System is the solution

Let’s be honest. Modern life is overwhelming.

Just getting through the day can feel like a herculean task, even with the massive leverage we have compared to our forefathers. I call this the first world problem—the kind of challenge that comes not from scarcity but from abundance. Things like overwhelm, overthinking, anxiety, stress, insomnia and metabolic issues. Our ancestors would probably laugh if they heard that abundance is hard to manage. And yet, here we are.

We worry constantly, and at the same time, we want more. More speed, more output, more convenience. And it never seems to end.

As a systems designer, I’m drawn to these invisible problems. The ones that don’t look like problems but quietly shape our lives. I experience them too. I’m both the experiment and the experimenter. I face these struggles and ask myself, what’s really going on?

One core insight has stuck with me through all of this: cognitive load is the real villain.

From my background in cognitive science, I’ve learned one thing over and over again. Human beings are not built to handle too much cognitive load. We’ll do anything to avoid it. We tune out, we procrastinate, we give up halfway. And in modern life, the constant juggling and decision fatigue crushes our peace of mind.

So how do we deal with this? I’ve found only one answer that works: designing systems.

My Health Stack: A System of Systems

I want to share one of those systems with you today. It’s my setup for the next 300 days, designed to help me (and all of us) regain and sustain better health. This isn’t about hacks or trackers. It’s about building a supportive environment that reduces friction and lets action flow naturally.

Here’s the overview of the systems and systems + how it works:

• Life Design Pillars - my Life OS
  These are the five big areas I work with: Being, Body & Mind, Relationships, Career, and Finance. They give me the mindset, skillset, and toolset to live intentionally.

• BMI25 (OOO - Objective, Output and Outcome)
  I run my life as projects. BMI25 is a health-focused project under the Body & Mind pillar, built around a clear goal for this season.

• Project Phoenix
  My life runs in seasons, each lasting about 1,000 days. This is the current one. It gives a long arc to my personal evolution.

• G365
  This is my accountability grid. Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual check-ins that keep me aligned.

• Community
  A social system to stay connected and supported. It helps keep my energy regulated and my batteries charged.

• Sensibowl
  A system that combines nutrition, movement, and rest into a daily rhythm. It’s not just what I do, but how I do it.

• 300-Day Blueprint
  A step-by-step path to build better habits and break unhelpful ones. It’s designed to be doable and sustainable.

Every system here has one job—to reduce cognitive load so I don’t need to think too hard. When thinking is minimised, action becomes easier. And action is what really matters. Especially when it’s consistent. That’s where real transformation begins.

Don’t worry about all the above systems. What you need for today is just the G365 - my daily accountability.

Why I Still Use Paper

You might be wondering why I don’t just use an app in this age of digital systems and vibe coding. The answer is simple.

We do better when systems feel hyper personal, visible, and tactile. There’s a reason paper works so well. You can touch it. You can make it your own. You don’t have to scroll or tap through menus. It’s right there, in your space.

Over the years, I’ve seen this with my students, my mentees, and myself. When we use paper, our success rates go up. It’s easier to commit to something that lives in the physical world. Personalizing your system is a lot easier with a pen and notebook than inside someone else’s app.

Ready to Start?

My G365 is tuned for this next phase. I’ll keep adjusting it based on what the season demands. Just like a neural network, I tweak the weights and biases. But I don’t keep adding more parameters. More isn’t always better. Sometimes, less is what keeps you going.

My stack is ready.

Are you setting yours up today?