January 2024 Influences

Hello, everyone!

It’s already January. How did the time go so fast already? I’ve been slowing it down this year. Usually, I’d be involved with too many things already.

This year I’m not sure what I want to do with books and media. Non-fiction is my jam.

I’d like to do something different though. I love the idea of the never-ending now. The question I would ask myself: is this next new book going to be a classic? If not, I’ll read something else. Caveat: I do have to keep learning technology books. For example, start reading The Software Engineer’s Guidebook

It’s time for me to do things differently.

Mixing It Up

  • Customizing Obsidian and using other frameworks as it makes sense.
  • My writing will improve this year as I learn what works for me.
    • Mind maps for a main point and books.
    • Obsidian Canvas for organizing and connecting ideas without structure.
    • Long handwriting when I am transposing ideas from a book to a notepad.
    • Dictation.
      • Record on your phone and then replay it or transcribe it to find the nuggets you might use.
      • Talon or Windows Dictation
      • A rough draft by dictation is WAY better than typing.
    • Creating a podcast episode has helped writing a script, organizing, and hitting deadlines.
  • Try out a lot of new ideas constantly.

That’s my plan for now.

Journaling Daily

This year I am journaling daily. I’m not able to write every single day yet I can usually connect them back together. The first month was tough and it was very unorganized which is fine. When I was reading some research papers on flow, focus, and friction I enjoyed the idea of diary entries for tasks. I might try something that idea with some basic checkboxes for February.

The question I’m asking myself, what are the metrics for myself? I’m not worried about my weight. I’ll check throughout the week. I will post a picture as I build strength so that I have commitment to keep going.

Books and Media