Just going to keep writing here. With each post, I’ll try to include at least one of the following:
- A drawing
- A photo
- A book quote
- A podcast episode
- An embed from Instagram, YouTube, or Libsyn
That photo above is from a Field Notes notebook that I got this week.
It’s filling up pretty quickly. I’m trying to plan more on paper. I know, I have iPads of all sorts lying around, but am starting to think that I might be more easily distracted if I have two digital environments when working. In my case, I’m usually working (like, the actual job) on a laptop as my primary device. Keeping track of things separately in the iPad can be fun but also it can really just present me with two black holes.
Writing that schedule down
It’s difficult enough staying focused in one digital environment with infinite distractions. Having another gets, well, more difficult.
Similarly, larger notebooks invite me to just start new pages of things or write non-schedule stuff on the pages with my schedule for the day.
Here’s what I’m trying, from Make Time (and referencing Deep Work):
Rather than using my calendar or a journal, I used an approach recommended by Cal Newport in Deep Work: writing my schedule on a piece of blank paper, then replanning throughout the day as things change and evolve,
In any case, that’s what I’ve been trying to keep in these Field Notes.
There’s been a lot of redesign. Even for today, I’ve re-written the schedule 5 times. This isn’t good, but that’s the point: I’m not quite good at writing a schedule down, estimating how long things take, and sticking to it. I’m practicing because I think it’s worth getting better at to help reduce overwhelm and just get a better handle on my days.
What are those Xs?
I usually do a workout called Simple & Sinister (100 total kettlebell swings & 10 total kettlebell get-ups). This is a different workout that looks like this:
First X
- 2 cleans, 1 press, 1 squat
- 3 cleans, 1 press, 1 squat
- 5 cleans, 1 press, 1 squat
Second X
- 1 clean, 2 presses, 1 squat
- 1 clean, 3 presses, 1 squat
- 1 clean, 5 presses, 1 squat
Third X
- 1 clean, 1 press, 2 squats
- 1 clean, 1 press, 3 squats
- 1 clean, 1 press, 5 squats
Rest 1 minute, repeat above (4th, 5th, 6th X)
Rest 1 minute, repeat above (the boxes I didn’t mark with an X)
I’m easing into this because I tweaked my back last week.