Comma by Tara Brabazon and Discipline by Dr Sid Warrier

So I finished another audiobook ... Comma - How to restart, reclaim and reboot your PhD by Tara Brabazon.

I was cringing a bit as I was listening, it is not a pep talk book, there were some dark shades of the academic world.  Though I am new here, I wondered, do I want to dive in or was it just that the author did not have a good experience?  

The chapter that hit home and I really wanted to take key lessons and drilled well into me was taking responsibility for my PhD and the other one was on problem solving.  The six steps:

1. Write down the problem

2. Write down all the solutions, even the crazy ones

3. Think about the solution and how to action

4. Pick the most practical solution

5. Plan how are you going to enact the solution

6. Just do it!

And now I am listening to Dr Sid Warrier about discipline, etc.  

Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42DcY3ce2ck&t=319s

Decision = Outcome divided by effort.  

Motivation hook

Time, person and will power - algorithm of discipline.

Reverse engineer:

1. Have a clear outcome - measurable outcome

2. clear rewards and punishments - train the emotional part of the brain

3. Create a system - use time, person (for accountability - power (authority)

4. taking care of your body - body and mind energised not fatigued!

Productivity and dopamine

REcently I finished Ali Abdaal's 'Feel Good Productivity'.  I did not want to finish the book.  I really enjoyed it - the science, the experiments and the little nudges.  My key take away came in Chapter 9 - identifyign actions that brings meaning and joy.  VAlues at daily choices.  What are the challenges, sucess for the short term.  Short term versus long term.  What effect do the actions have on my mood, my energy and my productivity.  The overall theme was productivity is more abotu joy than discipline.

So where do I want to be in one years time?  What are the three actions I can take per day.

This made me think of my non-negotiable - I can not be without meditation, food, sleep, some sort of exercise.  

I liekd the story of taking time to sharpen the knife during the break.

What does looking confident look liek or asking how would I handle this if I was an expert in this?

Overall, the whole thing is abotu pause, reflect, take actions with joy.  Even if it is 5, 10 percent rather than taking it as a drag.  The important thing is to be aligned.

I also watched Huberman's interview on diary of a ceo.  ALl things dopamine.  

I realise I have all the tools, gadgets, technology, knowlgede and it is about implementing that works for me.  what woudl work for me?  I ask a lot of questions, that keeps my brain active.

THere is no use feelign guilty.  A bit is ok like salt, too much makes the dish yuck, unedible.

I have had back muscle pain, it is funny it was severe on Friday and a bit on Saturday where I did not do anything or much ... was scared to do the stretches too.  I felt more alive, I reflected on my PhD too the pain was an abstract where as the pain int he body was for REAL.

It has been a while since I wrote here.  

Trusting in myself and keep going alogn int he journey is something.