What Has My Attention
I’ve just completed my first Month of Sit for 2020 and I guess if there’s one time to really focus on developing a mindfulness practice, the middle of a global pandemic the likes of which the world hasn’t seen for a long time might be a pretty okay time. These topically focused months are part of my Intensity/Simplicity yearly theme. I wanted to make sure I was being intense about the right stuff so I decided to take each of my four daily habits (Read, Write, Move, Sit) and give them each their own month three times in 2020 (four themes times three months = 12 months — math!).
This first go around I haven’t really been setting any specific goals other than, “Do the thing more than I normally do.” With that general intention ringing in my ears I think I can consider March a success since I meditated 23 times and generally did a 15 or 20 minute session whereas prior to this I was usually only going for 10... if I did it at all. The other nice result from this month of focusing on this is that I’m pretty sure I’ve found a slot in my morning routine where it fits and it’s starting to get closer to an actual habit rather than something I need to convince myself to do everyday.
My original intention with April was to make it a Month of Read since that’s the only one I haven’t done at least once, yet. However, February’s failure with Month of Write has been stuck in my craw so I’ve decided to punt Month of Read for a bit and come back around to another Month of Write. This time, I’m coming at it with a bit more of a specific plan.
And that plan is this: Everyday from 6:15ish-7:45ish I must be sitting at my desk and attempting to write. I don’t have a specific word count goal or any kind of restrictions on what I’m going to write. I just need to have my cheeks applied to the chair for 90 minutes every morning to just give myself the opportunity to possibly, maybe, hopefully, write. If I can do this nearly every day for a month I’m pretty sure my output can be staggering. I’ve been doing it for the past week and I’m hitting close to three thousand words every day.
Considering how long this intro just became it looks like I need to consider a Month of Edit, eh?
Stay safe out there.
Links Worth Your Attention
Episode 26 of Fields of Work is hot off the presses. Max had his first week at his new farm and has lots of stuff to share.
Just published an article recapping my Month of Sit. What did I learn by trying to meditate every day? Why am I deciding to do another Month of Write in April?
Apple bought my favorite weather app, Dark Sky. This simplifies my life because when I’m in the midst of a use-only-Apple-apps experiment I’m always struck by how bad the default weather app is so now when I’m in that mode at least I know I’ll have access to a weather app I like. Dark Sky has been my go-to weather app for many, many years. I really hope Apple doesn’t ruin it.
This is a super duper early (yet public) prototype of a system I’m developing and writing about to help crazy people like me who want to bring a little more rigor and systematic thinking to their personal experiment process. I’ll hold off on major explanations for now (believe me, they’re coming) and just see if it tickles any fancies on its own.
On productivity and the deep life. (Cal Newport)
How we pay attention changes the very shape of our brains. (LitHub.com)
Who would’ve thought an iPad cursor could be so much fun? (Craig Mod in Wired)
Closing Round
Reading: Just started Personal Knowledge by Michael Polanyi and Indistractable by Nir Eyal.
Watching: I’ve been ever so slowly watching Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet on Apple TV and while it’s a little uneven I’ve actually been enjoying it more than not. I think I’m going to ride it out for the rest of the first season. Episode 5 was one of the best bits of TV I've seen in a long time.
Listening: Part of my Month of Write scaffolding is listening to only Tycho while I’m writing. I’m going to do my best to create a strong association between hearing Tycho and my brain thinking it’s time to write.
Your friend,
Sam