π― A New Chapter of Better at Life
Why I wrote a book about making intentional choices with the time we have.
Read time: 3 minutes
Welcome to Better at Life, the weekly newsletter where I share one simple, actionable idea you can put into practice today to build better habits, sharpen your mindset, and live with more intention.
Last Sunday, I wrote about The Practice of Becoming and shared an idea that has been on my mind quite a bit lately: a better life isnβt something you achieve. Itβs something you practice.
I also mentioned that Iβd tell you why Iβd been thinking about it so much.
Today, I finally get to share something Iβve been working on.
My new book, Better at Life: Negotiating Finite Time and Infinite Choices, launches today.
I wrote this book because I know what it feels like to become so consumed by work, responsibilities, and the pursuit of success that you start missing out on the very life you’re working so hard to build.
It’s easy to convince ourselves that we’re doing all the right things. We’re working hard, meeting expectations, pursuing goals, and taking care of our responsibilities. But somewhere along the way, the people and experiences that matter most can start getting whatever time and energy we have left over.
And sometimes, there’s not much left.
Through my own experiences and research, I began to realize that the answer wasn’t finding some perfect version of work-life balance. It was learning to make more intentional choices about how I spent my time.
Because our time is finite, but our choices can feel infinite.
That’s the idea at the heart of this book.
Write this down:
The goal isn’t to fit everything into your life. It’s to make room for what makes your life worth living.
Why I Wrote This Book
I wanted to create something practical for people who are working hard, carrying a lot of responsibility, and trying to build a meaningful life without losing themselves in the process.
Not another set of expectations to live up to or a complicated system to maintain. Instead, I wanted to offer tools that help us step back, reconsider our priorities, and make better decisions about the time we have.
That means learning when to say yes and when to say no. Recognizing when the pursuit of success is pulling us away from what matters. Being more present for the people we love and making sure we’re actually enjoying some of the life we’re working so hard to create.
I certainly haven’t figured all of this out. Writing the book reminded me how much of it I’m still practicing.
But I’ve become convinced that a better life isn’t built by doing everything. It’s built by becoming more intentional about the things we choose to do.
This Week’s Action
Here’s a question worth asking as you look at the week ahead:
What am I working so hard to build, and am I making time to enjoy it?
Maybe you’re working to provide a better life for your family, but your schedule rarely leaves you time to be with them. Maybe you’re pursuing a career goal while repeatedly postponing something you’ve always wanted to experience.
Choose one thing that matters to you and give it some of your time this week.
Don’t wait until everything else is finished.
The Book Is Here
Better at Life: Negotiating Finite Time and Infinite Choices
I’m excited to finally share this book with you. My hope is that it helps you make more intentional choices, become more present for the people you love, and build a life you genuinely enjoy living.
If you’ve been reading this newsletter, thank you for being part of this journey. Many of the ideas we’ve explored together are connected by the same question that inspired this book: How do we make the most of the time we have?
Weekly Reflection
Before you move on from this email, pause for a moment and ask yourself:
What am I currently giving most of my time to?
Does that reflect what matters most to me?
What have I been postponing until life gets less busy?
What’s one intentional choice I can make this week?
Write it down, then make room for something that matters.
If you know someone who could benefit from this message, I’d be grateful if you shared this issue or the book with them.
We won’t get to do everything. There will always be another opportunity, another responsibility, or another goal competing for our attention.
But we can get better at choosing.
And we can make sure that while we’re busy building a life, we’re also taking the time to live it.
See you next week β a little better at life.
______
Dr. Chris Mullen
Bring Better at Life to Your Organization
If these ideas resonate, this is also the work I bring into organizations and leadership teams.
I partner with organizations that want clearer thinking, stronger decision-making, and more sustainable performance.
Engagements typically include:
- Keynote speaking for conferences and leadership events
- Leadership development workshops for teams and managers
- Team strategy sessions focused on alignment and execution
For senior leaders seeking deeper application, I also maintain a small executive coaching practice.
