We realize that there are so many amazing things out there and only so much time to get to it all. To help speed the process along a group of artists, writers and thinkers have started The School of Life as an opportunity to catch up on some of the more fulfilling aspects.

What makes this school different than other alma matters? For starters artist Charlotte Mann designed the classroom. In fact, everyone involved with the School of Life is a notable figure in their respective fields, including a few former curators of the Tate Modern. The School is located in the arty district Bloomsbury in London and houses a bookstore with the “right” books and artwork for sale. Instead of your Earth sciences and dead poets, courses cover five major areas of life: Love, Politics, Work, Family and Play. And to complete the higher eduction experience, they serve up meals, take you on group vacations and even inspire with a few sermons. The courses run £195. If the tuition is too steep, check out their blog for some nice freebies.

We recall spending a lot of time slumped over our desk at school in a position that didn’t exactly prevent scoliosis. But there’s hope for the kids of today and their spines. Simon Dennehy’s MA Industrial Design project for NCAD set out to design school desks with ergonomics in mind. The result is Perch, a marked improvement over the desks of yore. Lord knows if you’re going to be sitting somewhere for seven hours a day, you should be comfortable (and have a cupholder).