Lovely Luisa, I'm so sorry to hear about your 'existential crisis'! Your existence is proven by your very self and your wonderful words and pictures: so honey, please don't hesitate!
Hang on in there. This is not Instagram. You don't have to keep up, prove yourself or do anything you feel you HAVE to do. Write words when you want to, read words when you can. Live your life around it, not with any kind of pressure.
YAY to BuJo! More posts coming soooooooon........ I love that you're enjoying yours! ♥️
I really enjoyed this post! I remember the meal planning grid (and now I want fish pie). I will give the post planning a go. I'd love to hear more about your bullet journal. Thanks!
I'm exhausted with all those bullets firing through your planning pages. I felt the need to duck and weave for safety!
Despite that I've always felt quite organised, I've decided after reading your essay that I'm so not.
Mind you, I do always carry a paper diary - none of this computer or phone stuff for me. It vaguely refers me in a general direction. Besides, I love the pink colour of it and the little embroidery I did on the front...
Mar 4, 2023·edited Mar 4, 2023Liked by Rebecca Holden
While I keep some digital lists, my everyday diary is also paper. I call it my brain. Current color: turquoise, which was a perfect complement for the “Run to Write” sticker I received from Julie Hughes of the Run to Write Substack!
LOL, Prue! If anything 'vaguely refers me in a general direction' then I'm happy! There's a good reason for the Substack overview in my bullet journal to be in pencil...
I love the sound of your pink embroidered diary - how gorgeous!
My home ( drawers,cupboards, closets, etc) is always very spare and always tidy and dusted. It has nothing to do with virtue. It is the only way I can stay sane. I can never aspire to matching your kitchen organization, though, Rebecca, with all the lists and bullets and codes. Thank goodness I live alone...
Sharron, that's brilliant! I'm sorry to say that spare, tidy and dusted are not the first labels that spring to mind when I search for words to describe MY home - for a while now I've been telling myself that I need to board the declutter wagon!
Yes,I think it is a "plan" many of us have these days, but it often finds itself at the bottom of the "to do" list. I, myself, have had "wash the car" on my list for five weeks... sigh. All I want to do is write these days, and since no worries about me, that is what I do. My advice is to jump on any old wagon that makes you happy. If anyone objects, tell them Sharron says life is short.
Genius plan! Adopting this plan forthwith, thanks 👏🏻 I’m definitely not a planner, and shift ideas as the mood takes me, but I’ve definitely found a vague plan eases my ‘I’ve got nothing to write about’ panic.
Thanks so much, Claire! I shift ideas too, I have to say - that's why it's in pencil! 😉 The plan's a bit of a 'broad brush' affair initially - just putting things in as I think about them. Some of my Art & Treasure posts are relevant to certain times of year, so I know already where I need to put those, and I've got a couple of posts about events that I've got in mind to write around certain dates - by putting those in now, as I think about them, that's less thinking I've got to do about them later! 🤣
Thanks for sharing your methods, Rebecca 💜 I’m having a harder time with this lately, but maybe I need to try a plan again, as you’ve done.
I think the barrier is wanting to expand my newsletter like you have - I love it. I want to post sometimes about the outdoorsy hijinks I do, but worry it dilutes the sci art aspects? And if you create a section like your Art and Treasures, do subscribers still get those notices?
Or I’m overthinking it, too. Apologies if I’ve hijacked your comments. (I’m definitely 🍌🍌🍌😂)
I was worried too about 'diluting' my main subject matter of getting lost when a certain Mr T Freedman asked me to be his Substack Letters correspondent. But actually it's been such a gift - it's writing those letters that had switched me on to writing about other stuff and feeling that there was a place for it! That said, I did rather beat the 'getting lost' drum in my letter to him last week, so in truth there's no getting away from it! 🤣
When I set up my new sections I figured that my subscribers would get all of my posts, regardless of category, because they're all under the 'Dear Reader, I'm lost' umbrella. However, I've since discovered that I can send posts appearing in a certain section to a subset of my subscribers, and that subscribers can also control their e-mail settings (and presumably not receive e-mails relating to certain sections). To be honest, with the newsletters I subscribe to (I need 26 hours a day to read them all....) some have additional sections and some don't, but in every single case I haven't ever adjusted my preferences, and therefore receive everything they're sending. And that's fine with me!
Bryn, I've just read this back to myself and I'm not sure how much sense it makes! But let me just say that I'd be delighted to read all about your outdoorsy hijinks as well as everything else you so kindly write for me to read! ♥️
On a serious note, two things. Firstly, I do think pretty much anything can be subsumed into the "I'm lost" "imprint" For example, I'm always at a loss to decide what to read next -- not because I don't have enough to read but because I have so much! I really like the way yyou weave lots of threads together and still stay on topic. Secondly, I was delighted when you agreed to do this letter thing with me. It's been great fun and pushed the envelope quite a bit, for me anyway :-)
Ooooh, yes, I hadn't quite 'got' that there's more than one 'lost' on the menu! I'm going to milk that for all it's worth!
And thank you - I too was delighted - it's a different kind of style, and I love the opportunity to push some boundaries in my letters and replies to you, Terry! 🙌
Interestingly, when I posted an article yesterday and it went to 70 fewer recipients than subscribers I thought I'd lost a load of people overnight! But then I remembered that I'd posted the article in a section about education, which I suppose a lot of people had opted out of. I tend to set new sections as going to everyone by default, but usually with a link to that article telling people how to opt out of them if they wish.
Mar 4, 2023·edited Mar 4, 2023Liked by Rebecca Holden
Bryn, when you create sections on your home page, the email posts do not change. Your readers get everything you post, same as always. The sections affect only those who go to your home page to see what you have posted. The readers then have a choice -- they can read from the general news letter, or they can go to the section for the topic they are interested in. eg. My readers can click on Travel Tales, Fiction, Memoir, etc. Very handy. Feel free to contact me if you have questions. Iam SURE there is more to it than that, but that was my experience.
As always, I loved your thoughts and ideas on planning--an inspiration to add some routine in my chaos! I don’t plan too far out with my posts, but I do use a spreadsheet to log a few weeks out. And, of course, there is the monthly collection that helps add structure to my schedule.
As for the bananas, oh, I *do* think you’re bananas and love that about you!🤣 And I will not be having a banana for breakfast now that you’ve named the stringy bits. *gag*
'Routine in the chaos' - that's a brilliant way of putting it, Holly! And thank you!
I love your monthly collections - they're a great opportunity to reflect on what I've read from you, and to follow your thoughts, links, recommendations and recipes. In fact, when I found I was so enjoying making art again, I thought 'oh, I'll do another arty post sometime', and I think that was on a day when your latest monthly collection came through. Voilà: a decision to do a monthly post with art in it! So thank you.
And YESSSSSSSS to adding another number on the tally of people who think I'm bananas! HURRAH! That's three... and probably counting!
(And regarding bananas, I hold Amie responsible for the description of the stringy bits. Not guilty! 😉)
I love this post Rebecca. I can relate to the plan piece, especially for content creation, sharing, etc...It overwhelms me but I've learned I need to accept some of it because it does help with my anxiety. I really am a planner in most things so I find it odd when I dig my heels in planning out my months writing/share pieces...You've inspired me to get back to a plan. Thank you.
It is inspiring isn’t it. I like to plan seasonally and it helps the overwhelm this way. I do love a year long overview but I use it to look at rather than to write on. ✨ 🌲
Thank you Claire, I like your idea to plan seasonally. I like to plan out trips or people I want to see each year because I've learned if its not on the calendar time passes fast and I lose the time to not meet up.
Such a good point, Julie. I find that social things get left behind - I'm always thinking 'I haven't seen so-and-so for a while', or 'I'd like to do such-and-such when the weather warms up' - and then I don't do it! So I'm taking your advice on this one - thank you so much!
Thank you, Julie! I had been worried when I started getting interested in planners and planning that the concept of planning would quickly become just (another!) stick to beat myself with. In fact it's been so helpful in terms of guiding me towards what I want to be doing, and I hadn't actually anticipated that. And as long as I remind myself that nothing is set in stone, well, it's all fine!
So much to absorb and admire here Rebecca! We have a similar meal plan for weekends but mid week is always slightly tricky with everyone’s dietary requirements! I did pick up some BuJo methods again after you reminded me of it - it’s the perfect cosy weekend activity! Cx
Yay to a cosy weekend with your BuJo, Claire! And I know what you mean about dietary requirements - fortunately we're a household of only two in which the one with the alternative dietary requirements is the one who cooks, so I reckon that's a pretty easy ride! 🤣
I love all of your notes Rebecca! You are clearly a brilliant planner. How does this fit with your tendency to get lost? A reaction? Similar skills differently deployed?
Thank you so much, Jillian! I'm pleased with how far I've got with my planning, and how far my planning is helping me (which is a lot!). But translating plans to the 3D world in order to surmount the whole getting lost thing absolutely defeats me! Over the past few days I've been exploring (in theory, not in practice yet) some ideas to help me not get lost - there'll be a post about it soon.
And last week I had a call from my lovely navigation coach - I've booked another day hike with him for once spring has truly arrived. I had such a laugh on the phone with him about what had happened right at the end of the last one - I am still sooooo embarrassed about it!
I use a spreadsheet to organise my writing, and yesterday for the first time I scheduled several posts in advance. I did draw up a grid when I first started here but lost it a day later! I find that my plans go awry because of events. For instance, last Tuesday I attended a talk about free speech, which I've been thinking of writing an article about, if Elaine will let me. Well, the need for timeliness outweighs the desire to stick to plan, for me at least. Anyway, very interesting post, and I'm impressed with your line-up of notebooks. Mine are in a pile in a cardboard box on my desk, and in box files on a shelf. 😨
Ooooh, I love a spreadsheet, Terry! I like to schedule posts, but I don't ever seem to get further advanced than having two posts ready to go (and it's usually just the one, actually!).
(I have just had to stop typing in order to laugh at your free speech joke! 🤣)
Notebook storage is soon going to become an issue, but I do refer back to my archive way more often than I thought I would! I'm almost wishing I hadn't ever indexed my books... because if there was no easy way of finding information again then they wouldn't be worth keeping!
With your Bullet Journals, you’re a poor excuse for a “lost” person. The rest of us swim
In time like it’s a rip tide, dropping (drowning) us hither and yon. You pick your waves and surf to the temporal shore. Meanwhile curry night sounds delightful. What wine should I bring?
Peter, you always put my lost thoughts back on the straight and narrow!
Well, Merlot and Malbec are favourites, but in fact more often than not I rock the boat on curry night by asking my in-house sommelier* to just stick the kettle on for a cuppa... surprisingly good for cooling the burn! 🤣
Wow, your planning is on a whole different level of commitment! I often wonder where the right balance is for me between organization and improvisation. I'm definitely one of those who rely heavily on improv, with mixed results, and have been trying to impose some order without feeling confined. I actually got myself a diary-style calendar at the beginning of the year so I could schedule my writing, but I've been too busy with non-writing commitments to work on it. Might be a good project for this weekend :-)
Thanks so much, Jacquie - I’m glad to say there’s plenty of room for improvisation in my life - and I hope I’ll continue to reserve a decent-sized place for it as time goes on! Yay to any time spent planning over the weekends - I luuuuuuurve my weekend time with my bullet journal - but only if that’s something that floats your boat!
Re non-writing commitments, ahhhh, those pesky critters! I’d love ALL my commitments to involve pen and paper...... shame there’s always other stuff to get done too, right?! 🙄🤣
It sounds like you've found a great balance! I'm curious about the bullet journal, but knowing myself, it would sit on a shelf collecting dust after a month :-| Then again, if I could find a way to pencil in more writing time for myself... :-D
Jacquie, in your words '...it would sit on a shelf collecting dust after a month' describes very many things I've started with huge enthusiasm and then let fall by the wayside! 🤣
(and explains why every shelf and cupboard in my house is full of stuff.....)
43 comments before I got here! 😮 I'll have to come back later and enjoy them all! For now I'll say that organization is my love language, so I swooned reading this. A long time ago I realized I spent more time planning to do things than actually doing them, so in recent years my planning process has been streamlined tremendously. But I love having a peek at how other people organzine and am admiring how you manage to both plan to do things and actually DO them! You're a superhero! 🦸🏻♀️💖
'Organization is my love language' - well, if I didn't already KNOW that you're on my wavelength, Kerri, I certainly do now!
Streamlined planning is great - I sometimes worry about the people who are more about the planning than the doing. Mind you, I don't get everything done - not even close - so if you ever feel I'm claiming any such thing would you please, please call me out on it?! Thanks!!!! 😉
(I'll take the superhero label, though, just cos I'm greedy..... 🤣)
I’m beginning to wonder if I need to start planning out my Substack posts better. I seem to constantly “lose” time and end up publishing whenever, I stead of sticking to the schedule I have in mind!
Thank you so much for this comment, Susi! I don't try to plan specific posts too far in advance, because I love to live 'in the moment' - there's a lot to be said to responding to exactly 'was im Kopf steckt' exactly when it's making itself felt!
But if I can get just a few 'regular' categories for posts - and I'm not even talking about the specific posts themselves - into the calendar ahead of time, that helps me to orientate myself!
There's a lot to be said for 'in the moment' stuff, and hey, I'll never say no to spontaneity - like my favourite ingredients for a meal being on special offer right when I'm finalising my online grocery order, or my husband's all-to-common 'LET'S GO CAAAAAAAAMPING TOMORROW!' announcements, the chances are that I'll be up for it! 😉 I tell my schedule what to do, not the other way round.
(Don't tell anyone: I'll lose ALL my credibility.........)
This article is full of practical information from the organized mind of Rebecca, and is beautifully written, too. A great combination. You are a talented woman, Ms Holden.
Lovely Luisa, I'm so sorry to hear about your 'existential crisis'! Your existence is proven by your very self and your wonderful words and pictures: so honey, please don't hesitate!
Hang on in there. This is not Instagram. You don't have to keep up, prove yourself or do anything you feel you HAVE to do. Write words when you want to, read words when you can. Live your life around it, not with any kind of pressure.
YAY to BuJo! More posts coming soooooooon........ I love that you're enjoying yours! ♥️
You've absolutely got this, Luisa! Have an amazing weekend - do something lovely, just for YOU. ⭐️
I really enjoyed this post! I remember the meal planning grid (and now I want fish pie). I will give the post planning a go. I'd love to hear more about your bullet journal. Thanks!
Thanks, Nancy, and oooooh, fish pie - yes, my favourite! More to come about my bullet journal - keep your eyes peeled! Hope you're feeling better. 🤒
Yay! And thanks. Fortunately, tis but a cold. I should be back on it in a day or so.🙂
I'm exhausted with all those bullets firing through your planning pages. I felt the need to duck and weave for safety!
Despite that I've always felt quite organised, I've decided after reading your essay that I'm so not.
Mind you, I do always carry a paper diary - none of this computer or phone stuff for me. It vaguely refers me in a general direction. Besides, I love the pink colour of it and the little embroidery I did on the front...
While I keep some digital lists, my everyday diary is also paper. I call it my brain. Current color: turquoise, which was a perfect complement for the “Run to Write” sticker I received from Julie Hughes of the Run to Write Substack!
turquoise is one of my favorite colors and I'm so glad it complements your diary. :) How fun.
It's also a daily reminder of you, your family, and your story!
Thank you Holly! You are so kind and I hope story helps you in one small way.
I love that your diary is your brain, Holly - I know exactly where you're coming from! Great colour choice, too!
And a big yay to Julie!
Paper diary fan here too! A purple filofax to be exact! 💜💜
Sounds lush, Claire!
LOL, Prue! If anything 'vaguely refers me in a general direction' then I'm happy! There's a good reason for the Substack overview in my bullet journal to be in pencil...
I love the sound of your pink embroidered diary - how gorgeous!
My home ( drawers,cupboards, closets, etc) is always very spare and always tidy and dusted. It has nothing to do with virtue. It is the only way I can stay sane. I can never aspire to matching your kitchen organization, though, Rebecca, with all the lists and bullets and codes. Thank goodness I live alone...
Sharron, that's brilliant! I'm sorry to say that spare, tidy and dusted are not the first labels that spring to mind when I search for words to describe MY home - for a while now I've been telling myself that I need to board the declutter wagon!
Yes,I think it is a "plan" many of us have these days, but it often finds itself at the bottom of the "to do" list. I, myself, have had "wash the car" on my list for five weeks... sigh. All I want to do is write these days, and since no worries about me, that is what I do. My advice is to jump on any old wagon that makes you happy. If anyone objects, tell them Sharron says life is short.
‘Life is short’ is a useful maxim to bear in mind, Sharron!
Genius plan! Adopting this plan forthwith, thanks 👏🏻 I’m definitely not a planner, and shift ideas as the mood takes me, but I’ve definitely found a vague plan eases my ‘I’ve got nothing to write about’ panic.
Thanks so much, Claire! I shift ideas too, I have to say - that's why it's in pencil! 😉 The plan's a bit of a 'broad brush' affair initially - just putting things in as I think about them. Some of my Art & Treasure posts are relevant to certain times of year, so I know already where I need to put those, and I've got a couple of posts about events that I've got in mind to write around certain dates - by putting those in now, as I think about them, that's less thinking I've got to do about them later! 🤣
Thanks for sharing your methods, Rebecca 💜 I’m having a harder time with this lately, but maybe I need to try a plan again, as you’ve done.
I think the barrier is wanting to expand my newsletter like you have - I love it. I want to post sometimes about the outdoorsy hijinks I do, but worry it dilutes the sci art aspects? And if you create a section like your Art and Treasures, do subscribers still get those notices?
Or I’m overthinking it, too. Apologies if I’ve hijacked your comments. (I’m definitely 🍌🍌🍌😂)
I'm so glad you've found this helpful, Bryn!
I was worried too about 'diluting' my main subject matter of getting lost when a certain Mr T Freedman asked me to be his Substack Letters correspondent. But actually it's been such a gift - it's writing those letters that had switched me on to writing about other stuff and feeling that there was a place for it! That said, I did rather beat the 'getting lost' drum in my letter to him last week, so in truth there's no getting away from it! 🤣
When I set up my new sections I figured that my subscribers would get all of my posts, regardless of category, because they're all under the 'Dear Reader, I'm lost' umbrella. However, I've since discovered that I can send posts appearing in a certain section to a subset of my subscribers, and that subscribers can also control their e-mail settings (and presumably not receive e-mails relating to certain sections). To be honest, with the newsletters I subscribe to (I need 26 hours a day to read them all....) some have additional sections and some don't, but in every single case I haven't ever adjusted my preferences, and therefore receive everything they're sending. And that's fine with me!
Bryn, I've just read this back to myself and I'm not sure how much sense it makes! But let me just say that I'd be delighted to read all about your outdoorsy hijinks as well as everything else you so kindly write for me to read! ♥️
Twas an easy choice, Rebecca, as you write so vividly. Plus, I regarded it as part of my charity work.
Thank you and awwwwww and geee, how charming - in that order, Terry! 😉
😂 Just joshin' ,😍
🤣
On a serious note, two things. Firstly, I do think pretty much anything can be subsumed into the "I'm lost" "imprint" For example, I'm always at a loss to decide what to read next -- not because I don't have enough to read but because I have so much! I really like the way yyou weave lots of threads together and still stay on topic. Secondly, I was delighted when you agreed to do this letter thing with me. It's been great fun and pushed the envelope quite a bit, for me anyway :-)
Ooooh, yes, I hadn't quite 'got' that there's more than one 'lost' on the menu! I'm going to milk that for all it's worth!
And thank you - I too was delighted - it's a different kind of style, and I love the opportunity to push some boundaries in my letters and replies to you, Terry! 🙌
Hey! I could use a little charity over at 🍁Leaves, Terry. What else you got?
Makes perfect sense, thank you for taking the time to share your experience on this! 🙌
😘
People can opt in or out to Sections. I wrote about how to do that here: https://terryfreedman.substack.com/p/controlling-which-emails-you-receive-ace
Interestingly, when I posted an article yesterday and it went to 70 fewer recipients than subscribers I thought I'd lost a load of people overnight! But then I remembered that I'd posted the article in a section about education, which I suppose a lot of people had opted out of. I tend to set new sections as going to everyone by default, but usually with a link to that article telling people how to opt out of them if they wish.
That's so helpful, thank you, Terry! 🏆
Thank you, Terry! 🙌
You're welcome, Bryn
Bryn, when you create sections on your home page, the email posts do not change. Your readers get everything you post, same as always. The sections affect only those who go to your home page to see what you have posted. The readers then have a choice -- they can read from the general news letter, or they can go to the section for the topic they are interested in. eg. My readers can click on Travel Tales, Fiction, Memoir, etc. Very handy. Feel free to contact me if you have questions. Iam SURE there is more to it than that, but that was my experience.
Thanks Sharron, for sharing your experience!
you do have the choice to untick the box, as do readers, so not everyone has to receive everything even though the default position is that they do
That's a really great explanation, Sharron - thank you so much!
As always, I loved your thoughts and ideas on planning--an inspiration to add some routine in my chaos! I don’t plan too far out with my posts, but I do use a spreadsheet to log a few weeks out. And, of course, there is the monthly collection that helps add structure to my schedule.
As for the bananas, oh, I *do* think you’re bananas and love that about you!🤣 And I will not be having a banana for breakfast now that you’ve named the stringy bits. *gag*
'Routine in the chaos' - that's a brilliant way of putting it, Holly! And thank you!
I love your monthly collections - they're a great opportunity to reflect on what I've read from you, and to follow your thoughts, links, recommendations and recipes. In fact, when I found I was so enjoying making art again, I thought 'oh, I'll do another arty post sometime', and I think that was on a day when your latest monthly collection came through. Voilà: a decision to do a monthly post with art in it! So thank you.
And YESSSSSSSS to adding another number on the tally of people who think I'm bananas! HURRAH! That's three... and probably counting!
(And regarding bananas, I hold Amie responsible for the description of the stringy bits. Not guilty! 😉)
I love how you've skillfully woven together themes of your past writings to create this post. Well done, Rebecca!!!!
Thanks, Mark! I had fun going back in to explore how my newsletter's been evolving! 😊
I love this post Rebecca. I can relate to the plan piece, especially for content creation, sharing, etc...It overwhelms me but I've learned I need to accept some of it because it does help with my anxiety. I really am a planner in most things so I find it odd when I dig my heels in planning out my months writing/share pieces...You've inspired me to get back to a plan. Thank you.
It is inspiring isn’t it. I like to plan seasonally and it helps the overwhelm this way. I do love a year long overview but I use it to look at rather than to write on. ✨ 🌲
Thank you Claire, I like your idea to plan seasonally. I like to plan out trips or people I want to see each year because I've learned if its not on the calendar time passes fast and I lose the time to not meet up.
Ahh that’s such a nice intent! I should do that!
Such a good point, Julie. I find that social things get left behind - I'm always thinking 'I haven't seen so-and-so for a while', or 'I'd like to do such-and-such when the weather warms up' - and then I don't do it! So I'm taking your advice on this one - thank you so much!
Yes! It's so easy to not meet up and it's one thing in the new year I plan ahead of time!. I'm so glad I shared.
Anything to squash that overwhelm is a winner, Claire!
Thank you, Julie! I had been worried when I started getting interested in planners and planning that the concept of planning would quickly become just (another!) stick to beat myself with. In fact it's been so helpful in terms of guiding me towards what I want to be doing, and I hadn't actually anticipated that. And as long as I remind myself that nothing is set in stone, well, it's all fine!
yes! Adapt and pivot...my children do help me with flexibility...I was terrible at it, I'm embracing it more.
So much to absorb and admire here Rebecca! We have a similar meal plan for weekends but mid week is always slightly tricky with everyone’s dietary requirements! I did pick up some BuJo methods again after you reminded me of it - it’s the perfect cosy weekend activity! Cx
Yay to a cosy weekend with your BuJo, Claire! And I know what you mean about dietary requirements - fortunately we're a household of only two in which the one with the alternative dietary requirements is the one who cooks, so I reckon that's a pretty easy ride! 🤣
I love all of your notes Rebecca! You are clearly a brilliant planner. How does this fit with your tendency to get lost? A reaction? Similar skills differently deployed?
Thank you so much, Jillian! I'm pleased with how far I've got with my planning, and how far my planning is helping me (which is a lot!). But translating plans to the 3D world in order to surmount the whole getting lost thing absolutely defeats me! Over the past few days I've been exploring (in theory, not in practice yet) some ideas to help me not get lost - there'll be a post about it soon.
And last week I had a call from my lovely navigation coach - I've booked another day hike with him for once spring has truly arrived. I had such a laugh on the phone with him about what had happened right at the end of the last one - I am still sooooo embarrassed about it!
https://rebeccaholden.substack.com/p/14-a-problem-with-programming
I use a spreadsheet to organise my writing, and yesterday for the first time I scheduled several posts in advance. I did draw up a grid when I first started here but lost it a day later! I find that my plans go awry because of events. For instance, last Tuesday I attended a talk about free speech, which I've been thinking of writing an article about, if Elaine will let me. Well, the need for timeliness outweighs the desire to stick to plan, for me at least. Anyway, very interesting post, and I'm impressed with your line-up of notebooks. Mine are in a pile in a cardboard box on my desk, and in box files on a shelf. 😨
Ooooh, I love a spreadsheet, Terry! I like to schedule posts, but I don't ever seem to get further advanced than having two posts ready to go (and it's usually just the one, actually!).
(I have just had to stop typing in order to laugh at your free speech joke! 🤣)
Notebook storage is soon going to become an issue, but I do refer back to my archive way more often than I thought I would! I'm almost wishing I hadn't ever indexed my books... because if there was no easy way of finding information again then they wouldn't be worth keeping!
With your Bullet Journals, you’re a poor excuse for a “lost” person. The rest of us swim
In time like it’s a rip tide, dropping (drowning) us hither and yon. You pick your waves and surf to the temporal shore. Meanwhile curry night sounds delightful. What wine should I bring?
Peter, you always put my lost thoughts back on the straight and narrow!
Well, Merlot and Malbec are favourites, but in fact more often than not I rock the boat on curry night by asking my in-house sommelier* to just stick the kettle on for a cuppa... surprisingly good for cooling the burn! 🤣
*answers to the name 'Jim'.
Now I remember. I drink beer with Indian food. I’ll bring a Pilsner, along with the Malbec.
*chinks glasses*
Wow, your planning is on a whole different level of commitment! I often wonder where the right balance is for me between organization and improvisation. I'm definitely one of those who rely heavily on improv, with mixed results, and have been trying to impose some order without feeling confined. I actually got myself a diary-style calendar at the beginning of the year so I could schedule my writing, but I've been too busy with non-writing commitments to work on it. Might be a good project for this weekend :-)
Thanks so much, Jacquie - I’m glad to say there’s plenty of room for improvisation in my life - and I hope I’ll continue to reserve a decent-sized place for it as time goes on! Yay to any time spent planning over the weekends - I luuuuuuurve my weekend time with my bullet journal - but only if that’s something that floats your boat!
Re non-writing commitments, ahhhh, those pesky critters! I’d love ALL my commitments to involve pen and paper...... shame there’s always other stuff to get done too, right?! 🙄🤣
It sounds like you've found a great balance! I'm curious about the bullet journal, but knowing myself, it would sit on a shelf collecting dust after a month :-| Then again, if I could find a way to pencil in more writing time for myself... :-D
Jacquie, in your words '...it would sit on a shelf collecting dust after a month' describes very many things I've started with huge enthusiasm and then let fall by the wayside! 🤣
(and explains why every shelf and cupboard in my house is full of stuff.....)
43 comments before I got here! 😮 I'll have to come back later and enjoy them all! For now I'll say that organization is my love language, so I swooned reading this. A long time ago I realized I spent more time planning to do things than actually doing them, so in recent years my planning process has been streamlined tremendously. But I love having a peek at how other people organzine and am admiring how you manage to both plan to do things and actually DO them! You're a superhero! 🦸🏻♀️💖
'Organization is my love language' - well, if I didn't already KNOW that you're on my wavelength, Kerri, I certainly do now!
Streamlined planning is great - I sometimes worry about the people who are more about the planning than the doing. Mind you, I don't get everything done - not even close - so if you ever feel I'm claiming any such thing would you please, please call me out on it?! Thanks!!!! 😉
(I'll take the superhero label, though, just cos I'm greedy..... 🤣)
I’m beginning to wonder if I need to start planning out my Substack posts better. I seem to constantly “lose” time and end up publishing whenever, I stead of sticking to the schedule I have in mind!
Thank you so much for this comment, Susi! I don't try to plan specific posts too far in advance, because I love to live 'in the moment' - there's a lot to be said to responding to exactly 'was im Kopf steckt' exactly when it's making itself felt!
But if I can get just a few 'regular' categories for posts - and I'm not even talking about the specific posts themselves - into the calendar ahead of time, that helps me to orientate myself!
There's a lot to be said for 'in the moment' stuff, and hey, I'll never say no to spontaneity - like my favourite ingredients for a meal being on special offer right when I'm finalising my online grocery order, or my husband's all-to-common 'LET'S GO CAAAAAAAAMPING TOMORROW!' announcements, the chances are that I'll be up for it! 😉 I tell my schedule what to do, not the other way round.
(Don't tell anyone: I'll lose ALL my credibility.........)
Lol. I have my regular categories but think if I made a bit more of a plan it would be easier to stick to my self-imposed editorial calendar.
This article is full of practical information from the organized mind of Rebecca, and is beautifully written, too. A great combination. You are a talented woman, Ms Holden.
Sharron, that's so kind of you - thank you!