There’s lots of work on what’s called time affluence, the subjective sense that you have some free time. The simple act of giving myself a break — two to five minutes to catch my breath between tasks — makes me feel less time-famished. Studies would suggest that just changing that sense of time famine can have a disproportionate impact on... See more

I do small actions day to day that keep me connected with other people. I didn’t used to. But then my research began to show people who do are happier, live longer and stay healthier. I started deliberately making dates with friends, going out to dinner with other guys. I have a Friday noon meeting every week with my friend and colleague Marc. And... See more

Create a secret, quirky phrase that you say to yourself when you stop your work for the day to shift out of professional mode. (I used to say: “Schedule shutdown complete.”) When ruminations about work arise, you can simply respond: “I said my shutdown phrase.” Over time, the urge to obsess over work diminishes.

My second-grade teacher, Ms. Edson, told us: If something feels too hard to do, it just means that the first step isn’t small enough. So often when we’re struggling, we tell ourselves that it’s a sign that we’re broken or that something is our fault, and then we freeze. But when something is too hard in the moment, tell yourself Ms. Edson’s advice.... See more