learning from younger, more supple minds

I’m on info overload and need to stop adding to queue unsubscribed from most of my RSS feeds redirected my mailing list subscriptions to folders so they don’t hit my inbox set aside the idea of learning or mastering any other programming languages (and frameworks) ‘just because’ no more video game purchases (I do it rarely, but they are just wasting my time) no more soft drinks, as I don’t need the distractions that caffeine withdrawals bring no more personal software projects until I finish my adventure game no coding on the adventure game engine until I actually develop a story and know where I am going! give up the idea of exploring vermiculture this year, and just focus on growing a few basic crops in my containers [From Examining Yama, The First Limb of Yoga – Styled Bits ] I’m doing some of this already, but not with the same sense of purpose.

The younger generation has much to teach me:


Cut out the crap. Stop multi-tasking. Make a list of all of the things you do or think about in a day, figure out what is actually important to you, and just dump the junk. [I just checked my email again!] Formulate goals rather than allowing them to remain fuzzy in the mind.

Some things I’ve done so far:

  • banned myself from purchasing any new books. I’m on info overload and need to stop adding to queue
  • unsubscribed from most of my RSS feeds
  • redirected my mailing list subscriptions to folders so they don’t hit my inbox
  • set aside the idea of learning or mastering any other programming languages (and frameworks) ‘just because’
  • no more video game purchases (I do it rarely, but they are just wasting my time)
  • no more soft drinks, as I don’t need the distractions that caffeine withdrawals bring
  • no more personal software projects until I finish my adventure game
  • no coding on the adventure game engine until I actually develop a story and know where I am going!
  • give up the idea of exploring vermiculture this year, and just focus on growing a few basic crops in my containers

[From Examining Yama, The First Limb of Yoga – Styled Bits]

I’m doing some of this already, but not with the same sense of purpose. But at the same time, I have been filled with a nagging sensation that things I really want to get done are being shoved aside by busywork to avoid committing to them.

  • I rarely buy books, and only if they can’t be had from the library or are designed to be written in or otherwise interacted with
  • I have stopped reading RSS feeds and web sites, pretty much. Too much going on there and it compels me to post something that almost no one will read anyway: do my ±50 subscribers need daily updates on nothing or will weekly ones suffice?
  • I have used email filter for years, pretty much as soon as I learned about them. I preach it to others who whine about email overload, but it rarely takes.
  • Gave up on learning to code ages ago, and I never got into video/computer games

So a general clearing of the decks is underway, and a growing commitment to Do, not talk, not dream or fantasize, but Do Things is taking hold.
With any luck, I’ll have less to talk about and more to show.

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