zenmusing

[zenmusing]

✍️ Storyworthy Journalism

Storyworthy is a book by Mathew Dicks, and it impacted me in a lot of ways. While the book talks about how to tell stories even from the smallest, most normal events of your life, I adapted it to Journalism.

I was introduced to something called Homework for Life, where I asked myself about the most storyworthy moment of my day, and this made remember and appreciate more of life. This could not only improve your memory, but can also make you happier in general.

P.S: I apologise for the short post, but I am sick right now.

➡️ Next Week: Chasing Happiness

🕛 Quote of the Week

“You need not spend time in jail or crash through a windshield or have a gun jammed against the side of your head to tell a great story. In fact the simplest stories about the smallest moments in our lives are often the most compelling.” -Mathew Dicks, Storyworthy

[zenmusing]

⬆️ The 1% Increase

About 10 months back, during New Year, I set a humongous amount of resolutions for this year, promising myself that I would change. Surprise, that didn’t work out…until I began to research more into forming habits and came across Atomic Habits by James Clear.

The book talks about on how that real change comes from the compounding effect of little changes or habits. These habits are made of four things: cue, craving, response and reward. You must make sure all four things are there while forming your habit, or it could fall apart immediately.

For example, the cue for me to exercise was that the YouTube workout video I watched was right on my home screen. My craving was to restrict the playlist I often listened to during the workout to make it more pleasurable. My response was to make sure the workout was a easy as possible by putting a bottle of water next to me before I went to sleep. Finally, my reward was to read a book after working out.

This is a gradual evoulution that happens day by day, and it’s gonna be hard. But the hard work is not being wasted, but it’s merely stored until it of use to you.

Quote of the Week

“Success is the product of daily habits—not once-in-a-lifetime transformations” - James Clear, Atomic Habits

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😐 The Art of Being Stoic

Stoicism is a school of philosophy that practices certain virtues to live good, well-flourished life. One has to practice joy, good intent and caution. And for the last week, I’ve been trying to be Stoic.

It’s been a long, hard journey. Trying to remain calm under pressure is incredibly annoying, especially if people around are annoying. The first few days were tough: I constantly became annoyed and irritated, slowly being stressed out. I had honestly no idea on what to do… until I had epiphany. Stoicism is about being calm and not being angry, but that doesn’t mean you can say what you want to.

I realised it was okay to shout, to show that you do not approve or you condone this, as long as you were calm and these were mere tools, a means to an end. Slowly, I began finding joy, even when others tried to provoke me. My relationships slowly improved, and I understood the irritating moments are just proof of a friendship.

I haven’t mastered stoicism yet and I doubt it’s gonna be easy. Until then I’ll try, and I will keep you updated.

Next Week: Benefits of Journaling

Quote of the Week

“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength.” -Marcus Aurelius

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🔥 I Rose From Ashes

It’s a bit melodramatic, I know, but after missing two weeks of posts, this might be the best way to capture your interest. Let’s break it down, shall we?

The ashes are my failures. My studying, my exercise so and so. Despite my intention to live a productive life, I failed. After two weeks of self-reflection, I realised nobody actually becomes productive within a year. It may take a lifetime, which rattles me to my core. I do still have to make the best out of that lifetime, though, don’t I?

That’s where the rising comes from. In the past week, I’ve become intentional with my time, started studying more, and exercising everyday. It’s a bit like a Phoenix: it had to die (fail in my case) to live again (to succeed).

This doesn’t mean I’m productive, but rather it means I have chosen to set aside time to try and be productive. This is perhaps, the best way to start anything.

Next Week: The Art of Being Stoic

Quote of the Week

“Failure is most useful when you give your best effort. If you fail with a lacklustre effort, you haven't learned much. Perhaps you could have succeeded with a proper focus. But if your best effort fails, you have learned something valuable: this way doesn't work.” - James Clear, Atomic Habits

[zenmusing]

5️⃣ The 5-Minute Rule

Hey there,

In the previous issue, I talked about procrastination and how I fight it. However, those while useful, are not as helpful as the 5-Minute Rule. Let me explain: It is widely known that you need motivation to do anything, and yet to get motivation, you have to do this thing. That’s where the rule comes in.

Most of us know when we are procrastinating, and we can use this to our advantage. Just tell yourself, “I’ll do this for 5 minutes, and if I don’t like it, I can stop”. These 5 minutes are so small that your work becomes much more bearable, while 5 minutes is enough to achieve what I call flowstate. This flowstate allows you to gain motivation for doing something.

However, for the technique to work in the long run, you really do have to leave after 5 minutes if your brain says so. This is because if you don’t do so, your will know that it’s simply an excuse to do something, leading to more procrastination.

Try this rule when you can. Trust me, it works.

Yours sincerely ❤️,

-Agni MJ

P.S: Please share this newsletter with your friends or family if you think it is worth it.

Quote of the Week

“Procrastination is the soul rebelling against entrapment.”- Nassim Nicholas Taleb, The Bed of Procrustus

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❓Procrastination: What’s the Solution?

Have you ever put off a something you should be doing thinking, “Oh, I’ll do it later”. Well, so do the 20% of adults who procrastinate chronically and 50% of college students who procrastinate in a consistent and chronic manner. But what is the solution?

Time Blocking is an method of blocking off a certain time in you calendar to do a specific task such as homework. This can be repeated daily or weekly, depending on the circumstances. I highly recommend you try this method, as it has helped in finishing my work faster.

Focus Modes are mostly used by Apple users, but can be adapted from by both Android and Windows users. To block or stop yourself from using an app, create a pomodoro timer with apps like Forest, and then block that apps notification. In Windows, simply use Chrome extensions to block apps.

Block off distractions. Make sure all, if not most noise that can be potentially distraction is blocked. I suggest you try lofi beats, music or white noise.

Have all your tools at the ready. Make sure you don’t get up often to reach a tool or a supply, such as water. I used to always go and take water, but putting it with me has increased my productivity.

Even with all these tips, we can easily procrastinate and get distracted in the digital world of ours. Therefore I highly hope that you have both the motivation as well as the willpower to persevere.

Goodbye!!!

Quote of the Week

“Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow just as well.”-Mark Twain

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📔 Digital Notes vs. Physical Notes

Hey friends,

Welcome back to this issue of Zen Musings, where I’m sharing difficulties deciding what type of note system I should take. As a student, who has to take IRL exams, I’m having to take physical notes, but I learn towards digital ones, ‘cause they are more easier to organise and type, but supposedly physical notes aid in memory retention and recall.

I’ve always found physical notes bit of a pain to write, and digital notes actually help better in retention for me. Let me explain my setup: I use Notion’s toggle feature to create questions as the headings, and then I put my notes below it. This toggle feature work as a flashcard, an trick learned from Ali Abdaal’s video “My Favourite Note-Taking App for Students - Notion (2020)”, that will be linked down below.

The problem with physical notes lies with YouTube/Instagram and it’s insistence on aesthetic notes, which I’ve found quite impossible to do. Meanwhile, digital notes are expected to minimal and easy, therefore there is no misconception in my brain on how the notes are supposed to look.

However, after getting low marks for my previous exam, I was told by my mother to write physical notes, which would help me recall keywords and how to spell them.Therefore, I’ve created a compromise and I’ve decided to combine both and write digital notes when I come home from school, and then write physical notes during exam, so that I both won’t waste time and still memorise the keywords necessary. I’ll be reporting my progress with this in my next post.

Yours sincerely ❤️,

-Agni MJ

Quote of the Week

If I could leave you with one last bit of advice, it is to chase what excites you. Run after your obsessions with everything you have. Just be sure to take notes along the way. -Tiago Forte, Building a Second Brain

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My First Newsletter Issue

Hey friends,

This is going to be my first email newsletter, and it’s a bit of a plunge to take. My idea is to share my journey, musing, thoughts and tips on being productive, though I’m not sure if anybody will actually read this. I’ve decided to enter the world of internet writing because of a set of videos from Ali Abdaal, who encouraged me to start blogging.

Check out the rest of this newsletter issue on: zenmusings.substack.com