Remote Work Thoughts: Consume, Create and Connect

At some point in the last decade, there was a dynamic shift in the amount of time a person had to spend with themselves, introspectively, versus the connected culture of today, primarily in consumption mode. With the ability to stream and scroll so readily available to suck attention from within, the lack of mental capacity for intellection, genuine time to sit with one’s thoughts in reflection and wonderment, has created a fracture in the relationship with our intrinsic selves.

How is it that we can know and understand our natural intentions? What we really care about, and deeply desire to do with our limited constraints, in order to fulfill unlimited potential, without the time and space to think?

For years now, I’ve been searching for a healthy balance in the employee-employer relationship, and only from working in a remote capacity for the last month, has the awareness of time-value truly become apparent. By removing or minimizing a commute, I’m awarded with an additional one hour and twenty minutes, plus a few bucks in my pocket. Actually, plenty of cash, minus the gas, tolls and routine car maintenance necessary, considering the 1400 miles per month, to cover coffee and a coworking space rate, if I want to get out of the house and mix up the work environment. These tangible benefits have certainly been rewarding however, those are just a bonus in addition to the headroom gained by eliminating the stress of a commute. The concept of needing to be somewhere at a specific time, other than where you are currently, is a distraction and anxiety-inducing. Especially knowing that besides the time you leave, much can be out of your control. The idea of traffic alone causes a scattered thought-pattern leaving you unable to get into a solid flow-state. The extra forty minutes in the morning allows for a much healthier start to the day, time to make a smoothie rather than pick up a bagel at the office, a workout, a chance to read or simply to get the kids ready and the dog for a walk without anxious vibrations running through your body. The same goes for the end of the day, a chance to run a few errands, pick up the kids on time and cook a delicious dinner. It provides the opportunity to be more prepared and clear-minded to do more, better work during the day, while also freeing yourself to be the best version of you, mentally and physically for yourself and your family.

Of course, with a few extra minutes to your day, you could spend that time streaming another episode. For me, rather than a go-go-go mentality, seemingly rushing everywhere with a consistent balance of tension, I have a taste for calm. Quieting the noise has felt like thoughts fittingly connecting, like puzzle pieces snapping into place. A quick idea can flourish into a brainstorm of different feelings, opinions, perceptions, beliefs and facts. An urge to record these thoughts by writing, or recording myself ranting using audio or video is an overwhelming sensation. It seems necessary to figure out what these ideas are for, and how they can become something real.

What does that look like?

How do I design an interpretation of my ideas into a solution or at least a concept worth building that can help myself, and better yet, other people?

If it’s good, I need to share it because I feel like I’ve jumped some hurdles, rolled boulders and uncovered something tricky to discover. I want to help others see what I see, and have the tools that I have.

The need to create has taken over.

I know that I’ve been able to concentrate ideas because of the time I’ve been able to square off for moments of contemplation, thanks to working remotely. I’m not a child, and I haven’t been in school in over a decade, which means the insights I have, are experiential and aggregated by the things I consume.

“You are the the average of the five people you spend the most time with” — Jim Rohn

The thirty-plus hours of podcasts, on a weekly basis, the shows streamed and the twitter scrolls.

This intake, in many cases outweighs the time we spend with friends, family and mentors on a in-person basis. Thus, having shifted us toward personality and character development based on the content we consume, and we’re taking in more information than we ever have before.

Living, is an active word. The realest currency in life is experience, but if we’re not checking in and constantly reviewing what’s flowing in, how do we understand the impact it’s having on us and who we’re becoming because of it? Pair this with minimizing the ability to comprehend it meaningfully with space, clarity and creation, and days, turn into weeks and time flies by without a measure of evolution to your knowledge base, development and growth.

I am a firm believer in that each and every moment, is a part of who we are moving forward, no matter how physical, emotional or mundane it is. Life is happening. Something is happening all around us, all the time. A lot of those things, we can control: where we are, what we spend our time doing, and what we allow into our lives. Those things, can become stale if you’re not in a state of active awareness. There is a need to regularly check in with what we consume in order to maintain alignment with personal, professional and lifestyle priorities and intentions. For the most part, we’re being guided, rather than guiding ourselves and I believe it’s time to take the control back.

As I venture into the remote and coworking world of independence, intimately controlling more of the day, a sense of active awareness has energized an intrinsic motivation within. I am dedicated to a continuous learning philosophy, driven by curiosity to explore and build on ideas around the future of work, lifestyle, mindfulness, communication, relationships, habits and change.

I am dedicated to connecting to others through creating meaningful content utilizing the consume and create model.

A few things that have been keeping me more present and focused have been related to tracking everything I listen to, watch, read, eat etc. very simply on a spreadsheet.

Also, diving into StrengthsFinder 2.0 to discover how I absorb, think about and analyze information and situations, make things happen, influence others, and build and nurture strong relationships.

My Top 5:

Individualization

Relator

Developer

Intellection

Ideation

I’ve also been having one-hour conversations on a weekly basis with people I admire to correlate their motivations to action and understandings.

At the same time, I’m writing and recording with the intention to gain clarity and to connect with others who are driven by similar curiosities.

I’ll continue to question the shape of work and life and look forward to joining others in the conversation.