Inner life

When we talk about habit, it means the behavior of a person and his lifestyle. It shows how a person likes to spend his time. So here are…

Is your short attention span impacting your personal and professional life? It’s time to change it

How I turned my worst year into a success.

Remember that success in life lies in your daily routine

A meaningful life is the single most important pursuit in human development. It is the goal that leads us to everything else: a fulfilling…

Buddhism, founded by Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as Buddha, offers a rich tapestry of wisdom that delves deep into the human psyche…

Improving your life doesn’t get to be tied in with making one major gesture. It’s something you’ll be able to continually modify, and it…

Time is your most valuable asset — prioritize how you spend it.

It’s all about small gestures

A must-read if you're into a relationship now

Avoid these scenarios to move forward

One must cultivate one’s own inner garden

Journaling doesn’t have to be complicated; simply giving shape to your thoughts and feelings can have profound effects.

By Leo Babauta We’re constantly struggling with the past, in so many ways: Mistakes we’ve made that ...

How to live a modern and up-to-date life without feeling overwhelmed and stressed to the max.

“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.”

And the simple techniques we can do to feel better

How to become better every day without spending money

Stop forcing yourself into a meditation routine.

Change your idea of boredom

Train your mind to stay focused in the face of adversity

By Leo Babauta There are a lot of amazing benefits to being more present and mindful, but one of my favorites is this: you’re not missing the beauty and joy of the present moment.

How to overcome your inner critic

What psychologists suggest to do instead

How you can use them?

By Leo Babauta How do you beat something so addictive as the Internet, or TV — things most of us find ourselves increasingly immersed in, all day long? I won’t get into the whys of curbing an addiction like this — I’m going to assume you already want to make a change.

Solve problems by borrowing the methods of the most famous investigators

That can truly transform the way you live your life

Inspired by my favorite quote

By Leo Babauta It’s no secret that we live in the Age of Instant gratification. That’s not news. But Paul Roberts has written an excellent essay at The American Scholar looking at the breadth of this phenomena on our society – it’s a must read.

An easy way to find our articles by topic and tags—along with our top picks to inspire and delight

By Leo Babauta We normally think of fear as something that’s holding us back, or something to be avoided … but what if we could see it as a powerful tool? What if we could master that tool? We’d become masters at life, able to push through fears of rejection, failure, ridicule, and more. Fear […]

By Leo Babauta We all procrastinate. The question is how (or even whether) we overcome the tendency to procrastinate, and if we can find focus.

By Leo Babauta Underlying much of what we do is an uncertainty, an anxiety, a fear, doubts, dissatis ...

By Leo Babauta I have a friend who is unhappy with his life – being in debt, lonely, with a job he doesn’t like, in a town he doesn’t like.

Some serious questions for us. In no specific order.

By Leo Babauta I have an overwhelming amount on my mind today, and with that feeling of being overwhelmed, my stress levels have gone up significantly.

By Leo Babauta Throughout the day, we get frustrated, irritated, angry. We are frustrated in traffic, when a loved one doesn’t behave the way we like, when someone tells us we’re wrong, when technology doesn’t work the way we want, when dinner is ruined, among many other daily stresses.

By Leo Babauta Pretty much all of us experience frustration on a daily (or even hourly) basis. We get frustrated by other people, by ourselves, by technology, by work situations, by small crises that come up all the time.

But is not permanent

Give up your idea of control

A curated list of how-to’s to for mindful, compassionate perseverance

By Leo Babauta A reader wrote to me that he is frustrated with himself – he hasn’t been as compassionate to people as he’d like recently.

There once was a man who was very quiet. Because of his quietness, people thought the man lacked confidence. His quietness made others feel…

By Leo Babauta When we’re frustrated with others, or feeling bad about ourselves … we often turn toward habits that comfort us: distractions food shopping smoking drugs/alcohol These don’t often work, because they tend to make us feel worse in the long run.

Emotional resilience is superpower

From You at 28…

By Leo Babauta There is a famous stone water basin (or “tsukubai”) outside of the even more famous Ryoan-ji Temple in Kyoto, with four characters that read: “ware tada shiru taru.

My mantra for staying sane through it all: rise with purpose, fall with wisdom, and repeat

The text elucidates the cyclical nature of life, emphasizing that personal and professional experiences oscillate between highs and lows. It underscores the importance of resilience and adaptability, noting that both growth and setbacks are integral to development. The author reflects on evolving family relationships, career shifts, fluctuating social connections, and spiritual growth, advocating for balance and inner peace. Ultimately, the text promotes embracing life's rhythm, building resilience, and maintaining equilibrium to navigate challenges and progress.

There’s enough negativity in the world without bashing on what brings someone joy

Tips and tricksfor doing àsanas.

"What would it be like to live in a world without integrity?"

By Leo Babauta Yesterday wasn’t a very focused day for me – I got work done, but I also researched a bunch of newish personal interests (mostly programming and cycling), played an iPhone trivia game with my kids, read a bunch of online articles, and did very little of the writing I’d planned.

How to train yourself to think clearly and act skillfully during stressful situations

One Of The Most Powerful Teachings

By Leo Babauta A lot of our troubles could be solved by one simple practice. A lot of joy could be found with the same practice.

When I stopped striving for happiness, I realised I was happier being content.

Sleep deprivation is a concern — so is the lack of idle time.

If you speak, speak optimistically. If you do, do good deeds. If you think, think logically.

By Leo Babauta One thing I’ve been noticing in myself over the last few months, and I see other people doing it all the time, is thinking that my way is the right way to do things.

By Leo Babauta Our work lives are filled with busyness, distraction, procrastination, responding to messages, checking on messages, and getting lost down rabbit holes.

Have you ever wanted to light fireworks on the 4th of July and found them damp and the wicks not lighting? Frustration mounts.

Embracing Failure: A Key to Personal Growth and Success

Self compassion is a concept I stumbled upon while listening to a podcast. The topic of the episode I listened to was “self esteem”.

The Atlas of Emotions — an interactive map to understand our mind

You attract what you are.

Try a new lens

Find your happy experience in real-time

“Meditation brings freedom on the inside. It brings me clarity. It stokes the fire of compassion. It helps me to resolve problems as best I…

Western nations such as the United States of America and the United Kingdom are largely thought of as political superpowers.

Success and failure exist only in comparison.

“Fasting enabled me to perform at levels I never thought were possible”.

By Leo Babauta How often are we anxious, frustrated, looking forward to something coming up, unhappy with ourselves, unhappy with others? ...

By Leo Babauta I’ve heard from many people who say, “I think too much,” or “I can’t get out of my own head.

Nowadays, meditation is widely used as a tool to calm one’s overly busy mind and to find a quiet place to unwind in one’s thoughts.

My client who has social anxiety challenged me to come up with a 12 step program for making and keeping friends. With apologies to Bill W…

How peaceful walking helped gently train a four-legged-friend

By Leo Babauta Yesterday a loved one asked me about dealing with anger – he lashed out at someone he loves in a way that hurt her and filled him with shame and regret.

By Leo Babauta There isn’t a working person among us who doesn’t deal with stress – whether you’re an entrepreneur, a freelancer, working for a struggling startup, or clocking in working for a company, work stress is inevitable.

By Leo Babauta Sometimes we get discouraged about ourselves: we think, “I’m not doing a good job, I’m not disciplined, I’m not good enough, I suck.

By Leo Babauta It’s funny that two days with such opposing spirits come back-to-back in our calendars here in the U.

For entrepreneurship to thrive, a growth mindset is vital. It helps entrepreneurs stay resilient and focused on their goals…

My mind is a mess most of the time. The sad part is it’s a self-inflicted mess. I cause my own jealousies, angers, and anxieties. The good…

The art of holding on and letting go

I grew up in the countryside in Northern Vietnam where trees are ubiquitous. My house, with its three sides surrounded by paddy fields…

One after another, a year passes by, but you're still stuck with the same regrets and disappointments caused in your life long ago. The…

I’ve written previously about the importance of letting go of painful feelings and negative emotions. Today I’ll dive into why sometimes…

7 Things I learned from taking 176 cold showers in a row

My journey to overcoming anxiety began with traditional therapy, but I found solace in cold water therapy inspired by Wim Hof. Regular cold showers significantly improved my mental resilience, focus, and mood by increasing norepinephrine levels. They also taught me vital life lessons, such as accepting pain, facing fears, and practicing gratitude. This practice has not only enhanced my happiness but also offered profound psychological benefits. I encourage others to embrace this transformative habit.

Either you discover your path, or it will find you

If you’re seeking motivation while relaxation, (read/listen/watch) this.

A conscious approach to reclaim your power when you feel powerless at work

A complete guide to being ready for bad days by preparing a safety net in advance

Cut through anxiety with these simple yet effective writing prompts that get your words flowing and your mind clear

I developed this coping routine based on my experience and the psychology textbooks I use as a trainee psychologist

A guide to achieving mindfulness and self-love in your sleep

6 signs and tips on how to stop the cycle

All the benefits-and joy-of a regular meditation practice can be yours by using the science of behavior change

Liberate yourself from repetitive, unhelpful thought patterns in 5 steps

How this art practice and meditation helped me cope with the lack of social interaction and isolation of the pandemic

And how to write an effective well thought out list.

Delving deep into the art of overcoming negative self-beliefs and overcoming the inner critical voices.

Use this plan to get the restorative sleep you need during a time when you need it most

This intense form of meditation can improve your emotional intelligence and increase your capacity for compassion

Complete the puzzle one piece at a time.

By Leo Babauta Your day is getting hectic, and you’re tired, or anxious, or distracted, or full of doubt.

By Leo Babauta There are times when I see the successful businesses that other people are building and I instantly want to create that kind of success for myself.

A survival guide to public speaking, decision panic, infuriating people, and other horrors

The importance of having a “Why”.

A complete guide to a 2-day custom recharge of your mind and spirit

By Leo Babauta In 2016, I practiced mindfulness more than I ever have before, after 10 years of sporadic practice.

This simple slow-breathing technique can have surprisingly profound effects

You don’t have to talk about the weather ever again — unless you want to

A guide to dealing with difficult thoughts and emotions

6 ways to solve problems by subtraction

Strategies for deep work that go beyond putting your phone in do-not-disturb mode

My insight….

By Leo Babauta I have a friend who doesn’t realize how much he dislikes so many things – much of his life is spent avoiding things he doesn’t like, or trying to rush through things like exercise, or annoyed by people who do things he doesn’t like.

My 3-week experiment allowed me to reclaim control over my devices without feeling like I’m depriving myself

You become what you focus on — and the world too

Practical ways to take small steps to beat nature-deficit disorder and reconnect to the living earth

Its not changing the scene or music

As a former gymnast with training in clinical psychology, I learned to stop suffering and start living

Counting breaths may not be the way to quell your monkey mind-gamifying my counting works better for me

Go beyond meditation and spend a whole day more mindfully

One Framework and 4 simple strategies to turn this cognitive struggle into a lifelong advantage

How to work with a hypnotherapist and with self-hypnosis to reprogram your mind

A vital skill for life

It starts with 1 simple word you use everyday:

You might think that your success is merely due to luck and the help of others, and even consider yourself an “impostor”…

The environment of a person affects him in various ways, which makes him wear masks around people. This being a topic of great interest is…

Curious about Tim Ferriss’s productivity secrets? I tested them out, and here’s what I discovered.

“Lose an hour in the morning, and you’ll spend all day looking for it.”

How I harness awareness to stay present

We all experience stress at work, but some are better at handling stress than others

#2 Celebrate their birthdays.

A beginner’s guide to trying out float tanks, and the science behind the results

Anger is the fastest way out of depression

By Leo Babauta I have a confession to make: despite writing books on the subject, along with numerous posts, I haven’t been single-tasking lately.

Are you ready to slow down and deepen into your life? Learn the practice of slowing down, how it can support you in being with the resistance that comes up in all areas of your life.

By Leo Babauta I’m excited to announce my first retreat: the Zen Habits Mindfulness Retreat in San Francisco! The urban retreat will be held over a weekend, on April 21-23, 2017.

The joy of the silent observer

Do you resonate with any of these thoughts?

By Leo Babauta As you sit here reading these words, you are breathing … stop for a moment and notice this breath.

By Leo Babauta Stress is a killer. It contributes to health problems, unhappiness, depression, relationship problems, and more.

I was flipping through a graphic novel one day when the image of a girl wearing raincoat caught my attention.

By Leo Babauta Today I deleted several apps from my phone: Twitter, Reddit, Feedly, Snapchat, the N.Y.

By Leo Babauta One of the (many) things I struggle with in life is wanting to feel in control of how things will turn out – control of a trip that I’m on, of a project I’m working on, of how my kids will turn out.

A guide to replicating the happiest accident of my life

A guide for the rest of us

By Leo Babauta There’s a hidden mechanism that creates unhappiness, difficulty changing habits, relationship problems, frustration, anger and disappointment.