If you’re surprised to hear that maths can be used as a tool to teach self-help, don’t be. I believe so deeply in its powers that I’ve written a book about it. So let’s turn to the theory in question. In his excellent book ‘Man vs Maths’ Timothy Revell puts Bayes’ theorem in simple terms: for any […]
How To Keep Your Ego In Check
You don’t owe it all to yourself In a world where you are constantly encouraged to work on yourself and make your dreams come true, it’s easy to forget this truth: Absolutely everything you have has been given to you. Your ideas arguably come to you rather than from you. The capacity to create anything […]
The Real Lessons that Take Place in a Classroom
Why it feels strange to be called a teacher when you’re always the one being taught As a Maths teacher, I’m not supposed to have favourites, but I’ll admit: eight is my favourite number. There’s a reason for this – some of my most memorable students have been eight-year-olds. While training to be a teacher, […]
A scientific reason why you shouldn’t compare yourself to others
Instead, try celebrating with them Any student of science knows that in an experiment, comparisons are only valid if you control all the other variables that could affect the outcome. If you are studying the effect of physical exercise on heart rate, you need to control for things like caffeine consumption, age, previous heart conditions, […]
On Creating Your Own Guide To Being A Person
It will prove helpful when life gets tough Have you ever read or heard a line in a podcast that resonated on every level, only to completely forget it a few days later? There are multiple variations of this: wanting to highlight every other paragraph in a book, but failing to remember its wise words […]
Why Your Work Matters, Regardless Of What You Do
How numbers can help us find meaning in our jobs Potential. It’s a word that has troubled many a soul. Some are told they’re not living up to theirs, while many of us spend our time struggling to reach ours. When I was growing up, I thought that if you had the aptitude and means […]
Three Indian Breakfasts That Will (Finally) Get You Out Of Bed
It’s time to give avocados a well-earned break There’s something truly special about a warm, flavourful morning meal that doesn’t include oats, rice milk or kale. These three dishes will take longer to prepare than your everyday fare, but they’re well worth the effort. They’re nutritious, brightly coloured (thanks to generous quantities of turmeric), and […]
On the Infinite Value of a Real Live Social Network
I feel it fiercely now. You do too. I used to think I didn’t know what I wanted. But as it turns out, I do. I want to curl into a bean bag opposite a real human being and talk for three hours while my phone is locked away in a dark cupboard. I want […]
‘Sweet Nothings’ Are Coming Your Way
Even when you don’t realize it ‘Sweet nothings’ are defined as loving, flattering words that someone whispers to you. Maybe it’s just me, but no one is even texting loving, flattering words to me, much less whispering them, so I’d like to broaden the meaning of the term. What if we also defined sweet nothings […]
Here’s a Trick to Becoming a Calmer Human Being
If you’re a total worrywart, steal some serenity from your surroundings If you’re overwhelmed by the relentless pace of urban life and the constant pressure to be ticking items off your to-do list, you’re not alone. Many of us have completely lost the ability to take a vacation without any guilt. The most useful advice […]