Friday Four

1. Some good general advice for managing a to-do list flows from the following train of thought:

Why are you collecting potential actions day-in and day-out in your collection tool of choice? Why are you processing the things you have collected and identifying potential outcomes of the stuff that has just come into your life? Why are you reviewing these things as much as you need to keep them active in your life? Why are you getting things done?

As I recently noted, "Man does not live to be efficient: He is efficient to live."

2. Tabita Green writes a thought-provoking post on the importance of scheduling a day of rest.

But eventually, I wanted to take it to the next level. So I made a simple rule: "Don't do anything that feels like work." Doing laundry feels like work. Cooking doesn't. Turning on my computer feels like work. Watching Lost on Netflix doesn't. Reconciling credit card statements feels like work. Reading a novel doesn't. [minor format edits]

Green notes that what "feels like work" to different people can vary. I would add that it can also change over time. 

3. Taking a look at a productivity blog, I came across the following amusing quote by American mathematician John von Neumann:  "There's no sense in being precise when you don't even know what you're talking about."

Oh, and the blog post itself is worthwhile.

4. Proud Father Note: Baby Van Horn continues to attack "the walking problem" with relish. At a playground, I saw her take a tiny step without immediately falling down. I was turning my head and just caught it out of the corner of my eye, so I wasn't quite ready to swear to it. But she did it again at home later in the day.

Update: My Friday sitter just informed me, after taking the baby out to the park, that she spontaneously took several steps towards the carriage. Baby Van Horn then repeated the feat for me as I dangled my house keys in front of her. We're doomed -- but in a good way!

-- CAV

Updates

Today: Added update to last item.