Good suggestions and nice article. I do a lot of walking, well, strolling when I'm thinking. It works especially well in early mornings and late evenings.
I'm slowly turning off social media again. I was off it completely for five months. I felt much better. Cal Newport is spot on, the engagement can suck one down a rabbit hole for dopamine hits (the latter, my words, not Cal's) and make for a lot of wasted time and energy. Better to learn something hard, like Cal said.
I find my morning walks - by myself (now that I don't have a dog) - without earphones is one of the favorite parts of my day. There is something about the motion of walking and thinking - whether it's about a specific issue I'm trying to work through, or letting my mind wander - that is priceless! Thank you!
Walking without the earphones is a brand new experience for me! I feel naked 😂 But I can see how it is "healthy" to be without any external input during that morning walk. You're inspiring me to keep trying this out. Cheers! 🚶🏻♀️ 🚶🏻♀️ 🚶🏻♀️
Stick with it! It’s a nice respite from the nonstop assault on our ears! I get some of my best downloads during the silence. I record them as they come up on my voice notes and I’ve amassed quite a collection!
Hey Lou, thanks for including my quote. I love Cal Newport too, I’ll look for that podcast. Thanks for the reminders to keep unplugging from the digital world and tuning into the inner world. It’s one of the great challenges of our times to navigate the digital realm and keep our mental health and creativity intact.
You're most welcome, Jes. I love that essay of yours and have sent a link to a few non-Substack friends of mine :) It's actually on my Monthly Mixed Bag (roundup) draft right now! That's how much I love it!
I go on one or two walks a day with the dogs and husband. It's a lovely walk through nature with a few people, bide riders, and other dogs along the way. I make a concerted effort to notice what I'm seeing (new flowers, bird catching fish, low water levels) instead of thinking about my life because it's more meditative that way. But I've got some big life decisions ahead so maybe I'll switch my practice. On a side note, it drives me bonkers to walk with someone who spends the entire time NOT noticing anything but instead talking incessantly about whatever thing is buzzing in their brain. Thanks for this. And as always, I enjoy your art.
Hi Trevy. One time, someone "invited themselves" to my morning walk, and talked the entire time about their stuff. I didn't enjoy that walk. 😂 Incidentally, Newport differentiates between meditative walks and thinking walks, and recognizes their different purposes. So, you're right on there! Cheers!
Thanks so much for the shout-out, Lou! And for sharing these suggestions from Cal Newport. I’m a fan of his, too. I’m working on Digital Minimalism right now, especially his ideas on designing meaningful activities to substitute for the online world. The thinking walk sounds like a good exercise — I know I do some of my best thinking when my body is working and my brain is free to roam.
Ooh, I haven't read Digital Minimalism yet and I'll be adding that to the queue! I find it so interesting that this guy who is professionally immersed in computer science spends his non-teaching time talking about the analog life. Cheers, Julie!
Good suggestions and nice article. I do a lot of walking, well, strolling when I'm thinking. It works especially well in early mornings and late evenings.
I'm slowly turning off social media again. I was off it completely for five months. I felt much better. Cal Newport is spot on, the engagement can suck one down a rabbit hole for dopamine hits (the latter, my words, not Cal's) and make for a lot of wasted time and energy. Better to learn something hard, like Cal said.
Hi Patti. I have a similar experience with and sentiment about social media... well IG and LinkedIn. I left FB years ago and never looked back 😂
I absolutely despise LinkedIn. I take IG with grain of salt. If I didn't have to do weekly courses I signed up for, FB would be buried six feet under.
I find my morning walks - by myself (now that I don't have a dog) - without earphones is one of the favorite parts of my day. There is something about the motion of walking and thinking - whether it's about a specific issue I'm trying to work through, or letting my mind wander - that is priceless! Thank you!
Walking without the earphones is a brand new experience for me! I feel naked 😂 But I can see how it is "healthy" to be without any external input during that morning walk. You're inspiring me to keep trying this out. Cheers! 🚶🏻♀️ 🚶🏻♀️ 🚶🏻♀️
Stick with it! It’s a nice respite from the nonstop assault on our ears! I get some of my best downloads during the silence. I record them as they come up on my voice notes and I’ve amassed quite a collection!
Hey Lou, thanks for including my quote. I love Cal Newport too, I’ll look for that podcast. Thanks for the reminders to keep unplugging from the digital world and tuning into the inner world. It’s one of the great challenges of our times to navigate the digital realm and keep our mental health and creativity intact.
You're most welcome, Jes. I love that essay of yours and have sent a link to a few non-Substack friends of mine :) It's actually on my Monthly Mixed Bag (roundup) draft right now! That's how much I love it!
I go on one or two walks a day with the dogs and husband. It's a lovely walk through nature with a few people, bide riders, and other dogs along the way. I make a concerted effort to notice what I'm seeing (new flowers, bird catching fish, low water levels) instead of thinking about my life because it's more meditative that way. But I've got some big life decisions ahead so maybe I'll switch my practice. On a side note, it drives me bonkers to walk with someone who spends the entire time NOT noticing anything but instead talking incessantly about whatever thing is buzzing in their brain. Thanks for this. And as always, I enjoy your art.
Hi Trevy. One time, someone "invited themselves" to my morning walk, and talked the entire time about their stuff. I didn't enjoy that walk. 😂 Incidentally, Newport differentiates between meditative walks and thinking walks, and recognizes their different purposes. So, you're right on there! Cheers!
I didn't know that but I'm glad to! And no more talking walkers😆
Thanks so much for the shout-out, Lou! And for sharing these suggestions from Cal Newport. I’m a fan of his, too. I’m working on Digital Minimalism right now, especially his ideas on designing meaningful activities to substitute for the online world. The thinking walk sounds like a good exercise — I know I do some of my best thinking when my body is working and my brain is free to roam.
Ooh, I haven't read Digital Minimalism yet and I'll be adding that to the queue! I find it so interesting that this guy who is professionally immersed in computer science spends his non-teaching time talking about the analog life. Cheers, Julie!