How to use colour to study more effectively

Why is the notification button on your phone red? This is no accident. This is a deliberate design decision. It’s the same reason why fast food logos are often warm reds, yellows, and orange tones. These colours jump out at us. They create a sense of excitement and urgency. In his book Drunk Tank Pink, […]

The transformative power of whiteboards

I have whiteboards located all over my house. Take a tour of my home and you’ll see whiteboards in my office, dining room, bedroom and kitchen. These whiteboards, covered in scribbled text and bad drawings, make my house look a little quirky. But upon closer inspection, you’ll see that these whiteboards help me to work […]

Flexing my thrift muscle: How to feel rich without having a lot

The ancient text the Tao Te Ching states: “He who knows he has enough is rich.” So I’ve been experimenting with this idea. I’ve been flexing my thrift muscle and making do with what I already have. Discovering the abundance of less When I was working on my PhD, I discovered how to feel rich […]

Avoiding the Stationery Trap: Insights from a Recovering Stationery Addict

In recent years, the humble notepad, pencil case and pen have experienced an extreme makeover. I recently worked with a teenager girl who used a bright pink pen with a big diamond on top to take notes. This pen even had its very own feather bower. Another student had a pencil case covered with a […]