Reading posts/time management

[3DStudent]

Hello all, I have been meaning to post this for a while, as it's a problem I seem to be having for quite some time. Basically I just feel overwhelmed with the amount of things I want to do. With eating healthily, EE, spinning, taking supplements, and reading, there soon comes no time for anything else.

I'm wondering how I should go about reading the forum. Because at the moment I have some of the boards on RSS feed and I read the posts as they come up. I think I read too much though, not wanting to miss anything. I'm wondering how everyone determines which posts to read and which not to read. I say this because at the moment I am trying to catch up with some of the forum, and am not reading from the recommended reading list.

I have about 20 books I need to read from the list, some of which are the thick ones. So I want to get back onto the books, but always of course keep up with EE and the session threads, which I think are most important. I think I have a fear of missing something, because there's always a nice tidbit of information in threads that wouldn't seem to have it. And a small aim of mine is to read as many of the reading list as I can and gain knowledge.

So, any thoughts on this? When to read and when to not?

 

[Buddy]

[quote author=3D]
I think I have a fear of missing something...
[/quote]

I can relate to that, but I had to 'give it up'. Keeping up with everything consumes a lot of energy. There's only so much time in the day and staying on top of basic necessities for my family and myself (which includes my little bit of Work) takes everything right now. :)

 

[rylek]

[quote author=3D]
I think I have a fear of missing something...

I can relate to that, but I had to 'give it up'. Keeping up with everything consumes a lot of energy. There's only so much time in the day and staying on top of basic necessities for my family and myself (which includes my little bit of Work) takes everything right now. :)
[/quote]

That is an issue for me as well. Usually I go through the 'Recent topics' overview and see what catches my attention, otherwise there are always a number of threads that are open in my browser. Actually I'm the type who has at least 20 windows open at one time.

I think it just comes down to prioritizing and making a judgment call on what you think is 'most important' at the time, For example the current shenanigans with Jim Humble's MMS and Duncan Roads are an excellent learning opportunity so that is my main focus at the moment, everything else kind of goes on the back burner so to speak.

It's about getting over the nagging feeling that I'm missing something, that's the tough thing.

 

[3DStudent]

Actually I'm the type who has at least 20 windows open at one time.

Yeah me too, I always have a lot opened that slowly get picked off as I go along.

[...] For example the current shenanigans with Jim Humble's MMS and Duncan Roads are an excellent learning opportunity so that is my main focus at the moment, everything else kind of goes on the back burner so to speak.

Yeah I need to get around to reading those long threads and articles on the Nexus issue.

It's about getting over the nagging feeling that I'm missing something, that's the tough thing.

Perhaps that's all it takes. I mean, I don't see myself slacking off or going back to sleep. Just some things may need more attention and others can wait or don't have to be done at all.

 

[vinny]

Actually I'm the type who has at least 20 windows open at one time.

Yeah me too, I always have a lot opened that slowly get picked off as I go along.

me too, sometimes on a couple of computers at once (one for business and one for personal). crazy

maybe it would be helpful to have a checklist of things you want to touch in on, and then allocate time slots? I actually don't do the time-slots thing, because each day tends to evolve in an organic way, BUT I do, at the beginning of each day, write a list of the important things I want to do that day. Often, several things don't get fitted in, but I find having a list really helps in several ways:

First, it 'feels good' when you've ticked off a couple of items, and that kind of spurs you on to do other things.
Second, start with the hardest item (the one you feel really reluctant to do!) and don't do anything else till it is done. The sense of relief when it's out of the way is really liberating. (I used to be a really bad procrastinator. am getting much better)
Third, it can sometimes seem less overwhelming when you've got it all down in front of you in black and white. If you don't get it all done, no sweat, you can at least see the progress you're making.
Also, once something is done, and ticked off, you can clear it out of your mind and not have to think about it any more, and simply concentrate on one thing at a time. It reduces the mental clutter of having 15 things flying round in your head at once.

It's been shown, in other areas, that just writing down (handwriting is best, rather than typing) and recording what you do, and what you want to do - the act of doing this does something in your mind that helps you to organise and optimise things subconsciously. It's been shown for dieting - one dieting method that actually works (apparently) is simply to write everything that you eat. That's it. Simply writing it down focuses the attention, and you eat better. The same applies to budgeting - I write down every time I spend money, somehow it helps me spend more sensibly.

 

[Gawan]

Actually I'm the type who has at least 20 windows open at one time.

Yeah me too, I always have a lot opened that slowly get picked off as I go along.

me too, sometimes on a couple of computers at once (one for business and one for personal). crazy

Currently I have 12 forum tabs open :)

maybe it would be helpful to have a checklist of things you want to touch in on, and then allocate time slots? I actually don't do the time-slots thing, because each day tends to evolve in an organic way, BUT I do, at the beginning of each day, write a list of the important things I want to do that day. Often, several things don't get fitted in, but I find having a list really helps in several ways:

First, it 'feels good' when you've ticked off a couple of items, and that kind of spurs you on to do other things.
Second, start with the hardest item (the one you feel really reluctant to do!) and don't do anything else till it is done. The sense of relief when it's out of the way is really liberating. (I used to be a really bad procrastinator. am getting much better)
Third, it can sometimes seem less overwhelming when you've got it all down in front of you in black and white. If you don't get it all done, no sweat, you can at least see the progress you're making.
Also, once something is done, and ticked off, you can clear it out of your mind and not have to think about it any more, and simply concentrate on one thing at a time. It reduces the mental clutter of having 15 things flying round in your head at once.

It's been shown, in other areas, that just writing down (handwriting is best, rather than typing) and recording what you do, and what you want to do - the act of doing this does something in your mind that helps you to organise and optimise things subconsciously. It's been shown for dieting - one dieting method that actually works (apparently) is simply to write everything that you eat. That's it. Simply writing it down focuses the attention, and you eat better. The same applies to budgeting - I write down every time I spend money, somehow it helps me spend more sensibly.

Thanks for the tips Nomad they are really handy and sometimes I use them already, but I need to do it more regularly, that means daily.

 

[vinny]

Thanks for the tips Nomad they are really handy and sometimes I use them already, but I need to do it more regularly, that means daily.

I know some people despise 'self organisation' / time management books, because a lot of it's just common sense really, nothing more, but sometimes I think they are necessary to catapault you in the right direction! There's a great little book called 'Eat That Frog' that I read a couple of years ago, and found really useful to get me started.

 

[Mrs.Tigersoap]

Hi 3D Student!

My priority is to check the 'new replies to your posts'. Then, if I have a bit of time, I have to choose between: Most recent posts on the forum (and see what grabs my attention there), the sott news page, the translator group, the eiriu eolas forum, or translating if I'm working on something for the group. I usually cannot do all of this every day, unfortunately.
I usually read in my bath, when the supper is cooking. And when my daughter is in bed, at night. And while waiting for public transportation. Or while waiting my turn at the dentist's, etc.
It's also true that since my husband Tigersoap also reads the forum, books, etc., I'm lucky that we can discuss what we have read, and we can keep in touch with what's going on in threads/books we haven't had the time to read. I guess it's a form of networking...

The importance is not the quantity, it's the quality. If you want to read every single post/article, you cannot possibly take your time to let things sink in and take their whole meaning. So, at some point, you need to make a choice.

 

[SeekinTruth]

Yeah, there's no realistic way to read everything -- old posts you haven't read AND all new posts. I try to just let each session on the forum lead me by what seems important at the moment to know about.

 

[3DStudent]

What about when you make a list of the things you want to do, say for example on the weekend. I'll do this sometimes. And then towards the end of the week I'll think about food and want to cook something. And part of me is like, "No, that'll take 2 hours and take up time for the original things." Would this be keeping and sticking to an original aim that you had set?

 

[Mrs.Tigersoap]

Would this be keeping and sticking to an original aim that you had set?

Why is it so important for you to keep this aim? :)
I think it's useful to remember that whatever aim you have, there are chances that it will be compromised, if only due to the law of octaves. You cannot do unless you are. When determining an aim, it's useful to keep in mind that there are circumstances that we cannot foresee and that a change of plan might be in order at some point.
But let's not forget the predator's mind either: sometimes we like having an aim (especially unattainable ones) so that we can feel bad when we don't fulfill it.
So maybe staying flexible while having an aim is the key? Seeing your aim in the bigger picture (your goals in life) and see how it fits? And if it fits perfectly, do everything you can to achieve it. And if you can't, no regrets, you just pick up where you left off and do it again until you finally achieve it. And if it's not achieved as fast/soon as first planned, does it really matter in the greater scheme of things?

 

[Buddy]

I could have an incomplete understanding of Aim, but as I see it, it's not so much what your aim is (although a particular aim could be incredibly important), but that you have one, since it keeps you oriented and moving in a forward direction, osit.

My goals change, but my Work aim has always been to meet the C's idea of learning the "karmic and simple things." Toward that aim, as I understand it, I study the spectrum of basic psychology up to psychopathy and everything that relates to learning/cleaning my machine. Having this kind of aim, I can achieve results daily (or so it seems) and still have an aim that expands into the 3D future.

Is this, pretty much, how others understand the idea?

 

[3DStudent]

Sorry, I forgot about this thread. Mrs. T, your advice was helpful in seeing how I view and go through with my aims, thanks.

When determining an aim, it's useful to keep in mind that there are circumstances that we cannot foresee and that a change of plan might be in order at some point.

Yeah, I think I get too riled up when I don't follow through with these aims. And they are just little ones, things I want to do on certain days. You can't expect everything to plan out as you originally thought, which is seeing it subjectively.

Seeing your aim in the bigger picture (your goals in life) and see how it fits? And if it fits perfectly, do everything you can to achieve it. And if you can't, no regrets, you just pick up where you left off and do it again until you finally achieve it. And if it's not achieved as fast/soon as first planned, does it really matter in the greater scheme of things?

I'm not sure what my big picture aim is. I guess to clean my machine and learn whatever lessons I need to learn. Right now I want to get as much of the reading list done as I can, which will take many months. I also want to do some of the diets and test for foods. I guess the time thing doesn't really matter in the greater scheme, and all lives are one.

I could have an incomplete understanding of Aim, but as I see it, it's not so much what your aim is (although a particular aim could be incredibly important), but that you have one, since it keeps you oriented and moving in a forward direction, osit.

Yeah, I don't think it matters what it is. There are so many different ways to say what we want to do: clean the machine, diet, reduce subjectivity, learning, etc. In the end they all lead to the same thing, osit.

Is this, pretty much, how others understand the idea?

That sounds right, in that it's something that you continually strive for. I think the small things that I like to do aren't really aims. The aim is the grand result at the end that is slowly chipped away like a sculpture.

 

[rylek]

Is this, pretty much, how others understand the idea?

IMO very well described, Bud!

 

[Mrs. Peel]

Sorry, I forgot about this thread. Mrs. T, your advice was helpful in seeing how I view and go through with my aims, thanks.

Hi, maybe you already know this, but you can "subscribe" to a thread and receive notifications via e-mail when a new post is added by hitting the "notify" button at the top right of the thread... :)