JOURNALS

Today has been one of those productive yet reflective days. The morning started with me plotting journal pages and catching up on YouTube videos. It's always a good combination, getting some inspiration while also taking care of the groundwork for my journaling habit. The Filofax is a marvellous tool for this kind of work. The ability to insert pages where I need them removes the stress from running out of space. When I speak of planning, it’s more a feeling of creating rather than simply organising.

I took a long lunch at half-past eleven. It was refreshing to step away and come back with renewed energy. The afternoon was mostly about getting into the meat of the journaling task. Jotting down my thoughts about the books I've been listening to on the Blinkist app was, in a way, liberating. It's important to keep track of these summaries in my journal, especially for key points and the lessons that stick. I've noticed I retain so much more when I write things down. Plus, it gives me a sense of accomplishment when I see a neat stack of filled journal pages.

Around two o'clock, I shifted gears and started plotting some new Strata plots. These always take my mind to a more technical zone, concentrating on line work and structure. Later in the afternoon, I found myself diving back into the book log. It’s become evident that I’ve been slacking on reflecting on the books I’ve read or listened to. By half-past three, I was dedicated to catching up on all the write-ups I’d missed.

Talking to Kitty about the recent progress on the studio sale relieved some stress. The breakthrough with the buyer is immensely satisfying yet introduces a peculiar kind of unease. Not knowing if the deal will go through has been hanging over my head. The ideal scenario of getting the contract signed and transitioning smoothly is what I’m aiming for, but it feels a bit up in the air. It’s driving me to consider other projects that are not immediately tied to the necessity of generating income, more for fun or research. Projects like these renew my creative spirit and let me explore without the added weight of commercial success.

The standing desk idea has been excellent. Moving around a bit more feels less restricting and I think using the desk in standing mode allows for a more dynamic workflow. Though, there’s always a bit of technical consideration. For instance, needing music to play loudly through the speakers while my laptop is at the standing desk. Perhaps an iMac wouldn’t be a bad addition for this purpose.

By the end of the day, I felt even more settled. Having a nearly complete backlog of reflections in my journal provided a sturdy sense of forward momentum. It solidified the notion that new books will be approached with a fresh feeling of readiness.

Concluding the evening, I spent some time thinking about what I would take home. The Idea of not taking my laptop but perhaps a smaller notebook or even the ReMarkable tablet seems more alluring. This could help keep the momentum without the bulk. I've considered refining this process by having separate notebooks for different types of reflections, like a dedicated book reading notebook, and transitioning those insights into my main journal later on.

So, a productive Tuesday with insightful steps forward. With these systems falling into place, it sets a good stage for the rest of the week.