INTRODUCTION

Few, if any, of us get through the day feeling as though there is nothing that could have been improved. The desire to make things better is an essential element of being human, and most of us actively wish that aspects of our lives were better in some way. Sometimes it’s the little things that bother us, like a smartphone distracting us with beeps or dings while we’re trying to have a face-to-face conversation. At other times, we wrestle with larger problems, such as an inability to resolve a conflict with our partner. In between, we may wish we were in better shape, want our memory to be sharper, desire more refreshing sleep, or strive for a sense of connection with something greater than ourselves. There are all sorts of ways we could improve our lives . . . if only we had the tools to do so.

Most of us, however, are not used to thinking about self-improvement in these terms. We may resist the idea that we need to use atool to achieve the results we seek. Perhaps applying the concept of tools to sensitive parts of our lives, such as our psyches, seems mechanical and inhuman, or we resist the connotation that there is something wrong with us that needs to be fixed. The tools in this book, however, are not necessarily meant to repair anything or anyone, or even imply that anyone is broken. They are simply processes, methods, and techniques that offer the possibility of better outcomes tomorrow than we can achieve today.

Life Is Complex

The sheer complexity of life can create chaotic situations and plenty of stress. None of us are perfect. We are all works in progress, evolving in our own ways and directions.

We are all working on numerous projects and activities, both in our work and our personal lives. Professional, romantic, and familial relationships require our time and attention, each of them coming with their own obligations and responsibilities. It’s a lot to juggle and manage, and it’s impossible to do everything perfectly all the time, which is why finding methods—or tools—to improve and grow in each of these areasis sometimes necessary to carve out order from the chaos and ease the stress.

Even when things are going well, most of us can still find ways to optimize some aspects of our lives. The software in our phones and computers is constantly being updated to improve its performance. In the same way, we can seek to update our behavior. And when we do, we may discover deeper levels of productivity and ease, whether at work or at play. We learn we can indeed have more satisfying relationships and better mental, emotional, and physical health.

Yet the plethora of available tools can feel as mind-boggling as life itself. If you regularly engage in self-improvement, you may already be familiar with the sense of being overwhelmed that can ensue from attempting to parse this complex field. Amazon lists more than ninety thousand books in the “self-improvement” category. Choosing the most effective tool can be so confusing that it feels like it’s not worth the effort.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

Grab Your Tools

For many years, I’ve been curating tools for my personal use. The ones compiled in this book represent those I’ve found most effective, and I hope that you will experiment by applying them to your life and optimizing whatever areas you feel can be improved. Beyond providing you with individual tech