The 4-hour work week asks the question 'what would this look like if it was easy'? - Tim Ferriss

I used to think about this question and be like, my life would be amazing; I could focus on what matters, spend more time doing this and that. In reality, that works for some—this idea of efficiency, streamlining your work and/or life, taking away the clutter and mundanity of it all, and only doing the real work, the important work, the work we love. This is true, so too. But I also remember the story about a monk and a bucket of water. I can't remember where I heard the story, but here is my interpretation of it.

We can only interpret our problems from our own perspective. Give a person a hammer, and then everything starts to look like a nail.

The four noble truths: suffering, the curse of suffering, the end of suffering, the path. Simply put, pain, the origin of pain, healing, and living ethically. Life is good, and it brings along with it learnings that can be painful. How we choose to interpret those moments in our lives and the stories we tell ourselves determine the amount of suffering we choose to inflict on ourselves.

Buddha said, 'Be wary of the second arrow.' The first arrow represents the pain, the actual physical pain, and the second arrow represents what you call suffering—the story we make up, the 'why.'

This is a simple but painful fix that some of you will gladly abide by, and others will fight against. Which reaction you choose is up to you.

When we look at someone's work or video and say, 'I wish,' 'I desire,' 'I could be like that,' or 'I should do that,' we are expressing envy. Envy to be like them or to replicate them. This can be a good thing if you are starting out and want to try a bunch of different styles, methods, and see which one works for you. At the other end, if you are doing this to be like them, to replicate their success, then that is envy, and you are playing a losing game. Because you are now in their shadow, and you will never get in front by following.

I've been journaling and writing in a notebook for over a decade, and I can confidently say it hasn't changed my life one bit.

But it has made my life easier. What I'm saying is that journaling and taking notes has not made me a millionaire, it hasn't gotten me a raise at work, or even helped with my habits. But it has done one thing that I am grateful for.

Journaling has helped with my mental health.

We learn more when we stop talking and listen. We have two ears and one mouth; we should listen twice as much as we speak. I'm finding this to be so true. When I'm quiet, the person talking is either discussing something I can learn, or they are just filling a void, and I'm learning about their insecurities. But there is so much more to learn when we are quiet.

"We have two ears and one mouth; therefore, we should listen twice as much as we speak." - Zeno

In recent times, a noticeable shift has occurred as more individuals embrace tangible experiences such as reading physical books, perusing journals, and engaging with traditional media.

It takes courage to ask why, to stand in front of authority and question them, make them answer with logic and reason. To force them to answer without going back to the default status quo, answer because. I am a true believer that there are no stupid questions. That we ask questions for a reason, to understand, to obtain knowledge.

Why is it that when we have the tools in front of us to do the work, we still look for alternatives? Like there is a better way of doing it or a better vehicle or more efficient method?

I keep wanting to write more. I have the best keyboard (Blade65) I could ask for, the best software (Obsidian), and I also have my dream notebook and pen (Traveller's notebook and Lamy CP1). But for some reason, I'm still looking; I still want that little bit better keyboard, journal, or whatever it might be. Why is it? Is it some form of procrastination, consumerism, or distraction?

Why do we always think there is a better, faster way of doing something, like a shortcut, cheat code, or hidden door?

Is it practical for you or just sexy? What I mean is, I keep stumbling across so many cool bits of gear, methods of tracking, and making and doing. There are so many people out there that are sharing their thoughts, ideas, and methods. Some of those methods, I say to myself, man, I wish I was a person who did that. I wish I had a process like that. And I try it for a few months and then fail miserably. I have come to the conclusion that before starting something, I need to do a quick check. Is that practical for me or just sexy?

This concept is challenging for many to accept or agree with, particularly concerning aspects like challenging relationships or persistent struggles that seem difficult to overcome. Surprisingly, these adversities might be benefiting individuals.

How can something seemingly horrible and miserable actually benefit our lives?

I don't stay up late to brag or show that I'm working late. It's not a flex or an insecurity I need to broadcast. I get up early to work on myself, to work out, write, go for a walk, and read. The only difference between working late and getting up early is that my endeavors don't benefit capitalism or my ego.

I get up early to find peace and to get work done, like many people who work late. But my work isn't for an employer; it isn't to make money. My work is on myself—self-love and self-care.

Fuck, early productivity risers.

To all those CEOs, influencers, and fitness well-being coaches. I do not want to get up early and immediately start working.

Every time I get on social media or every January, I get nothing but fitness, finance, and lifestyle gurus. People that are the new pyramid scheme, do what I do and get rich, which is teaching people how to sell courses about selling courses. I digress. My point is that I fucking hate that toxic get up early, grind, hustle culture. And here is why:

Discipline is simple, just doing less. What does this mean? It means focusing on one task, creating a distraction-free environment, which isn't possible for many of us. Life distracts us, our partners, or our kids. So how does one set up a working environment that is distraction-free?

First, eliminate all the distractions you can control: your phone, apps open on your laptop, the TV. Think about timing. Is it better for you to work at 5 am in the morning when no one is up, so you can get the work done while the kids are still asleep? Or does it work better for you to

Being constantly productive can be a paradox when it comes to a fulfilling life. Because the opposite of what you set out to accomplish becomes your anguish.

We remember more when we handwrite notes. We solve problems when we have time to walk away and contemplate them in our subconscious. We retain knowledge during our sleep cycle. Eating unprocessed slow cooked food is healthier for you. Walking is just as healthy as running. Self-reflection helps us process our emotions. Writing in a gratitude journal can bring us contentment and happiness. Spending physical time in the presence of family and friends can raise well-being.

What I'm getting at is that wasting time, being slow and unproductive, doing less can make us happier, more content, and have a more fulfilling life.

When it comes to tasks, having a to-do list or tracking your progress, everyone has different needs and ways to do so. My wife does daily lists and monthly tasks. For myself, I take my life day to day but have a strict timed routine. Other people journal and task out their daily tasks. But I can't stress this enough; we are all different, so what can you do to find what works best for us?

So I have nothing to say, nothing to write about.

And they say when you have nothing to say that you should read. And that is exactly what I've been doing with my time. I have been reading and reading. Non-stop, apart from the occasional game and movie. So now, what - should I just read and read until the end of time? Will inspiration ever strike again?

How to defeat procrastination? Stop worrying about the outcome, be present, just do the first step—open the word document, put on your shoes, pick up the pen, get in the car, or make that phone call. Whatever it may be, the power to defeat procrastination is to realise that the reason you aren't doing the thing is an emotional one. Remove the emotions and just do the first step; then you have half won because now you're in motion. Keep that motion and keep going onto the next step.