Oh, hi friends!
Sometimes seeing all you’ve accomplished in one place is the best type of encouragement.
What did you start this week?
Even the smallest steps count.
What will you continue?
(From Chapter 2 of Do It Today)
“We read with our breath.”
The writer Colm Tóibín says this in Turn Every Page: The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb, a new documentary about the extraordinary writer and his devoted editor.
I loved this film for many reasons, not least of which is the detailed unfolding of each man’s creative process, but this quote from Tóibín made me gasp. How true!
If a sentence tries to fit in too many words, clauses, or ideas, we can’t keep up. We run out of breath. And our mind runs out of rope. Same goes for most work we create and consume. This was another reminder to always read what I’m writing out loud. You find all the hitches and knots.
Most of my day is spent online in some form. So when my online world gets junky—scattered, disorganized, ugly—my days start feeling off, too. Here are some ways I’m cleaning up during the start of the year.
12 Resolutions for All Your Digital Stuff in 2023
All those holiday cards you received were so cute. Can you add the addresses to your address book now?
All those holiday gifts you bought were so perfect. Can you unsubscribe to the email lists they added you to now?
Archive, respond to, or delete everything from your inbox that you don’t want to see in 2023.
Print anything you need to print. (Like that half marathon training plan.)
Clean up Notes or whatever system you use to keep track of your to-dos.
Take 10 minutes to file the stuff on your desktop and you’ll feel soooo good.
Does your Google Drive need some attention?
Do you have any hard-copy notes that need to be typed up?
Can you close all your tabs? Maybe grab links for things you want to read, and close the rest? How would that make you feel?
Any texts or DMs you need to respond to?
Is your voicemail maxed out? Can you erase the robocalls and appointment reminders so when people you like call they can leave a message?
Delete the apps that no longer serve this version of yourself.
Some of the above was inspired by my time spent in the GoGoDone co-working community — I mentioned my two-week work sprint was a huge boost back in November, and another two-week sprint is being held at the end of the month. If you want to launch something or devote 2 hours a day to a project, it is invaluable. A Sunday-only sprint is also available. Go here for more details!