Habits & Self-Improvement

How should I build a habit that actually sticks?

Use small, specific anchors/triggers rather than relying on willpower or motivation alone — e.g., doing 10 push-ups before leaving the house — because motivation-based approaches tend to fail according to habit science.

Should I only do my habit (like going to the gym) at one specific time of day?

Don't tie a habit's success to a single rigid time slot (like mornings only); if you truly want to get something done, you can do it at another point in the day, and using 'I can only do it in the morning' as an excuse undermines long-term consistency.

Is it worth switching from NBN/fixed broadband to 5G home internet?

Switching from a $330/month fixed broadband plan (Lightning Broadband) to a $90/month unlimited 5G plan with Optus can massively cut costs while still delivering solid speeds (around 229 Mbps down, 45 Mbps up), plus it can bundle in a Fetch TV box.

How can you simplify decision-making around habits like drinking?

Removing an option entirely (e.g., not drinking at all) eliminates the need to weigh choices in the moment, reducing the number of things you have to think about.

What distinguishes a good book from a great book?

George shares his stepdad's framing: a good book teaches you something about the world, while a great book teaches you something about yourself, and most great books are fiction.

How do you get better-tasting sparkling water at home?

Josh and Jules recommend a SodaStream with a glass bottle attachment rather than the standard plastic bottle, noting plastic can impart a gunky taste, while cautioning that a faulty lid can occasionally make water taste off.

How do you avoid needing the bathroom on long-haul flights?

Josh says he avoids drinking much of anything during long flights because he doesn't like having to climb over other passengers to use the bathroom, rather than following typical advice to stay hydrated.

How can you quickly delete a large number of alarms on an iPhone?

Instead of turning off or deleting alarms one by one, ask Siri to 'delete all alarms' and it will do it instantly.

Is it okay to track your partner's location without telling them?

It's shady and inappropriate to covertly track a partner (e.g., to check on infidelity) without their knowledge or approval; tracking should only be done with consent.

How can you cope with anxiety or negative thinking without medication?

Tommy mentions the book 'Feeling Good' by David D. Burns outlines techniques to lift mood and develop a positive outlook without drugs, based on taking things with grace rather than getting angry, though he found the audiobook format hard to follow since it references diagrams.

How much sleep do you need to feel good the next day?

Tommy says he needs at least 7.5 hours of sleep or he feels like nothing good is going to happen, and he panics if he sees time ticking by without being in bed.

How do you teach a child to wipe properly after using the toilet?

Get toilet paper wrapped around your hand to keep it clean, reach around, and wipe until you can't see anything else on the paper; let the child use whichever hand feels natural (e.g., left hand for a left-handed child).

How do you actually learn adult skills like cooking and cleaning if you weren't taught them growing up?

You just have to do it yourself, through necessity and repetition, rather than relying on formal instruction or a subscription service.

How should couples or close partners handle disagreements?

Tommy says he prefers to address issues immediately, but notes his partner Amy needs time to process first, and that forcing a conversation too early can be the wrong move; balancing both approaches works best.

Should you suppress sadness or allow yourself to feel it?

Tommy suggests leaning into sadness and grief, rather than always seeking positivity, is a necessary part of processing emotions and can prevent them resurfacing later.

How do you deal with an overwhelming backlog of unread messages/notifications?

Just open them all and forget about them — if messages have sat unanswered for a while, they've effectively already been forgotten about by the sender too.

How can you avoid feeling guilty about working weekends while still getting things done?

Rather than rigidly banning all weekend or evening work, allow some flexibility (e.g., a 7pm email session) to clear nagging tasks — it can actually improve how you feel rather than worsen it.

How should you set goals when the future is highly uncertain (e.g., during a pandemic)?

Frame goals around a process, practice, or identity statement that isn't dependent on a specific environment or circumstance—for example, 'do meaningful work with interesting people'—rather than tying your identity to a specific activity like coaching or speaking, so the goal remains achievable even if external circumstances change drastically.

What should you do when you wake up feeling low or melancholy?

Try to get fresh air—go for a walk or swim—even if it doesn't always immediately fix the feeling; sometimes you just have to accept it as a 'melancholy day' rather than forcing yourself to feel better.

Should you keep wearing unwashed clothes to make them last longer (e.g. jeans, socks)?

Tommy argues against the 'don't wash it' hack, saying items like jeans worn without washing for the look need to be washed or thrown out, and that anything touching your body regularly (socks, pyjamas) should be washed as often as sheets.

Should daily excitement be the goal in creative work or life?

Tommy advises against seeking excitement as a daily requirement, saying it's fleeting and not a reliable belief system; instead he focuses on enjoying the process some days and not others, and finds excitement in small habits and observations rather than chasing it directly.

How do you keep a toilet clean without a big dreaded scrub-down?

Make cleaning the default every time you use the toilet rather than waiting for one big annual clean: lid up, check, brush (and use a bowl cleaner like the scented squirt-in gel) each time to keep things manageable.

How can I stop beating myself up over how I used to think or act?

Treat cringing at your past self as a sign of evolution rather than failure — the real concern is only if you feel you've regressed, not if you've simply moved on from an earlier version of yourself.

How do I build the confidence to stick with a difficult habit or project?

Consistency itself builds a kind of muscle memory or momentum (similar to gym training) that makes it easier to restart even after a break, because you have a reference point of having done it before.