The Art of Self-Improvement

Perfectionism

How ‘Imperfectionism’ Can Help Us Beat Burnout

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on September 27, 2024

Burnout grows in the gap between our ideals and our lived reality. We have much to gain by investigating and adjusting our ideals if they do not serve us.

Burnout grows in the gap between our ideals and our lived reality. We have much to gain by investigating and adjusting our ideals if they do not serve us.

Parenting

Do You Suffer From Parental Burnout?

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on September 10, 2024

Our current parenting practices and ideals are highly time- and emotional-labour intensive, and the stakes have never been higher.

Our current parenting practices and ideals are highly time- and emotional-labour intensive, and the stakes have never been higher.

Hypnosis

What's So Great About Hypnotherapy?

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on July 18, 2024

Hypnotherapy is a powerful therapeutic intervention which can help you get unstuck by bypassing your conscious analytical mind and activating inner resources.

Hypnotherapy is a powerful therapeutic intervention which can help you get unstuck by bypassing your conscious analytical mind and activating inner resources.

Workplace Dynamics

Cultures of Disruption Are Destroying Modern Workplaces

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on June 15, 2024

Our current working cultures of disruption are making us ill and unproductive. We need to take urgent collective action to re-design our workplaces so that we can thrive.

Our current working cultures of disruption are making us ill and unproductive. We need to take urgent collective action to re-design our workplaces so that we can thrive.

Productivity

The Danger of Confusing Activity With Productivity

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on May 7, 2024

Short-term productivity but long-term damage to morale.

Short-term productivity but long-term damage to morale.

Burnout

Why Burnout May Not Be What You Think It Is

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on March 27, 2024

Prioritizing money over time is just one issue at its core.

Prioritizing money over time is just one issue at its core.

Attention

Your Attention, Please!

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on March 15, 2024

Damaging myths about attention keep us from cognitive thriving. We have much to gain if we change our perspective and treat attention as a precious and limited resource.

Damaging myths about attention keep us from cognitive thriving. We have much to gain if we change our perspective and treat attention as a precious and limited resource.

Career

Work as a Keystone Habit

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on February 27, 2024

Changing our keystone habits can have a ripple effect on other habits. What if changing the way we think about and engage with work is the key to unlocking transformation?

Changing our keystone habits can have a ripple effect on other habits. What if changing the way we think about and engage with work is the key to unlocking transformation?

Philosophy

On 'Cosmic Insignificance Therapy'

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on January 23, 2024

Learn how adopting a cosmological perspective can create an empowering distance to your challenges and unhelpful thoughts so that you can become more serene and lighthearted.

Learn how adopting a cosmological perspective can create an empowering distance to your challenges and unhelpful thoughts so that you can become more serene and lighthearted.

Career

How to Work Less, Live More, and Be More Effective

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on December 6, 2023

Do you want to find out how to work less, live more and be more effective? The 80/20 principle can revolutionise how you use your time.

Do you want to find out how to work less, live more and be more effective? The 80/20 principle can revolutionise how you use your time.

Social Media

Why Decision Paralysis Is Trending on TikTok

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on November 21, 2023

The reason why decision fatigue is trending is related to perfectionism, fear of failure, and overwhelm with endless optionality and the imperative to self-realise all the time.

The reason why decision fatigue is trending is related to perfectionism, fear of failure, and overwhelm with endless optionality and the imperative to self-realise all the time.

Leadership

Why Are Academics So Burnt Out?

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on November 17, 2023

Why are academics amongst the professional groups most at risk of burning out? Here's why I left the field.

Why are academics amongst the professional groups most at risk of burning out? Here's why I left the field.

Burnout

5 Surprising Ways to Combat Burnout

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on October 10, 2023

Appreciation is one of our core psychological needs. If we don't receive it at work, our chances of burnout almost double. But there are ways of coping without it.

Appreciation is one of our core psychological needs. If we don't receive it at work, our chances of burnout almost double. But there are ways of coping without it.

Self-Talk

The Perils of "I, Me, Mine," and the Surprising Antidote

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on September 21, 2023

Negative self-talk can affect our performance, career, well-being, and social life. A surprisingly simple hack can disempower the debilitating chatter.

Negative self-talk can affect our performance, career, well-being, and social life. A surprisingly simple hack can disempower the debilitating chatter.

Career

Recognizing the Toxic Cultural Scripts That Shape Us

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on May 2, 2023

What deeper cultural scripts are running you unconsciously? Selecting the playbooks you want to live by more discerningly can be a key to flourishing and living more purposefully.

What deeper cultural scripts are running you unconsciously? Selecting the playbooks you want to live by more discerningly can be a key to flourishing and living more purposefully.

Career

How Honing Your Resign-Ability Can Empower You at Work

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on April 3, 2023

Do you feel stressed, burned out, and hopeless at work? Planning long-term exit strategies can be truly empowering.

Do you feel stressed, burned out, and hopeless at work? Planning long-term exit strategies can be truly empowering.

Midlife

"Is This It?": 4 Key Reasons for Midlife Languishing

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on March 8, 2023

It seems counterintuitive that life satisfaction hits rock bottom in our forties, when we have likely achieved many of our aims. So why is this the case?

It seems counterintuitive that life satisfaction hits rock bottom in our forties, when we have likely achieved many of our aims. So why is this the case?

Anger

The Truth About Self-Hatred

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on January 17, 2023

The true origins of self-hatred are sadder than you may think. But it is possible to move from self-hatred to self-compassion.

The true origins of self-hatred are sadder than you may think. But it is possible to move from self-hatred to self-compassion.

Career

The Real Problem with Quiet Quitting

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on December 13, 2022

What's wrong with quiet quitting? Everything, most of all the name, which masks what is really going on in the world of work.

What's wrong with quiet quitting? Everything, most of all the name, which masks what is really going on in the world of work.

Burnout

5 Steps to Overcome Burnout

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D. on November 20, 2022

Are you languishing or labouring at the brink of exhaustion? Exploring your deeper beliefs about work, time and value can hold the key to flourishing again.

Are you languishing or labouring at the brink of exhaustion? Exploring your deeper beliefs about work, time and value can hold the key to flourishing again.