Search found 37 matches

by brownstudy
Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:27 am
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: Stick to Speed Limits
Replies: 18
Views: 40761

Drive for distance, not speed

In addition to sticking to the speed limit, and if you don't want to be glancing at your speedometer all the time, keep a safe distance from the car in front of you instead. I think (someone Google this for me) that when the car in front of you passes a landmark, count to yourself "one-mississippi, ...
by brownstudy
Thu Oct 05, 2006 12:05 pm
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: Weekend Luddite
Replies: 29
Views: 48793

Alas, the WL

My current work schedule and taking an online course means that the weekends are the only time I have to do my schoolwork or catch up on office work. What I may institute, though, is the idea that when 6 pm rolls around, the computer goes off, as if it were a workday. Alternatively, I've been using ...
by brownstudy
Thu Oct 05, 2006 11:59 am
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: Mark Forster's Getting Things Done site
Replies: 3
Views: 13820

Thanks, R. Actually, in one of Forster's books (or his newsletter, can't remember which), he talks about the choices one makes and that the best choice is the one that's "in one's best interests." That's intrigued me, for whatever reason. "No options" is the short-term, imposed rule, but the higher ...
by brownstudy
Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:50 pm
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: Mark Forster's Getting Things Done site
Replies: 3
Views: 13820

Mark Forster's Getting Things Done site

Hi all. I've been a sometime poster/lurker on the forum. I'm a devotee of UK author/coach Mark Forster's time management systems, and cited the No S diet in a comment on his web site. ( http://www.markforster.net/blog/2006/9/28/its-not-an-option.html ) He posted about keeping in mind the idea of "it...
by brownstudy
Mon Mar 13, 2006 1:34 pm
Forum: Daily Check In
Topic: Brownstudy's check in
Replies: 20
Views: 37121

Total, abject failure

But it's only a diet, so it's ok :) Was doing well last week up until I was getting ready to leave at 4:30 pm and my manager rushes in for me to revamp two slides for a client. I started work on it, he had to leave and then came back. We both left here about 9:30 pm but the slides looked real purty....
by brownstudy
Tue Mar 07, 2006 1:27 pm
Forum: Daily Check In
Topic: Brownstudy's check in
Replies: 20
Views: 37121

Monday 3/6 -- SUCCESS

No formal exercise, but strained a back muscle at my comedy improv class, so I feel exercised.
by brownstudy
Mon Mar 06, 2006 4:14 pm
Forum: Daily Check In
Topic: Brownstudy's check in
Replies: 20
Views: 37121

Success for 7 days

Finished last Thu and Fri as successful No S days. Did my workouts as scheduled and over the weekends. Treated myself to a so-so pancake breakfast on Sunday but it lasted me through the day. For this week, just planning to do the same. Breakfast, lunch, supper. My liter of seltzer and a diet coke in...
by brownstudy
Fri Mar 03, 2006 2:51 am
Forum: Daily Check In
Topic: Brownstudy's check in
Replies: 20
Views: 37121

Small changes, big benefits

Well, as I was saying...(Has it really been since July that I was last here??) Liz recovered from her hospital stay just fine and is back in school. I'm still gainfully employed. In February, made some changes to my routines (which I may discourse about later): * started getting up an hour earlier (...
by brownstudy
Fri Mar 03, 2006 2:25 am
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: Impulse spending- How (not) to...
Replies: 11
Views: 26817

What cured me of 95% of my impulse spending was making a budget. It is very depressing to see how little money one has left over after just the most necessary expenses. If you're insufficiently depressed, try maxing out your 401k, roth IRA, and setting up 529s for your kids -- unless you're very ri...
by brownstudy
Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:57 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Non dairy creamer
Replies: 14
Views: 24825

We use Silk soy creamer; it's a little thinner but not as rich. We like it.
by brownstudy
Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:48 pm
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: Impulse spending- How (not) to...
Replies: 11
Views: 26817

We've started eating more meals at home (helps with No S!) and then going out for a meal on the weekend. Makes the eating out more special. I posted elsewhere on this board about The Bword (bword.com) which has a very good, simple system for managing your cashflow. Basically, I give myself an allowa...
by brownstudy
Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:35 pm
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: Neatness-related Everyday System?
Replies: 9
Views: 25801

Look at the book called ORGANIZING FROM THE INSIDE OUT by Julie Morgenstern. It boils down to the kindergarten organization methodology: everything in its place. Give everything a designated home and that becomes the first place to look for something. There's lots more to it, of course, but it's as ...
by brownstudy
Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:56 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Why Americans are fatter
Replies: 11
Views: 20800

Why Americans are fatter

This is a link to a libertarian economics blog called Marginal Revolution. They quote from a new book that posits the reason Americans are getting fatter is because of their snacking, caused by Americans seeking comfort foods to escape the stress of their daily lives. Hmmm. Maybe a little exercise a...
by brownstudy
Thu Jul 14, 2005 10:51 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: The World Does Not Have to Agree. No-S WORKS! (for us)
Replies: 10
Views: 23457

However, the general lack of time to do anything personally about it results in your take-out food, hence the rise of Boston Market, KFC, etc., etc. Can't remember where I was reading this, but basic cooking classes are booming now because people aren't learning basic cooking techniques (roasting a...
by brownstudy
Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:06 pm
Forum: Daily Check In
Topic: Brownstudy's check in
Replies: 20
Views: 37121

Difficult days behind you, sounds like you did pretty well! :D Thanks. Well, some difficulties are still ahead, but one keeps doing what has to be done. It's good to have the structure of something like No S and SG to at least help keep me on a minimum maintenance routine. Otherwise, I'd go to pot.
by brownstudy
Wed Jul 13, 2005 4:30 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: The World Does Not Have to Agree. No-S WORKS! (for us)
Replies: 10
Views: 23457

I think frequent meals are suggested because it keeps the body's metabolism chugging along to burn the food (I think that's the theory). Also, on the Body for Life plan and other exercise regimens, since you're exercising so much and so intensively, you do feel hungrier and you naturally want to eat...
by brownstudy
Wed Jul 13, 2005 4:21 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Diet Pop
Replies: 35
Views: 48584

At work, I may drink one diet soda after lunch because I like the sweet taste as a 'finish' to my drab lunches. I also like the burn of the carbonation. But since it's like drinking candy, I don't do more than 1 can during the weekdays. At home, I love lemon-lime seltzers. My grocery store carries t...
by brownstudy
Wed Jul 13, 2005 4:04 pm
Forum: Daily Check In
Topic: Brownstudy's check in
Replies: 20
Views: 37121

Jul 11,12

Mon - Success. SG in morning, 3 meals. Ate at Chick-fil-a at lunch with co-workers, but ordered one of the salads, not the sandwiches. Tue - Failure, but then I rearranged the goalposts and dubbed it an S day. Yoga in the morning (sun salutations, a few twists and stretches), which I find to be bett...
by brownstudy
Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:01 pm
Forum: Daily Check In
Topic: Brownstudy's check in
Replies: 20
Views: 37121

On hold...

My wife went into the hospital Tuesday and may be out on Saturday. I'm able to keep up 3 meals a day with no snacks but they're on the go, in the hospital cafeteria, fast food, or wherever. No exercising as I'm going right to bed and then getting up and doing the daily chores so I can get to work fo...
by brownstudy
Sun Jul 03, 2005 2:49 am
Forum: Daily Check In
Topic: Brownstudy's check in
Replies: 20
Views: 37121

Missed the daily check-ins

Here's a quickie rundown of the week: SG'd every day, usually before work, but after work on Friday. I think I need to do something else on one or two of the days as my left arm is feeling a not-good sore. I'll take a break over the long holiday. SG is a blessing though; whenever I think I can't exe...
by brownstudy
Wed Jun 29, 2005 7:03 pm
Forum: Daily Check In
Topic: Brownstudy's check in
Replies: 20
Views: 37121

It occurs to me that the extreme programming tenet is just the imperativisation of occam's razor: Whoa, I bailed at imperativisation :) There's a lot to be said for the simple. David Allen's GTD time management philosophy is that your system has to be as simple as possible so that you can use it wh...
by brownstudy
Wed Jun 29, 2005 2:30 pm
Forum: Daily Check In
Topic: Brownstudy's check in
Replies: 20
Views: 37121

6/28

No S - 3 meals, no snacks. SG: Yep. No extras. I prefer doing it in the morning after I get up. Am finding that with my current 9-hr workday, SG is about the only exercise I can force myself to do or can make time for. My previous weight/exercise routines all require 30-40 minutes at a minimum. It i...
by brownstudy
Tue Jun 28, 2005 1:37 am
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: Creative work "everyday system"?
Replies: 23
Views: 41289

Self-publishing

Jan, thanks for the tips. I'll check these out and compare with cafepress. Reinhard -- found this article from lifehacker.com that pertains to peoples' experiences with self-publishing. More food for thought. Chew thoroughly. http://www.lifehacker.com/software/life-hacks/notes-from-selfpublishers-1...
by brownstudy
Tue Jun 28, 2005 1:04 am
Forum: Daily Check In
Topic: Brownstudy's check in
Replies: 20
Views: 37121

June 27

SG: 14 minutes

No walking (92 very humid degrees here)

No S: 3 good meals. I did share a cookie with my wife that was left over from the weekend. So, my bad.
by brownstudy
Mon Jun 27, 2005 2:55 pm
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: Return of the Weekend Luddite
Replies: 31
Views: 55509

As a trained librarian, I'm a natural browser, and while this is great in a physical library where some activation energy is required and serves as a filter, it leads to utter paralysis on the web. It's a little disturbing to think that we've reached the point of social and technological developmen...
by brownstudy
Mon Jun 27, 2005 1:14 am
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: Return of the Weekend Luddite
Replies: 31
Views: 55509

Slight mod to the rules

I will also not turn on my Clie unless i need to look up a reference. I keep lots of downloaded web pages, e-books, and such to read in spare moments. But I find myself sticking around to play a little game or something. So, in addition to no computer, no PDA. And on days when I don't eat supper (it...
by brownstudy
Fri Jun 24, 2005 7:40 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Man claims to survive on diet of lies -- I mean light
Replies: 5
Views: 15803

Jay's Journal of Anomalies

On the subject of fasting, turn to Jay's Journal of Anomalies , an amazing book by magician/writer Ricky Jay, where he describes charlatans and "amazing" feats of all kinds. He has a whole chapter on people hoodwinking the public by fasting in public (but sneaking ham on the side) such as the Breath...
by brownstudy
Fri Jun 24, 2005 1:35 pm
Forum: Daily Check In
Topic: Brownstudy's check in
Replies: 20
Views: 37121

SG for 14

Woke up late and negotiated with myself whether to do SG or not. Talked myself into it by saying, "It's only for 14 minutes, then you can have breakfast." So, I did the 14 minutes and no extras. Will probably lunch in the cafeteria today and have beans/tortillas for supper. I also like a little nigh...
by brownstudy
Fri Jun 24, 2005 3:01 am
Forum: Daily Check In
Topic: Brownstudy's check in
Replies: 20
Views: 37121

Brownstudy's check in

Started both SG and No S about the middle of last week. Did SG M/W/F last week, and M/Tu/Th this week. No S: actually not having much of a problem with the diet. (Diet from the Greek dietos, "way of life," or so I heard somewhere.) The structure is important; it's straightforward and easy to keep in...
by brownstudy
Fri Jun 24, 2005 2:26 am
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: Return of the Weekend Luddite
Replies: 31
Views: 55509

Process what we consume

luddites may be the only ones left who can concentrate long enough to actually use the information that everyone else thinks they have access to. This reminded me so much of something Jeannette Winterson (British novelist) said on her web site a while back: that we consume far more than we process....
by brownstudy
Sat Jun 18, 2005 2:16 pm
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: 43Folders and Lifehacks
Replies: 5
Views: 17986

Merlin is quick! Looks like there's an everydaysystems link on the 43 folders home page already. And he (or his doppelganger) seems to have joined our bb. Welcome and thanks, Merlin. Yeah, I saw the link in his sidebar earlier this week. Congratulations! His sidebar links are always very interestin...
by brownstudy
Mon Jun 13, 2005 1:56 pm
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: 43Folders and Lifehacks
Replies: 5
Views: 17986

Think merlin would be amenable to a link exchange? Oh, heck, there's something so scammish about that, I'll just link to him. I don't know Merlin personally, but he's quite the digital celeb nowadays. If you look at his pages, you see Trackbacks and all sorts of links back to individual pages of hi...
by brownstudy
Sun Jun 12, 2005 4:23 am
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: 43Folders and Lifehacks
Replies: 5
Views: 17986

43Folders and Lifehacks

Hi all. I'm rather surprised not to have come across mention of Merlin Mann's 43 Folders sites (web and wiki). It's oodles of tricks geared to "getting things done," along with "lifehacks." As Merlin puts it in one of his posts, these are ways to patch weaknesses in our personal OS. He also hosts a ...
by brownstudy
Sun Jun 12, 2005 4:00 am
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: Financial Everyday Systems
Replies: 27
Views: 54013

BWord

Funny how the latter consideration has loomed so disproportionately large in my concerns... no more! B-word looks very promising... I'll have to spend some more time looking at that. Hi Reinhard -- I wonder if "the float" really means anything anymore what with instant deductions from checking acco...
by brownstudy
Sun Jun 12, 2005 3:50 am
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: Creative work "everyday system"?
Replies: 23
Views: 41289

I've made an absurdly ambitious monthly resolution this month (especially given that I made it mid-month) to find a literary agent for the nosdiet manifesto, so I guess you could say I'm actively in the market for this kind of advice. Thanks, Mike! I think I just might pick up this book. Reinhard -...
by brownstudy
Thu Jun 09, 2005 2:55 am
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: Financial Everyday Systems
Replies: 27
Views: 54013

Re: Financial Everyday Systems

I was just wondering, in general, what "everyday systems" people have come up with that deal with finances. I find that I've been using one all along and never knew that it qualified as an everyday system. So - are there any others out there? I'd be interested to know what your business is. I was l...
by brownstudy
Thu Jun 09, 2005 2:36 am
Forum: Everyday Systems General Discussion
Topic: Creative work "everyday system"?
Replies: 23
Views: 41289

Re: Creative work "everyday system"?

Is there a "system" out there for forcing oneself to do creative work? Look for a book called THE WAR OF ART by Steven Pressfield (he wrote THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE, I think). It's mainly geared to writers suffering blockage, but can be a template for any artist or office worker who's procrastina...