Reading Time: 5 minutesStart with Why, Not How The majority of material in the productivity realm focuses on the “what” and the “how” of productivity. Apps, hacks, and software systems are the meat and potatoes. These typically overlook the key question of “Why?” Why be productive? What’s the point? About five years ago, I found an approach that …
Reading Time: 6 minutesWhen Productivity Stops Helping For some years, I’ve been a productivity nerd. At one point, I read every new productivity book and tried every new app. I spent more time messing with my apps than producing work. If this is you too, keep reading. You likely got into productivity because it promised to help you …
Reading Time: 4 minutesA Lifelong Learner With a Reading Hang-Up What is my relationship with books? I’m a lifelong learner. I enjoy learning new things and sharing them with others. I’ve read a lot of books this past year. Most of the books I bought were engaging and worthwhile. But some weren’t. When that happened, I didn’t simply …
Reading Time: 4 minutesA Simple Mug, an Overcomplicated Decision I decide I want to buy a new coffee mug. Seems simple, right? But there are endless options to choose from. What capacity mug do I want? Do I want a ceramic mug? If so, what color? What design? Do I want a heavy one or a light one? …
Reading Time: 5 minutesThe Familiar Resolution Cycle It’s New Year’s Day, and you’re excited because it brings a feeling of a fresh start. This past year you haven’t exercised much, and you’re feeling out of shape and unfit. It’s time for a change. You make a New Year’s resolution to “get fit.” For the first week, you hit …
Reading Time: < 1 minuteI’ve updated my Updates page on my Original Mac Guy website. Click on over to see what I’ve been reading this past month (and what I thought about it) and what else has been going on in my life. Spoiler: there’s a photo included of me when I played varsity soccer in High School. So …
Reading Time: 2 minutesI had a typical blog post ready to publish this morning, but when I prepared to publish it, I thought, “No one’s going to read your post today. Christmas Eve is tomorrow night. People are already traveling to be with family and friends, and they are much too busy and involved in life to read …
Reading Time: 5 minutesThe Endless App-Switching Loop You’re a self-proclaimed productivity tech nerd. Your systems are humming along nicely—until the flashy new XYZ app drops. You buy it. You migrate data. You reorganize everything. You spend weeks learning the tool instead of doing the work it’s supposed to support. After a few months, you’re feeling comfortable with the …
Reading Time: 5 minutesMeditation Doesn’t Mean Shutting Your Brain Up I used to think meditation meant forcing my brain to shut up. Turns out, my brain had other plans. In Part 1 of this series, I shared how the focus-on-the-breath-and-don’t-think method of meditation didn’t work for me—and why that didn’t mean I failed. Instead, I learned to befriend …
Reading Time: 5 minutesWhen Meditation Doesn’t Click A few years ago, I tried meditation. I read a basic book about meditation, and started focusing on my breath for ten minutes every morning. It didn’t work for me, so I quit after a month. Perhaps you’ve had the same experience? You may have also tried meditation in the past …