Hybrid and remote work have changed the way we live and work; and like most changes, they come with both upsides and downsides. More flexibility, less commuting, and greater autonomy can be wonderful. But less connection, blurred boundaries, and the risk of always being “on” can make...
I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and so put a few words together I hope you find helpful ...
Recently I was having a conversation with my wife and our (adult) kids about world politics. At one point they asked me a direct question. My response? “I don’t know.” It struck me afterwards how rarely we say those three words — especially at work. In the workplace, we’re often...
I’ve just taken a proper break. The first real one in quite a long time. It was great. Restorative. Clarifying. Necessary. And it reminded me of something important: I don’t want to wait so long next time. The research on wellbeing and performance is clear ...
In a world obsessed with optimisation (biohacks, productivity apps, habit trackers) it can feel almost radical to do something… badly. Not “strategically average” or “work in progress” badly, but truly, gloriously, amateurishly badly. And yet, science suggests that embracing imperfection may be one of the...
In a world of instant answers, one-click purchases, and sleek, sealed devices, the humble art of tinkering is quietly disappearing. We no longer open the back of the radio, unscrew the broken fan, or dismantle the old clock just to see how it works. Instead,...
Every January, millions of people set bold goals. New habits. New routines. A “new me.” And for a few weeks, motivation is high. Then life gets busy. Willpower fades. Old patterns return. By February or March, most resolutions quietly disappear. This isn’t a personal failure; it’s...
If neoliberalism privatised happiness, then the path forward lies in reclaiming it as a shared human experience. The antidote to hyper-individualism is not more self-optimisation, but a renewed focus on humanism, compassion, and interconnectedness. Humanistic psychology, founded by thinkers like Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, emphasised...
While self-help promised empowerment, it also carried a hidden cost. Neoliberalism’s emphasis on personal responsibility shifted attention away from collective realities. When everything — success, happiness, even burnout — becomes your fault or your choice, the psychological burden is immense. Under neoliberal logic, the individual becomes...
The modern self-help industry didn’t just appear out of nowhere, it’s at least in part the product of a particular historical and economic philosophy: neoliberalism. Emerging in the late 20th century, neoliberalism prioritised individual responsibility, market freedom, and personal productivity as the ultimate measures of...