September Review

Ok, it’s been a month. Let’s check how I’ve been doing.

Quick refresher: the aim of the blog is to make me publicly accountable for actually progressing in my hobbies, alongside using Beeminder to fine me if I miss the goal. The three I’m currently tracking and their monthly targets are:

  • Reading: Finish one book per month
  • Writing: Write four posts here per month covering one of the activities (500 word minimum)
  • Pool/snooker - play/practice five times a month

✅ Reading

Two books finished - What you are looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama, and How To Take Smart Notes by Sonkë Ahrens . I also have four books currently on the go:

  • Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson on Audible
  • The Muscle Ladder by Jeff Nippard on the Kindle app on my iPad
  • Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss on Kindle
  • The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

I think I’m likely to complete two, maybe three this month, so I’m doing pretty good here.

✅ Writing

Got my four posts in pretty easily:

  1. Reading in progress
  2. What you are looking for is in the library by Michiko Aoyama
  3. As yet untitled
  4. How To Take Smart Notes by Sonkë Ahrens

Although I did have a lot of annual leave, so I’m hoping to keep the momentum going now I’m back at work.

✅ Pool/Snooker

Managed six sessions, although again that was during my time off.

Beeminder

All of the above means my Beeminder charts are all well ahead of the dreaded red lines, so no fines for me this month. I did allow a limited grace period assuming I might be slow to hit the reading target in the first week or so given that I was targeting a book read in a month.

Importantly though I am feeling good about this so far. It’s forcing me to focus on what I want to do, not just what I should, and encouraging me to publish ideas no matter how half baked they may be. Looking forward to seeing what October brings.