How is organization like exercise?
How is a raven like a writing desk?
This is my newsletter. These are my opinions. They may not be your opinions. That’s ok!
AirTable. Scrivener. Blackboards or notecards. Clickup. Dropbox.
Distance running. Zumba. Weights. Walking. Yoga.
What do these things have in common? This is not a “how is a raven like a writing desk” question.* Yes, the first list is organizational methods used by writers. The second is a list of exercises. What they have in common is that every one of these methods or exercises has their devotees. And every one of those devotees will try to tell you that their method is hands down the best.
Every one of them is wrong. Every one of them is also right! Because organization methods and exercising have one huge thing in common: The one that works is the one that you enjoy, that fits into your life. The one that works is the one that works for you.
Running or walking or cycling or weights
I’ve been “athletic” or “fit” or whatever you want to call it since about high school (there’s a story around that for another time). I have, in that time, taken up and dropped a dozen athletic endeavors. Yoga, running, basketball, weights, martial arts of various stripes, archery, hiking, walking, ultimate frisbee, swimming, pilates, kayaking, dancing of various types, Zumba. The reality is I just love to move and I always have. I’m a giant labrador in a human trenchcoat, I’m full of wiggles and need to get them out.
I come to this with privilege. I have activity and exercise on easy mode. I am physically abled, and my build is such that most people don’t question when I want to try something new. I have the financial privilege to pay for classes and gym memberships. I have a safe place to run. My gender identity slots easily into competition distinctions. Not everyone has these things.
So I try not to evangelize my various activities (though I do get very excited about them), and keep it mostly to “join ussssss” when people seem interested (and encouraging every parent to get their kid in Judo because learning how to fall is important!).
It also means people ask me for workout advice. A lot. They want to know what exercise they should do to achieve what outcome they want.** And some have looked askance at me. Because I will not tell them. I won’t tell them what to do. I’ll tell them to please come join and try something if they think they would like it. But I won’t give an exercise prescription. Because I am not them. I can’t say they’ll like what I like!
My swirl of activity also causes some people around me to feel a lot of guilt. Often I don’t even say anything, and someone will sheepishly admit that they tried going to the gym, and couldn’t stick with it. Or tried running and hated it. Or can’t swim. Or don’t dance.
Recently, a person was being sheepish, and said really, what he likes and manages to do is just take long walks every day. And he was surprised, and tried to wave it off, when I said, hey, that’s great!
But it IS great! He found an activity that he likes. He found an activity that he’ll do. He found something that brings him joy.
Because as I’m sure we’ve all heard by now: The best exercise is the exercise you will DO. The exercise you will stick with. Exercise, the exercise you’re capable of, that you enjoy, that you will do, is good for you. Full stop.
Scrivener and Airtable and Post-Its oh my
And I realized recently that the same is true of organization. My fabulous former editor (I still write for her, I’m just not on staff), Sarah Zielinski, has started a new newsletter devoted to organization as a writer. I’m looking forward to many new tips, because I can tell you now, most of my organization skills? I get from her.
In the post above, Sarah talks about how she used to write things down. But she doesn’t anymore. She’s now an AirTable devotee. I get why, it seems like a great way to work across a team when a bunch of things are happening at different times with different people each contributing a bit.
But when I read her piece “don’t write it down,” it was my own turn to feel sheepish: I still write things down. Not only that, I still LOVE a good erasable gel pen (with the way my schedule changes I need erasable). I also, in a hold over from Millennial K-12, love color coding.
My life is contained in a series of notebooks. I have one yearly planner, where I keep all of my meetings, as well as a big set of weekly lists. I also have a smaller notebook.*** Every night I write down a to do list in that notebook, which lays out what I need to do the next day, complete with meeting times and little things like emptying the effing dishwasher. I send that list to my accountability buddy (she knows who she is, I cannot live without her)—a dear friend who I would talk to daily anyway, we just also use the opportunity to cheer each other on to meet deadlines, take care of annoying little tasks, and keep up with the dreadful neverending chores of life.
My freelance income is kept in a carefully updated secure spreadsheet, along with my quarterly goals. I’ve even got a chalkboard. I use it to outline my stories and chapters.
And when I went to write my book, I did not use Scrivener. My book is organized in a series of folders. There are folders for each chapter. A folder for interviews is organized by topic and then by source name. Demographics for all of my sources are in a spreadsheet. Each chapter was just….written in Word, and then the whole thing was chunked together. I feel like it came out pretty good though.
Could I, in theory, use one major app? Yes. I could use Clickup to keep track of task lists and set reminders (one of my clients makes me). I could use AirTable to organize lists and keep track of where each project is. I could use Scrivener, and I have tried it in the past.
But, my lists work for me. I like crossing things off of them. My spreadsheet? Works! I haven’t missed an item on my taxes in two years.**** My blackboard? Also works for me. The system sounds janky and cobbled together. But I am, in fact, extremely organized. Deadlines are not things I miss.****
I do feel sheepish. I feel like I should be able to better use the apps and programs and that if I did somehow I would have more hours in the day.
But this sheep is trying to shed her shame. Because just like exercise: The best organizational thing for you is the one you’ll do. It’s the one you find rewarding. The one that lets you do your job the way you want to do it. Some people might be able to do a written list. Some might not. For some people with ADHD it can be really hard to like, write a list and then misplace the list and then write another list and then shove that somewhere and you get the idea. Other people with ADHD might find a list with a pretty notebook they can cling to like a limpet is a lifesaver.
The trick is to try things. Try lists. Try AirTable. Try Clickup. Try accountability buddies and planners and Dropbox and Drive and apps. And if you don’t like it? If it doesn’t work? Use what does. I still try new things to see if one will be better. Based on Sarah’s recommendation, I might be trying AirTable soon (I tried it once but had trouble with it). Organization, like exercise, is a means to an end. And there are many means.
Where have you been?
Is it finding out that crows can count? They count with caws! And they count in a way very similar to human toddlers.
In a study I wish I’d been able to write about, scientists have found out how the cockroach took over the world. It’s not German after all. But I’m sure you knew that part.
Maybe it’s about how…you know we spend a lot of time scolding places of power for getting it wrong. How often do we say thanks, you did it right? Yes, often it’s fixing. Often they’re behind. But when you come to activism is when you show up. It’s never too late to do the right thing.
This is an older piece that always makes me think: Climate change isn’t on us to recycle. We can’t individually fix the world that way. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do anything!
I find it fascinating that bone marrow transplants might change how an animal ages! I donated bone marrow myself…and now I wonder…did I change my recipient’s aging process?
Where have I been?
I’ve been finding out that the USDA has a mascot. It’s a giant meat thermometer. I’m not over it.
I’ve also been on CBC Sunday talking about my book! It was lovely to have such an in depth conversation!
And for my latest at Scientific American, I’m here to talk about why I’m jealous of your third nipple. Because I am. It’s really cool.
Anti-Discourse Actions
The letters continue apace. We’re now enlisting our friends who come over to help write more letters encouraging people to vote. Posting mindfully isn’t gonna cut it.
Excited to be entering my freelance stuff into the Freelance Solidarity Project’s Rate Sharing Survey to contribute data to a good cause!
I donated to a cause I cared about this week.
Also happy to join my local native plan community! It’s a place to get knowledge about native plants, and you can swap the invasives in your yard with natives. While I personally find invasive plants to be unfairly demonized, I’m glad to plant natives where I can. Installed some native blueberry and ginger this year!
*Shout out for all those who get the reference. You get me.
**Yes, many want me to help them lose weight. Nope. Won’t do it. I will not help you.
***many of which are provided by my lovely friend Misty, which gives me an extra smile of joy when I use them. Some she even crocheted the spines of so they lay lovely and flat! For lefties like her and I, it’s a game changer. If you collect pretty notebooks and never use them, I am here to give your pretty notebooks a good home! I will use them! They will travel the world! I will love them!
****I’ve jinxed it now.