Begin again in 2026, properly
And on life as an investment portfolio
A final invitation to begin again, properly
This year I’m changing direction.
And I want you to be part of it.
Starting in 2026, paid subscribers will get my best work on:
• How to productise your expertise. Turn what you already know into leverage/income source.
• How to make writing a fulfilling career path without burning out.
• How satisfied people around the world live (tools/life models/ lifestyle frameworks)
• What I’m personally learning on growth — in work, thinking, and life
Paid supporters will also get:
– My upcoming book on thinking clearly, free
– The Weekend Discovery, now paid-only and ad-free
The free newsletter will continue.
But will be short ideas from great thinkers.
So, for today only, I’m offering my biggest discount for a 2026 annual subscription: £15 the whole year (usually £45).
Brad Stulberg on diversifying your sense of self
“One of the most important parts of developing an identity that can thrive, persist, and endure change is to diversify your sense of self. You can think of identity like a house. You want the house to have multiple rooms. Perhaps there is a “parent” room; an “athlete” room; an “employee,” “entrepreneur,” or “executive” room; a “community member” room, and so on.
It’s okay to spend a lot of time in just one room, but you’ve got to ensure you keep the others in good enough shape. This way, when you experience a massive change or disorder event in one area of your life, in one room of your identity, you can step into other areas to gain your footing and stability. Like a diversified portfolio in investing, diversifying your sense of self makes you more rugged and flexible in the face of change.”
Source: Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing Including You
Philosopher and novelist Albert Camus on self-care
“Go out for a walk. It doesn’t have to be a romantic walk in the park, spring at its most spectacular moment, flowers and smells and outstanding poetical imagery smoothly transferring you into another world.
It doesn’t have to be a walk during which you’ll have multiple life epiphanies and discover meanings no other brain ever managed to encounter.
Do not be afraid of spending quality time by yourself.
Find meaning or don’t find meaning but “steal” some time and give it freely and exclusively to your own self. Opt for privacy and solitude. That doesn’t make you antisocial or cause you to reject the rest of the world. But you need to breathe. And you need to be.”
Dean Yeong’s on the path to wealth
A very short summary of his book, The Simple Path to Wealth
”The simple formula to financial well-being: spend less than you earn—invest the surplus—avoid debt. Your goal is to save up F-You money, generally 25x of your annual expenses, to regain your freedom. During the wealth accumulation stage, allocate 100% of your investment portfolio to Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX) or its ETF (VTI). When you’re closer to your retirement, adjust 20-50% of your portfolio to include Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBTLX) or its ETF (BND). Aim for a 3-7% withdrawal rate during your (early) retirement.”
Questions worth pondering at this time of the year
What made me happy or miserable last year?
What changes do I want to make and why?
What single habit, if implemented consistently for the rest of this year, would transform your life the most?
What’s the one habit that made the most difference this past year?
Am I happy with the direction my life is taking?
What do I want my life to look like one year from now?
What am I working on that I’m excited about this year?
If I keep repeating my present habits, rituals and routines, will I become a better or worse version of myself?
About me: I’m Thomas. My essays cross between productivity, philosophy, psychology. More than 100,000 people have subscribed to my life and career newsletters: Postanly Weekly and Career Growth Insider (LinkedIn). I also write a Fast Company column on smarter living. My readers include intellectually curious people from Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Salesforce, LinkedIn, Apple, BBC, HubSpot and Morning Brew. To support my work, you can upgrade to a paid subscription for $9 per month or $60 for an entire year.