As much as I am a fan of learning, I’ve also become more and more aware that I often don’t need to learn anything new. I simply need to recognize what I already know and do something about it. I need to act on the obvious. This means, among other things, that …
… I need to unsubscribe from all those e-mail newsletters that I haven’t read for months (or that somehow, mysteriously started arriving in my inbox)
… ditto for all of the blogs I am subscribed to but never read
… I really need to re-read at least one book from the past for every two or three new books I read
… I need to take my own advice and be consistent about taking notes and reviewing them
… I need to take my own advice about asking “Why?” more often. (A lesson my toddler son is really schooling me in these days!)
… I need to stop checking e-mail every ten minutes
… I need to make reflection a more consistent habit
… I need to stop piling up things I know I am never really going to read, listen to, etc.
… I need to be more consistent about filing and bookmarking the things I do plan to read or reference later
… I … well, you get the point.
The above, highly-incomplete list applies only to my learning and productivity habits. I could go on and on about other areas of my life. What about you? A new year is around the corner. No better time than the present to act on the obvious.
Jeff
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posted on December 30, 2009
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Jeff thanks for sharing the list of the obvious!
My views resonate with yours!
I agree with you, we must retain more time to take action about our learning.
It is useless acquiring too much information if you don’t take action.
Sorry for my English I am a beginner English learner and I try to apply your advices.