The hottest Self-Improvement Substack posts right now

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Character and Personality

Kartick’s Blog • 0 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Self-Improvement
  1. Character is who you really are inside, while personality is how others see you outside. Both matter, but having a good character is what we should strive for.
  2. People can be judged by how they present themselves, especially in social situations like sales. Sometimes, showing a little vulnerability can help identify those with bad character.
  3. Observing someone's actions is more important than just listening to their words. If what they say and do don’t match, it’s a red flag.

🗒️ Decision Journaling 101

The Wisdom Project • 0 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
🚌 Education Self-Improvement
  1. Decision journaling helps you track and analyze your choices to make better decisions in the future. It removes bias and allows for reflection on what you've done right or wrong.
  2. Each journal entry should include context, a decision framework, and a review section to understand outcomes and learnings. This structured approach helps clarify your thought process.
  3. To get the most out of decision journaling, avoid overthinking smaller choices and remember to review your decisions regularly. This will help identify patterns and improve your decision-making skills.

My Highlights - Slow Productivity by Cal Newport

The Wisdom Project • 0 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Doing fewer things helps you focus on quality over quantity. It's better to fully embrace fewer projects that truly matter to you.
  2. Working at a natural pace is important for sustainability. Rushing can lead to burnout, so take your time and plan things over a longer timeline.
  3. It's okay to have slower seasons in your work year. Taking breaks or working less doesn't mean you're lazy; it can actually improve your overall productivity.

✋If you want to avoid costly mistakes

The Wisdom Project • 0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Self-Improvement
  1. To make better choices in life, focus on avoiding mistakes instead of just trying to achieve goals. This means thinking about what to stay away from.
  2. Instead of asking how to be fitter, richer, or happier, ask what habits or choices can lead you to be unfit, poor, or sad.
  3. Use the idea of 'inversion' to guide your decisions. If you know what leads to negative outcomes, you can avoid those paths to improve your life.

📈 Achieve more by doing less?

The Wisdom Project • 0 implied HN points • 08 Dec 24
🚌 Education Self-Improvement
  1. Most of your results come from a small part of your efforts. Focus on the most impactful actions.
  2. Identifying the key tasks that make a big difference is important. Spend more time on those.
  3. Sometimes, doing less can actually help you achieve more. It’s about working smarter, not harder.
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⏪︎ 2024 Recap

The Wisdom Project • 0 implied HN points • 22 Dec 24
🚌 Education Self-Improvement
  1. First principles thinking helps you break down complex problems into basic elements. It makes finding solutions easier.
  2. Slow productivity encourages focusing on important tasks without rushing. This approach helps you work more effectively and avoid burnout.
  3. Using a decision matrix can help you make better choices. It organizes your options and clarifies which path to take.

🔎 Magnification - A Cognitive Distortion

The Wisdom Project • 0 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Self-Improvement
  1. Our minds often make small problems feel much bigger than they really are. We can trick ourselves into thinking these issues are more serious than what's actually happening.
  2. It's important to remember what we take for granted. Many people have it much harder, and recognizing our privilege can help shift our perspective.
  3. Practicing mindfulness can help change how we think. Activities like journaling or meditation can help us see things more clearly and reduce unnecessary stress.

Some Notes about Personal Improvement

Kartick’s Blog • 0 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. It's okay to focus on one area of improvement at a time, depending on what feels right for you. Sometimes it's best to pause and add new things back gradually when you're ready.
  2. Instead of aiming for a specific result, focus on taking action. Set short deadlines to try new things, and don't worry if the outcome isn't perfect right away.
  3. Take small steps to push your comfort zone a little at a time. Smaller, consistent actions can lead to better results and less stress than trying to make huge leaps all at once.

Reset to Zero

Kartick’s Blog • 0 implied HN points • 26 May 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Sometimes it's good to start fresh by wiping things clean and only adding back what you really need. This makes things easier and more efficient.
  2. You can apply the reset concept to different areas of your life, like your kitchen or diet, to find the right balance and avoid clutter.
  3. Every once in a while, try resetting something in your life to zero. It can help you discover better ways to do things.

Levels of Being

Sons of Liberty Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 25
📖 Philosophy Self-Improvement
  1. Humans can change and grow in ways that animals and plants cannot. We have the ability to evolve and refine ourselves by doing inner work.
  2. There are seven levels of being, and the first three levels focus on physical, emotional, and intellectual imbalances. Identifying these imbalances is the first step toward improving ourselves.
  3. Balancing our physical, emotional, and intellectual sides helps us feel whole and well. We should set personal aims to guide our efforts in achieving this balance.

A Genuine Feeling

Sons of Liberty Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Self-Improvement
  1. It's important to notice and reduce our tendency to criticize ourselves and others. This helps us to become more positive and open-hearted.
  2. Judgments often come up subtly, like comments or body language, and catching them can free up our energy for better emotions.
  3. Taking regular breaks to reflect on ourselves can help us stay grounded and connect more genuinely with our feelings.

The New Year's Resolution Cliff

The Healthtech Initiative • 0 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Most people quit their new‑year sleep resolutions almost immediately — 60% stop within 48 hours and the median streak is one day, with under 3% lasting beyond five days.
  2. People who kept up the changes at first actually slept worse short‑term: they went to bed earlier and tracked routines more, yet their time to fall asleep rose to about 26+ minutes.
  3. Trying harder often makes sleep worse, so the common New Year’s resolution approach to ‘optimize’ sleep is counterproductive and needs a different framework.

Stop Drowning in your Thoughts

Curiosity Sink__ • 0 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
📖 Philosophy Self-Improvement
  1. Mindless self-talk (mental "noodling") quietly wrecks clear thinking by letting emotion and habit replace logic, leaving you confused and stuck in bad beliefs.
  2. Treat thinking like musical practice: write and "pre-compose" your best answers and honest counterarguments, then test and refine them in real conversations so your ideas survive reality.
  3. Guide your mind with sharp questions and deliberate constraints—they help you think ahead, land on useful conclusions, and turn limits into real freedom.