December 2019 Summaries

I set 30-, 60-, and 90-day goals at Zapier as part of my onboarding process, but I failed to meet some of them due to a delay in setting them and changes in the team structure. To avoid similar failures, it's essential to set goals early, be proactive about reviewing and adjusting them regularly, and take a step back when faced with challenges or setbacks. This allows for more realistic expectations and a better understanding of what's required to achieve objectives. Additionally, being transparent with managers and teams about progress and setbacks can help mitigate anxiety and shame associated with missing goals. Ultimately, setting goals is crucial, but it's equally important to be kind to oneself when faced with failure, recognizing that ambitious goals are meant to inspire growth and improvement.

Knowledge workers, those who spend most of their workday using a computer in a professional setting, are considering changes to their careers in the new year. Nearly three-quarters of employed Americans and almost nine-tenths of employed college graduates identify as knowledge workers. They often find themselves working long hours with only 5.8 hours spent doing meaningful work each day, while 3.8 hours is spent on busywork. This can lead to stress, with nearly 9 in 10 knowledge workers experiencing some level of job-related stress. The main causes of this stress are being overloaded with busy work, unable to unplug from work, and dealing with difficult coworkers or managers. To cope, many knowlege workers take breaks during the day, lie about taking mental health days, or seek new opportunities like getting a raise, promotion, or looking for a new job. Many knowledge workers also want to develop soft skills such as critical thinking, leadership, and communication to increase their chances of success in their careers.

Wunderlist is shutting down on May 6, 2020, and users can continue using the app until then. Microsoft To Do, a spiritual successor to Wunderlist, offers a familiar interface and integrates well with Outlook and other Microsoft tools. Users have options for migrating their tasks to other apps, including exporting data or using Zapier integrations with various services like Trello and Google Tasks. The shutdown is not due to a decline in quality or popularity but rather as part of Microsoft's planned transition. Users are encouraged to migrate sooner rather than later to find an alternative that suits them best.

Working from home or a traditional office may not be the most productive environment for everyone, and many people find that they are most productive in non-traditional spaces such as coffee shops, libraries, or even their own homes. A survey by Zapier found that 42% of American knowledge workers feel most productive working at home, while 11% prefer co-working spaces and 9% work outside. Having a secondary workspace can help individuals overcome feelings of stuckness and increase productivity, as changing environments can stimulate creativity and concentration. Factors to consider when choosing a secondary workspace include ambient noise, comfort, lighting, access to WiFi and electricity, and personal preferences. By experimenting with different workspaces and considering these factors, individuals can discover what works best for them and boost their productivity.

The piece explores the relationship between walking and creativity, suggesting that many famous creative individuals, from Beethoven to Steve Jobs, have used walking as part of their creative process. While anecdotal evidence supports the notion that walking can enhance creativity, scientific studies, such as a 2014 Stanford study, have shown that walking can significantly boost divergent thinking, a key component of creativity, more so than sitting. However, this boost is specific to divergent thinking and does not extend to convergent thinking, which requires focused problem-solving. The intensity and nature of the exercise also play a role; moderate exercise like walking can enhance creativity, whereas more intense activities might not. The article concludes that although the exact mechanism linking walking to creativity remains uncertain, relaxed, aimless physical movement could foster stronger creative thinking, making it a seemingly productive form of procrastination.