Since 2008, I have been maintaining different subject notebooks. Many are partially filled, and a few of them run into volumes.
There are notebooks with a daily log of my diet and exercise. Since 2018, I have switched to apps to maintain this data. There are notes from various projects, initiatives, and daily journaling. One book that is running into its 9th volume is my daily log of successes and failures. I have been only 60-70% consistent in maintaining this notebook. However, it is probably the most valuable notebook in my repository.
At the end of the day, I log my successes and failures, responses, and actions. I review the logs every month or two to identify patterns. In my four days of yearly isolation, I read all the summaries in solitude and, if something has consistently worked or failed, create rules to adhere to. I also review instances where I deviated from them and their consequences. Old rules are modified, and new rules are framed.
Over the last four years, there have hardly been a couple of additions/deletions to the rulebook. Probably, I have been able to distill my life philosophy to my satisfaction.
The rules on the professional list have reached a count of 31.
Rules give us direction and eliminate paralysis by analysis (there is a rule to err on the side of making decisions!). I think the constraints placed by the rules make us innovative and aligned to our true north.
Subodh July 14, 2022
Comments