Systems (not Tools); My 2023 Theme
I plan to avoid buying tools this year to get things done.
If you couldn’t tell from some of my posts last year, I have struggled to get things done. I have ideas and goals for working on certain projects, but being able to do them has been rough. Part of this is because I am a new parent with limited personal time, but it is also bad habits and poor workflows.
For years when I felt like I was in a rut or lacked the motivation to start something, I would buy a new piece of technology. Whether it was an iPad, iPhone, Mac, or an accessory like a new keyboard or mouse, I was always looking for that new tool that I knew would help me make progress.
Sometimes that new gadget helps. I would get excited to use it and would make some progress in whatever project I was working on. After a little while, though, I would fall back into my slump and not make progress for days or weeks. Not only would I feel bad, but worse because I spent money on something I didn’t need.
After reading Ryan Holiday’s newest book, Discipline is Destiny; I was reminded of how important temperance was in all areas of our lives. Whether it be our diet, spending habits, or unrealistic expectations, sometimes we need to step back and find what is truly most important. I am very lucky to have all the tools I…
