I loved this. Why did you decide to remove socialis? Im considering doing the same. I love your dialogi category! I might do that.
I also think it's smart that habits work for you more than time blocking. Im also bad at doing what's planned so i like the loose prompt to do whatever related to the project. I also like that you have a default habit to do for the domain if you arent inspired to do some other task within the domain.
Also, do you find it challenging to switch from writing to study time? Sometimes that mental switch from one domain to another can be hard for me. Im still experimenting.
The way Rachael explained it was that she needs or wants Socialis because otherwise she wouldn't be able to keep track of her relationships, consistently hang out with friends or loved ones etc. I don't really feel like I have to plan or schedule this part of my life so I replaced it with something that is also important to me that I do want to track and remind myself of. Since it didn't neatly fit into any of the other categories for me, I was relieved that scrapping Socialis created an open spot. (Seven categories just feels like too much.)
Hmm, personally I don't find it challenging to switch between writing vs. studying because they already feel similar to me. Both are about stretching the mind, plus I still count it as writing when I do research for my stories etc. They're also a nice break from my day job which requires attention to detail but little creativity or deep thinking.
Hope this helps! And I'm glad my approach resonates with you. :)
Very cool and impressive, Vanessa. I admire your ability to track and plan here (and I love the names you use for your categories). I experimented with Trello for a while, but I found myself fretting a bit too much over where precisely something would go and keeping it neat and organised, so I ended up abandoning that and resorted (mainly for work) to a simple notebook system of tasks with open squares that become filled once completed and that I refresh onto a new page with each week, carrying over anything that's still not completed (usually a lot, given the nature of my work).
For stuff outside of work I'm usually a little more freeform, but I have a fairly regular set of exercise routines each week and my brain is aware if I'm not spending enough time reading or writing, so it generally self-corrects.
Thank you for sharing how you do it! I used handwritten to do lists for a while too, it often motivated me to finish my tasks because copying them over to the next day was so much more tedious than it is in apps like Todoist.
This is useful. As you use your phone for tracking your activities and tasks, how do you prevent it from also being a distraction - particularly social media? Do you turn off all notifications, or have a 'focus mode' setting or app? Or do you not have distracting apps on your phone at all?
First of all, there is only one social media app I use nowadays & yes, all notifications are off. I might check this one app a few times a day but I never scroll longer than 1-2 minutes at a time. This is what I mean by discipline too. I've realized through observing my own moods that other activities feel much more rewarding & fulfilling in the long run. Social media is shallow, a cheap thrill that fades quickly.
Then again, I've never been seriously addicted to the instant dopamine rush. I understand that getting rid of deeply ingrained bad habits can be a lot harder than that. As I mentioned, I'm a reader of (long) books, plus I've meditated on & off since my late teens which has helped a ton in avoiding those bad habits altogether.
Thanks for this Vanessa, I struggle with a demanding career and other personal obligations that make solidifying a routine for non-monetized writing projects and habits tangential to a full life. Being flexible enough to create content in the interstitial spaces of my schedule and, as Tony Morrison said, write on the margins of the day, helps me accepts some of the facts of my life as it is today rather than become consumed with frustration. I also find over planning lacks that flexibility I need to allow the unplanned to occur without becoming morose and discontent. Also good to be reminded that prioritizing projects and habits are a necessity not a luxury, thanks again.
Write on the margins of the day, yes. For example, I commute about 80 minutes by train on office days (3 times a week). Sometimes I spend that time brainstorming or editing on my phone but sometimes I just nap too.
I loved this. Why did you decide to remove socialis? Im considering doing the same. I love your dialogi category! I might do that.
I also think it's smart that habits work for you more than time blocking. Im also bad at doing what's planned so i like the loose prompt to do whatever related to the project. I also like that you have a default habit to do for the domain if you arent inspired to do some other task within the domain.
Also, do you find it challenging to switch from writing to study time? Sometimes that mental switch from one domain to another can be hard for me. Im still experimenting.
The way Rachael explained it was that she needs or wants Socialis because otherwise she wouldn't be able to keep track of her relationships, consistently hang out with friends or loved ones etc. I don't really feel like I have to plan or schedule this part of my life so I replaced it with something that is also important to me that I do want to track and remind myself of. Since it didn't neatly fit into any of the other categories for me, I was relieved that scrapping Socialis created an open spot. (Seven categories just feels like too much.)
Hmm, personally I don't find it challenging to switch between writing vs. studying because they already feel similar to me. Both are about stretching the mind, plus I still count it as writing when I do research for my stories etc. They're also a nice break from my day job which requires attention to detail but little creativity or deep thinking.
Hope this helps! And I'm glad my approach resonates with you. :)
Very cool and impressive, Vanessa. I admire your ability to track and plan here (and I love the names you use for your categories). I experimented with Trello for a while, but I found myself fretting a bit too much over where precisely something would go and keeping it neat and organised, so I ended up abandoning that and resorted (mainly for work) to a simple notebook system of tasks with open squares that become filled once completed and that I refresh onto a new page with each week, carrying over anything that's still not completed (usually a lot, given the nature of my work).
For stuff outside of work I'm usually a little more freeform, but I have a fairly regular set of exercise routines each week and my brain is aware if I'm not spending enough time reading or writing, so it generally self-corrects.
Thank you for sharing how you do it! I used handwritten to do lists for a while too, it often motivated me to finish my tasks because copying them over to the next day was so much more tedious than it is in apps like Todoist.
This is useful. As you use your phone for tracking your activities and tasks, how do you prevent it from also being a distraction - particularly social media? Do you turn off all notifications, or have a 'focus mode' setting or app? Or do you not have distracting apps on your phone at all?
First of all, there is only one social media app I use nowadays & yes, all notifications are off. I might check this one app a few times a day but I never scroll longer than 1-2 minutes at a time. This is what I mean by discipline too. I've realized through observing my own moods that other activities feel much more rewarding & fulfilling in the long run. Social media is shallow, a cheap thrill that fades quickly.
Then again, I've never been seriously addicted to the instant dopamine rush. I understand that getting rid of deeply ingrained bad habits can be a lot harder than that. As I mentioned, I'm a reader of (long) books, plus I've meditated on & off since my late teens which has helped a ton in avoiding those bad habits altogether.
This is also very useful. Thank you, Vanessa.
Thanks for this Vanessa, I struggle with a demanding career and other personal obligations that make solidifying a routine for non-monetized writing projects and habits tangential to a full life. Being flexible enough to create content in the interstitial spaces of my schedule and, as Tony Morrison said, write on the margins of the day, helps me accepts some of the facts of my life as it is today rather than become consumed with frustration. I also find over planning lacks that flexibility I need to allow the unplanned to occur without becoming morose and discontent. Also good to be reminded that prioritizing projects and habits are a necessity not a luxury, thanks again.
So glad it helped, Brian!
Write on the margins of the day, yes. For example, I commute about 80 minutes by train on office days (3 times a week). Sometimes I spend that time brainstorming or editing on my phone but sometimes I just nap too.