Brent P. Newhall's Blog
All – Feb 2009

19 Feb 09 – Functionality

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This blog isn't working for me.

About a year ago, I decided to change this blog into an ongoing series of articles about technology, self-improvement, reviews, and other miscellaneous topics.

I've now completely lost any interest I had in continuing that. Frankly, I've run out of article ideas. I could always review a movie or book I've watched lately, but what's the point?

Fundamentally, the problem is that I've failed to drive much traffic to this blog. I get almost no comments or emails from readers. Why should I write for no audience?

This is not to whine or complain; simply to explain why I'm struggling to find a reason to continue blogging here.

Problem is, I joined the RPG Bloggers' Network a few months ago, so I feel a certain duty to continue writing about role-playing here. Which I may do. But otherwise, I'm much more active on Twitter, and otherwise my friends somehow manage to get updated about my life without this blog.

So, I don't know what I'm going to do here. This blog certainly won't disappear, but it will probably see far fewer updates.

I just wish I had a more compelling vision of what to do with this thing.

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10 Feb 09 – Beside the lake, beneath the trees; fluttering, dancing in the breeze

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An update from yesterday's entry: I'm sticking to my resolutions (½ hour on email and blogs per day, more drawing and reading, and a tighter productivity system). Despite the difficulty; I'm currently out of town.

Of course, the first few days of any major change are relatively easy. Big changes are 900-pound gorillas; easy to remember and follow. The two main questions are: How well does the new change work in those few days? And: Do you stick with it for more than a few days?

I usually start to falter after about a week. It's not new and exciting by that point. I'll forget off and on, then I'll completely fall off the wagon about two weeks after I start. I suspect this is common.

That's not a worry; that's an observation. However, I don't need to worry about that just at the moment.

The more immediate concern is the efficacy of these changes. Do they bring about the more fundamental change I want? For me right now, I want to feel less tied to a computer, more present in the real world, and I want to steadily improve several skills I feel are important to me. Will this do that?

I must monitor my feelings. Check my stress levels (much as I dislike the term "stress"). I must tap into myself.

None of this is easy. But if I can get to that better place, it will be worth it. Don't you think?

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9 Feb 09 – All at once, I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils

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Why no updates here in a week? I've been sick. And I've been busy—always a dangerous combination.

This coincides with a lot of recent thoughts about, um, my life. My productivity system has lain essentially undisturbed for a week. This has led to thoughts about the source of productivity, and its importance. This, in turn, has caused a re-examination of my life.

As many things as I have going on in my life, I think it's time to simplify yet again. And to be drastic about it.

So, a few still-solidifying resolutions:

  1. Half an hour on emails and blogs every day. Maximum.
  2. More drawing, every week. I like to draw. It exercises odd, useful muscles.
  3. More reading. I already read, but not as much as I'd like to. And why not? What more wholesome pleasure is there?
  4. A greater respect for greased wheels. All my little notes to self, snailmail, reminders, voicemails, etc. are to be processed and incorporated into my productivity system every day. Within 24 hours. Period.

Too bad I won't have a chance to implement this until Saturday, if that. But at least I can commit to it, and work out how to do it.

Time for change.

Posted in Self-improvement - Permalink - comments

2 Feb 09 – How (Not) To Focus

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Don't give your brain too much credit. I posted about this recently on the Getting Things Done forum: the Dangers of the Projects List.

A little background: A GTD user manages work through a couple of different lists, that track work on several different levels: larger Roles in life, specific Projects identified with actual end results, and nitty-gritty Actions. Nearly all of one's Actions should be in service of Projects, and most Projects should fit into the larger Roles. Meanwhile, day-to-day, one works off one's Actions.

I've been experimenting for a few weeks with a tweak: I kept my list of Projects visible all the time. Ideally, I'd want to work on my Actions more if I could immediately relate them to Projects. So I could see where I was going.

It didn't work. To my surprise, I found that my brain would get distracted by my larger goals, leaving me unable to concentrate on my day-to-day Actions. It was like a runner constantly thinking about the marathon, and not about daily training.

It's a strange aspect of the brain: Allow it to focus, and beautiful worlds open up out of the simplest subject. Give it too much to think about, and it goes haywire, leaping from topic to topic without dwelling on any of them enough to move forward.

Beware the Projects list.

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