The Weekly Review 03-26

The Weekly Scribble “The quieter you become the more you can hear. - Ram Dass” Understanding Zettelkasten better I’ve recently been diving deep into the Zettelkasten method—a German concept that translates to 'slip box'—and it’s slowly changing how I think about organising my life. At its core, this system is about more than just filing away information; it’s a framework for learning and understanding that relies on three specific types of notes: fleeting, literature, and permanent notes. I will write more about these three types of notes in greater detail once I understand the difference. Looking at my current habits,...

The Weekly Review 02-26

Introduction First of all, I would like to say thank you for all the supportive messages and critiques I received for last week’s Weekly Review. Both positive and negative feedback helps me improve on my writing and viewpoints.  Moving forward, I want to put it out there that my life can be hectic working in education, so some weekly posts may only be 200 words and others may feel like an essay. Some weeks could come with additional blog posts to reviews, thoughts and opinions (linked inside the Weekly Review). Either way, I will post each week like I set...

The Weekly Review 01-26

Hi, I'm Mark. In a recent post, I admitted I had somewhat neglected the writing and online space. It's true - I have been busy with work and life commitments. In the process of getting my life in order, I forgot about my hobbies, interests and connecting with others. I needed down time to refocus my attention and reduce the stress that was mounting up. The workload is still heavy. However, I want 2026 to be the year I reclaim my hobbies and take care of my health, wealth, well-being and future aspirations. My posts will reflect this.  So, what...

The Weekly Review 01-26

Hi, I'm Mark. In a recent post, I admitted I had somewhat neglected the writing and online space. It's true - I have been busy with work and life commitments. In the process of getting my life in order, I forgot about my hobbies, interests and connecting with others. I needed down time to refocus my attention and reduce the stress that was mounting up. The workload is still heavy. However, I want 2026 to be the year I reclaim my hobbies and take care of my health, wealth, well-being and future aspirations. My posts will reflect this.  So, what...

Is 2026 the time to blog again?

Could a weekly reflection be my way in to blogging again? I haven't posted or been active online since August. My interesting writing and being present in the online world has dwindled in recent months. I could not bring myself to write. Did I actually have anything useful to contribute? Maybe, maybe not.  Either way, I had a thought last week about how I could start writing online again. The only way I can see it happening is a weekly review with things I have found interesting throughout the week. The posts will be much shorter than I have posted...

Why I ditched my Apple Watch

A few weeks ago, I decided to review how I use technology and if I needed to be glued to a screen all day. It was clear - I was using my phone and other devices to paper over a void I had been experiencing for several years. This realisation came after a chance encounter with some notes I had taken on the Slow Tech movement.  The Slow Tech movement is cultural and philosophical response to the rapid rise of technological development, which has overwhelmed us for many years now. The movement advocates for using technology deliberately, rather than compulsively....

What I have been doing since I left social media

Yesterday, I posted how I deleted all of my social media accounts. I even refrain from watching YouTube and endlessly read through Reddit. I want to address what I have been doing in the time away from social media and the online presence I once had. By disconnecting from the digital clutter that was taking time away from me, I was able to check in with reality. I was able to go through my tasks, long-term action items and a list of things I would like to do if 'I had time'. What I have been doing since I left...

It's been awhile

I haven't posted in some time now. Since my last post, I have deleted all of my social media accounts and I remain disconnected from the social side of the internet. By doing so, I have been able to focus on projects offline. 

Why I quit social media (and re-thinking my relation with the US)

This is not the post I thought I would ever have to write. Things in the world have got crazy and aliases have to be made. The thought of writing from a political perspective was never something I would consider, however, here I am writing from that point. I can't deny that the recent comments and actions from the current president of the United States of America has got my back up. I am being as diplomatic as possible because as much as I have a distaste for certain leadership, I have made many wonderful connections and friends from people...

My Personal App Stack 2025 (updated February)

I've had a review of all my apps and deleted a lot of the surplus applications and services I had. Many have been unsubscribed to, deleted and accounts deactivated/deleted. This is what I plan to stick with for the rest of 2025.  Apple ecosystem • Apple Calendar - View events, birthdays and anniversaries. • Apple Notes - Record projects, collections, quick notes and sketches. • Apple Reminders - Daily tasks, routines and shopping (shared). • Apple Mail - Email with iCloud mail accounts. • Apple Safari - Browsing the web and access to limited social media sites. • Apple Numbers -...

The desire to live a simpler life

A recent video by Joshua Becker on YouTube had me thinking about something that has been bothering me lately. If you access X or Instagram, you might have seen it. I think you have certainly seen it. What am I talking about? Joshua speaks about how the ‘selfish culture of hustle is celebrated’. It’s true. I see this a lot on X (formerly known as Twitter) feed. Do more, be better, get richer, strive for perfection or be more productive. I’ve had enough of it. These messages do not resonate with me. Working in education means I am working hard...

My Weekly Software Stack (2025 Edition)

What I use at home and work each week On the success of my Five apps I use every day to organise my life (2024 Edition), I thought I would list all the apps I use personally and professionally. This will not be an in-depth post. It’s just a bit of fun to share what I use each week. There are more apps I use, but they are accessed less frequently than the list below. I’ve tried to link as many of the applications to their respected developer’s website. Hopefully, the UK links redirect to your country’s website. I’m sure...

New habit for the New Year? Try this.

One strategic approach that helped me not give up on new habits. So, it’s the start of the year. ‘New year, new me’ I hear you say. You buy all the gear (and no idea) and set off on your quest to be a better person. The first month goes well with a few bumps in the road. But then you hit February and the newness and motivation start to wear down. Your habit now becomes an occasional occurrence. Something you will do when you ‘have time’. By March, your new habit sounded like a good idea, but other priorities...

New Acronym for CodeMacLife

Life changes. So does my blog. When I started CodeMacLife, it was a simple representation of the different aspects of my life — computing, Apple products, and self-improvement. But as time went on, my focus shifted towards my career, quality of life, and the things that truly matter to me. Reflecting on these changes, I realised that the original meaning behind CodeMacLife no longer resonated with where I am now. So, I decided to revamp it with a new acronym that better reflects the topics I write about and care about. Here is what CodeMacLife represents now: • C: Capture...

One week in and I can already see the advantage of consuming less content online. It's amazing what you can do when your face isn't glued to a screen.