Still on my SOMEDAY list within Apple Reminders is âLearn how to self-hostâ. I think the original idea was to keep my data self-hosted, so I wasnât relying on others, especially Big Tech, but I never got round to it. I read a few articles and a handful of videos, which put me off the process. Iâm not interested in self-hosting email.Â
I've updated my list of digital tools I use on a daily basis. It should come as no surprise that most of them are made by Apple. Apart from NordPass, all other third-party tools were one-off payments. I wanted to curate a list of tools that did not incur repeated costs. View the tools page here or click on the tools tab at the top of my blog.
I am not sure if I could replace my current office setup right now. I was thinking of getting a Mac Mini with a 32" OLED screen. It's tempting but I love the simplicity I have right now with my humble MacBook Air M1.
The Weekly Scribble âAlways remember, your focus determines your reality." - George Lucasâ Boring Phone Even with an iPhone 11, I can see the benefits of using the native Apple apps to preserve the battery life and maintain simplicity. My minimalistic and colourless approach to my phone has enabled me to use it less. One habit I had to work on for the past two months was avoiding Apple Safari to casually browse the internet and watch YouTube videos. The apps I use the most are on my home screen. Everything else can be accessed by swiping down and manually...
I spent the day going through my files, photos and applications on my MacBook. By the end of the day, I had wiped my MacBook clean and only installed the software I need. Not surprisingly, I mostly use the default apps within the Apple ecosystem. The four additional applications installed were Wipr, SideNotes, NordPass and Awesome Habits.Â
Saw it. Read it. Deleted it. Enough with low value 'social media' if you can call it that.Â
The Weekly Scribble â"Writing something down should be as simple as having a thought." - Tiago Forte. â I should have posted two weeks ago but life and work got in the way. So, hereâs what has been going on and what changes I have made during the fortnight away. Simplifying my app stack I have phases I go through and most of them are reactive. With the pressures of work and home life getting the best of me, I decided to review what challenges I was facing. As suspected, I had slipped into a trap of looking for the next...
The Weekly Scribble ââSticking to good habits can be hard work, and mistakes are part of the progress. Donât declare failure simply because you messed up or because youâre having trouble reaching your goals. Instead, use your mistakes as opportunities to grow stronger and become better.â - Amy Morinâ The theme this week is mostly around habits and setting goals. It is not about ânew year, new meâ but a reflection on approaching habits differently. Iâm the worst for maintaining intentions. However, keeping it simple this year gives me great optimism. Alas! Bear for blogging I've recently transitioned to using...
The Weekly ScribbleâTime is a limited commodity. That's why it it so important to make the most of every moment. - Holly Reisem Hanna â Talking about time. I've had very little of it to sit down and write, hence the late post this week. Even with my best intentions and structured timetable, many additional tasks and deadlines were thrown at me. This week is shorter for this reason. I believe a Sunday post would be more suitable and realistic with the work commitments I have right now. Finding the right markdown writing app This week, I've been on the quest...
The Weekly Scribble âThe quieter you become the more you can hear. - Ram Dassâ Understanding Zettelkasten better Iâve recently been diving deep into the Zettelkasten methodâa German concept that translates to 'slip box'âand itâs slowly changing how I think about organising my life. At its core, this system is about more than just filing away information; itâs 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,...
Introduction First of all, I would like to say thank you for all the supportive messages and critiques I received for last weekâs 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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
