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One of the lessons I'm learning as I read through The Art of Learning is the importance and power of a peaceful state, and how periodic relaxation helps with this. One of my most thoughtful co-workers is Renzo Borgatti, who introduced my team to the concept of the Pomodoro technique. When Renzo introduced it, I wasn't open to it. I believed I could power through the intensity of my days without any breaks. But coming back from a week off while reading The Art of Learning, I have an inner peace that is incredibly helpful to the sort of conceptual work that software developers do. Yesterday was a typically hectic day for me, with many clients and co-workers vying for my attention, followed by an evening full of the same sort of thing, watching the kids while working through a long to-do list (fix sink, email uncle, plan anniversary). Throughout the day I could feel my inner peace being challenged and sapped. I could see the opportunities to step back and take a 5 minute break, though I didn't take them. But unlike 6 months ago, I'm now open to the practice of the Pomodoro, just as I'm also beginning to research Tai Chi.
As I rode my bike to the train this morning, I was in a peaceful state. (I actually left early enough that I didn't have to rush.) And I was thinking about next steps for the Apprenticeship Patterns and ways I could shift or jiggle my approach in order to jump-start the process. I needed to get back to Mary about next steps. And then a simple thought occurred to me. Just use Basecamp. For simple, small-team projects, Basecamp is a fine tool. We've used it effectively in developing Mad Mimi, so why not use it to manage the project of writing a patterns book, along with organizing the slides for my upcoming OSCON talk on Apprenticeship and Open Source? I believe a tool like this, combined with periodic recovery periods should help create the rhythm and sustainable peace that I need to wear my many hats effectively.
And as a meta-example, this blog post is the second in as many days. Hopefully a rhythm is developing in my time of public reflection as well. Stay tuned.
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Michael Hunger said
Hi Dave,
welcome back. As being a father of three as well as a freelance software developer, consultant and enthusiastic evangelist about better software development (and some more stuff), I really share your feelings and problems. There are so many things to do, so many demands and interests. But somehow not enough time. How do we try to solve it? Powering through the days and most of the nights. And in the end getting nothing really done? What helped me (at least partially) was a suggestion from my wife to take a blue hour each day before getting to work at the client. Just getting to some café having a big milk coffee and taking one hour for reading or thinking or writing helps a lot. Another think is reducing the workhours. I'm now down to 5-6 official hours at the clients. Thats enough for them, enough for me to feed the family and I still have enough time for children, wife and chores. And fortunately I don't need that much sleep so I have most of the night for all the other spare time activities - reading, writing (open) source, discussing etc.
We'll see how long I can sustain that pace. Wishing you and us all the best for the book and your improved life.
Do you want to use basecamp just for yourself or for the whole book teams as well as "reviewers"?
Michael
Dave Hoover said
Michael, you can contact me at dave.hoover AT gmail.com and I will invite you to Basecamp