Dictionary

Plain-English definitions of the lifestyle and wellness terms we throw around.

Circadian rhythm

Your body's roughly 24-hour internal clock. It regulates sleep, hunger, alertness, and mood.

Decision fatigue

The mental drain of making too many small decisions. Why you feel worse at picking dinner at 9 p.m. than at 9 a.m.

Default mode network

The brain network active when you are not focused on a task. Where creativity, memory, and self-reflection happen.

Digital detox

A deliberate break from phones, social media, and other screens. Can be an hour, an evening, a weekend, or longer.

Dopamine

A brain chemical involved in motivation and reward. Not a happiness chemical, more a wanting chemical.

Flow

A state of full absorption in an activity, where time seems to disappear. Usually happens when a task is just hard enough.

Habit stacking

Attaching a new habit to an existing one so the old habit becomes a cue for the new one.

Keystone habit

A habit that triggers a cascade of other positive changes. Sleep, movement, and reading are common examples.

Minimalism

An approach to living with less, in favour of more attention for what matters. Not an aesthetic.

Mise en place

The cooking principle of preparing all ingredients and tools before you start. It also works well for a working day.

Pomodoro

A time management method using 25-minute focused work blocks followed by short breaks.

Single-tasking

Doing one thing at a time. The opposite of multitasking, which research shows is often slower and more error-prone.

Sleep hygiene

The daily habits that shape how well you sleep, such as consistent bedtimes, light exposure, and screen use before bed.

Slow living

A cultural movement favouring intentionality and presence over speed and productivity.

Two-minute rule

If a task takes less than two minutes, do it now. A simple way to prevent small tasks from piling up.