Wednesday 16 June 2010

Back to Learning

I haven't been documenting my learning for the Learn  Something Project as much as I intended. At first, I thought that it was because I wasn't learning anything at all. Then, I realised that it was because I have been learning so much that it has been impossible to decide what to share.

Over the past few months, I have spent most of my time learning. I passed my PhD upgrade panel last week after submitting 40,000 words. Phew! That involved some serious concentration and, yep, quite a bit of learning. Running the Handmade Writer e-course has been a huge learning experience. It is a wonderful, challenging experience but, for me, it has been all about learning how to engage people with writing and support their creative development.

Oh, and I am learning about experimental art and am still trying to learn how to play the accordion.

So, now I am trying to slow down a bit. I want to pay attention to what I am learning. I want to find a bit more space for thinking. I plan to start documenting it again.

Today, I learned the sometimes I need to start with the most different thing first. Every single day, there is something on my to-do list that I don't want to do. It could be an email that I need to send or a phone call that I need to make but it scares me. I avoid it. Often I have no idea why that one particular task bothers me so much but it does. So, starting today, I am going to do that thing first. The difficult thing will be the first thing I cross off the list. I did it today and it feels great. 

What have you learned recently that might help you work better?

10 comments:

  1. I am trying to "do the hard thing first" too - I am dreadful at putting off stuff I don't want to do (and often I don't even know why I don't want to do it!)
    Good idea to slow down...I like what you said about giving yourself space to reflect on everything you're learning. Good luck! xx

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  2. That's such a good plan ... I always feel great after going to the shps to do errands early in the day then walk home knowing that even if I do nothing else all day ... at least I've been a smidge productive already! ;)

    p.s: someone told me it's Accordian Awareness week this week or last ... who knew? I guess you really do learn something new everyday ...

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  3. Well done :) now it's over shall we plan a little get together?

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  4. Thanks for the comment! Those are some amazing accomplishments -- what motivated you to learn to play the accordion?

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  5. Rachel - I'm glad to hear that you are trying it too. I find that sometimes I have no idea why I put certain things off.

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  6. Julie - I didn't know that it's Accordion Awareness week! That is brilliant. Thanks for telling me.

    I always feel better if I have accomplished something early in the day too.

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  7. Kat - Thanks! Yes, let's get together soon. It would be lovely to see you all.

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  8. Chazley - I really like your blog! Thanks for visiting mine too.
    I think I had romantic images of playing beautiful french music on the accordion but so far I just make awful sounds.

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  9. Oh gosh yes, I also put things off, especially when they are the sort of things that require me to use my brain in a different way - like working out pensions, and hunting for best pet insurence. I usually stuff it to one side and then it gets to a point where I HAVE to just bite the bullet and go for it. Doing a difficult thing first would give a nice sense of accomplishment though... *eyes pile of stuff thoughtfully*

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  10. Jayne - I have a huge pile of that kind of stuff too. I never thought about it before but most of it stuff that makes me use brain differently.

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