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Automatic You

A blog about behavioral engineering.

Attention

5 Productivity Myths to Avoid

Nir Eyal on March 15, 2023

Stop making yourself feel like you’re not doing anything just because you didn’t check off a box today. If your task is an important project, it’s going to take time.

Stop making yourself feel like you’re not doing anything just because you didn’t check off a box today. If your task is an important project, it’s going to take time.

Self-Help

6 Habits That Are Secretly Making You Miserable

Nir Eyal on March 2, 2023

Uncover the real sources behind six habits secretly causing misery and learn simple ways to break them for a happier life.

Uncover the real sources behind six habits secretly causing misery and learn simple ways to break them for a happier life.

Self-Help

One Question to Ask Yourself to Know Your Future

Nir Eyal on February 15, 2023

When it comes to living the life—and the future—you want, making sure you allocate time to living your values is the best thing to focus on.

When it comes to living the life—and the future—you want, making sure you allocate time to living your values is the best thing to focus on.

Motivation

How to Conduct a Self-Audit

Nir Eyal on January 24, 2023

By becoming self-aware, you become less likely to veer off track when difficult emotions surface, which is why self-reflection is such a compelling practice for the New Year.

By becoming self-aware, you become less likely to veer off track when difficult emotions surface, which is why self-reflection is such a compelling practice for the New Year.

Time Management

’Tis the Season for Reexamining Your Values

Nir Eyal on January 16, 2023

Reassessing your values and making time for them is one of the best things you can do to make sure you stay motivated in the New Year.

Reassessing your values and making time for them is one of the best things you can do to make sure you stay motivated in the New Year.

Attention

4 Mental Traps That Kill Productivity

Nir Eyal on January 9, 2023

Productivity has many enemies: too many meetings, external triggers like interruptions from coworkers, and multitasking the wrong way, to name a few.

Productivity has many enemies: too many meetings, external triggers like interruptions from coworkers, and multitasking the wrong way, to name a few.

Self-Help

Labeling Yourself Is Keeping You Down, Do This Instead

Nir Eyal on January 4, 2023

By focusing on our behaviors, not fixed characteristics, we can release harmful perceptions of ourselves that hold us back from trying methods that might improve our lives.

By focusing on our behaviors, not fixed characteristics, we can release harmful perceptions of ourselves that hold us back from trying methods that might improve our lives.

Motivation

You Can't Do It All, So Prioritize Your Values

Nir Eyal on December 27, 2022

You have to prioritize some activities over others—or else you’ll be spread too thin to dedicate yourself to anything fully.

You have to prioritize some activities over others—or else you’ll be spread too thin to dedicate yourself to anything fully.

Self-Help

8 Productivity Hacks You Can Do in 30 Minutes

Nir Eyal on October 21, 2022

Implementing these tips will may help to save you from distraction but also give you the results and motivation you need to pursue becoming Indistractable.

Implementing these tips will may help to save you from distraction but also give you the results and motivation you need to pursue becoming Indistractable.

Self-Help

Why People See Problems Where There Are None

Nir Eyal on October 6, 2022

By putting our problems in proper perspective and leveraging our inherent drive for improvement, we can live the kind of lives we’re proud of.

By putting our problems in proper perspective and leveraging our inherent drive for improvement, we can live the kind of lives we’re proud of.

Relationships

3 Ways to Filter Your Friends

Nir Eyal on October 1, 2022

Don’t be afraid to filter out the friends who don’t fit your values and keep the ones who can make time for you.

Don’t be afraid to filter out the friends who don’t fit your values and keep the ones who can make time for you.

Burnout

How to Prevent Burnout Using Timeboxing

Nir Eyal on September 22, 2022

Using timeboxing, you can make the most of your time and life. And when we find that control, we block burnout.

Using timeboxing, you can make the most of your time and life. And when we find that control, we block burnout.

Fear

How to Embrace, Not Fear, Being Alone

Nir Eyal on September 15, 2022

We all have the capacity to enjoy being alone. Don’t let distractions derail you from looking inward.

We all have the capacity to enjoy being alone. Don’t let distractions derail you from looking inward.

Empathy

Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable

Nir Eyal on September 7, 2022

How we deal with uncomfortable internal triggers determines whether we pursue healthful acts of traction or self-defeating distraction.

How we deal with uncomfortable internal triggers determines whether we pursue healthful acts of traction or self-defeating distraction.

Career

The Right Way to Multitask

Nir Eyal on August 26, 2022

Multichannel multitasking is an underutilized tactic for getting more out of each day.

Multichannel multitasking is an underutilized tactic for getting more out of each day.

Self-Help

Planning a Vacation Is Practice for a Great Life

Nir Eyal on August 19, 2022

Personal regret and interpersonal friction—both on vacation and throughout life—can be solved with just a little planning.

Personal regret and interpersonal friction—both on vacation and throughout life—can be solved with just a little planning.

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Magazine

March 2023 magazine cover
March 2023
The Male Psyche

Men have long been silent and stoic about their inner lives, but there’s every reason for them to open up emotionally—and their partners are helping.

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