Detaching from what’s going on in our lives both productively and emotionally. Behind this point lays the same concept I have been glad to read between the lines of one of last Everett Bogue‘s articles, which ended this way: “I know that there’s only one way to approach the now: accept everything, stay grounded, and bend with the will of reality“. 

There are times in one’s life in which you need to step away from what you write and love the most. A time made for reflection, introspection. A time in which you evaluate your own conduct: you see the progress you have made in growing both mentally and physically. A time in which you stale today, to get something done tomorrow. It is not procrastination. It is a perfect moment to edit what you’ve done in life, highlighting the ways in which you could improve your work, by editing your core values. The content of your work will always stay fresh, and it will be more and more dense and enlightening.

Stop, breathe and take a look at your past.

It’s good to enjoy what you’ve gone through again. Even if you have made nothing remarkable to talk about, just make sure you evaluate everything. Evaluate both positive and negative aspects of the life you’ve spent in the past. I do this quite often: that’s why I will share some thought to think on here today. My main interest during this period of introspection is to stay healthy, fit, study a lot and focus exclusively on things which are really important to me.

Create space for what you love. Make it a moral imperative.

Going with the flow feels good. Also, it is important for our lives. I noticed that feeling part of the flow makes it easier to re-establish a sort of productive pattern. It is important to work your way to achieve your goals; but do not be too concerned about reaching them. Don’t obsess about the achievement. As in other areas of our life, all productivity comes down to is equilibrium and balance. It is important to create a balance between the importance your goals have (future), being aware of the importance your life has now (present). To find this balance, we can apply a method we successfully used before (past) to our present situation or create a new method of doing something (making experiments).

So, what do I do to find balance again?

Simple examples are cleaning up contacts you don’t interact with or unfollowing or simply forgetting people you don’t really know; remind yourself (or follow someone who makes you remember) to keep things simple, functional and efficient, accordingly to your own needs. 

Be selective about what you choose to become part of you, your life and yourself. Be selective on what you eat, be highly selective about the people you want to keep around you, and the things that will allow you to enjoy a better life, without the mess, the distractions and all the clutter! Be selective about the value you want things to give your life. Sure, wanting more is a consequence of living in a materialism based society. But let’s make sure our ideas and thoughts are our own because we proved them

I am going to talk about multitasking and its rapport to productivity.

Multitasking is the act of working with different programs on your PC; it is doing two or more tasks at the same time. Multitasking is a matter of focus, concentration. 

Truth is, the more I read about it, the more it appears obvious that implementing it in your own workday is only up to your necessities and personal skills.

If you think you can manage the stress and keep yourself concentrated for quite a long time, go for it without thinking twice. Otherwise, I personally suggest you to take your time and work by focusing  (Thanks Leo!) on a single task at a time. If you don’t know what to expect from your performance, I undoubtedly suggest you

• to start experimenting, trying out new ways of getting your things done!  

• Reading more, starting to live and disconnecting from the net with a digital sabbatical  

We start 2011 by talking about the email management process. Being it a highly subjective matter I will share with you some ideas I have matured during the last few months, on how we can use our inbox productively.

The starting point

Email management starts with action (so, it requires time and effort). In experience resides the ability of creating a better real or virtual environment. This also mean experiencing with new ways of consuming information. We are usually unaware of the fact that in varying the way we consume information, we change the way we perceive the information itself. For example, if we read a real paper newspaper or check the news digitally on our wifi tablet device, we perceive a difference in the way we consume (eat) the information.

How do you know when you found the method you prefer?

Try as many methods as you can (inbox reading, RSS reader, tablet, paper newspaper, surfing the web and entering a specific site, forums, etc. When you find satisfaction in a method of consuming information, then stick with it or them!

Email management is an art. It becomes productive when you clarify your top needs and personalize your digital workspace (that is your desktop or web browser) accordingly to them. The idea behind email management is to simplify your life and to stay away from digital clutter, and in order to do this there are little adjustments to do in our daily email checking routine. (This is my personal experience, maturated during the last 4 months). First of all, aim for a clear inbox at the end of every single day. Make sure you leave your computer with a zero-inbox mail. This is a way to make sure you get your things done before leaving.

• For spam, you know what to do 

• For advertising, read if you’re interested and/or trash immediately (in case, unsubscribe immediately!); 

• For messages from your friends / colleagues, trash immediately if it is not important; 

• For messages of registration, subscription confirmation and other important stuff just keep everything, in case move in a folder where you keep all of your important stuff on the email program. 

• For RSS feeds, read and trash. If you really love what you’re reading though, just move the message on a different folder you will create just to keep your important conversations and emails. 

keep your communication as simple as possible

Why use 20 words when you can just use 5? Moreover, we don’t need ads to destroy our productivity and lowering our focus on what we’re doing. That is why I always remember to install a plugin to remove ads from my gmail, just like Adblock.

 Set limits to your connections.

I love to surf the net, but it is incredible to look at your watch and discover you lost so much time surfing left and right with no purpose at all. By setting limits to the time you spend online you can manage your time in a better way. Why spend your time in front of a monitor when you can spend it with your loved ones, doing those activities you enjoy doing the most?

 Establish a routine

in your daily navigation. I usually check my inbox once or twice a day. Try setting yourself limits in the number of times you check your inbox. As you can see, email management is not rocket-science. The point is, we constantly need boundaries to divide us from the technology we use. These tips have made me realize that there is no point in wasting time in front of an email box. Normally, I just take 5 to 10 minutes to check, respond and keep my inbox clear.

Growing a sense of freedom in technology enriches your life in the real world

I wonder why social networks seem to cyclically get popular at the end of the year. Tweets (are you following me yet?) and messages of every sort are flowing through my screen with no interruption at all. And given that everyone is planning the next year left and right, I think this is a nice occasion to let you know what’s going to happen in the next months here at my personal blog. We’ll deepen the aspects of the inner game of  productivity (and success) in life, with a kind of reward for technology, lifestyle and identity. 

Because I think that no method of doing something is absolutely effective, except your own. None has that exact answer that can work in every case. And that’s why we’ll talk a lot on the power of direct experience. Because, let’s face it, your potential resides in yourself, in what you are. That’s why it is you, who must be in control of what you want out of life. And the results you get out of life are the result of some variables you should be aware of: your top priorities, core values, motivation, thoughts (dreaming big, for example) and feelings. That’s to say: you inner game. No weapon is as effective as your own mind: even the way you perceive the world is constantly depending on your brain.

The importance of the user

Everyone of us has a set of skills he/she is good at. You also developed a consciousness of your inner self. You will be most likely to do things that you are accustomed with, while you will be constantly avoiding something that scares you or bores you. It all makes sense, right? In an article I recently wrote: “If the workspace or computer configuration are important, the user’s mind is even more important”, so I think it is time to start shifting our attention from the machine to the user and, in order to do this, I think it is a good idea to focus on psychological and inner mechanisms which dictate the interaction between someone and his/her own PC (or life).

What I wrote and I will write here comes from my personal first-hand experience.

Tips and ideas you can find everywhere (something is coming from the net too) are condensed with my own personal experience. Without using a too-technical language, I will be showing you my personal setups, configurations and tips, and the (minimalist?) way I use technology. My wish is to share the simplification process of my computing and my digital life, in order to help you do the same.

As you probably remember, Ubuntulook hosted a nice interview with Chris Guillebeau last week. If you missed it, you can immediately check it now before letting you inspire by some different ideas and articles. I’ve been thinking about the life designer mentality I’ve been talking about at Millionclues, in a guest post I wrote. It is important to create a consciousness about change: changing is possible, even if it is not easy. So, while proposing you links to the most interesting and inspiring articles I’ve read during the last few weeks, I will also write about the goals I’ve accomplished during this wonderful 2010, eventually giving you tips on how to optimally calibrate your focus towards their achievement, also during the 2011. This week’s ideas are the following:

 Stay up to date, the positive way

“Worldwide good news”, only publishes useful, good and overall positive news to keep you up to date with the world (and to keep you smiling through the day!)

 Get Inspired

One of the latest posts by Leo Babauta, on his Zen Habits, Get Inspired. For those users who are in a constant struggle with their creative self, this is for you!

 Downsize your digital life some more!

If simplifying your digital life is what you’re still looking for, this wonderful article on Becomingminimalist is what you were expecting to read! You can also find valuable guides and articles on how to Downsize your digital life here at Ubuntulook. Plus, if you want to put your netbook to good use, you can check my guide about Simplifying your digital life with a netbook

Challenge Yourself

If challenging yourself is what you’re looking for, you could enjoy the idea of joining the Zen Habits forum, where you can participate to monthly challenges! There, you will find nice people and inspiration! I have been personally challenging myself with bodybuilding for the last 2 years.

 Get more out of your Christmas time!

I’ve also read interesting articles about Christmas, especially the ones written by Leo Babauta and Everett Bogue, who also wrote an interesting article about Destroying our Past Lives I really suggest you to read. You will find so much inspiration is such nice and realistic words.

Time management is one of my passions. Your time is precious and valuable (‘time is money’, right?) but our resources, our mental well being, our skills and our needs are even more important, even if they have no price at all. Is it maybe that we are so accustomed to look at prices that we always look for something to buy, for their price, that we forget our greatest present is the life we live and the enjoyment we can get out of it?

What is the effective cost of Living, feeling good and feeling great? Living in the moment has no price:

• giving a smile when you talk to someone important to you is priceless  

• Hugging your lover in a cold rainy night is priceless,  

• having good time with someone you love is priceless,  

• wondering at the beauty of an incredibly colorful sunset is priceless  

• living an endless instant with someone you truly care for is priceless. 

This is why I would love to remind you how beautiful is being inspired by the people around you; at least, it is important to evaluate new viewpoints and opinions. Let others inspire you with their words and actions. If you don’t know where to start, take up reading biographies or essays about something you are interested in.

There are lots of inspiring people out there… what about your neighbour? Also, take a look at what I read.

Also, reward yourself for what you do

Every time you do something great for yourself and for everyone around you.

Lifestyle, technology, money, presents, designer clothes, tasty food, wonderful music and whatever you may think of, all should be a reward for YOU, not the answer to a need!

Find a balance between real and digital life

Living is good; staying connected is probably better but every now and then try shutting down that device to enjoy what and who surrounds you! Also, if modern entertainment system does not appeal to you, why don’t you Re-think your idea of fun?

 The keys of your life lay on the palm of your hands.

 You take action, you forge your future

Since last week I have been downsizing my digital life some more. Focusing on the process of deleting and re-editing the digital life, a balance seems to come to light. A balance between digital and real living. A saner relationship with technology. The following list shows the habits I’ve developed during the last weeks:

• Email checking: once or twice a day (an idea of Leo Babauta and Everett Bogue)  

• I use my PC to write stuff or read  

• Simplified backups: I only have an external drive to back everything up. Nothing more. (Thanks Leo!)  

Also, I have come to the conclusion that:

• a better computer use means increasing savings (in energy, time, money and hassles)  

• if the workspace or computer configuration is important, the user’s mind is even more important  

The wise use of technology implies we do not buy lots of gadgets and stuff to get things done. We also save both mental and physical energy for what’s really important to us. Obviously, even if I advocate to minimalist living, it doesn’t mean I don’t like geeky technology or gadgets at all. Instead, I simply make an effort to reduce the need I feel for using a certain technology, finding new ways to get my work done efficiently. Being technology a tool (and your head is the toolbox, because it reads and understands the virtual reality a computer shows us), we, as users, should become aware of the boundary between a productive use of technology, and an unproductive one. Also, some technologies work better than others and may fit on our daily routine more efficiently.

What I’m using these days
I want to show you a minimalist Linux-based distro that will help you increase your productivity: Macpup. I’ve been personally testing it during the last two weeks or so, and I think it is a nice choice, especially if you’re looking for some nice gift idea for Christmas. Macpup is a version of Puppy Linux, with a Mac graphical flavour. Its logo says “the Beauty Of Linux”. I don’t know if it can be the right choice for everyone, but I personally feel the overall interface so smooth and my time at work or leisure is really flawless with it. Low system requirements make it a stable choice for who wants a nice, modern and minimalist interface on older computers as well. I found Macpup to be unstable on my computer: maybe it is just me, but it frequently crashed and didn’t save some settings (maybe it is just my fault), so I had to stop using it. Another good catch, a bit more stable, is xPUD, another Linux distribution.

PPS. If you’re looking for inspiration on how to spend this Christmas or you don’t know what to buy, you may find this article interesting and helpful! His author, Matt Madeiro, is a writer / traveller / nerd who made three big changes in the last two years: he lost weight, started to travel, and embraced minimalism, finally selling all the clutter and crap in his life.

After the lovely Interview I had with Leo Babauta, I am pleased to announce a new Ubuntulook Interview, with Chris Guillebeau.

Chris Guillebeau is a writer, traveler, and world dominator. His main site  – Art of Non-Conformity – is a blog and a diary of his travel adventures in 100 countries and counting.
I have casually known Chris while reading Leo Babauta’s articles. What got me interested the most was his powerful attitude towards life. It really is the kind of person you would always love to meet.

PS. Twitter was crucial for this interview to come to life. So, guys! Here we go…
—
David: What’s your idea about “simplifying” the way we live?
Chris: My thinking about simplicity is that it has nothing to do with the number of socks in our drawers, or how many other things we own. Rather, it’s about being clear on why we do the things we do. If more people lived intentionally, I think the world would be a better place.

David: Do you usually follow some routine to put yourself in a creative state of mind?
For many bloggers, one of the most inspiring things is the idea of writing articles over a sweet cup of coffee. What is your “ritual”?

Chris: I drink coffee too, but I don’t really have a routine. Mostly I try to do the things I’m motivated to do, and fortunately that includes a number of things that other people are also interested in.

David: Is it possible to find insipiration in minimalism?

Chris: Sure. I think it’s normal and good to find inspiration in other people and in a social movement like minimalism. But ultimately, I think it’s better to have your own ideas and live life the way you want to instead of by someone else’s preconceived idea.

David: Dreaming big. What’s your take on this?

Chris: I like it.

David: Needless to say, you are living a life of your own design. You are living the life you want, the way you want it. What is the most remarkable thing you have done in your life?
Chris: The most remarkable thing was probably having the courage to overcome my fear of taking action. Things got a lot better once I figured that out.

David: You talk a lot about inspiring thoughts/ideas and non-conformism. Could you suggest some inspiring books or persons in whose words you have found amazing ideas?

Chris: Sure. These books:

Man’s Search for Meaning
Mountains Beyond Mountains
A Wild Sheep Chase
Good to Great
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
The Book of Awesome

As for people, I’m grateful to everyone who reads or otherwise participates in AONC. They have made the project much better than it would otherwise be.

What kept me thinking during this amazing week was a conversation I had with Francesco, an interesting guy who is looking for ideas for his college thesis. Talking with him has been an incredible opportunity to clarify the reasons that move me towards the constant development of the Ubuntulook blog and project in general.

 You know, it is important to clarify the core values that move you towards your goals. And one of the most powerful and successful ways to obtain what you truly want in life in life is to build your own path towards the achievement of that result. Building your own path means being in control  of your ideas and thoughts, in order to give your ideas a shape, to give your words a practical meaning. The point is, you could be doing whatever you want, from learning a new language, to creating a successful business plan from scratch, but you’ll always have to make sure you are in control of what you are building up, day by day. Dedication, passion, decisions taking. When it comes to creating, finding inspiration, building your future, designing your own life the way you want it (more on how to design the life of your dreams at a guest post I wrote for MillionClues.com), there is an endless list of factors and variables that come into play, forging your reality.

 By talking with Francesco, I realized that the main reason I’m constantly developing the things I teach and talk about is the willingness to spread real and tangible inspiration for those who crave for true things, practical suggestions and ideas, real a simple stuff, appliable resources, not only abstract thinking. Digital citizens don’t need digital ideas. We need real and practical ideas, tips, suggestions. Not useless bits of information. This is pure creation of value. And the creation of value must be practical.

 How do I create my material?

First, I read and discover interesting things, tips, general stuff I like; then I take a more difficult step, that is testing by experience the real applicability of the concepts I discovered. I personally test everything I tell, write and talk about here on Ubuntulook and in my productivity talks. I test every single program that catches my eye, I find out something more about what I want to tell to the people that will be listening to my talks, I put passion on what I do because I know that what I do is interesting to me.

 Experience means I can create something new out of what is already here. So, after making experience, the next step is creating something valuable out of everything I know, in order to help others reaching their own goals.

 If you have attended my last talk “La Tua Migliore Produttività” (you can find the recording at the Events page, here on Ubuntulook), you’ll certainly remember me talking about Smart Wallpapers. Well, I’ve been using, testing, verifying and personalizing smart wallpapers for something like 3 weeks before publicly express their importance and including them between the contents of my talks.

 Being true and passioned about what you do is the key for success in what you do, at least for yourself.  Just like Everett Bogue wrote and let understand on his “Minimalist Workday”, just stay true with what you do and what you say, be honest with yourself and with what you talk about when you’re teaching someone. Never, ever be false with yourself, always be true with what you do and, most of all, let the actions do the talk, leaving words outside of your life.