Hi, I'm Richard

I'm a creative front-end developer from the Netherlands, and this is my blog. I write about code, cycling, and everyday life.

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Everyday life 4 min read Free

Essential meaningful productivity

I don’t care about being efficient and productive to be a better person, to get more done, to be more awesome. Cranking out more stuff for productivity’s sake doesn’t interest me anymore (it used to). Today, I care about productivity only as it affects my mission. I’
Everyday life 4 min read Free

How to train yourself to stay focused

These days, it’s a common problem: switching between browser tabs and apps on your phone, checking social media and messages and email, thinking about the million things you have to do but putting them off … Anything but staying focused on one task at a time. And it’s hard
Everyday life 6 min read Premium

A case against optimizing your life

Many people I know are on a quest to optimize their lives — some of my favorite people in the world will spend days trying to perfect a productivity system, get things automated, or find the perfect software for anything they’re doing. They are continually searching for the ideal diet,
Everyday life 1 min read Free

The most important two minutes in your life

Two minutes here and there rarely matter very much over a day, a week, a lifetime. But there are two minutes you could spend, right now, that would have a significant impact on your life. I’ll save you the suspense: it’s two-minute meditation. And it’s straightforward: take
Everyday life 3 min read Free

The practice of letting go

There are several times when our mind clings to something tightly, and it is rarely helpful: I am right, the other person is wrongThat person is living their life in the wrong way, they should changeMy preference is the best way, others are wrongThis is the thing I want, I
Habits 3 min read Premium

All about Stillness

I’ve heard from many people who say, “I overthink,” or “I can’t get out of my head.” This is pretty common. Thinking isn’t the problem, but the struggle comes when we’re continually spinning stories in our heads and getting caught up in them. Our minds jump
Personal health 5 min read Premium

Four antidotes to procrastination

Lately, I've been procrastinating a bit more than usual, and of course, it doesn't feel great. The truth is, though, that there are several good reasons for my procrastination: 1. I've had some severe health and sleep issues, which means my mind is tired and needs rest. So I am
Health 3 min read Premium

Pairing down your life

Our lives are overfull. There’s not a single one of us who is free of that trap, in my experience. We say yes to invitations and commitments; we answer as many emails and messages as possible; we join courses and groups, buy books, take on new hobbies, get involved
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