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- Small is sustainable, intense is optional
Small is sustainable, intense is optional
Micro-commitments beat burnout and keep momentum rolling long term.
Welcome to The Smarter Brain, a curation of thought-provoking ideas and actionable reads to help you build better habits and become more productive.
Happy reading - See you on Wednesday!
Cheers,
The Smarter Brain Team
Estimated Reading Time: 2 mins
3 Ideas for Better Habits
Consistency Over Intensity
Leadership strategist, Robin Sharma, on mastering your mornings.
“Small daily improvements over time lead to stunning results.”
Designing Habits for Success
Behavioral scientist, B.J. Fogg, on habit design through simplicity.
“Behavior happens when motivation, ability, and a prompt come together at the same moment.”
The Power of Keystone Habits
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Charles Duhigg, on the ripple effects of keystone habits.
“Some habits have the power to start a chain reaction, changing other habits as they move through an organization.”
Turn chaos into clarity with Notion’s Second Brain
We use Notion religiously to manage the bi-weekly releases of The Smarter Brain - and additional toolkits are instrumental to making this possible. Notion Second Brain is a tried and tested organization system relying on industry-grade methods like GTD and P.A.R.A, limiting clutter, providing a streamlined organization framework for projects, goals, tasks, resources, and everything you need on a day to day.
Productivity Tools and Resources
Why You Should Adopt a ‘Growth Mindset’
Drawing on Dr. Carol Dweck’s research, this column emphasizes the power of a growth mindset-believing in the ability to develop intelligence and skills through effort. It illustrates how self-reflection and embracing challenges can lead to personal and professional growth.
9 Expert-Recommended Productivity Tips That Sound Silly But Actually Work
Unconventional yet effective strategies to boost productivity, especially for neurodivergent individuals. Read this expert advice.
What We're Reading
The Visual I.D.E.A.s Newsletter is a biweekly publication by PJ Milani, a high school teacher and visual storyteller. Each issue delivers four thought-provoking visuals that simplify complex concepts in productivity, psychology, and personal growth.
Brain Food
Today I Learned: An average cumulus cloud can weigh over 1.1 million pounds, despite their fluffy appearance. (Source)
Science: The James Webb Space Telescope detected dimethyI sulfide in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b, a compound produced by life on Earth. (Source)
Have a productive rest of your week,
The Smarter Brain Team
Resource Spotlight
Tangible Impact
Monthly dispatches explore evidence-based practices that create measurable improvements in mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Rooted in neuroscience and behavior change, each edition equips designers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs with actionable tools—like structured journaling protocols—that act as keystone habits, reinforcing motivation, focus, and long-term resilience without the academic jargon.
Where Visual Thinking, Cognition, and Creativity Collide
Deep‑dive essays blending visual communication, cognitive science, and personal growth challenge the way we process information, rethink learning, and explore the psychology behind daily creative habits. Each edition invites readers into a vibrant space where sketching becomes a form of reasoning, visuals become prompts for clarity, and everyday creativity becomes a keystone habit for lifelong learning.
Turn Insights into Action
A concise monthly dispatch delivering behaviorally-informed case studies, practical frameworks, and tested interventions—turning insights into real-world impact. From health campaigns to habit design, each edition sparks ideas you can apply in policy, product design, or social innovation without wading through jargon.
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