Train Your Brain

February 27, 2025 by Scott Todnem

The Reticular Activating System
Have you ever noticed that once you start thinking about something, you start seeing it everywhere? Like when you learn a new word and suddenly hear it in conversations, or when you start looking at a certain kind of car and now it seems to be on every street?

That’s not magic—it’s your Reticular Activating System (RAS) at work.

This tiny yet powerful part of your brain is constantly filtering what you pay attention to. And here’s the best part: You can actually train your RAS to help you focus on what matters most in your life.

Here are some concepts to help…

Habits That Stick

February 07, 2025 by Scott Todnem

Building Habits
Developing habits that last isn’t about willpower or sheer determination; it’s about strategy and intentionality.

We want a simple yet effective framework to create habits that stick—habits that align with our goals, strengthen our personal agency, and lead to a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Here are three tips to help…

Personal Agency

November 19, 2024 by Scott Todnem

What does it mean to truly own your life? It might mean stepping into the role of the architect of your own existence. It might mean blending the wisdom of the past with the innovations of today. Or it might mean embracing change—not as a threat, but as an opportunity for growth.

Let’s explore three key principles of personal agency.

Analysis Paralysis - You Are Not One Choice

February 16, 2023 by Scott Todnem in Habits

Free Will?
With too many choices, we can experience something called analysis paralysis. This means we become so overwhelmed with multiple options that it causes us to panic or freeze up. We overanalyze things and in turn, do nothing.

You’ve experienced this if you’ve ever turned on the TV or a streaming service and had so many options for shows to binge watch that you end up endlessly scrolling only to choose… none of them.

So… what do we do? These tips will help.

Let's Talk Emotions

February 03, 2023 by Scott Todnem in Habits

Emotional Regulation
It’s important to know that sadness and anger happen just like calm and happiness.

That’s life!

So how do we deal with feelings? These tips will be especially helpful for emotional lows, but it works for any given moment in life.

Is Procrastination Truly That Bad?

January 20, 2023 by Scott Todnem in Habits

Procrastination
What’s the best way to go about completing work?

Work completion is too nuanced to be one-size-fits-all, but let’s break down two standard options with a few quick considerations.

Real Resolutions Build a Lifestyle

December 31, 2022 by Scott Todnem in Habits

Real Resolutions
There are certainly benefits in the clarity of turning a wish into a goal. With any significant life change, however, the magic is not in the resolution. The magic, if there is such a thing, is in the lifestyle.

Here are the details.

The Struggle Is Real

September 13, 2018 by Scott Todnem in The Last/Next Time

The Last/Next Time
Teaching blog shorts to get educators thinking. "When was the last time...?" questions to reflect on and "Take advantage of the next time..." prompts to act on. Be a lifelong learner and better the craft of being an educator.

Today’s Question
When was the last time you allowed your students to struggle?