Danny de Vries2021-02-15T00:00:00Zhttps://www.dandevri.esDanny de Vrieshi@dandevri.esLaunching my personal site2019-11-25T00:00:00Zhttps://www.dandevri.es/articles/launching-website/<p>With the launch of a personal site comes the desire to <a href="https://tjcx.me/posts/consumption-distraction/">create more instead of consume.</a> By having a site up it forces myself to create content for it. For the last couple of weeks I got into the habit of writing notes, posting links and creating journal entries. It's time to start taking this to the next level by scheduling more time for writing and work on longer opinionated articles.</p>
<h2 id="control-of-content">Control of content <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/launching-website/#control-of-content">¶</a></h2>
<p>Instead of relying on social media channels to publish notes and blogging platforms such as medium for articles <strong>I wanted control over how I presented myself online</strong>. I create markdown files, commit them to this repository and then syndicate elsewhere. Inspired by the IndieWeb concept where you are in control of your own content. The content I put out is a resource for myself, writing about topics <a href="https://dev.to/ladybug/why-blogging-is-awesome-127">that my past self would have found really helpful.</a></p>
<h2 id="mvp">MVP <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/launching-website/#mvp">¶</a></h2>
<p>This personal site is powered by Hand Coding™ with a splash of <a href="https://www.11ty.io/">11ty</a> and many plugins and packages. You can peek [at the source on GitHub](at the source on GitHub), it's hosted on <a href="https://www.netlify.com/">Netlify</a>. Layout and accessible components are from <a href="https://every-layout.dev/">Every Layout</a> and Inclusive <a href="https://inclusive-components.design/">Components.</a> CSS follows the <a href="https://itcss.io/">ITCSS</a> architecture and the component folder structure is based on <a href="http://atomicdesign.bradfrost.com/">Atomic Design</a>. Small design tweaks come from <a href="https://refactoringui.com/">Refactoring UI</a>.</p>
<p>I have a Notion board to keep track of everything I want to add to this website, both from a design and development perspective. Lots of components are still to be made and performance & accessibility improvements are on their way. A good personal website is an investment: it's an iterative process and consumes quite a lot of my time but it's also a playground to try out new things such as browser features or design exploration. <a href="https://www.vanschneider.com/a-love-letter-to-personal-websites">A little corner of the internet hat I own.</a></p>
<h2 id="better-writing">Better writing <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/launching-website/#better-writing">¶</a></h2>
<p>From all the skills I'm pretty decent at, writing is the one thing I suck at. I have lots of thoughts and scribble notes in a small Field Notes book (about ~112 drafts and ideas) but never ever have I taken the time to craft them into good sentences that are enjoyable to read. The idea is to start drafts for a little momentum and then improve over time. I created a <a href="https://www.dandevri.es/guides/writing-workflow/">writing workflow</a> under the 'guides' section to have a bit of structure. Oh well, improving this skill comes from <strong>doing</strong> and <strong>deliberately practicing</strong> so let this be the first step.</p>
Looking Forward to 20202020-01-13T00:00:00Zhttps://www.dandevri.es/articles/forward-2020/<p>For me it's very important to strike a balance between practical goals (that are reachable) but also things that seem impossible or are hard to plan for. The 'I'll figure it out along the way' type.</p>
<p>One golden rule is to never set to many goals, spanning my attention between too many goals is not a good thing. I made a list of some of them.</p>
<h2 id="goals">Goals <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/forward-2020/#goals">¶</a></h2>
<p><strong>Shoshin in Teaching</strong><br />
Last year I gave courses which I didn't like. One of the most important things in teaching (to me) is that you teach about things you are passionate about. I was becoming a grumpy teacher that was teaching 'on-repeat'. I gave negative feedback; only looking at things that could be better instead of giving compliments of things students were already good at.</p>
<p><strong>Spending more time with family and friends</strong><br />
More evenings and weekends spent playing board games, conversations during dinners and watching documentaries and films together. I also want to be more active reaching out to friends instead of waiting for friends to ask me.</p>
<p><strong>Documenting more</strong><br />
I don't document a lot. I don’t take a lot of pictures or videos. I’m making an effort in documenting more things instead of consuming. I consume for entertainment but the best way to entertain yourself is to create stuff. Idle hands build nothing.</p>
<p><strong>Teaching outside a classroom</strong><br />
Guest lectures are so rewarding. I gave a couple of them last year and loved doing them. I'm standing in front of a classroom all the time but I want to teach more outside the classroom. I'm working on material for launching some online courses. Along with that, I wanted to start a Youtube channel for a very long time it's about time.</p>
<p><strong>Fighting consumerism</strong><br />
I regret buying a lot of cheap stuff instead of buying fewer items but with better quality. I always bought the 'cheap item' which ended up breaking and had no value for me. The world is full of products and items that don't matter. Half of the shit is unnecessary. Spending money on good products (tools) that last you a lifetime, caring about the value and materials, are good long-term investments.</p>
<p><strong>Consistent sleeping</strong><br />
Going to bed and waking up at the same time. My sleep rhythm is all over the place, and it affects how I function. Headspace also had a massive effect on me when I did it consistently for about a month last year.</p>
<h2 id="do-less">Do less <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/forward-2020/#do-less">¶</a></h2>
<p><strong>Doing 'busywork'</strong><br />
The latter half of last year was stress-free by removing mail and messaging apps from my smartphone. Turning off most notifications and only checking Mail and Slack on my desktop about ~3 times a day was the best decision I ever made. But still, it's very easy to open e-mail and start replying to things that are not important but seem urgent.</p>
<p><strong>Watching low-quality content</strong><br />
Youtube is my weakness. I'm subscribed to +100 channels and it's hard to keep up with everything that shows up in my inbox. Binge-watching them on 2x speed to get through all is wrong. It's time to quit Youtube all together and read more or watch a series or movie instead.</p>
<p><strong>Supporting big corps</strong><br />
Not buying from big retailers but smaller independent shops. I buy books online while those same books are in the window of my book store near the station I pass every day. Buy at the source, instead of buying from <a href="http://bol.com/">bol.com</a> or Zalando but in the webshop of that specific company. They often have a bigger assortment or offer special editions.</p>
<p><strong>Privacy first tools</strong><br />
I already started working on a big switch of software I'm using. The idea is to move away from Google Apps such as Google Calendar and Gmail to self-hosted solutions.</p>
<p><strong>Design first tools</strong><br />
My latest 3 phones were Android devices, my first smartphone was an iPhone 4. I liked the customizability but feel like iOS is catching up on that front. I'm thinking about switching back. Android apps aren't as polished as iOS apps or oftentimes don't even exist on Android.</p>
<h2 id="what%E2%80%99s-coming-next%3F">What’s coming next? <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/forward-2020/#what%E2%80%99s-coming-next%3F">¶</a></h2>
<p><strong>Basic Teaching Qualification</strong><br />
I'll be doing my Basic Teaching Qualification (BTQ) at the Amsterdam University this year about teaching performance, teaching design and supervising students.</p>
<p><strong>Tech Courses</strong><br />
We at CMD Amsterdam are doing a big overhaul on our courses in the first year and I'm asked to work on one of our first programming courses. A big challenge since it's the first major overhaul since +5 years. I'll be giving block tech and web animation again and I have a ton of ideas for new courses that I can design.</p>
<p><strong>Working on DIY projects</strong><br />
In Notion I keep a big list of DIY physical projects. I learned a lot about materials and sensors (IoT things) and I want to continue on that path.</p>
<p><strong>Going to more meet-ups and conferences</strong><br />
Since the university is my main employer I have more time and resources to go to international conferences, I went to a couple of conferences last year but didn't visit any international ones.</p>
<p><strong>Creating personal content</strong><br />
I found a nice rhythm to work on this personal site and taking the time to create more content. Something I want to continue doing while becoming a better writer.</p>
<p><strong>Working on my set-up</strong><br />
My best work I do at home but my personal set-up (office space) can use some better equipment. Investing in technology to better work and run my side projects is on my wishlist. A NAS, better lighting, audio, and video gear are first on the list.</p>
<p><strong>Working on side projects</strong><br />
I’m obsessed with people making money with products they've created. I have tons of ideas for small (open-source) projects to launch. I'm also thinking about working under 'the umbrella' of a 'design studio' instead of freelancing.</p>
<h2 id="bucket-list">Bucket list <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/forward-2020/#bucket-list">¶</a></h2>
<p>These are Long shots but hey, super goals are inspiring. Things that probably won't happen this year and that I have no concrete plan for but are still on my wishlist.</p>
<p><strong>Moving to a co-working space or own studio</strong><br />
Construct a creative space where I can tinker with tech. I currently work from a desk at home and go to university for specific tools. I would love to have more of a studio or creative space at home to work from instead of only a desk and a computer.</p>
<p><strong>Setting up a Minor</strong><br />
Most of our coding courses at the university are user interfaces and there is something about creative coding that I think design-focused students will enjoy. This can first be a course in another minor or project but there is a possibility it will turn into a full-fledged minor.</p>
<p><strong>Becoming a certified coach</strong><br />
Giving students feedback on products is something I can do well, but I'm not the best coach. It's one of my biggest weaknesses and hope the BTQ will get me started but becoming a certified coach is something I want to explore further.</p>
<p><strong>Thinking about doing a master education</strong><br />
In the last couple of years, I didn't feel like doing a Master's studies but for some reason I'm ready. I like to become a bit more 'academic', get better at argumentation and rationale. That's something a Master studies can offer but picking the right one is hard.</p>
Writing a User Guide2020-03-03T00:00:00Zhttps://www.dandevri.es/articles/user-guide/<p><strong>I was criticized for being different.</strong> I stopped trying to fit in and did things my way, even if it's not what the rest is doing. I'm not perfect and make mistakes. We each have our own opinions, perspectives, and approaches to how we solve problems and that <strong>shape us as individuals</strong>.</p>
<p>Rick Pastoor has <a href="https://www.getrevue.co/profile/werkslim/issues/werk-slim-een-gebruikershandleiding-voor-jezelf-120623">a newsletter (werk slim)</a> in which he mentioned the concept of a <strong>user guide</strong>: a manual you write about your personality and the ways you communicate. Simultaneously I saw <a href="https://twitter.com/alexandernl/status/1037772339679780864?lang=en">a tweet</a> by Alexander Klopping where he posted a link to his own user guide. That pushed me to write my own.</p>
<p>I'm not sure about putting this out there. It feels like <em>'exposing'</em> a lot of personal information but it's also the best and fastest way to get to know me. It was quite uncomfortable to write this but writing this was also relieving. If you understand yourself you will know how to react in future situations.</p>
<p>Without further ado, here is mine:</p>
<h2 id="personality">Personality <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/user-guide/#personality">¶</a></h2>
<ul>
<li>ENTJ, INTJ, and ISTJ are personality types that fit me well.</li>
<li>I'm perceptive about systems and strategy. I want to understand systems and foresee logical outcomes.</li>
<li>I like to organize information and resources and increase knowledge and understanding. I reduce all complex things into systems and small tasks.</li>
<li>I'm slightly more introverted. I prefer alone (individual) time but also engage and express my thoughts and feelings.</li>
<li>My dominant cognitive style is Intuition. I abstractly process information.</li>
<li>I'm a thinker, I pursue rational and logical reasoning. I believe that every person has the responsibility to take care of himself.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="life">Life <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/user-guide/#life">¶</a></h2>
<ul>
<li>I would consider myself a Night Owl. I start my days late and do my best work in the evening after most of the day is over.</li>
<li>I need a lot of sleep to work well.</li>
<li>I’m an intense over-achiever and tend to excessively critique myself when I feel my work isn’t up to par.</li>
<li>I praise myself for being relaxed, I'm rarely stressed and think that almost everything will fall into place.</li>
<li>I tend to overthink too much instead of just getting going.</li>
<li>I care about the value and materials of products.</li>
<li>I am an introvert. I like alone (individual) time.</li>
<li>I don’t take anything too seriously. That’s not to say I don’t understand things that carry weight.</li>
<li>I always ask questions and see if things can be done differently.</li>
<li>I am direct, straight forward and honest.</li>
<li>I question everything. I'm interested in new ideas.</li>
<li>I am not very flexible, I like to know things upfront.</li>
<li>I can stay focused on it for quite a long time, as long as it is a task that I can fully engage in.</li>
<li>If I'm focused and get interrupted I can be curtly.</li>
<li>I like being alone, but that doesn't mean I'm lonely.</li>
<li>I'm driven by being intellectually challenged, a feeling of purpose and creativity.</li>
<li>I might come off as combative because I will disagree and agree with you forcefully. I don't take disagreements personally.</li>
<li>I don't feel compelled to do things by the book.</li>
<li>I love to engage in creative tasks, where rules must be broken for advancement to take place.</li>
<li>Celebrating things is not part of my DNA. I'm not to reward good behavior.</li>
<li>Long exposure to people is exhausting for me. Smalls groups are fine but +8 people, I'm strangely quit. Do not confuse my quiet with a lack of engagement.</li>
<li>I really try to get to the place where people feel very comfortable just saying whatever they want to say.</li>
<li>I prefer to work on 1 thing on my own to make real progress. Then discuss with other people to make adjustments.</li>
</ul>
<p><img src="https://www.dandevri.es/static/img/posts/guides/personality-patterns.png" alt="Personality Patterns" /></p>
<h3 id="people">People <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/user-guide/#people">¶</a></h3>
<ul>
<li>I have very high expectations of the people around me.</li>
<li>I believe that most humans are trying to do the right thing.</li>
<li>I hate people who shove responsibility to other people and not take ownership.</li>
<li>I will respect your personal space boundaries.</li>
<li>I own up and apologize if something is my fault.</li>
<li>I sometimes leap to conclusions pretty quickly.</li>
<li>I find it difficult to start a conversation with someone, even if they are familiar. Often the other person has to ask me something first.</li>
<li>I have no trouble addressing people when I think they don't have things in order.</li>
<li>I hate it when people ask "simple" questions that they can read themselves or have not researched.</li>
<li>I look a lot of things that can be done better instead of giving compliments about things that are already good.</li>
</ul>
<p><img src="https://www.dandevri.es/static/img/posts/guides/ocean-model.png" alt="Ocean Model" /></p>
<h3 id="time">Time <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/user-guide/#time">¶</a></h3>
<ul>
<li>My yes is valuable, and therefore I’m more comfortable saying no to things outside of the scope of my interests.</li>
<li>I care about my time. I only do things that are worth doing.</li>
<li>I prioritize important things first and let go of things that don't matter.</li>
<li>Preparation is really important to me.</li>
<li>I'm structured and organized so you can depend on me to get something done. That being said, I am also very critical about what to pursue.</li>
<li>I like the flexibility to schedule my own time. I like to work on my terms and be in total control. I don't like 9-5 jobby jobs.</li>
<li>I don't believe in work/life balance. Your work should be your life. That doesn't mean I work all the time I do believe in taking time off and work on hobby projects.</li>
<li>I'm always on time, most often a bit too early.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="learning">Learning <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/user-guide/#learning">¶</a></h3>
<ul>
<li>I am very eager to learn.</li>
<li>I learn something by focussing on 'foundations' first.</li>
<li>I like to try out new things to see if they improve my workflow.</li>
<li>I can quickly teach myself a new tool (both physically and digitally) and then use it.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="communication">Communication <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/user-guide/#communication">¶</a></h3>
<ul>
<li>I'm pretty hard to reach. I don't always carry my phone and turn off notifications.</li>
<li>Be clear what you need from me for your success</li>
<li>I don't only tell the problem but also the solution.</li>
<li>If I know a topic well I can explain them in a clear matter and answer questions immediately.</li>
<li>I can listen well and know when to keep my mouth shut.</li>
<li>I need time to think about ideas and suggestions.</li>
<li>I avoid discussion and walk away if I feel like it's not going anywhere.</li>
<li>I don't respond quickly but I do always respond. I never leave a message unanswered.</li>
<li>I do not necessarily consider requests from others to be urgent. I think a lot of things can wait.</li>
<li>I’m a good listener and I like to absorb things first before responding.</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<p><em>This document is a living breathing thing and likely incomplete. I also published this user guide under <code>/guides/user-guide</code> which will be the place this guide receives further updates.</em></p>
<hr />
<p><em>Inspiration from <a href="https://rickpastoor.com/userguide">Rick Pastoor</a>, <a href="https://firstround.com/review/the-indispensable-document-for-the-modern-manager/">Jay Desai</a> & <a href="https://www.notion.so/Alexander-s-personal-user-guide-48283f8de730407f92e9e413501f9e2e">Alexander Klopping</a> user guides. Personality and quirks are based on <a href="https://www.truity.com/test/big-five-personality-test">The Big Five Personality Test</a>, <a href="https://www.truity.com/test/type-finder-personality-test-new">MBTI® Basics</a>, <a href="https://gripboek.nl/">Grip</a> and <a href="https://www.fulltimeyou.co/">Full Time You</a>.</em></p>
Accountabilibuddy2020-05-04T00:00:00Zhttps://www.dandevri.es/articles/accountability-partner/<p>If you're struggling to reach your own goals an accountability partner might work. With an accountability partner, you are much more likely to stay on course. Talking with another like-minded person about my goals gives me a set of eyes, ears, and experiences that can change my view or offer new suggestions.</p>
<p>A partner can comment about the process, what went well, or could have been done better but at the end of the day they are your own goals.</p>
<h2 id="my-partner">My Partner <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/accountability-partner/#my-partner">¶</a></h2>
<p>Taking that first step in finding a partner sounds daunting at first. To me it felt like quite an investment to look for people in your network and ask them for their time. In the end, you shouldn't worry about how much time it costs to find a partner. It takes some time to find the right partner, invest in preparing the sessions and giving feedback afterward but you also get all this value you give in return.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/miranda-endhoven-91643b50/">Miranda Endhoven</a> is a colleague at CMD Amsterdam and runs <a href="https://www.mediabear.nl/">Mediabear</a> a digital agency that helps entrepreneurs to become visible on the (quite saturated) web and to grow their business through handy, online tools. We started chatting after we both talked about a couple of books we've read and how we both were heavily influenced by <a href="https://gripboek.nl/">Grip</a> from <a href="https://rickpastoor.com/userguide">Rick Pastoor</a>.</p>
<p>To quote Rick Pastoor from Grip</p>
<blockquote>
<p>You give this person permission to say things you may not want to hear.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>That immediately sums up what is so powerful about a partner, especially one that isn't a close friend or family member. Asking each other (positive) critical questions is what makes this work. They should be allowed to ask any questions even if they are confronting. Pick a partner that tells you the truth.</p>
<p>The 'rubber ducking' part of it is the other main reason this works for me, having somebody to report to. Sometimes saying my goals out loud, talking trough my problems gives me new ideas on the spot.</p>
<h2 id="how-we-work">How we work <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/accountability-partner/#how-we-work">¶</a></h2>
<p>We meet about every month trough a video call. Each of us talks 20 minutes about how their month went and what goals to focus on for the next month. We felt like monthly meetings and monthly goals work best, quarterly targets where to long and weekly or bi-weekly meetings were a bit short in time frame.</p>
<figure><a href="https://www.dandevri.es/static/img/posts/articles/notion-acountability.png"><img src="https://www.dandevri.es/static/img/posts/articles/notion-acountability.png" alt="Screenshot of our Notion board" /></a><figcaption class="after">Screenshot of our Notion board</figcaption></figure>
<p>Each meeting has a standard format, we ask each other roughly the following same three questions:</p>
<ol>
<li>What went well last month and why?</li>
<li>What could I have done better?</li>
<li>What goals do I work on this month?</li>
</ol>
<p>Additionally, we talk about work-life balance and our general feelings. It's also a good idea to discuss your <em>no-go zones</em>: topics you don't want to talk about. We decided that talking about our daily work as teachers and our financial situation wasn't all that relevant.</p>
<p>We try to stick to the agenda and the above questions, the more structure the better. Those boundaries are powerful especially for the 20-minute time frame we have.</p>
<p>During the session we take notes while the other person is speaking and add that to the Notion page, it's a nice archive of things we've talked about. I also noticed I listen more actively if I typed along. Make sure it isn't a full transcript of the conversation, the bullet points are enough.</p>
<p>One last note; your partner can change your view but you don't want to turn this into a 'coaching' session, you'll want to equal the playing field.</p>
<p>Give it a try, it might work for you as well.</p>
Changing my e-mail on 167 accounts2020-05-11T00:00:00Zhttps://www.dandevri.es/articles/changing-mail/<p>Switching from mail providers was one of the first step towards <a href="https://gizmodo.com/c/goodbye-big-five"><em>ungoogling</em></a> my life. Gmail was a big service I wanted to move away from. After some research I decided to go for <a href="https://soverin.net/">Soverin</a> which offers private mailbox for a cappucino a month. Mainly because they are a Dutch company, support your locals. Yes, I started paying for e-mail.</p>
<p>you make the 'independent choice' (no lock in) by not using a provider from big tech. If a service is free, you pay with something else. You <a href="https://www.quora.com/Why-do-some-people-still-pay-for-their-email">don't get something for nothing</a>, in this case you pay with your data. And think about it for a second, e-mail probably contains most of our most privacy-senstive personal information. But enough about paying for e-mail, that's probably not what you're here for. As the title suggests, let's talk about changing that important virtual address on all of my online accounts.</p>
<p><a href="https://1password.com/">1Password</a> is my password manager of choice which also gives you a nice overview of all the services you have a account on. My current counter is <code>167</code> unique login items, which means I have my personal information on 167 sites scattered around the web. 167 different data points, 167 databases that have some of my information. I went to each individual item on this list, logged into the website and looked for the profile settings to change my e-mailaddress.</p>
<p>Aside from the time investment it took me it was really frustrating, the user experience on many profile pages wasn't something to write home about.</p>
<p>I don't get why websites split these pages up into <em>profile</em> and <em>settings</em>. Often I go to profile but that only <strong>shows information</strong>, there is no way for me to update the information on that page. Then I need to go into another freaking 'settings' page to actually update the information.</p>
<p>Updating your personal information isn't even the worst part. Don't get me started on actually trying to delete your account. Some services make this near impossible to do<br />
on a service you no longer use.</p>
<figure><a href="https://www.dandevri.es/static/img/posts/articles/delete-account.png"><img src="https://www.dandevri.es/static/img/posts/articles/delete-account.png" alt="404 when clicking on the delete account button" /></a><figcaption class="after">404 when clicking on the delete account button</figcaption></figure>
<p>Most services don’t even offer the option directly from the profile page.. There is literally no button on the interface to delete your account. Your only way is to contact customer support. Or even worse: the service only offers customer support through evil Facebook or calling a phone number, no thanks.</p>
<p>That's if you can even find the customer support contact information somwhere. Most websites hide it in their customer support wiki and can only be found if you search long enough, click trough breadcrumbs or use the right keywords in your <a href="https://startpage.com/">search engine of choice</a>. And then, after all that time searching you'll be greeted with a 'He! Mail to <a href="mailto:service@support.com">service@support.com</a> to have your account removed. We'll respond in about 5/6 months'. For some reason, clothing stores are the ones doing this the most. Why?</p>
<figure><a href="https://www.dandevri.es/static/img/posts/articles/name-mail.png"><img src="https://www.dandevri.es/static/img/posts/articles/name-mail.png" alt="Need to confirm my identity by proving my first/last name." /></a><figcaption class="after">Need to confirm my identity by proving my first/last name.</figcaption></figure>
<p>There is some light at the end of the tunnel. I'm no security or privacy expert but not all is bad. Some services do this well, if you want four take aways for your own profile setting service:</p>
<ol>
<li>Ask me to confirm my new e-mail address with a confirmation link on the <strong>new email-adres</strong>.</li>
<li>Notify me (with an e-mail) about the account change on the <em>new mailaddress</em> but also on <strong>the old one</strong>.</li>
<li>Be specific about what information was changed. Not 'your account has been updated' but 'your e-mail on your account as been updated'.</li>
<li>On the settings page, make the user fill in their password to confirm the updated details.</li>
</ol>
<p>Moving away from Gmail was only the first step. Next up, Google Drive.</p>
Zoom Fatigue2020-05-20T00:00:00Zhttps://www.dandevri.es/articles/zoom-fatigue/<p>Digital meetings and virtual classrooms drain my energy battery really quickly. Today I learned we have found a term for it: <em>Zoom Fatigue</em>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“It's almost like you're emoting more because you're just a little box on a screen.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I feel like i'm in 'active mode' all the time, compensating for the non-verbal cue's I don't see.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“The possibility of viewing hand gestures or other body language is eliminated.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>After 8 weeks of online teaching and meetings I miss <em>human social interaction</em>. I miss bumping into collegeaus in our 'teaching room' and talking about life. I miss high-fiving students in the hallways and chatting about their weekends. I even miss the sweaty public transport.</p>
<p>When students enter a lecture hall they will almost never sit at the front, but look for a seat at the back of the hall and sit over there. The same is happening online with students not enabling their webcams. For some reason they want to remain anonymous, maybe for good reasons: you can look straight into their rooms or homes and students might find that discoformting. I get that, I can't really force them to turn on their webcams.</p>
<p>But that makes things very boring for me, I'm just looking at a list of names and monitoring a chat. I'm watching myself in a little box and having a monologue in front of a computer screen. Basically it feels like livestreaming on Twitch and playing fortnite. But instead I'm clicking trough slides. Talking to smaller groups in seperate video calls work better, they can't go up in the crowd and almost turn there webcam on immediately.</p>
<p>It was a good experiment to see how far we can go with online 'connection' but I'm done with this social experiment. Non-stop teaching in this 'active mode' for 8 hours is too much.</p>
<p>There was one thing that worked the last week. Digital Agency Q42 created a 'borrel app' where you can virtually meat. You float around as a computer and can walk and jump around a 3d environment. Very much like Mozilla Hubs. You can move, play and interact while you are talking, which makes sure you are doing something interactive.The best part is the audio, it's spatial. You can move away from the crowd (and other avatars) and have a private conversation.</p>
<figure><a href="https://www.dandevri.es/static/img/posts/articles/borrel.png"><img src="https://www.dandevri.es/static/img/posts/articles/borrel.png" alt="A couple of teachers talking to eachother in the 3d environment of the borrel.app." /></a><figcaption class="after">A couple of teachers talking to eachother in the 3d environment of the borrel.app.</figcaption></figure>
<p>The thing that really struck; we met for about 2 hours in through this app and left with lots more energy. <strong>It felt less draining</strong>.</p>
<hr />
<p>As education in the netherlands, especially in the last few years there was this huge push for online learning. 'Everything needs to be online!' Every lecture should be streamed and recorded. I think we now single handely found out how important on-location teaching is. And while I love digital, it won't ever replace interaction with students.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/04/coronavirus-zoom-fatigue-is-taxing-the-brain-here-is-why-that-happens/">‘Zoom fatigue’ is taxing the brain on National Geographic</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200421-why-zoom-video-chats-are-so-exhausting">The reason Zoom calls drain your energy on BBC</a></li>
<li><a href="https://hbr.org/2020/04/how-to-combat-zoom-fatigue">How to Combat Zoom Fatigue on Harvard Business Review</a></li>
</ul>
The power of No2020-06-30T00:00:00Zhttps://www.dandevri.es/articles/the-power-of-no/<p>For me, the best way to figure out all the things I have to do was figuring out which ones not to do at all. Not doing something is also a decision and using the power of a solid 'no' is a good way to prioritize and regain my focus. It's not about getting more done, it's about creating more time for things that truly matter. And the best way to achieve that is by saying no to most of your incoming requests.</p>
<p>With an incoming stream of requests, my workday is scattered with little tasks that are more often than not distractions. If I only where to obey all these small obligations, I won't get any work done. If you can't fit everything in your day, you need to make better decisions on what to do. By saying yes to everything you focus on being busy and fill every gap in your calendar with an incoming request. Stop that.</p>
<h2 id="low-priority-requests">Low priority requests <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/the-power-of-no/#low-priority-requests">¶</a></h2>
<blockquote>
<p>The best way to get out of low-priority obligations is to say no in the first place.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The first thing you should do is identify all requests that fall into the <em>'shallow work'</em> category. A term coined by Cal Newport in his book <a href="https://www.calnewport.com/books/deep-work/">Deep Work</a>. In practice, I find that most of the requests (90% rule) from other people are people asking me to do 'shallow work'. Easy to replicate tasks that don't create any value and I don't want to be doing in the first place. If I have nothing scheduled in my calendar or my task list is empty I would tend to say yes to all these incoming requests just to have something to work on. I stopped defaulting to shallow work.</p>
<p>If somebody makes a request a good thing to ask yourself is; if I say no to this, <strong>what could I be doing instead?</strong> If you are not <em>getting your 'main thing' done</em> it's probably because you are saying yes to all these insignificant requests. Often I say no because I don't <em>feel like doing something</em> and replace it with something that does give my joy even if that's not work-related.</p>
<p>If you've identified all those requests you should transition from a 'yes' to a solid 'no'. A clear no is better than a 'kinda' yes. Greg McKeown puts this nicely in his <a href="https://gregmckeown.com/book/">'essentialism model'</a>:</p>
<ul>
<li>I have to → <strong>I choose to</strong></li>
<li>Say yes without thinking → <strong>Say no to everything except the essential</strong></li>
<li>React to what's most pressing → <strong>Pause to discern what really matters</strong></li>
<li>Takes on too much → <strong>Chooses carefully</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>You will always have control over the options since you can choose what to say no to. If you are in doubt and it isn't a clear yes, you should say no. Remember that you deny the request, not the person. You should rarely put the priorities of another person above your own.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If you don't prioritize your life, someone else will.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Never ever say yes because you think people will 'like you more'. Often it's the reverse. By saying no you are signaling to the other person that your time is valuable and people might respect you more for that. It's the trade-off between being 'popular' versus 'respected'.</p>
<h2 id="become-hard-to-reach">Become hard to reach <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/the-power-of-no/#become-hard-to-reach">¶</a></h2>
<p>Also, make people understand that you don't give immediate responses. <em>I'll get back to you whenever I feel like it</em>. E-mail is convenient for the one who sends you the mail (and the request) in the first place. They have questions about their priorities when it's convenient for them, not you.</p>
<p>Asking me to do something is pretty hard. Most people can't 'just' email me with a request and expect me to do it. Like sending a meeting date with 14 people in the cc without a clear agenda. That's not enough to convince me why I should come to that meeting.</p>
<p>My default response in denying a request looks something like:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>$firstname, thanks so much for reaching out. Unfortunately, I need to say no to $thing. I don't have a lot of time available so $thing is currently not a priority. I don't think I'd be able to give this the attention I'd like to.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I always thank the person for reaching out and then go straight into the hard 'no' while also explaining why I'm saying no. Usually by telling the sender that the request is not my primary focus and then elaborate on <em>why it isn't</em> a bit further.</p>
<p>Sometimes you get a negative reaction when you decline, it's hard not to worry about them. But think it through, if the person reacts negatively, that person is probably not valuing your time anyway. Never let a negative reaction be an excuse for you to be rude. You should strive to be 'clear', not 'rude'. If I can think of a solution to a problem on the spot I'll always point someone in the right direction, try to re-schedule the appointment or offer alternative people to contact for their problem.</p>
<p>When you decline be nice but honest. Don't make up excuses, don't make half commitments. Make it a solid no. If it's something you can't say a hard 'no' to at least take some time before making your decision. Let that e-mail sit in your inbox for a day and come back to it the following day.</p>
<h2 id="make-a-not-doing-list">Make a not doing list <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/the-power-of-no/#make-a-not-doing-list">¶</a></h2>
<p>Every time somebody makes a request that I don't feel like doing, and want to avoid in the future, I put it onto my <strong>not doing list</strong>. It's the opposite of a to-do list. For me, it's a list of bullet points that I keep in a Notion board. Things like <strong>not attending meetings with no clear agenda</strong> or <strong>never video call if something can be written (async communication)</strong> are on top of that not-doing list.</p>
<p>In Make Time Jake also mentions a 'might-do' list. I usually put a label on those tasks in my to-do app of choice (currently Notion) and let them sit there throughout the entire day. If something doesn't feel relevant anymore the next morning, I remove it. Otherwise, I move it to my main to-do list.</p>
<hr />
<p>And that's how I deal with incoming requests. Don't commit to every single one of them but pick the ones worth doing and say no to all the others.</p>
Principles of Teaching2020-08-04T00:00:00Zhttps://www.dandevri.es/articles/principles-of-teaching/<p>After almost 2 years of full-time teaching, I still have no clue what makes a good instructor. You pick up little tricks along the way but there is not one clear blueprint. But, after reading a ton of feedback from my students (and a ton of evaluations from courses) I do think that there are a couple of overarching principles that are generally applicable.</p>
<p>Dieter Rams has his 10 principles of good design. I've condensed my list down to <em>Danny's 10 principles of being a good instructor.</em></p>
<pre><code> A good instructor...
</code></pre>
<p><strong>01 - gives structure</strong></p>
<p>Gives students clear deadlines. Has an overview of the timetable and is direct in the communication to students. Helps them to study "effectively" and organize their own time.</p>
<p><strong>02 - is approachable</strong></p>
<p>Does not leave any question unanswered. That doesn't mean that there must be a "fast" response, but it must be timely and the student needs to have the trust that you will always get back to them. With every question or problem, you need to collaborate with the student to find a solution.</p>
<p><strong>03 - seeks student feedback</strong></p>
<p>Asks students what they think of the lessons and takes moments to reflect on them. Also asks for feedback in time (during the course) instead of at the end of a course. Looks at course evaluations of previous years and schedules evaluations with colleagues.</p>
<p><strong>04 - is not "above" the students</strong></p>
<p>Teaches subject content not as an expert but as an instructor. Not telling the student "how to do it" but "let's figure it out together". Matches the student's competence level and helps them achieve small victories.</p>
<p><strong>05 - can be tough and critical.</strong></p>
<p>You are not a good instructor if you have become <em>teacher of the year</em>. Being a good instructor doesn't always mean you are the most <em>likable</em>. You are a good instructor if you teach your subject well. And in the end, students need to look back at your course as something where they learned a lot.</p>
<p><strong>06 - lets students provide input.</strong></p>
<p>Teaches in collaboration with the student. Asks for input from students on lesson plans or course material. Tailors the lesson to what students need at that moment while taking situational factors of the students into account.</p>
<p><strong>07 - can convey his subject content with enthusiasm.</strong></p>
<p>Speaks from expertise but can explain this in understandable language (the curse of knowledge) while being enthusiastic about his own content.</p>
<p><strong>08 - has an eye for every student.</strong></p>
<p>Leaves enough room (during class) for questions, and gives each student enough personal attention (time) to solve their problems. A good instructor wants the student to understand it. Provides the student with insight into his or her own progress. Creates a safe atmosphere (relationship) in the classroom.</p>
<p><strong>09 - shows doesn't tell</strong></p>
<p>Explains subject content with practical examples: live demos, diagrams, visuals. Shows how to solve problems instead of talking about it with slides.</p>
<p><strong>10 - breaks through the culture of non-commitment.</strong></p>
<p>Gives direct feedback and avoids procrastination with active teaching methods and formative assignments. By handling solutions to assignments in class (strength of the group).</p>
Looking at desks2020-09-25T00:00:00Zhttps://www.dandevri.es/articles/looking-at-desks/<p>A desk says a lot about a person: how much they value materials, what products they like, if they are organized etc. I’m always on the look-out for new gear on other people’s desks that can improve my workflow. Especially small little tools that do one thing very well.</p>
<p>This post idea sparked from the fact that I've been building a small Daniel Shiffman inspired <a href="https://twitter.com/dandevri/status/1301535429741731840">workspace over at our university</a>. And since that whole pandemic thing happened I've also been incrementally upgrading my own home office as well, testing out different types of gear to see if they could improve my workflow.</p>
<p>It went from a desk with only a laptop to a full-fledged recording studio since I'm recording more and more screencasts and doing tons of online teaching. Not all this gear is my own, I'm in a very privileged position to use gear from our university that we have available. Not a luxury that everyone has and with that comes the disclaimer that <em>expensive gear</em> isn't a necessity. It's not like all this gear makes me a better teacher but all these little tools help in some sort or way.</p>
<p><em>*Apart from the Soundboard on my Elgato Stream Deck that's a necessity, my students think it's the best. They even send me sounds to include on the soundboard to use during lessons. If you should buy one piece of gear, it should be a soundboard.</em></p>
<h3 id="%2Fuses-pages">/uses pages <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/looking-at-desks/#%2Fuses-pages">¶</a></h3>
<p>Tinkering with gear is also why I'm so obsessed with the <code>/uses/</code> format (page) on people's personal websites. It's a thing <a href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/looking-at-desks/#">Wes Bos</a> started and there is a whole GitHub repo where people submit their own <code>/uses/</code> page. You can browse my /uses page by clicking on the menu item on the sidebar to your left.</p>
<p>The only problem I have is that most people's uses pages only <em>list</em> items like gear, apps, and software but often don't include pictures on how they arranged their workspace. That's were Reddit comes into play: <code>/r/macsetups</code>, <code>/r/battlestations</code> are places where other people post pictures of their set-ups. Every couple of weeks I go through the top posts of those feeds and store inspiration in a Notion board for later reference.</p>
<figure><a href="https://www.dandevri.es/static/img/posts/articles/notion-desks.jpg"><img src="https://www.dandevri.es/static/img/posts/articles/notion-desks.jpg" alt="Screenshot of my Notion Board with desk inspiration." /></a><figcaption class="after">Screenshot of my Notion Board with desk inspiration.</figcaption></figure>
<h3 id="change-your-environment">Change your environment <a class="direct-link" href="https://www.dandevri.es/articles/looking-at-desks/#change-your-environment">¶</a></h3>
<p>Since we're on the topic of desks, that’s also a good reminder to <strong>step away from your desk from time to time</strong>. If you’re always in it, you can’t get out of it. Move away to think and approach something from a different angle. You don’t come up with a solution by brute-forcing a problem and staying in the same location.</p>
<p>That brings me back to my original point, looking at desks:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>By being on the look-out for new gear you try out new things and move stuff around which changes the environment you are in.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>That slight change in environment might give you a new insight on a problem you are currently working on.</p>
Unknown Unknowns2021-01-08T00:00:00Zhttps://www.dandevri.es/articles/unknown-unknowns/<p>That’s why asking ‘are there any questions?’ is not a good question to ask. Even worse is assuming everybody understands if there aren’t any. It’s the difference between ‘have you understood?’ and ‘what have you understood?’. With the second question, you can <strong>check for understanding</strong>. It's one (out of 10) of the core principles from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44056942-rosenshine-s-principles-in-action">Barack Rosenshine</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>#6 Check for understanding frequently and correct errors.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Often we expect students to do a particular thing or expect them to understand something already. Things we think the other one knows and we fall into the of not explaining some of the underlying concepts. This concept goes hand in hand with _<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoshin">Shoshin</a> (beginner's mind) which refers to a lack of preconceptions when explaining (studying) something, just as a beginner would.</p>
<p>This particular thing always comes up when the end of the semester is in sight and it’s time for students to receive their grade. One of the worst things for a student is if they don’t know how they will be graded. It’s so freaking important to walk them through a rubric and explain each criterion with concrete examples.</p>
<p>It’s not good enough to ask ‘are there any questions about the rubric and criteria?’. You as a teacher have to explain each criteria with concrete examples. Ask questions and ask students to explain them back to you in their own words. Even better is taking their work as an example.</p>
Bullshit Tasks2021-02-03T00:00:00Zhttps://www.dandevri.es/articles/bullshit-tasks/<p>We have a habit of 'filling' time with bullshit tasks. A lot of people spend their days performing tasks that do not need to be performed. Like you have to <em>invent pointless work</em> to fill your time. I have a habit of doing the same.</p>
<p>By filling up that time we hide behind the easy work so that we don't do the important things we have to do. To then say we were busy with 'other things'.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I'm sorry, <strong>I didn't have time for that...</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p>How come? Why can't we do one task each day (a highlight), that has a very big impact instead of filling the day with <em>bullshit tasks</em>. <strong>To make the work and the impact the measure, not time and how many (unimportant) tasks you completed</strong>.</p>
<p>I'm a teacher. And I would say my job is pretty <strong>socially valuable</strong>. David Graeber in his book <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_Jobs">Bullshit Jobs</a> quotes research about how valuable different job sectors are which mentions <em>education</em>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The most socially valuable workers whose contributions could be calculated are medical researchers, who add +$9 of overall value to society for every $1 they are paid.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>For teachers, this is <em>$1 for every $1 they are paid</em>. We are on the second spot, just below the researchers. In contrast to e.g. the financial sector:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The least valuable were those who worked in the financial sector, who, on average, subtract a net -$1,80 in value from society for every $1 of compensation.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Even being in education I started to question my personal daily tasks. Especially at the end of last year many of my tasks consisted of e-mailing students, chatting with them on MS Teams, and constantly answering small questions.</p>
<p>And then after my whole morning being 'gone' to responding to 'seemingly urgent' requests I had two meetings scheduled. I attended both but felt empty afterward. Those meetings could have easily been text documents to fill me in on the latest details.</p>
<p>After that long day, I stressed because I only had '30 minutes left' in my workday to prepare my lesson for the following morning. The thing I should have done all along. I could spend the whole day preparing that lesson and make it the best lesson I ever gave. But instead, I decided to do bullshit tasks to have the 'feeling of being productive'.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The overall number of teachers per student remained largely constant. At the same time, the number of administrators and, above all, administrative staff ballooned to an unprecedented degree in the last few years.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Instead of building digital products for clients, I chose education to spend my time enabling <em>others</em> to do things. I'm forever grateful to have been given that opportunity in life but I feel like more and more of my time is spent on 'bullshit tasks' instead of the thing that's most important to me: thinking about how to give better education to students.</p>
My typical day2021-02-15T00:00:00Zhttps://www.dandevri.es/articles/my-typical-day/<p>A bunch of people over on Twitter sharted sharing their posts about their <em>typical days</em>. <a href="http://cdevroe.com/2021/01/07/my-typical-day/">Colin Devroe</a> was the one who started it. I've always wanted to add a <strong>daily-routine</strong> page on this website so I thought it was nice to chime in.</p>
<p>My schedule is pretty consistent and I like the pattern I developed over time. <strong>I like accomplishing at least one or two 'big things' each day</strong>. But, I also listen to how I'm feeling and adjust my plans accordingly so the schedule below isn't set in stone. Without further ado here is mine.</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>7:00-8:00</strong></p>
<p>On <em>most days</em>, I wake up anywhere in this time slot. My alarm defaults to 7:00 but I snooze so sometimes I go straight out of bed, on other days I like to lay down for a little bit longer. I get up and make a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMb0O2CdPBNi-QqPk5T3gsQ">good quality cup of coffee</a>. <em>I don't eat breakfast.</em> While sipping on my coffee I like to listen to a podcast, read some articles, do a quick <a href="https://www.oakmeditation.com/">Oak meditation session</a> or pick up my book to read. I’ll let my mind wander during the first hour of wake-up. <em>No doomscrolling, no news</em>.</p>
<p><strong>8:00-9:00</strong></p>
<p>When the caffeine kicks in the next hour is spent doing some stretching with some gym equipment or a small walk around the house and getting myself dressed and ready for the day. During this time I also like to do some cleaning around the house. Make the bed, take out the trash, clean up the office, etc. <em>I can't work when things are cluttered.</em> During the pandemic, I'm able to do this. Otherwise, this time is spent commuting to Amsterdam by train.</p>
<p><strong>9:00-12:00</strong></p>
<p>I do at least 3 hours of focused time. I am very protective of these hours when scheduling meetings. I don't open up e-mail, I don't respond to messages. <strong>This is 3 hours of deep work. I focus on doing my Highlight for the day that I set in <a href="http://notion.so/">Notion</a> the day before.</strong> But on most days this time is spent teaching students and giving lectures.</p>
<p><strong>12:00-13:00</strong></p>
<p>Lunch. I get away from the computer and sit in the kitchen. I either do some light reading like browsing Twitter or again reading articles. I'll sometimes watch a Youtube video. I like to spend some time making unique lunches. I enjoy cooking and lunch is a great opportunity to be a little more creative and try out quick recipes instead of eating a plain ol' sandwich.</p>
<p><strong>13:00-16:00</strong></p>
<p>Another three hours of very focused work. No e-mail, no messages. I continue working on my Highlights or any high priority tasks that need to be finished. At around 15:00 I'll often have a quick break to grab some fruit. But again on most days this teaching students and giving lectures.</p>
<p><strong>16:00-17:00</strong></p>
<p>If it's a 'quiet' day I'll either continue working on priority tasks but otherwise at the end of the day <em>I plan my meetings</em> (catch-ups, 1:1's), do some more administrative (shallow work), and respond to e-mail and messages. All communication has flowed into my inbox and I can <strong>batch process</strong> most of these things in one clean sweep.</p>
<p><strong>17:00-17:30</strong></p>
<p><strong>Daily review time</strong>. I have a Notion board with a list of things I go through. Like reviewing my <a href="https://flexibits.com/fantastical">calendar</a> for tomorrow, checking my tasks, writing in my journal, reading <a href="http://feedbin.com/">feedbin</a>, and any other social media stuff.</p>
<p><strong>17:30-18:30</strong></p>
<p>Dinner time. Cooking, doing the dishes, the usual. I try to make my dinners device-less but it's very tempting to fire up the television and watch a series.</p>
<p><strong>18:30-20:00</strong></p>
<p>Another small focused sprint that I usually spend <em>working on personal projects or more physical DIY projects</em>. Coding and designing work on any of my <a href="https://www.dandevri.es/projects">digital products</a> or open-source projects.</p>
<p><strong>20:00-20:30</strong></p>
<p>Teatime and a cookie.</p>
<p><strong>20:30-22:00</strong></p>
<p>Another small sprint to work on personal projects. <em>But not as intense as the first sprint</em>. This is where I do most of my writing, work on my personal website or do some learning (online course for example). I allow myself to work on whatever I feel like working on.</p>
<p><strong>22:00-23:00(ish)</strong></p>
<p>Wind-down time. It usually consists of me reading a little bit and then watching a series. Or this hour is spend playing a video-game on my console. <em>It takes me a long time to fall asleep</em> so I like to wind-down (lay in bed) first and usually fall asleep around ~23:15.</p>
<hr />
<p>My days consist of around ~6 hours of actual working hours. That's quite reasonable and I'm <strong>very hyperfocused during those hours</strong> which is a skill I very much glad I developed over the couple of years.</p>
<p>The other ~3 hours in the evening are me working on personal projects, products, or writing. <strong>These are very flexible.</strong> Some days I skip it altogether and hop on the couch or play a video game. I like these sprints in the evening so I always make some time in my day for play and exploration. <strong>Knowing that my 'important' work is finished relieves a lot of stress for me</strong>.</p>
<p>Interested in how I work? I've written a whole <a href="https://www.dandevri.es/guides/user-guide">user guide</a> about myself on how I communicate and work with other people.</p>
<p>*Some sidenotes:</p>
<ul>
<li>I usually take a walk or spend a couple of times at my 'home gym' in the garage but I don't have a rigid sporting schedule. One thing I would like to do better is to develop a more consistent cardio habit.</li>
<li>I need a lot of time to 'get started'. That's why I start my days pretty late. But I also like to continue a little bit longer in the evening.</li>
<li>My weekends are schedule free. I do whatever the hell I want on Saturday and Sunday.</li>
<li>This is my day during this pandemic thing which leaves out commute time. Whenever things get back to 'normal' the morning and evenings are filled with 1-hour commutes.</li>
<li>I rely on my calendar to time box my tasks. I should write another post about how I schedule my calendar.</li>
<li>I'm hard on myself when I don't complete the tasks I wanted to do. But I'm getting better at embracing flexibility and feeling ok when things don't go as planned.</li>
<li>Being 'productive' and doing 'as many tasks as possible isn't relevant to me anymore.</li>
</ul>