We’re living through dark, troubling times. Political violence and authoritarianism are on the rise. The poorest and most vulnerable among us are losing much-needed support and protection. Our environment is showing increasingly worrisome signs of degradation. The world seems to be more and more at risk of large-scale war. How are we to respond to… Read More »Responding to Bad Times| Becoming Better
Table of Contents hide Sleep Nutrition Exercise Breathing Make your brain your best friend. I’m obsessed with brain health. Why? Because your brain is your most important asset. And it’s easy to forget that your brain is a physical organ, like your heart or liver. As such, it is impacted by your physical health. But… Read More »Why Brain Health is so Important| Becoming Better
Many perfectionists struggle to let go of perfectionism because they think it means settling for bad work: sloppiness, inaccuracies, etc. But giving up on perfectionism doesn’t mean embracing mediocrity. It means embracing effectiveness. It’s about recognizing that perfection is an impossible ideal – a place you can never reach. So at some point, you have Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Neuroscience and psychology can be overwhelming topics. What are synapses? How do neurotransmitters work? What are self-fulfilling prophecies? While the goal of this blog is to make this sort of information accessible, there’s a very powerful and very simple place to begin.| Northwest Educational Services
Reading Time: 3 minutes | Northwest Educational Services
We tried not to sound judgmental. We didn’t mean to be judgmental. But the kid still felt judged, so they got defensive or shut down in shame. We’d hoped for a productive conversation. We just wanted to help them be more successful. We tried to tread lightly because we knew it could be a touchy Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Many people study in silence, but that only makes sense if you're in a library. Here's why you should verbalize as you study.| Northwest Educational Services
Table of Contents hide Three Choices Daily Pushing Myself New Habits Psychological Fitness Conclusions About a year ago, I was on vacation in Hawaii with my family. While walking to the beach, I passed a lifeguard who was organizing some gear outside of the lifeguard shack. He was shirtless and in extremely good shape. Moments… Read More »1000 Little Choices| Becoming Better
We just moved, so all of our art is in a pile on the living room floor. On top is something I made myself: Staring at it from the couch, I find myself thinking, Dang, I love this piece! I didn’t make it to be on display for other people. I certainly didn’t make it… Read More »Make the Art You Wish Existed| Becoming Better
I have a secret to tell you, a confession really. Something rather blasphemous given that I’m a tutor who has helped countless students prep for the SAT and ACT. I didn’t study for the SAT. Or the ACT. I took both tests, but I didn’t prepare at all. I was a very good test taker, Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Table of Contents hide Smartphones Make You Dumber Smartphones Make You Lazier The Good Without the Bad Distance is Key 1. Turn Off Most Notifications 2. Make Addictive Apps Harder to Access 3. Spend Most of Your Time in Do-Not-Disturb Mode 4. Spend More Time in Airplane Mode 5. Spend More Time Away from Your… Read More »Don’t Let Your Phone Make You Dumb and Lazy| Becoming Better
Contents hide Making the Boring Seem Important Laying Brick Sleep Using Both Brain Modes Making Sense of New Content Creativity Pause and Process The Value of (Real) Breaks Conclusion “Repeat to remember. … Remember to repeat.”2 Works Cited Image Credits The most successful students are not simply those who put in the most time studying. Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Human nature will be a recurring theme on the blog, and this topic often sparks a debate about “nature vs. nurture.” That is not my purpose. The reason we need to understand human nature is so that we can design more effective forms of nurturing. Genes aren’t destiny. Human nature can be tamed and directed, Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Modern human life is busy. We pack our schedules to the max and then spend our days rushing from one activity to the next. Our brains, unfortunately, didn’t evolve in such a fast-paced environment, so it’s difficult to handle. Modern life can be hectic, even frantic.| Northwest Educational Services
Many clients first come to me because they want to improve their productivity. Often this is because they want to advance their career by becoming more effective and more efficient at work. Or they want to become better at doing the work or self-improvement: They want to find more motivation to take care of themselves… Read More »Productivity| Becoming Better
Here’s something tutors hear all the time:| Northwest Educational Services
The summer of 2020 is drawing to a close, and like so much this year, it feels, well, strange. The usual back-to-school routines of restocking school supplies, buying new outfits, and eagerly awaiting fall sports all seem like a distant memory.| Northwest Educational Services
“To err is human.” –Alexander Pope| Northwest Educational Services
The modern world makes it hard to feel a sense of community, so we have to work extra hard to find and create community in our lives.| Becoming Better
Contents hide Two Kids, Same Household Self-Perception Cultivating an Ethic of Service Be Human How to Make Your Kids do Chores Natural Consequences Want more parenting wisdom? All parents want their kids to do chores, whether that’s because of the many benefits to kids’ brains when they do chores or simply for the extra help Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Contents hide Writing is Studying Filtering Make One Anyway Compare Notes Recall and Rewrite Studying for a Final or an AP Exam? Occasionally when I was a student, the teacher would let everyone make a notecard to use during the test. Great, I thought, I don’t need to study because I can put everything I Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Contents hide Realism Process vs Character Who is judging? How do I look? vs Am I improving? What do you think of me? vs What do I think of myself? Mistakes are bad. vs Mistakes are good. Successful people are competition. vs Successful people are role models. We Can Do It Works Cited Image Credits Read More| Northwest Educational Services
I often write about how the true purpose of school is not to learn any particular subject – math, biology, English, etc. – but to learn more broadly applicable skills like how to learn, logical reasoning, and executive function. This is because most of the subjects you study in school don’t have much practical utility. Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Contents hide Take a Breather Academic Value Make Recovery a Habit Works Cited Image Credit Modern human life is busy. We pack our schedules to the max and then spend our days rushing from one activity to the next. Our brains, unfortunately, didn’t evolve in such a fast-paced environment, so it’s difficult to handle. Modern Read More| Northwest Educational Services
What does creativity have to do with becoming better? How can it help with productivity, behavioral change, or happiness? And isn’t creativity just a luxury for those who have both the talent and the time to make art? One of the assumptions underlying these doubts is that “creativity” only refers to art, music, dance, poetry, and writing… Read More »Creativity| Becoming Better
Contents hide Working Memory Mental Math 6/7 ÷ 9/4 = 6/7 x 4/9 = (6×4)/(7×9) Why We Write Organization and Planning Adults Leave the Rocks Behind Works Cited Image Credits After six miles of trekking uphill, we had finally made it to the top of the mountain. Sitting to rest our feet, Lars and I Read More| Northwest Educational Services
The ikigai diagram will help you have a more fullfilling life. But ikigai isn't something you discover; it's something you earn. Here's how.| Becoming Better
Contents hide Why Take Notes? By Hand Summarize And Paraphrase Focus On What Matters Most Use Concrete Examples Organize With Structure And Space Turn It Into A Story Don’t Just Use Words What Do You Do With Your Notes? Notes Don’t Have To Be Perfect Every student knows they’re supposed to take notes, but few Read More| Northwest Educational Services
I would like to call upon the becoming better community to embrace growth. This is not quite the same as having a “growth mindset,” though it is related, and I do also recommend developing a growth mindset. To embrace growth is to embrace the natural way that change happens. To embrace growth is to embrace… Read More »Growth| Becoming Better
Learn how to use acute stress to your advantage, how to recover from chronic stress, and other stress-management techniques that really work.| Becoming Better
Why is some work tedious and exhausting, while other work leads to passionate engagement and flow? It's about the meaning you give it.| Becoming Better
A common saying about happiness is that happiness is not having what you want but wanting what you have. I’d like to add to that the following: Happiness is not doing whatever you want but wanting to do whatever you have to do. James Clear advises reframing things that you “have” to do as things… Read More »Wanting To Do What You Have To Do| Becoming Better
A few weeks ago, I wrote about gratitude journaling – the practice of writing down things you’re grateful for each night. Today, I’d like to offer an additional practice you can combine with gratitude journaling: pride journaling. Pride journaling is, you guessed it, writing down things you’re proud of yourself for. I typically record one… Read More »Pride Journaling| Becoming Better
Contents hide Intelligence, Productivity, and Creativity “Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.” ―David Allen A Toolkit of Reminders Modeling Habits Perhaps the most common error in strategy students commit is relying on memory rather than relying on reminders. Students aren’t the only ones making this mistake, of course. Adults also rely too Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Contents hide Who am I? Feedback Loop Consistency Just Start “Start before you feel ready.” 6 –James Clear Behavioral Change and Personal Growth “Fake it till you become it.” 2 –Amy Cuddy Feeling Capable Risks Limitations Chosen Identity Image Credits Humans aren’t all that hard to understand. We smile when we’re happy. We act confident Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Contents hide Exercise Use A Growth Mindset, Literally Works Cited Image Credits Disclaimer: This is brain-improvement advice, not health advice. None of this advice is a substitute for professional help. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet or exercise habits, and before taking any supplements. For most of the 20th century Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Contents hide Momentum Interventions Motivation Loop Works Cited Image Credits Feedback loops show up all over the place, from nature to history to social psychology, and understanding these loops is important. Learning the essentials of feedback loops will make it a lot easier to help your children succeed. You can also use them to help Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Everyone knows intrinsic motivation is better, but few parents know how to support its development. Here's how.| Northwest Educational Services
Table of Contents hide 1. Pick One 2. Start Small 3. Go All In 4. Make a Clear Plan of Action 5. Use Reminders 6. Track Your Effort 7. Only Tell Others Strategically 8. Envision a Better Future 9. Use a Coach Happy New Year! The holiday parties are over, the cookies have been eaten,… Read More »9 Ways to Actually Stick to Your New Year’s Resolution| Becoming Better
Living with integrity is critical for your mental health, self-esteem, confidence, and relationships - both with others and with yourself.| Becoming Better
At the age of 35, Og Mandino hit rock bottom. A WWII veteran turned insurance salesman, Og had recently been left by his wife because he was an alcoholic who he couldn’t hold a job. Living out of his car with less than $50 to his name, Og was considering spending his last dollars on… Read More »Change| Becoming Better
It's tough to overcome your own excuses since you tend to believe them, so here are four strategies to help.| Northwest Educational Services
Self-improvement takes patience and commitment. This is because of two phenomena: The Lag and The Dip. The Lag “Just because results are not visible doesn’t mean they are not accumulating.” –Shane Parrish1 In 1979, Bill Walsh took over the San Francisco 49ers. They were, at that time, the worst team in football. Walsh took pains… Read More »The Lag and The Dip| Becoming Better
Contents hide Progress is motivated by love. We’re not done yet. There is always a risk of backsliding. Hard work is required. “This country is a constant work in progress. We’re born with instructions. To form a more perfect union. Explicit in those words is the idea that we’re imperfect. That what gives each new Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Don’t keep your eyes on the prize. Yes, you should have a goal. And it should be significant enough to energize and motivate you. But if you rely on feeling energized and motivated by your goal, you’ll never get there. And yes, you should know what direction you’re heading. But if you just focus on… Read More »Keep Your Eyes On The Process| Becoming Better
Contents hide “To err is human.” –Alexander Pope Being Realistic Permission to be Imperfect “No human has ever been perfect. You’re not going to be the first.” –Brian Johnson Permission to Make Mistakes “If you can’t make a mistake, you can’t make anything.” –Marva Collins4 Permission to Fail “Learn to fail or fail to learn. Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Contents hide Health Disclaimer: Life Lessons From a Sea Squirt The Academic Benefits of Exercise So why does it help? Mental Health Benefits How much exercise does it take? What type of exercise is best? Movement matters too. Health Disclaimer: This article is about how exercise affects the brain. It is not health advice. Before Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Your name was given to you by your parents. Your skin color, your hair color, and your eye color were all given to you by your genes. Chance and circumstance gave you a great portion of your childhood experiences. But who you believe you are and who you will become, those are for you to Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Contents hide Getting your Brain in Shape Atrophy Step into the Arena Exhaustion Rethinking Stress The Willpower Muscle Works Cited Image Credit Neuroscience and psychology can be overwhelming topics. What are synapses? How do neurotransmitters work? What are self-fulfilling prophecies? While the goal of this blog is to make this sort of information accessible, there’s Read More| Northwest Educational Services
What I want most for you is freedom. I don’t mean freedom from oppression and persecution, although political freedom is normally a prerequisite for the sort of freedom I’m speaking of. What I want for you is the freedom to choose the life you want: the freedom to design your own life, the freedom to… Read More »How to Achieve Real Personal Freedom| Becoming Better
Contents hide What is executive function? Where is executive function in the brain? So what’s the parent’s role in developing the child’s executive function? Modeling “You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.” –Oliver Goldsmith Grow Those Muscles More to Come In the world of academics, “executive function” is, to Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Contents hide Progress Practice “How you do anything is how you do everything.” –Buddhist proverb Bringing The Two Together Toward A Better World One of the cornerstones of my philosophy is the simple truth that everything counts. This tiny statement contains a depth of wisdom that I certainly cannot take credit for. The idea is Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Contents hide Exercise Sleep Food Stress Learning Psychological Well-Being Brain Health at a Glance: Do’s and Don’ts Works Cited Image Credits Disclaimer: This is educational advice, not health advice. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet and exercise habits. It is not mental health advice. If you think you may be Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Contents hide First, a Story Consistency “I can’t hear what you’re saying, because your actions are too loud.” Less Words, More Modeling Behavior is Contagious Key Behaviors to Model “Arguably the best answer to the ‘What can we do to help our children?’ question is to model what you would like them to become.” –Walter Read More| Northwest Educational Services
The science of human nature has many important applications to learning, teaching, and parenting. Here's an easy introduction.| Northwest Educational Services
Contents hide Learning: Making a Path in the Forest of Your Mind “As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Contents hide The Mastery Path Complications Walking the Path The Pursuit of Understanding The Pursuit of Mastery Any Progress is Good Progress Recommended Works Cited Image Credits Here’s something tutors hear all the time: “I understand the math when it’s taught in class, and I do the homework, but I have a really hard time Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Contents hide Persistence and Resilience How to Shift Toward a Growth Mindset “Yet” The Dynamic Human Brain Growth-Minded Feedback Ask Better Questions “If you ask a terrible question, you’ll get a terrible answer.” –Tony Robbins5 Process vs. Outcomes Perfect Does Not Exist Modeling the Growth Mindset Other Role Models We’re Born to Learn Through Failure Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Contents hide Truth? Placebo Power Interpersonal Behavior The Power of Expectations “Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he could be, and he will become what he should be.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson Personal Expectations “We will act consistently with our views of who we truly Read More| Northwest Educational Services
Realistic optimism is a powerful mindset that will make you more successful and more resilient. Learn how today.| Becoming Better
Your emotions, thoughts, and actions are connected in a feedback loop. Master this loop, and take control of your life.| Becoming Better
