by working in the same environment consistently and repeatedly, the bond between us and our surroundings tightens.

This ebb and flow runs counter to the all-too-common constant grind of either perpetually working in an “inbetween zone” of moderately hard work or working at the utmost intensity nonstop.

The more one forgets himself—by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love—the more human he is and the more he actualizes himself. What is called self-actualization is not an attainable aim at all, for the simple reason that the more one would strive for it, the more he would miss it. In other words, self-actualization is possibl

It isn’t experience that sets top performers apart but the amount of deliberate practice they put in.

sleep scientists found that a 10-minute nap yields the greatest benefits, though most experts say anything under 30 minutes is effective. Even if you don’t actually experience the sensation of falling asleep, simply closing your eyes can help switch your active brain off, allowing it to recover.

particular, The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal, PhD, Give and Take by Adam Grant, The Sports Gene by David Epstein, Quiet by Susan Cain, Drive by Daniel Pink, and Presence by Amy Cuddy.

It’s this combination—developing the “right” routine for you and repeating it over and over again—that serves as a gateway to peak performance.

He compartmentalizes his day down to the hour. Each compartment has a concrete objective.

Skills come from struggle.