Caveman Circus

At some point in the last decade, we collectively decided that sitting alone with our own thoughts—even for the length of a single bowel movement—was an unacceptable hardship. This is why you, me, and pretty much everyone we know now bring our phones into the bathroom like they’re some kind of emotional support device, as if we’d crumble into existential despair without the ability to doomscroll while evacuating our insides.

[Read more…] about Stop Bringing Your Phone Into the Bathroom. Just Poop.

A few months ago, I spoke with a friend who was feeling stuck. He had spent the past year scrolling through self-improvement content on TikTok—gym motivation videos, productivity hacks, entrepreneurship tips—but he hadn’t actually done any of the things he was consuming. “It feels like I’m getting smarter,” he told me, “but my life looks exactly the same.”

[Read more…] about Your Screens Are Giving You a Fake Version of What You Actually Need

When we think about improving our well-being, we often focus on what we should add—more exercise, a better diet, more sleep. But what if one of the most powerful ways to improve our health and happiness is simply a shift in perspective?

[Read more…] about The Science of Gratitude: How a Simple Daily Practice Can Transform Your Life

Ever wonder why you can demolish an entire bag of Cheetos without realizing it—but you’ve never mindlessly eaten six ears of corn in one sitting? That’s not an accident. That’s by design.

Cheetos aren’t just puffed corn with a little cheese dust. They’re a scientifically engineered dopamine bomb. Everything about them—the crunch, the melt-in-your-mouth texture, the precise balance of fat, salt, and umami—has been painstakingly optimized to override your brain’s natural “I’m satisfied” signals and keep you reaching for more.

[Read more…] about The Cheetos Effect: Why Your Brain is Addicted to the Wrong Things

In 1991, a researcher named James Duesenberry proposed a theory that explains why people spend more as they earn more. He called it the “Relative Income Hypothesis.” The idea is simple: people don’t just care about what they have. They care about what they have compared to others.

This is why someone earning $250,000 a year can feel broke if their friends are making $500,000. It’s why the new Tesla Model S doesn’t feel as exciting once your neighbor gets the Porsche Taycan.

It’s also why flaunting wealth can be a trap. Not just financially, but socially.

[Read more…] about The Social Cost of Flaunting Wealth (And Why the Smartest People Avoid It)