should practice empathy. But, psychologist Paul Bloom suggests that we should cultivate a rational form of compassion instead and use this more measured and distanced approach to make decisions that are better for everyone involved. Continue reading to learn about Bloom’s concept of rational compassion.