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Writing this when I should be sleeping, it’s important to remember that health is a function of how much sleep we get. Each of us varies a bit, but if you’re not listening to your body, it won’t be long before things start going wrong.

And sleep is one of the most important places that you can start.

Finding time to provide something with value here, and actually doing it, remain some of the biggest challenges I face as a post-writer. I think a lot. I mean, we all do. But what those thoughts are made of may fall into some very different places.

A benefit of daily posting is that the majority of posts can be chaff. But as long as there is wheat among them, then that’s enough.

I was watching the Hollywood Reporter Actor’s Roundtable recently, and the actor Jeremy Pope had an interesting take on life:

What I take from this is that the highs and lows are a must, a natural part of life. To be sad is inevitable, as is its turn around… Though it’s never clear how long each will take.

Something like a heartbeat.

We sometimes chide ourselves when we get distracted. Personally, I know that I need to spend time with my thoughts. I don’t always like to do that, though. So, I allow myself to become distracted.

Some of my favorite distractions are television and movies; music; books; anything that requires more focus than my thoughts.

Then, I might get frustrated at myself for neglecting those thoughts.

And when all do it. Distract ourselves when we should be working on a project, or studying, or spending time with loved ones. Why do we do it?

Well, I guess, distractions are fun. Sometimes, what we’re avoiding, maybe that would make us uncomfortable.

And that’s okay. It’s okay to be distracted, and it’s okay to get into the other and be uncomfortable. What’s important is that you forgive yourself for having those thoughts, and those fears, and for becoming distracted.

It’s so easy to fall into. Sitting down at the computer, which is one of the best ways to be productive in this modern age, can suddenly turn into one deep dive down the inbox. And what’s at the end of that dive? Just more emails.

At some point, you just have to close the app. Or the browser. Or whatever. No more emails. Focus on the work that matters. Otherwise, you’re just distracted.

The abundance of apps available in the world showcases the amount of diversity we crave (and exhibit) in our lives.

What was there first? Applications on the early computers were rudimentary at best. Word processors, calculators, databases, etc. Now, the computer, the phone, the television, and a number of other devices all have connectivity and advanced application options.

As things continue to change and advance, it’ll be possible to find just what you’re looking for in an app tailored just to you.

A field report’s purpose, typically used in the social sciences, is to describe the observation of people, places, and/or events and to analyze that observation data in order to identify and categorize common themes in relation to the research problem underpinning the study. The content represents the researcher’s interpretation of the meaning found in data that has been gathered during one or more observational events.

Well, that’s a pretty technical way of saying that you use it to record data about observations and make inferences. It’s a scientific inquiry.

And the field report could begin as a humble, little notebook. Just something you jot down ideas in. The things you see. The noises, smells, and sensations. What you feel.

Listen, look, and think. Not just requirements for field reports, but for living a meaningful and present life.

One thing we often omit in financial decisions is opportunity costs. It’s a popular concept in business planning, but not so much in personal finance.

Yet, the principle is transferable. The textbook definition of opportunity cost is: “the loss of potential gain from other alternatives when one alternative is chosen”.

In other words, when you spend money on one thing, you no longer have it to spend on something else. And each thing you choose is any number of other things you can’t.

It isn’t so much that you have to think about all of it all the time, but it is something you should at least be aware of. When you’re making financial decisions.

And just like that, it’s another month. One month of solid posting on my part. But one month of the year suddenly gone.

I mean, personally, 2022 felt like it flew by much too fast. And now, already, 2023 is roughly 1/12 of the way over. At what point does the speed stop speeding?

This shortest of months gives us four weeks to accomplish what the other months give extra days to achieve. So, hold on tight, hike up those pantlegs, and get moving.

After a month of daily posting, I think I’m becoming more consistent in my writing practice. Not necessarily better, but I’m showing up every day to write.

During the week, when I’m set for twelve+ hours, it’s most important to adhere to routine. Because that’s where I could lose it. A little lack of sleep, a long day, and if let my thoughts drift – boom. No writing done.

So, adhering to the routine is key. And that’s more or less the way I’m intending to stay throughout this year.