Knowledge Base

The Doing Deficit: How Deliberate Action Outperforms Passive Learning

Stephen King didn’t become a bestselling author by reading about writing—he became one by writing every single day. The same applies to many successful people across various fields. They didn’t just gather information—they took deliberate action, committing to daily practice that helped them refine their skills. Yet, so many of us continue to endlessly collect … Read More

Workplace Anxiety: How to Deal with Anxiety at Work

Whether it’s racing to meet a tight deadline or dealing with difficult clients, there are many reasons why you may feel anxious at work. Considering that most of us spend the majority of our waking hours at work—whether in the office or remotely—learning how to manage workplace anxiety is crucial for maintaining good mental health. … Read More

The Sleep-Creativity Cycle: Why Sleep is the Secret Ally of Creative Minds

Sleeping is strange. We spend on average a third of our life asleep. That’s time we’re not spending working, socializing, or reproducing. Yet, sleep is necessary to our survival. While it can be tempting to spend as much time awake as possible so we can be productive, not getting enough sleep is actually detrimental to … Read More

The Science-Based Benefits of Writing

We don’t realize how much time we spend writing every day: we text our friends and families, we leave comments on social media, we send emails, we create documentation, presentations, and more. Well, good news: writing is actually good for you. Let’s explore the science-based benefits of writing and how you can make the most … Read More

The Curse of Knowledge

Have you ever had a teacher who was very smart but terrible at teaching? An expert who used so much jargon you could not follow their explanation? This is called the “curse of knowledge”, a term coined in 1989 by economists Colin Camerer, George Loewenstein, and Martin Weber. It’s a cognitive bias that occurs when … Read More

Levels of Thinking: How to Make Better Decisions with Second-Level Thinking

Skipping meals to save time, but finding yourself exhausted and unproductive by the afternoon. Choosing a cheaper apartment to save money, but the long commute ends up costing you time and energy. You tried to make the most sensible choice, and yet… What went wrong? It’s easy to get carried away when making a decision. … Read More

Ness Labs Best Books of July 2024

What should you read this month? This is your July 2024 guide to discovering the most insightful, inspiring, and transformative books on mindful productivity, creative growth, holistic ambition, and developing a healthier relationship with work.

Active reading: how to become a better reader

We are inundated with an unprecedented volume of information. A recent survey by the team at Heyday found that the average person consumes four articles, more than 8,000 words and more than 200 messages daily. Yet, research suggests that we forget up to 70% of new information within 24 hours if we don’t actively engage … Read More