Automatic You

Relationships

Why It’s So Hard to Shake the Way People Make You Feel

Nir Eyal on August 13, 2022

We treat people better or worse because of how they make us feel, and our feelings are highly influenced by our "priors."

We treat people better or worse because of how they make us feel, and our feelings are highly influenced by our "priors."

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Are We Really Having Fun at Bars or Just Escaping Reality?

Nir Eyal on August 2, 2022

By understanding our deeper motivations and understanding why we really do what we do, we can make sure we spend our time, and our lives, the way we want to.

By understanding our deeper motivations and understanding why we really do what we do, we can make sure we spend our time, and our lives, the way we want to.

Attention

The 4 Steps to Becoming Indistractable

Nir Eyal on July 24, 2022

Whether you are trying to block out distractions in the workplace, or improve relationships and so much more, you can achieve this by conquering distractions.

Whether you are trying to block out distractions in the workplace, or improve relationships and so much more, you can achieve this by conquering distractions.

Bias

Why It's So Hard to Ever Feel Satisfied

Nir Eyal on July 16, 2022

Why are we perpetually restless and unsatisfied? The truth is, we’re not wired to feel content or satisfied.

Why are we perpetually restless and unsatisfied? The truth is, we’re not wired to feel content or satisfied.

Career

The Time Management Technique That Can Work for Anyone

Nir Eyal on July 7, 2022

The beauty of timeboxing is that you can use it in any area of your life. Timeboxing fun activities has several benefits.

The beauty of timeboxing is that you can use it in any area of your life. Timeboxing fun activities has several benefits.

Attention

How a Morning Brain Dump Helps You Stay Focused

Nir Eyal on June 25, 2022

Writing in a journal every morning about your internal triggers and frustration may help prevent intrusive thoughts from commandeering your attention.

Writing in a journal every morning about your internal triggers and frustration may help prevent intrusive thoughts from commandeering your attention.

Identity

The Key to Behavior Change Is Identity Change

Nir Eyal on June 11, 2022

Many people assume their identities are fixed. In fact, your self-image is flexible.

Many people assume their identities are fixed. In fact, your self-image is flexible.

Attention

How to Stay on Schedule Even When You Go Off Track

Nir Eyal on June 6, 2022

Being indistractable means living with personal integrity. It’s about keeping your word to others and, most importantly, to yourself.

Being indistractable means living with personal integrity. It’s about keeping your word to others and, most importantly, to yourself.

Career

How to Work From Home Without Always Working

Nir Eyal on May 29, 2022

Working from home forces us to either take control of our productivity.

Working from home forces us to either take control of our productivity.

Career

Planning Ahead Is the Key to Living With More Spontaneity

Nir Eyal on May 24, 2022

The next time you find you need some extra spontaneity in your life, remember to plan for it.

The next time you find you need some extra spontaneity in your life, remember to plan for it.

Play

To Fix Your Problems, Find the Root Cause

Nir Eyal on May 14, 2022

There’s a root cause for distraction lying deep within us. It’s the reason we rationalize away our actions even when we know they’re not what we intended.

There’s a root cause for distraction lying deep within us. It’s the reason we rationalize away our actions even when we know they’re not what we intended.

Attention

If You Don't Plan Your Time, Someone Else Will

Nir Eyal on May 6, 2022

By defining how we spend our time in advance and protecting that time just as we protect our money, we ensure we do the things that matter and ignore the things that don’t.

By defining how we spend our time in advance and protecting that time just as we protect our money, we ensure we do the things that matter and ignore the things that don’t.

Attention

How to Tame Your Wandering Mind

Nir Eyal on April 24, 2022

By understanding why our mind wanders and taking steps to deal with distraction, we can stay on track.

By understanding why our mind wanders and taking steps to deal with distraction, we can stay on track.

Attention

One Question to Help You Get More Done

Nir Eyal on April 18, 2022

If we use external triggers properly, they can help us stay on track.

If we use external triggers properly, they can help us stay on track.

Attention

The Pursuit of "Flow" Is Overrated

Nir Eyal on April 8, 2022

Reimagining difficult work as play is empowering. Knowing how to harness this power can make any task more manageable, even when flow eludes us.

Reimagining difficult work as play is empowering. Knowing how to harness this power can make any task more manageable, even when flow eludes us.

Media

Children and Technology: 3 Things Parents Need to Know

Nir Eyal on March 31, 2022

Whatever your view of tech’s impact on our children, here are three common-sense rules we can all follow.

Whatever your view of tech’s impact on our children, here are three common-sense rules we can all follow.

Motivation

What Is Motivation? You May Have Been Thinking About it Wrong

Nir Eyal on March 24, 2022

By finally understanding what motivation really is, and what it is not, we can harness it when we have it and use other methods when it runs dry.

By finally understanding what motivation really is, and what it is not, we can harness it when we have it and use other methods when it runs dry.

Career

"Just Say No" Is Bad Productivity Advice

Nir Eyal on March 14, 2022

It may sound smart to "just say no" more often, but it's not practical in everyday life.

It may sound smart to "just say no" more often, but it's not practical in everyday life.

Psychology

How Technology Tricks You Into Tipping More

Nir Eyal on March 5, 2022

We remain woefully unaware of how digital payment interfaces leverage our deeper psychology to change our behavior by design.

We remain woefully unaware of how digital payment interfaces leverage our deeper psychology to change our behavior by design.

Motivation

Why the Illusion of Control Is Hurting Your Goals

Nir Eyal on February 25, 2022

In a survival scenario, for most people, staying put and doing nothing just seems like a bad idea.

In a survival scenario, for most people, staying put and doing nothing just seems like a bad idea.