Category Archives: productivity

Ruminating

While we largely think of the word ruminating as the art of thinking deeply about something, it has it’s origins in the act of digestion. Specifically in ruminant animals like the cow.

From Wikipedia:

A ruminant is a mammal that digests plant-based food by initially softening it within the animal’s first compartment of the stomach, principally through bacterial actions, then regurgitating the semi-digested mass, now known as cud, and chewing it again. The process of rechewing the cud to further break down plant matter and stimulate digestion is called “ruminating”.

Therefore, it should be no surprise that another common phrase used for thinking deeply about something is “chewing the cud”.

So, to recap, ruminating is the processing of nutrition that has already been processed once and needs to be further processed to be fully digested.

Now that we know the origin, and the process, of the meaning as it relates to food digestion, I’d like to take this opportunity to suggest we better apply this action to the digestion of information.

The thing is, that we are bombarded by so much new information that we simply “swallow” it and move on. Perhaps we think about it in the moment and think we have absorbed something of value. But, like a ruminant beast, such processing can not have the same deep nutritional value as ruminating on those same things. In other words, learning something, letting it settle in, then spending further time processing it again at a much deeper level.

So, instead of exposing yourself to the constant stream of new information and knowledge this age affords us, consider spending some time “chewing the cud” of knowledge you already have. Spend some time ruminating on it — breaking it down — and by doing so make it more digestible and, therefore, nutritional.

I’m a writer. Writing is how I make this world better, friendlier, stronger place. If these words improved your day, please let me know by contributing here.

Glowing Rectangles

Many of us spend much of our days in front of some glowing rectangle. When we wake, we grab one right away. We stare into it hoping to get a jump on whatever responsibilities and expectations were dumped on us overnight. We might then turn on another as we drink our morning coffee, hoping to get “caught up” on information that is mostly meant to distract and not inform. Most of us work all day in front of one, our tasks directed, next steps informed, and labor performed inside the glowing rectangle on our desk. Even those who work in fast food or retail are largely directed by a glowing rectangle telling them who ordered what and what is expected next. We kill time in lines and waiting rooms with the rectangles. We are entertained by them. We sometimes bring our rectangles into bed with us. Because, increasingly, our books are in there.

I’m no different. I grabbed my first rectangle very shortly after waking. I will likely stare into several throughout my day. For work and for pleasure and as a way to simply pass the time. Heck, my regular gas station has them built into the pumps now. My guess is that when one is distracted by the local weather or the two-for-one beef jerky special they tend to buy more gas. In fact, I’m staring into a glowing rectangle right now. Tapping away at the illuminated screen. Convincing myself that this is the best way to write about them. That, if wisdom is born of knowledge and experience then, right now, this rectangle is supplying both.

Yet, I’m going to present myself with a small challenge this week. One you may wish to take on yourself. It is a modest change but one that, hopefully, will lead me to see if if makes difference enough to expand. I’m going to avoid glowing rectangles as much as I can for one hour after I wake up and one hour before I go to bed. If I need to write or work or wish to read, I have plenty of non-glowing rectangles for that. And, if that is not enough, I have plenty of other non-glowing shapes that would benefit from my increased engagement. I know that my soul might benefit from staring into the dark circle that is my morning coffee for some quiet contemplation.

I’m going to see if this makes any positive difference for the week ahead. And, if it does, perhaps I’ll next try a bit more.

The What-For

If the Internet is any indication, there is plenty of how-to out there. There are plenty of posts and sites that can tell you, step-by-step or in enumerated ways, how to do something. What I tend to see less of, and wish to see more of, is what-for.

Every how-to should lead with the what-for. Why this is important. Why you should do it. Why this way and not another way. Why these steps in this order. Why these things and not some other things.

We need less hows and more whys.

Those who give the how-to are not entirely at fault here. The what-for is often assumed. Of course, people know the what-for… That’s why they need the how-to. Right?

Sometimes, perhaps. Often, not. And, even if they do, their what-for is likely different in some way than the what-for you are giving the how-to about. This is your chance to share why it matters to you the giver. It may make a world of difference to the receiver.

So, if you are in the business of giving a how-to, lead with the what-for. Because, I argue that the how-to is meaningless without the what-for. The what-for is what gives the how-to a reason to exist.

I’m a writer. Writing is how I make this world better, friendlier, stronger place. If these words improved your day, please let me know by contributing here.