After posting and reading, (as well as sorting out some junk in my intray) here is what I observe.

1. I feel better about reading these other blogs.
2. I think I am thinking clearer.
3. I have had two new ideas for projects I am working on now.

I wrote about this in my early blog posts.  “Having a blog, a place to write means thoughts stay in your mind a little longer – incubating, sometimes to actually lead to something”.  If I haven’t blogged about personal reflection and blogging,  I should have.  [I still remember our big project in 2005 where we were developing containers for reflection for students and NONE of the 30+ lecturers involved did any personal reflection]  Now I think blogging (partly because of all the stuff that goes on in your head, and the benefit of connection etc etc) is just plain good for you, especially if your work is to do with ideas.  I chatted with Leigh last week in GMail.  I probably owe this thought to a comment he made.

This is Stephen’s Blog:

A cool byline: A place to write, half an hour, every day, just for me I could surmise: maybe the other blog (www.downes.ca) is his work/purposeful blog, Half an Hour is his therapy blog.  Like exercise.  (We do it and feel good, NOT the other way round).  Also: somewhere Stephen has written on writing and the disciplines involved.

“If Your Inbox Has More Than a Screenful of Messages In It, You‘re Rude”

Obviously a little overstated . . .

But very interesting. Discusses the piler vs the filer. It’s more to do with procrastination I think.

Here’s the link: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/0,9263,7601060116,00.html#Anchortoc – unfortunately it’s changed to premium content, and also note for NZ readers, the cover is different.

But there’s more: beyond multitasking into “continuous partial attention”. A term from Linda Stone.

A quote from: http://www.inc.com/magazine/20020101/23805.html

“It’s not the same as multitasking, Stone says; that’s about trying to accomplish several things at once. With continuous partial attention, we’re scanning incoming alerts for the one best thing to seize upon: “How can I tune in in a way that helps me sync up with the most interesting, or important, opportunity?”

She says: “It’s crucial for CEOs to be intentional about breaking free from continuous partial attention in order to get their bearings. Some of today’s business books suggest that speed is the answer to today’s business challenges. Pausing to reflect, focus, think a problem through; and then taking steady steps forward in an intentional direction is really the key.”

O’Reilly has also written about her comments:
http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2005/06/supernova_2005_2.html
His notes of Stones talk include this:
“With continuous partial attention we keep the top level item in focus and scan the periphery in case something more important emerges. Continuous partial attention is motivated by a desire not to miss opportunities. We want to ensure our place as a live node on the network, we feel alive when we’re connected. To be busy and to be connected is to be alive.

We’ve been working to maximize opportunities and contacts in our life. So much social networking, so little time. Speed, agility, and connectivity at top of mind. Marketers humming that tune for two decades now.

Now we’re over-stimulated, over-wound, unfulfilled”

This interests me. For a while last year I experimented with a sign on my door “Busy, but disturbable” which for me meant “Don’t disturb unless important” It sort of worked. I then found out the problem was me, possibly with a little urgency addiction (which is something I knew I was prone to, but didn’t have a label until the time mag came along).

The answer?? Clumping. [Now, where did that term come from . . must look sometime] Redirect your phone. Switch off your e-mail notification, or reduce it to hourly.

OK, that’s some self discipline, some behaviours . . But how to REALLY focus. That’s the challenge.

Had a holiday. May post some snaps.

Interersted in the articles in last week’s time mag. Multitasking (it’s not good for you) and the Power of an Aging Brain (good since a signbificant milestone in December).

And Feuerstein, an educational theorist. John Gourley is working with my and my son, using some of his formulations. [See next post]

Blogging. Interact has blog.

There is a good chance I’ll post on these other topics soon.

I spent some time regularly just watching the sea. This is a message to some of my buddies (You know who you are!!): “You are still working a little too hard, and not taking time out to reflect.”

It took a day to realise why the sea had such an effect on me. It was the height, the absence of any choppiness – and the huge expanse, with these long slow waves that passed by into where a few surfers puddled around.

And the expanse itself. There is not much to see, sky and sea blending into one, birds – but constantly shifting. Two boats on Sunday morning completely blew the quiet though . . .