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Why doesn’t have Amazon a language filter?

Each time I search for a book by a best-selling author, I have to wade thought dozens of translated books in languages I don’t understand.

To get better ideas, group members first write down their own ideas

This process ensures that each individual has the chance to formulate their thoughts without influence from others. It prevents dominant group members from dominating the discussion and allows for a wide range of ideas. By first thinking individually, participants can let their creativity flow without worrying about direct criticism or judgment from others. This often leads to a greater variety and originality in the generated ideas.

After writing down their own ideas, group members come together to discuss and further develop these ideas. This joint session provides the opportunity to evaluate, combine, and refine individual ideas. The group conversation can offer new perspectives and insights that individuals may have overlooked. Additionally, the interaction between group members can lead to synergy, where collaboration results in ideas that are better than the sum of individual contributions. By following this approach, the effectiveness of idea exchange is maximized and a productive and creative group dynamic is fostered.

Apple is very fast!

This morning I received an apology for a message they sent me by accident. That message arrived this afternoon…

Back on my ‘extended commute’

I work from home, so my regular commute from the dining room, where I eat my breakfast, to the office is about four steps. Nine steps if I pass through the kitchen to get me a bottle of water.

I have always thought that not having to waste precious time on a commute was one of the perks of working from home.

But lately I found that there are some benefits that I am missing out on.

Last autumn I experimented with what I call an ‘extended commute’ and really liked it, but I did not make it into a habit. And today I decided that I wanted to try it again.

So what exactly is an ‘extended morning commute’?

Very simple: my extended commute means that I take a detour and instead of walking the shortest route from the dining room to the office I pass through some outside space.

My aim is to walk about 2 kilometres on my detour, but I will allow myself a shorter commute to our patio or balcony in case of rain or lack of time. Of course, I am may also decide to extend my commute even more if I feel like. After all, I am my own boss.

I try to accomplish several things by extending my morning commute. The main benefit is an increase in energy during the morning because I activated my body. Then there are the positive effects of light exposure early in the morning and the clear transition ritual telling my brain exactly when it is time to switch to ‘work mode’.

A final benefit is the opportunity to explore my neighbourhood. I use the eRoutes app to generate three random walking routes with the length I specify and today it already surprised me by passing through a street I haven’t traversed for many years.

eRoutes

A little time pressure while working on your tasks helps to reduce 'attention residue'

Time pressure can have a surprisingly positive effect on our productivity, especially when it comes to reducing ‘attention residue’. Attention residue occurs when we struggle to completely let go of our thoughts from a completed task, making it harder to fully concentrate on the next task. Research has shown that when people complete a task under high time pressure, they experience less attention residue. This is because the urgency and focus associated with time pressure help us to fully direct our attention to the task and let go of it more easily after completion.

While time pressure can sometimes be stressful, it can also be a useful tool to improve our productivity. It helps us stay focused and prevents us from dwelling on thoughts about completed tasks. This means we can switch between tasks more quickly and effectively, ultimately leading to higher overall efficiency and better performance.

The moments in which my life is the most interesting are also the moments in which I absolutely don’t think about capturing and sharing.