People are suffering, and I want to help

My name is Hou Xiao (侯枭), but please call me Xiao. I’m an AI engineer, but I’m also someone who spent over five years trapped in a cycle of chronic insomnia, social media addiction, and that heavy, "low-energy" feeling of being completely lost.

I’m writing to you because I know exactly why you’re here.

A year ago, I was stuck in a loop. I had applied for 65 PhD positions across Europe. After five offers and a year of effort, geopolitics blocked my path to a visa every single time. I ended up in a high-paying AI job that felt hollow and meaningless. To numb the frustration, I did what we all do: I scrolled until 2 AM almost every day. YouTube, Instagram, TikTok—I was addicted to the very algorithms I understood from the inside.

The result? Insomnia, anxiety, and a crushing sense of self-doubt.

But I found a way out. It wasn't through a new app or a "productivity hack." It was through the ancient philosophy of Zen and a return to a peaceful, grounded lifestyle. It helped me realize that we aren't failing, it’s an out-of-balance "attention economy" that is designed to keep us unhappy and distracted.

Inner Peace Is What You Need!

In a world that profits from our distraction, peace is your only real defense. It’s not about being passive; it’s about having the clarity to choose where your precious energy goes, instead of letting a KOL or an algorithm decide for you. When you find that inner stillness, the anxiety and the "need" to scroll begin to disappear. That is when your sleep, and your life, finally start to heal.

To help you break your own loop, I created this newsletter: Pause..

When I was studying engineering in France back in 2021, we often said, “On prend une pause”. It doesn’t just mean “Let’s take a break”, it represents a philosophy of body-mind balance. Everyone needs to step away from the noise of the world from time to time to find themselves again.

Now, Pause. is my way of sharing the tools that saved me. My goal isn't to give you more "content" to consume. I’m here to help you reclaim your reality and bridge the gap between your digital life and your physical well-being. Over the next few days, I’m going to share the exact framework I used to break the loop and regain control of my focus.

One last thing: You can always reach out to me by simply sending me a “hi” to this email address xiao@zevon.co. I read every message and I’ll reply to you personally—no AI-generated bots, just me.

Keep pausing!