As a former computer programmer/ analyst, my entire mode of thinking is geared towards multi-tasking. As a former search engine webmaster and regular webmaster, there have been times where I’ve had to program on up to five computers simultaneously while also monitoring a half dozen websites or more and interacting with several people. It was part of the job.

As I’ve mentioned previously, multi-tasking isn’t about doing multiple tasks at the same time. It’s about managing multiple tasks simultaneously. There’s a difference. If you’re using technology, it’s even easier to to multi-task, as you can start something and let the technology take over as you do something else. Of course, you’ll have to come back to first item at some point, then repeat the cycle.

Now, you can apply multi-tasking principles in regular life as well. The only way to explain this is to give you a concrete example…

My whole mode of thinking for the past five years has been frugality out of necessity. I became a 100% bonafide starving artist/ freelance writer in Jan 2002, when my last computer contract was cut short in Dec 2001. The company had just built a new $40M facility north of Toronto, and the tech bubble had burst. Employees and contractors were cut. I was one of them.

I won’t get into a long discussion of what happened, but the result is that I’m now frugal about both money and time. It’s a bit weird being looked at with disdain by some people who think I’m cheap, especially when I used to be someone who threw money around like it was rice at a wedding.

No matter. I find that multi-tasking seems to be directly related to frugality. It’s like achieving an economy of time and effort, but not to be confused with laziness. Multi-tasking success initially requires organization and thought, but will later become habit. On to an example…

I was just thinking to myself that when I move to Toronto later this year, I plan to start going to repertory cinema and non-mainstream theatre again, as well as take up photography, volunteer at the opera and a soul kitchen, etc. But I currently do contract work all week long, day and night. I haven’t learned economy of effort. How can I possibly find the time? Not to mention, to even do laundry, I’ll probably have to either hop on a streetcar or walk to the nearest laundromat.

The frugal person in me suddenly put two concepts together:

• constrain yourself
• take photos in the street

The Headrush weblog says that if you want to create something amazing right now, you need to constrain yourself. I know from my nature as a perfectionist that I often spend more time than necessary on a project. It’s why my contract work takes about twice as long as it probably should.

So I sat down, sharpened my project management skills, and figured out how I could juggle my daily and weekly projects. Surprise, surprise, it worked. Well, sort of. Instead of spending 85+ hours per week, I calculated that I could possibly do the same amount work in only 55, give or take. That’s because, if divide each large task into smaller tasks and alternate them with the daily work, I won’t spend so much time on them. (That is, I won’t waste those hours staring at something when I could work on something else and come back to a problem.)

For example, say I have 3 recurring weekly tasks that take 15-20 hours each right now, due to doing each in a mammoth work session that isn’t always productive. Splitting each into a group of small tasks of 1-3 hours lets me cut out unproductive time. Attention span only goes so far, and interleaving different tasks will force me to stay on schedule.

I use Google Calendar, which lets me schedule my tasks, It uses an annoying popup reminder set a few minutes before a scheduled new task. This is effective if I don’t ignore it. I find that list tools like Neptune are helpful but don’t keep me to a schedule as much as annoying popup reminders.

As a result of this form of multi-tasking (doing several projects at once), I’d not only be able to complete all of my contracts and earn more money each month, but I’d have time left to do my own writing and projects. I could even take up photography again, etc., when I move. (Now, if still want to be frugal, I could always do some street photography while my laundry is being done, and then leverage that effort by doing a bit of blogging about photography.)

I’ve only been applying this new work methodology as of last night, but it appears that it’s effective, and I’m already getting more work done. Discipline in sticking to this multitasking method is the part I still have to conquer.

[Feel free to skip down to the 10-point list if you like.] Depression destroys lives, robs strength and spirit. It’s considered to be the fourth most important cause of disability worldwide, and expected to grow to second place by 2020. That’s very frightening. In the past, it was “wrong” to talk about it and an admission of weakness. But with numbers like this, talking about it is important in coping.

For those of us who try to keep depression under control and manage to live functional lives, it still sometimes sneaks up and destroys the hard-fought productivity we’ve gained. I make no bones about it; this is a very frank and open weblog. I suffer from the screaming blue meanies (seasonal affected disorder aka SAD aka seasonal depression) from about October to March. If you don’t want to read more, stop now and go elsewhere.

Usually, January isn’t as bad as December or February, but I’m going through a particular bad winter and a particular bad day today as I write this. However, I have a freelance writing business to run and I haven’t been able to do much of my contract work all day. So I’ve been going through my partially written personal blog posts (as opposed to doing paid work), finishing them up and publishing a few. Even though I wrote twelve posts for one client over the weekend, I can’t seem to bring myself to actually posting them to the weblog, partially out of guilt from not progressing on larger projects for the same client. It’s not rational, this unseen barrier stopping me.

So I’m trying to utilize my time to the best of my ability and to get at least partial productivity today. And that’s really one of the most fundamental ways to cope with depression, especially if you’re like me and refuse to take allopathic pharmaceuticals (I take homeopathic and naturopathic medicines, apply ayurvedic principles, and take vitamins for my SAD and hypothyroid problem. The latter already affects my concentration and productivity; depression worsens it.)

10 Tips For Fighting Depression

I’ve done a bit of research into fighting depression recently and I’ve put together ten brief tips for fighting depression, leaving medication out of the list (excepting vitamins), as it doesn’t work for everyone. Most of these tips are probably common sense but it’s sometimes hard to think rationally when you’re depressed, and thus easy to forget.

1. Get sufficient sleep.
   I’ve always burned the candle at both ends. It’s a flaw of being a type-A, driven, workaholic personality. Lack of sleep multiplies the effects of depression. If you can’t get a full 6-8 hours each night, try 15-30 minute catnaps through out the day. I’ve tried implementing Steve Pavlina’s attempt at polyphasic rhythm-based sleep, but I can’t quite pull it off yet. I have however been very successful in using Pzizz’s two free 15-minute energizer audio MP3 recordings for power naps several times a day. It’s unbelievable how much these help. I’ve also successfully been using binaural beats to positively affect alpha, beta, theta, etc., brainwaves. (More on that in the future.)

2. Reduce stress.
   Stress can be invisible and subconscious, and it can come from guilt about a variety of things, personal and professional. For example, as I write this article, I’m suffering from guilt for not working on client projects, which I’ve been unable to do for most of the day. That means I have to make up for this lack tomorrow, which in turn induces anxiety. It’s tough, stressful cycle. If you don’t keep stress under control, it can induce productivity-grinding panic and anxiety attacks. Naps, a walk around the neighbourhood, and exercise can help alleviate the effects immensely. Remember: you cannot learn effectively with stress weighing you down. Sometimes, practicing detachment from your worries will solve your stress.

3. Get sufficient exercise.
   It’s not just a matter of getting blood flowing, though that’s part of it. But getting outside and getting sunlight and fresh air is important because it rejuvenates you. If you work at home like I do, this is especially important. I find that despite being a hermit thinker type, physical activity makes me feel great during times of depression. Blood flow and adrenaline seem to stave off the worst effects. Though it’s sometimes hard to remember that exercise or keeping busy helps.

4. Meditate.
   Meditation can be an effective means to reducing stress and thus depression. It can also help you to become aware of what is causing your guilt, your stress, and often help you achieve some detachment from those “problems” you cannot do anything about. In short, it helps you achieve perspective, to see where to focus your attention. I’ve been meditating on and off for about 20 years. (I’ve done over 10,000 hours of meditation, part of the requirement of becoming a Buddhist monk, though not all under a “master”, which disqualifies me.)

5. Add some colour to your wardrobe.
   Tough for me, an ex-goth who still wears mostly all-black, but all dark clothes all the time increases the effects of depression. Colour stimulates positive feelings. I find blood red or a hunter green shirt helps me. Some people prefer yellow, orange or peach, or prints or paisleys. You can also add colour to your life through art therapy.

6. Eat properly.
   You know eating properly applies all the time but it’s even more crucial for those suffering from depression. I find grains, nuts, and fruit help me, and staying away from fried foods and refined carbs. I have a friend, a gifted classical guitarist, who ends up in the hospital every three or four years because of the massive amount of fast food he eats nearly every single day, and without vegetables at that. (He’s had around three meltdowns in the decade or so I’ve known him, and hasn’t worked in that time.) Even a fresh submarine/ hoagy/ rocket with lots of free toppings (i.e., veggies) is better than fries, gravy, burgers and pizzas several times a week like he has. (I’m not knocking them, as I eat them, but not every day.) Seek out healthy snacks or make your own, eat nutritious foods and add colourful vegetables and leafy items.

7. Take your vitamins.
   Learn your E, B, Cs. And Zinc, Folic acid, iron supplements, etc. Poor diet robs us of many absolutely essential nutrients. If you are not going to change your diet, whatever your reason, at least replenish those nutrients.

8. Drink water.
   The proper amount of fluids helps keep your skin from getting dry in the winter time – the “season” in seasonal depression. It also helps clear out some of the toxins in your body. And by the way, it’s NOT 8 glasses per day for everyone. The proper amount is based on your body weight, age, activity level, and other factors.

9. Add extra lighting.
   Research shows that adding some warm, bright lights helps fight the effects of depression. You don’t have to spend $150+ on special lamps; just increase the wattage in some of your light bulbs. Also, fluorescent lights are less bright than they appear. Try to replace them if possible.

10. Smile.
    It’s not a guaranteed nor permanent cure, but it does help sometimes, if you can maintain a smile for a few minutes. I watch The Comedy Network (Canada) sometimes, as laughing helps – at least temporarily, like chicken soup sort of helps a cold. Remembering to do so is key, so you may need to tape some visual reminders to your mirrors or computer, etc.

Disclaimer: I am by no means a doctor and don’t pretend to be. There’s more than one way to fight depression. If you have insidious, persistent depression, consider seeing a doctor, pyschiatrist or a therapist. (For some people, drugs may be the only answer.) Thus, the information provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice – only the findings of someone who suffers from seasonal depression. You use the information found here at your own risk only.

1. Learn what you know.
   What do you really know about the topic? You might know more than you think. Writing down your knowledge in point form (or in a brainstormed mind map) helps you to learn what you already know. This makes it easier to decide what you still have to learn.

2. Learn what you don’t know (i.e., decide what to learn).
   When I was in my twenties and wanted to be an actor, I started studying Lee Strasberg’s method acting by “living” a role to the best of my ability. I try to do the analogue with writing, when possible, especially on topics I’ll be writing about regularly. Now, maybe you don’t need to be an expert, but do you know what you need to learn for your immediate purposes? Whether you’re writing an article, a blog post, a term paper, a technical manual or just learning, decide on the scope of your learning. For example, if you’re learning a highly technical subject, you may need to prep your mind by browsing and surfing relevant websites before the actual learning. This task should be part of your scope as well.

3. Map out your project plan.
   No matter how little you have to learn, it’s still a project, and (mind)mapping what your tasks are makes them concrete in your mind. This plan should be an extension of the scope you determined in the last step. If your learning is going to be over a long-term, and/or if you will be learning multiple topics, a project plan just helps you balance everything without feeling overwhelmed. (I’ll get into more detail about using mindmapping to develop a project plan in the future.)

4. Choose your references.
   Now you’re implementing your project plan. One step should be to choose some references. If you have access to a suitable library, go for it. If not, use a good search engine online and bookmark some suitable references in your web browser. Be as thorough as you need to be, as these will be the soure of your new knowledge.

5. Summarize each reference.
   After selecting your references, read and summarize them fast. I’ll have a separate post in near the future on how to do this using mind maps. Basically, summarize each reference in a few articles. Make your own Cliff Notes, so to speak. For each paragraph in each reference, write only one or two sentences of summary. Stop yourself from going beyond that, and don’t edit your summaries. (You can always go back and re-read if you felt you missed something.)

6. Rewrite your summaries.
   To concretize your new knowledge, take your summaries for all references as a whole and write a short blog post or article, regardless of why you’re learning. Make sure that you use your own words. To insure that, try writing without looking at your summaries, if possible. This is the last and most important step.

I’ll try to expand on each step in separate posts in the near future. If you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment.

There are so many theories and claims out there about the human ability to multi-task or not, and I thought I’d put my thoughts out there. I’ve been a multi-tasker for at least 20 years, if not longer. Though there’s a right way to go about it, and it requires both organization and discipline. I have loads of the former but I struggle with the latter.

Instead of babbling theoretically, let me give you a concrete example. (My posts tend to be long and detailed, but I’ll try to be brief this time.) As of this month, if I can manage the workload, I know have enough writing/ blogging contracts to consider myself a full-time professional freelance writer and blogger. My own sites’ revenue is tiny, but that’s another story. Here’s the breakdown of my workload, in general terms:

• 13 blog posts daily for 5 blogs (shrunk from 7), on weekdays. [Though I I actually post them any day of the week that's suitable.]

• 1-3 large articles weekly. Fixed deadlines, research- intensive, potentially-stressful work because there’s a lot at stake. Retainer work for the foreseeable future.

My work is anonymous, so I’m not giving example links. If you know me, you already know where to find me. But let’s start with the blog posts. I’m now focusing on two topics, shrunk down last month from three. I needed to revise my daily writing focus because for every topic I wrote about, I had to do a minimum amount of reading/ scanning everyday, including weekends, just to keep up. Now, with two topics only, my aim is laser-focused.

The fact is, I can spend, say, 2 hours each day reading one topic and 1 hr for the other one. It usually ends up being an average of 4 hrs/day total because I cross- pollinate my interests by reading other blogs that are related to my topics but not focused.

Regardless, for the amount of reading I do, I can write one post or I can write ten for that reading session. I try to read the night before, write a bit of possible, then continue reading in the morning. Post ideas have usually brewed in my head overnight. While some people might call that “sleeping on it”, it’s actually a form of multi-tasking that takes very little effort. When I don’t do any reading the night before, the next day’s writing usually is very functional and technical, not as entertaining. [Though that's not to say every post has to be entertaining.]

And then there are the weekly articles I write. While they don’t pay as much as a print article might for the same amount of output, they still pay well. What’s more, I’m on retainer with them. For the foreseeable future, I have at least 2 every week. That means guaranteed income and some peace of mind as a freelancer. (Despite the stress of the actual work.)

The problem is that they are research-intensive, with topics that are sometimes new to me. If I don’t plan well, I sometimes end up working for $6/hr or less. On the other hand, if I apply multi-tasking at its best, I could make $30/hr on some (not all) of these articles.

So what do I need to do to maximize my hourly earnings potential? Answer: multi-task properly. What does this entail? Here is a short task list of my methodology:

• Day 1:

• Scope out the problem. Understand what the client needs.

• Write up my genral task list for a given article. I apply project management principles here, which I was partly trained in back in the corporate world in the late 1990s.

• Build a mindmap of all the elements of the project that I’ll need to address, including each section to be written and references I need to read and link to.

• Take a short break, maybe work on something else.

• Spend one hour scanning (not reading) some of the references I’ve been given, as well as building up a list of additional references.

• My mind has had at least an overnight period to absorb what needs to be done, in general. I may not yet have an “angle” for the article. However, I go the metaphysical route with this, due to long experience in writing, and let the angle present itself to me. I never force it. But if I don’t do Day 1’s scoping immediately, I cannot meet my tight deadlines of 7 days or less for each weekly article. If I have details 3 weeks beforehand, then I start scoping then.

• Spend an hour or two browsing and/or reading a few references from my list, just to be sure to prep my mind for acquiring knowledge about the topic.
• Cull the reference list, if possible.

• Depending on when I had details of an assignment, it may be weeks or up to two months before I actually start on a particular article. I have some articles that I’ve set researchers to working on for me three months ahead of time.

• In the meantime, multi-tasking has kicked in. While I’ve been working on other articles and on the blogs, the “background processes” in my mind have been quietly flagging any information I come upon in relation to the project at hand.

• So when I actually reading and making notes, I often find that each section of the article “writes itself” in my head, and I merely have to type it out, then add hyperlinks to supporting references.

• This is what I mean by multi-tasking. Let the background processes in your head work for you by feeding them info early. Now move on to other work in the meantime.
• However, if the article has not yet formed in my head by Day R1, I start reading indepth, taking notes, etc.
• I then write up a draft and let it “sit” overnight.
• This is followed up by an edit to both tighten the writing, add any unlinked references, and get the word count right.

Now, I’ve given “blogging” as an application of this form of multi-tasking. However, you can apply similar methods for any discipline where you have to juggle a lot of tasks that require a great deal of thought and/or research. I use a combination of mindmapping, learning methods, and project management (PM) because it works for me. Without the PM, I’d be a basket case, due to my workload.

The success of my version of multi-tasking for writing is faith- based. I stumbled upon this technique over the years, and it never fails me. Provided I actually trust it and have the discipline to use it. And that’s the hardest part for me.

To further my new topic direction on this site, I’ve put together an initial mind map representing the topics I’ll be discussing here, based both on my own knowledge and that of what I’m researching at the moment. Some of the topics overlap my Prosperity Project site (more on that later), Steve Pavlina, Life Hack, Life Hacker, and others. Keep in mind that I’ve been following these topics since approximately 1975, from even before I first laid hands on a computer in 1977, when my father had a sabbatical at Berkeley University. The techniques I’ll discuss often work from first principles, using pen and paper, but can be translated into digital form. I’ll mix the two together and, when appropriate, let you choose how you want to follow along.

My basic, over-arching agenda is this: to push that supposed 10% of our brains that we supposedly only use. I’ll be straightforward enough to say that I feel that I have achieved far beyond that, but want to go as far as possible, and essentially want to share my techniques. They’ll be here for you if you want to follow along. Anything you don’t follow, you can drop a comment or question, but I would expect you to also do your own research to keep up with me. If you want to push your knowledge and IQ, then come back often. (And challenge me, too.)

By the way, if you cannot view the above PNG topic map, here it is in PDF form. It’s just a placeholder for now, to give you an idea of the direction I’m going, and will be expanded upon later.

I’ve been fortunate to be involved in some education-related writing lately, and it reminded me of my own learning and teaching research of 30 years. I’ve been studying learning and memory techniques since my mid-teens. When I was a college teaching assistant, I spent even more time learning how we humans learn. This quest for knowledge has stuck with me, but until I started reading weblogs such as the inspirational Steve Pavlina, I didn’t realize that there was an online market for learning.

Learning goes well beyond just personal development. My angle is that efficient communication – which this weblog is still about – requires constant learning. That said, this site is now going to focus on learning techniques. I’ll say in advance that some of the topics I’ll discuss here will be fairly intense tutorials meant to expand your I.Q. And as diagrams are important for communication, and since I love to create them, you should see lots of diagrams here. All of the (future) diagrams are under a CC (Creative Commons) and you are welcome to reprint them on your website/ weblog provided you give attribution (i.e., at least a link back to this site.)

I’ll be adding a few ebooks to the mix, as I am able.