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Category: Book review

  • Merits of Clutter and Mess for Artists

    Merits of Clutter and Mess for Artists

    Why does clutter and mess go hand in hand with Artistry?

    True artists are those who revel in situations are chaotic. This is what brings out the best in them. Read this blog post to know the merits of clutter and mess for artists.

    In her book Bird by Bird the author Anne Lamott highlights the shortcomings of perfectionism since it can come in the way of creating truly inspiring work.

    Whenever the environment is chaotic and unpredictable genuine artists are able to solve problems in a more creative manner.

    The insight below inspired from the same book highlights the same.

    Merits of Clutter and Mess for Artists

    For another insightful post from the same book, please visit this link:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/best-way-to-start-writing/

    To know more about the author and her work, please visit this link:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Lamott

  • Merits of Mindful Hobbies

    Merits of Mindful Hobbies

    Why should you invest in hobbies that encourage mindfulness?

    There are several merits of inculcating mindful hobbies in our lives. From experience and evidence from research these are hobbies which can make our lives fulfilling in the long run.

    Research has proven that mindfulness can improve our immune system and reduce anxiety and stress in our lives.

    This has been known to reduce the flow of cortisol thus helping us in staying focused.

    All of these hobbies would encourage you to focus on the present to avoid regrets of past and fear of the future.

    Since focusing on the present moment does not come naturally to the human brain (as mentioned below) hence the request to adopt such hobbies as your past time to stop feeling anxious or stressful.

    Merits of mindful hobbies

    For another such insightful post please visit this link:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/how-happiness-depends-on-individual-self/

    To more about David Rock and his research done on the human brain, please visit this link:

    https://davidrock.net/

  • Best Way to Start Writing

    Best Way to Start Writing

    Isn’t this a very inspiring tip to start Writing?

    If you are lacking direction and are looking for the best way to start writing, read this blog post. Inspired from the book Bird by Bird, this will inspire you to make a start.

    In her book Bird by Bird, the author has inspired us to get started with a first draft by avoiding too much of perfectionism.

    Among many encouraging points to help us begin, I personally find this below mentioned insight very inspiring.

    Best way to Start writing

    For another similar post around improvement of your writing skills, please visit this link:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/learn-the-warren-buffett-trick-for-crisp-writing/

    To know more about the author Anne Lamott please visit this link:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Lamott

  • Slow Productivity and Fulfillment

    Slow Productivity and Fulfillment

    How can Slow Productivity lead to fulfillment?

    One of the most important things about which I have changed my mind in recent times is around productivity. Doing more things and always being on is not productivity. Rather in this blog post my goal is to highlight how slow productivity can lead to fulfillment.

    In his book Cal Newport mentions that this is the best way to approach a fulfilling life based on three key principles:

    1. Do fewer things
    2. Work at a natural pace
    3. Obsess over quality

    Also important is the fact that doing work in small increments at a natural pace over a period of time can destress ourselves yet help achieve success over the long run.

    This is a far cry from what we end up doing in the hustle and bustle of modern life wherein doing more stuff and remain always on matters.

    Here is another wonderful tip to relax our brain for high quality output.

    slow productivity and fulfillment

    For another insightful post around the same topic, please visit this link:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/why-i-am-a-big-fan-of-cal-newport/

    To know more about Cal Newport and his work, please visit this link:

    https://calnewport.com

  • Relation between Grit and Life Satisfaction

    Relation between Grit and Life Satisfaction

    What does the relationship between Grit and Life Satisfaction reveal?

    Research has shown that there is indeed a relation between grit and Life satisfaction. To know more read this blog post inspired from Angela Duckworth’s book.

    Research has shown that as people get grittier their satisfaction levels increase as shown in this following curve.

    Thus talent alone cannot guarantee satisfaction. Perseverance and passion in the right combination results in a fulfilling life.

    Relation between Grit and Life Satisfaction

    For another such insightful post inspired from the same book, please visit:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/find-the-purpose-of-your-life/

    To know more about Angela Duckworth and her work, please visit the following link:

    https://angeladuckworth.com

  • Detach from Computer for Deep Work

    Detach from Computer for Deep Work

    Life away from Computer is where Deep Work starts

    As mentioned by Cal Newport in his book, deep work is becoming increasingly valuable in the new economy. For me life without computer helps me detach from computer for deep work.

    In his hypothesis, Cal Newport says that all of those who inculcate the ability to work for extended period of time with intense focus will become valuable by the day in this new economy.

    This needs a life without social media and use of any form of electronic gadget that takes away our focus from things that matter. The below interesting insight inspired from the same book of Cal Newport elaborates on the same.

    Detach from computer for deep work

    For another interesting insight from the same book, please visit:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/avoid-social-media-overuse-why/

    To know more about Cal Newport and his work please visit:

    https://calnewport.com

  • Find the Purpose of your Life

    Find the Purpose of your Life

    Simple tip to find the purpose of your life

    To find the purpose of your life this simple tip can help you get started.

    Thinking is small steps is the key to make a large impact. In our everyday lives in whatever work we do once we think how we can make it better to align with our core values we find our life’s calling.

    This will make our lives more fulfilling and transcend all short term materialistic goals.

    The same has been elaborated in the insight inspired from the book Grit.

    Find the Purpose of your Life

    For another similar insight inspired from Grit, please read below:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/do-you-have-grit/

    To know more about the author and her work, please visit the link:

    https://angeladuckworth.com

  • How to nurture Interest for Greatness?

    How to nurture Interest for Greatness?

    6 steps to Nurture your interest for achieving Mastery

    For any successful person the first step starts with interest in a subject which is difficult to master. How to nurture the interest for Greatness? Read this blog post to know the steps.

    In her book Angela Duckworth mentions about the steps to make this start to aim towards future mastery.

    If you read this insight carefully, you will understand that having a mentor who constantly encourages is equally important for taking the interest to the new level.

    Thus once done carefully this will trigger deliberate practice which is so crucial to achieving mastery.

    How to nurture Interest for Greatness?

    For another such insightful post from the book Grit, please visit this link:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/hard-thing-rule-to-encourage-grit/

    To know more about Angela Duckworth and her work, please visit this link:

    https://angeladuckworth.com

  • The Skill of Mindfulness

    The Skill of Mindfulness

    Why learn the skill of mindfulness?

    If at all there is a skill I would wish to learn, it would be the skill of mindfulness.

    Being mindful has numerous benefits as proven by research.

    By focusing on the present moment reduces anxiety, controls the flow of cortisol and improves the immune system.

    It has been proven that those who practice this skill on a regular basis remain healthier and happier.

    Read this insight that highlights the MAAS scale to measure the degree of mindfulness.

    The skill of mindfulness

    For another interesting insight on the same topic, please visit this link:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/why-mindfulness-is-difficult/

    Read about the author of Your Brain at work who has extensively researched on this topic.

    https://davidrock.net/

  • Purpose driven versus Pleasure driven

    Purpose driven versus Pleasure driven

    Are you purpose or pleasure driven?

    Research on purpose driven versus pleasure driven characteristics has shown that gritty people prefer the former over the latter.

    While the former is for long term the latter is for near term satisfaction.

    Viktor Frankl has highlighted that man’s search for meaning in life is key to deriving fulfillment as opposed to dopamine driven short term excitement.

    The below insight inspired from the book Grit, shows the curve of Gritty people where meaning dominates to realize a calling.

    Purpose driven versus Pleasure driven

    As we move higher on the grit scale the sense of meaning in our lives takes center stage.

    For another similar insight from the book Grit, please visit this link:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/best-definition-of-grit/

    To know more about the author Angela Duckworth and her work, please visit this link:

    https://angeladuckworth.com