Alright, folks, gather ’round. Today I wanna share a bit about this little experiment I’ve been running, something I’ve been calling “fly with Owen.” Not a fancy name, just something that popped into my head, you know? It’s all about how I tried to get a handle on, well, getting things off the ground a bit smoother in my day-to-day.
The Starting Point – Feeling Weighed Down
So, picture this: I was feeling like I was wading through mud most days. Too many things on my plate, too many little bits and pieces to keep track of. I had my notes here, my reminders there, some stuff on my computer, other things scribbled on bits of paper. It was a mess, honestly. I felt like I was spending more time trying to organize the work than actually doing it. Sound familiar to anyone?
I knew I had to do something. I’m not getting any younger, and I just don’t have the patience for complicated systems anymore. I needed something simple, something that would just let me… well, fly, instead of feeling like I was dragging an anchor.
Meeting “Owen” – The Idea Takes Shape
This “Owen” thing isn’t a person, or some fancy software I bought. Nah, it’s more of a mindset, a stripped-down approach I decided to try. I just gave it a name to make it feel like a buddy, I guess. The core idea was to go back to basics. Super basic.
First step: I ditched almost everything. All those fancy apps and to-do lists with a million features? Gone. Or at least, I put them on hold. I felt a bit naked at first, not gonna lie.
Second step: I grabbed a simple, cheap notebook. Yeah, good old paper. And a pen that I liked, one that felt good to write with. That was my “Owen” setup. The goal was to just write down the absolute must-dos for the day. No more than three to five things. If it wasn’t critical, it didn’t make the list.
The Actual Practice – Trial and Error
So, I started my days like this. Coffee, notebook, pen. Write down the big rocks. And then, I just focused on those. It was surprisingly hard at first! My brain kept wanting to jump to other things, to check my email, to look at my phone. Old habits, you know?
- The Morning Ritual: I made it a point to do this first thing. Before the chaos of the day really hit. It helped set the tone.
- Sticking To It (or trying to): If something new popped up, unless it was a real fire, I’d jot it down on a separate page to consider for tomorrow’s Owen list. This was key to not getting sidetracked.
- The “Fly” Part: After a few days, something clicked. By keeping my focus super tight, I actually started getting those important things done. And done well. There was a sense of lightness, of accomplishment. I was moving through my essential tasks, almost gliding. That’s where the “fly” part of “fly with Owen” came from in my head.
Now, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Some days the list was too ambitious. Other days, unexpected stuff blew my “Owen” plan out of the water. But that’s okay. The point wasn’t to be perfect, but to be more intentional.
I also realized that for some quick digital notes or links related to a task, the paper wasn’t cutting it. So “Owen” evolved a tiny bit. I allowed myself one super simple, plain text file on my computer for those things. No fancy formatting, just a digital scratchpad that supports the paper. But the paper notebook remained the heart of “Owen.”
What I Learned – The Takeaway
So, after a good few weeks of living the “fly with Owen” way, what’s the verdict? It’s been good. Really good, actually. It’s not a silver bullet for everything, and it might not work for everyone, or for massive, complex projects. But for my personal productivity, for cutting through the noise and focusing on what truly matters each day? It’s been a game-changer.
The main thing is simplicity. We overcomplicate things so much. Stripping it all back to a pen and paper, and a very focused list, brought a lot of clarity. It forced me to prioritize ruthlessly. And there’s a certain satisfaction in physically crossing things off a list, isn’t there?
So yeah, that’s my little story about “fly with Owen.” Maybe it gives you an idea or two. Sometimes the simplest solutions are hiding in plain sight. Give it a try, maybe you’ll find your own “Owen” too.
