Pattern language

36 patterns across 8 areas of life, joined by 54 links. Use them on their own, or follow them together as a language for handling everyday situations well.

How to use this language

A single pattern solves a single problem. Real situations involve several problems in a row: cooking dinner means preparing, cutting, cooking, storing and cleaning up. The patterns here are written to fit together, and each one points to its neighbours instead of repeating them.

Start from a situation. Pick one of the journeys below and work through its patterns in order.
Start from a problem. Search the pattern library, read the problem and the "Applies when" list, and check it matches your situation.
Follow the links. Every pattern ends with its related patterns. Following them is how you find the next useful habit.
Adapt it. Each pattern names a trade-off. If your circumstances differ, make the other choice deliberately.
Make it a habit. Pick one pattern, practise it for a week or two until it's automatic, then add the next.

Journeys

Cooking a weeknight dinner

From an empty bench to a clean kitchen, with leftovers stored safely for tomorrow.

Prepare before you cookpreparation
Stable board, claw gripsafety
Cook by temperature, not timetechnique
Cooling and storing leftoverssafety
Loading and unloading the dishwasherprocess

Getting to know a new kitchen gadget

Getting good results from the appliances most kitchens now have.

Natural pressure releasetechnique
Rinse, measure and rest ricetechnique
Getting crisp results from an air fryertechnique
Blending hot liquids safelysafety

Looking after your kitchen tools

Tools that are cared for work better, last longer and are safer to use.

Keeping knives sharptechnique
Making non-stick pans lasttechnique
Caring for cast ironprocess
Loading and unloading the dishwasherprocess

A day hike

Plan it at home, dress for it on the trail, and know when to turn back.

Driving into the city

A calm drive in and an easy park at the end.

Keep a three-second gapsafety
Merge like a zipetiquette
Park before you arrivetechnique
Parallel parking by reference pointstechnique

Going to a conference abroad

From packing at home to giving your talk and meeting people on the day.

Pack from a reusable listpreparation
Back up your travel documentspreparation
Keep essentials in your carry-onpreparation
Shift to local time quicklytechnique
Plan your conference, leave gapspreparation
Leave room in the circleetiquette
Rehearse your talk to timepreparation

A productive week at the office

A desk that fits you, time to think, and meetings and email that stay in their place.

Moving through shared buildings

The unwritten rules of lifts, escalators and crowded spaces.

Riding an elevatoretiquette
Standing and walking on escalatorsetiquette
Leave room in the circleetiquette

Getting fitter without getting hurt

Start each session well, build up gradually and recover properly.

Warm up before you trainpreparation
Increase training load graduallytechnique
Plan rest and recoveryprocess
Sharing the gymetiquette

All patterns and their connections

Kitchen patterns

Blending hot liquids safely: Cooling and storing leftovers · Natural pressure release · Stable board, claw grip
Caring for cast iron: Cook by temperature, not time · Loading and unloading the dishwasher · Making non-stick pans last
Cook by temperature, not time: Caring for cast iron · Cooling and storing leftovers · Getting crisp results from an air fryer · Natural pressure release · Prepare before you cook
Cooling and storing leftovers: Blending hot liquids safely · Cook by temperature, not time · Getting crisp results from an air fryer · Natural pressure release · Rinse, measure and rest rice
Getting crisp results from an air fryer: Cook by temperature, not time · Cooling and storing leftovers · Making non-stick pans last
Keeping knives sharp: Loading and unloading the dishwasher · Prepare before you cook · Stable board, claw grip
Loading and unloading the dishwasher: Caring for cast iron · Keeping knives sharp · Making non-stick pans last · Prepare before you cook
Making non-stick pans last: Caring for cast iron · Getting crisp results from an air fryer · Loading and unloading the dishwasher
Natural pressure release: Blending hot liquids safely · Cook by temperature, not time · Cooling and storing leftovers · Rinse, measure and rest rice
Prepare before you cook: Cook by temperature, not time · Keeping knives sharp · Loading and unloading the dishwasher · Rinse, measure and rest rice · Stable board, claw grip
Rinse, measure and rest rice: Cooling and storing leftovers · Natural pressure release · Prepare before you cook
Stable board, claw grip: Blending hot liquids safely · Keeping knives sharp · Prepare before you cook

Hiking patterns

Dress in layers: Leave a trip plan · Pack from a reusable list · Set a turnaround time · Warm up before you train
Leave a trip plan: Back up your travel documents · Dress in layers · Set a turnaround time
Set a turnaround time: Dress in layers · Leave a trip plan

City and traffic patterns

Keep a three-second gap: Merge like a zip · Parallel parking by reference points · Park before you arrive
Merge like a zip: Keep a three-second gap · Park before you arrive
Parallel parking by reference points: Keep a three-second gap · Park before you arrive
Park before you arrive: Keep a three-second gap · Merge like a zip · Parallel parking by reference points

Travel patterns

Back up your travel documents: Keep essentials in your carry-on · Leave a trip plan · Pack from a reusable list
Keep essentials in your carry-on: Back up your travel documents · Pack from a reusable list · Shift to local time quickly
Pack from a reusable list: Back up your travel documents · Dress in layers · Keep essentials in your carry-on · Shift to local time quickly
Shift to local time quickly: Keep essentials in your carry-on · Pack from a reusable list · Plan your conference, leave gaps

Conference patterns

Leave room in the circle: Plan your conference, leave gaps · Riding an elevator
Plan your conference, leave gaps: Leave room in the circle · Rehearse your talk to time · Shift to local time quickly
Rehearse your talk to time: No agenda, no meeting · Plan your conference, leave gaps

Office work patterns

No agenda, no meeting: Process email in batches · Protect blocks of focus time · Rehearse your talk to time
Process email in batches: No agenda, no meeting · Protect blocks of focus time
Protect blocks of focus time: No agenda, no meeting · Process email in batches · Set up your desk to fit you
Set up your desk to fit you: Protect blocks of focus time · Warm up before you train

Shared spaces patterns

Riding an elevator: Leave room in the circle · Sharing the gym · Standing and walking on escalators
Standing and walking on escalators: Riding an elevator

Sport and fitness patterns

Increase training load gradually: Plan rest and recovery · Warm up before you train
Plan rest and recovery: Increase training load gradually · Warm up before you train
Sharing the gym: Riding an elevator · Warm up before you train
Warm up before you train: Dress in layers · Increase training load gradually · Plan rest and recovery · Set up your desk to fit you · Sharing the gym