The Copper Den

Escaping the Algorithm

This past week, I watched a Cal Newport video in which he discusses ways to avoid doomscrolling and learn better. In today’s blog post, I’ll break down what stood out to me most about his approach and why I think it’s more important than ever to move

To be, or not to be

This might be my most foolish blog post yet. I’m going to try to tackle one of my favorite scenes in literature: the “to be, or not to be” speech from Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare is getting a lot of attention recently with the release of Hamnet. The

Trying to Do Less

I recently watched a video by Matt D’Avella that has me reconsidering my approach to productivity.  Responding to this influx of hustle culture ideology, Matt suggests that there’s an increasing movement to slow down. He connects this with Cal Newport and his book Slow Productivity. I haven’t

What Are You Scared Of?

This week, I want to talk about a scene from one of my favorite movies, Good Will Hunting. A couple scenes stand out when I think of this movie. A lot of people think about the many Robin Williams speeches in the movie, but I want to dig deeper into

Be Curious, Not Judgmental

Ted Lasso is one of my favorite TV shows of this decade. It’s a show that’s just full of joy and hopefulness, which was much needed when it initially released during the pandemic. I remember first watching on a plane while I was going to visit a friend

Be Like Water: Applying Bruce Lee's Famous Lesson

When starting a new habit, it’s common to feel a sort of friction, but when is it too much? This week, I explore how changing the timing of a habit helped me complete it much more easily and how we can consider Bruce Lee’s “be like water” ideology to help us move more effortlessly through life.

A Constant Stream of Information

We’re witnessing a social media landscape where everything is curated for you. You can log onto a given platform to swipe for hours uninterrupted. In this age of constant video flow, though, actively deciding what you want to consume might be the greatest power of them all.

Ask Yourself "Why?"

Starting a new habit can oftentimes feel impossible. You’ll have a few good days, but then all of a sudden the momentum is gone. This week, I explore how asking yourself “why?” might help keep those new habits running by better understanding your core values.

The Japanese Secret to a Happier Life

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that loosely translates as "the happiness of always being busy." It's an idea that promises a lot, but it might just hold some key ideas for finding purpose and living a more fulfilled life.

"Peacemaker" and the Importance of Accepting Our Mistakes

While not perfect, Chris Smith’s journey in "Peacemaker" Season 2 is incredibly moving and makes me think on the importance of owning up to our mistakes as well as embracing those who try to help us. This week, I am exploring both of those ideas as I look back on the completed second season.

J. Cole's "Love Yourz" and the Secret to Happiness

It’s easy to find ourselves thinking that if we get a little more of something we’ll finally be happy. In J. Cole’s “Love Yourz,” the rapper reminds us about the trap of wanting and to reconsider what will actually bring us fulfillment.

On the Love of Fridays

Few feelings seem to match the quiet joy of Friday afternoons, when work ends and freedom begins. In this post, I explore how The Cure's "Friday I'm in Love" captures that magic and why even Aristotle would approve of its celebration of leisure.

The World Needs to Be a Little Goofier

This week, I'm reminiscing on the 1995 cult classic, "A Goofy Movie," a film that reminds us that beautiful things can happen when we try to meet someone where they are.

What Happened When I Cut Back on Social Media

I cut back on my social media usage and noticed some surprising changes in focus, cravings, and happiness. Here's what happen when I started to log off more.

How to Have a Better Relationship with Social Media

This is the second post of a miniseries about rethinking my relationship with social media. These are some of the tools and habits I've been using to reset that relationship, and they've started to make my time online feel lighter and more intentional.

Why I'm Rethinking Social Media: Dopamine, Negativity, and the Attention Trap

Lately, I've been noticing how social can shape my moods, my habits, and even how I spend my evenings. The more I learned, the clearer it became that what feels like harmless scrolling might not be so harmless after all.

Why Tools Matter More Than Dreams for Success and Fulfillment

We've all been told to chase our dreams, but what if the better path is building tools that carry us forward? Inspired by a Hank Green vlog, I explore why focusing on tools can lead us to places we might never have imagined in our wildest...dreams.

The Wheel of Life: A Simple Exercise to Find Balance and Purpose

It's hard to know what to work on if you don't have a good idea of where you are. The Wheel of Life is a fairly simple yet powerful tool that helps you step back, see the bigger picture, and figure out where to focus your energy next.

The Secret to Beating Procrastination? Start a Timer

When you're in a rut, sometimes the hardest part is just getting started. I've found that something as simple as starting a timer is one of the more effective tools that gets me moving in the right direction.

You Should Track Your Emotions

Knowing what you're dealing with is often a good first step to make a change. Emotion tracking is a tool that's helped me spot patterns in my own life so that I can make tiny improvements over time.

The Lord of the Rings: Why Doing Good for Its Own Sake Matters

There's a reason we read fiction. It teaches us more lessons than we can possibly learn in one life. This week, I explore 'The Lord of the Rings' and Tolkien's message on the importance of doing good.

What If Life Were Easy? Lessons from Billy Joel's "Vienna"

I used to think that only the hard things were worth doing, but lately, I've had a change of hard. This week, I write about another way: what if things were easy?

Kindness Is The New Punk Rock: A 'Superman' Review

Last weekend, I saw the new 'Superman' in theaters. Then, I saw it again on Wednesday. This movie reminded me what it meant to be human, so I thought I'd spend some time breaking down what made the movie so special to me.

Forget Perfection: Try “Dailyish” Habits

I’ve recently found myself enjoying the writings of Oliver Burkeman.  Burkeman first popped onto my radar with his book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. He positions himself as a sort of alternative to the traditional productivity guru. Instead of finding ways to maximize your week to do

The Zibaldone: A Journal That’s Changing How I Capture Ideas

I've been experimenting with a new kind of journal that's less structured and surprisingly fun. It's called a zibaldone, and this week, I'm breaking down my experience with it so far.