--- ## Notes/Brainstorming ## Publishing Copy Welcome to another edition of _Weekly Wondering_, a sacred time where I share the resonating links, reflections and learnings from my past week to influence your next one ;) This newsletter is my version of learning and thinking in public, giving me time to expand on ideas that may turn into more refined content in the future. ### ✨ In My Life #### Hiatus I've just been slowly getting back into things, intrinsic motivation and discipline has been super good with working on the student vault, and it even gave me motivation to work on my next video :) It was just frustrating since I somehow lost a finished script, but hopefully the video will be out by ~~next week~~ today :) [Click here](https://youtu.be/ISpII6nsego) to learn about a new plugin that makes using Obsidian easier and better, the Make.md plugin ;) #### Semi-successful streams Streaming was fun! I managed to say hi to some familiar faces I haven't talked to in a while, and record some fun experiences that happened throughout the day :p ### **🔗** Links to Thinks #### Ambition without burnout From the deep work master himself, Cal Newport shares his personal philosophy for the [right mix between productivity and fulfillment](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xjmDs_0-tg): pragmatic ambition. To ensure that our efforts are relevant, he recommends to have projects that take less then a year to complete so we can make necessary pivots without pivoting too late. For time and energy management, he splits his responsibilities up into two kinds: - Habits, which are foundational things he can already consistently do that gradually generate results - These can be an unlimited amount since it requires little motivation to do them - Projects, which require a lot more mental energy - Surprisingly, he recommends to just focus on one at a time in comparison to spreading yourself thin across multiple projects. Although time is the same, he thinks the focused effort will compound and be more effective. Next, to help combat the never-ending treadmill, he sets his goal outcomes based on a continued benefit or satisfaction, no matter how small, so the effects of his work can be remembered for a longer period. For example, he grew and monetized his blog to fund his book purchases, so whenever he buys a book (which he reads 5 of a month), he is grateful for the source and the opportunity. In today's side-hustle world, my goals were also focused around monetization, but now I'm starting to emphasize more intrinsic reasons. [[Find your inner self in the world through boredom]] ### **🤔** Food For Thought #### Downplaying personal leisure and enjoyment for achievement > High performance isn’t about more for the sake of more, just because you can. It’s often about less—zeroing in on just those few things that matter and protecting your time and well-being so you can truly engage those around you, enjoy your craft, and confidently handle your responsibilities. Focus on just a few things and the people and priorities you really care about, and you won’t fall prey to overreaching. > -- High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard, resurfaced using Readwise and my self-made [chrome extension](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/readwise-new-tab-highligh/dihdkogpgkjpelfefchilnfpkcifhlkb?hl=en) I used to believe that breaks or any form of leisure or maintenance should be capped at the length of my pomodoro session breaks (5 minutes or the occasional 20) to make sure I was spending all of my limited brain power and energy on productive, achievement-oriented activities (school, work, content creation, reading, and self-learning programming). I used to believe that gaming, relaxing, and socializing, and being mindful for it's own sake was a waste of time because of the opportunity costs associated with indulging in the activities. Instead of hanging out with friends, I could have finished an entire book. Instead of playing an hour of games a day, I could learn a new skill. Why spend time on personal enjoyment when you could improve the world? Why go on a bike ride path you've done countless times with the same people when you can have a more tangible output like a new video uploaded? I mean now I can say that my accomplishments, effort and dedication paid off through my current career path and living conditions. But was that mindset really healthy? What is the point of doing more? What happens when you've lost the initial vision you once had that pushed you to such hyperfixated extremes in the first place? I guess that's what I'm trying to figure out right now as I selfishly fulfill my own personal needs first, trying to make up for neglected socializing and leisure, finding a balance in between it all 😅 I think there is value in rigidly structuring your day so you focus on what's most important to you, but I'm also starting to realize that those important things don't necessarily have to be productive. ### 😤 My Ramblings #### Long distance relationships In a local dating market flooded with short-term intentions, long distance relationships seem to be an effective antidote for people seeking serious partnerships. Lacking opportunities for physical touch, initial attraction and intimacy is largely based on your character. Only getting a glimpse of what they share online, chances of affairs and deception put both parties in extremely vulnerable positions, but I think it's what also makes it an eye-opening and beautiful experience. Time zone differences and different environments facilitate individuality and separation, allowing each person to live their own lives without excessive codependence, space to work on their own ambitions. I appreciate the emphasis on the mental and emotional connection due to environmental limitations, especially since I value these traits much more for long-term compatibility. Local proximity is a privilege in traditional relationships that becomes a memorable event for long distance couples. My transit home from work during Valentines Day was filled with couples and flowers, and I got to feel different in the sense that I wasn't able to share the same traditional experience. But once I got home, I called her, and realized that I don't really feel I'm missing out of anything :) ### My Tools for Learning and Growth I record everything I mention in my newsletters in my Obsidian, my favorite note-taking and productivity app. If you want to aggregate the valuable gems from your week like this, or need a place to store your ideas and highlights, you can set up your own [second brain](https://johnmavrick.gumroad.com/l/obsidian-starter-vault). If you want the most densely packed and actionable book summaries, try out Shortform for free [here](https://www.shortform.com/). If you want to make reading and highlighting easier, check out [Readwise](https://readwise.io/i/john5833) (affiliate link) and sign up for their Reader app!