Critical Vs Creative Mind

so I have decided to keep a blog of some thoughts and ideas that pop into my head. I’m quite  a lazy person and want to change this aspect of my personality. I really want to become a more productive person. I need to set goals and ensure I reach them.

I sometimes find that I start doing lots of different things but rarely finish any of them. I guess the easy part is starting while seeing a project through to the end is where the real hard work is. Doubts are always plaguing my mind when it comes to new projects.

You start something off and think its going quite well only for nagging doubts to appear. I like to think of this as the critical mind vs the creative mind.  I find that the critical mind can often beat the creative mind into submission until it gives up and resumes normal service.

So the question is how to block out these negative thoughts and forge ahead with what you were doing. Its not easy that’s for sure. You need to have a lot of self belief to keep going and finish what you started. Perhaps that’s something that holds a lot of people back.

Taking risks is certainly not something that is natural. Most of us prefer to play it safe and see how things go. We need to hold on to what we have cant simply just ignore the critical mind.

South Africa

I got to get back to South Africa and soon. I had the holiday of a lifetime there last year and well actually the year before as well, can you have two holidays of a lifetime? Every time I go there I try see different things that I did not see the last time. I actually sleep very little when I’m there as I’m determined to see as much as I can and not waste any precious time.

Its not cheap for me to get there so I want it to be as special as possible. The best option I have found for getting about is probably a car hire South Africa service. I have taken a few internal flights as well but its just not appropriate most of the time as it rarely fits my schedule. With a car its just easier to plan things and when it comes to a trip like this I’m all about the planning.

I think I might make my 3rd trip of a lifetime there next year though I suppose I should explore somewhere else. One thing is for sure- I’m not staying at home to be rained on. No chance – Its blue skies, golden beaches and the open road for me.

Working from Home

Many people have a dream to work from home but is it all its cracked up to be? Sounds great being your own boss doesn’t it? Get up when you feel like it, do some work, don’t do some work, have an extended lunch break, give yourself a well earned day off – all some of the perks involved with working for yourself but what of the downside?

Some of us need to be motivated and find it hard to motivate ourselves. This is where having people around you to work with can be a big help. Some people also miss the camaraderie of work and find it hard to adjust to a life working from home.

Sticking to a strict regime is really a must for a person working from home. You need to be disciplined and start and finish at the same time everyday. Its a must if you want to separate your work from your social life. If you start finishing later and later you may start to feel that you never get to leave the office. You start to think “oh I better just finish this” or “I forgot to check that” even when they are things which can be easily left until the next day.

Its a balance that can prove really difficult to achieve for some people but getting it right is vital. It can start to affect your close relationships if you work too much. On the flip side working too little can be a big problem too as the bills pile up and you are solely responsible.

I’m going to become a father soon so thing are likely to change quite a bit, Ill be tripping over baby pushchairs and baby cots or falling on baby bouncers before I know it. Hope I’m ready.

Watching the Big Screen

I’m always watching films on my laptop so on occasion I get sick of looking at the small screen and need something a bit more….well..bigger and louder I guess. I recently picked up some old cheap speakers and an old amplifier from a garage sale which took place in my neighbourhood. Lugging these beasts back to my apartment was painful but It was well worth it.

I now have a line out from my laptop into these speakers so no more straining to hear parts anymore as its all in splendid stereo. That’s the sound part sorted so now I decided I wanted to get something bigger to watch films on. I went to a TV store and checked out a few flat screen models but boy were they pricey.

I decided to opt for a projector instead. I got some clean white walls here that were ideal for use and it cost me a hell of a lot less than the flat screen. I love this thing. I’m using it constantly and feel like I have my only little cinema now. The bulb apparently lasts for 6000 hours so plenty of movies will certainly be watched. This is a whole world away from watching stuff on my laptop.

Car Hire

Man, I’m beat, I traveled all through the night to get to London for the game today. I got transport sorted at a car hire firm and then hit the road form Scotland. These midday kick offs are gonna kill me…

It was good to be back in London as its been six months since I was there now. I got to catch up with a few good friends and hit a few of the bars I used to love when I lived down here. I ran into some people I would have preferred not to but you always take that chance when you return to old places where you used to live.

The football was good. We lost of course but then what’s now. Its not really about that, its just a chance to get together with friends you don’t see all that often. Long road trips like this give you a lot of thinking time. You start running over old things in your mind that you thought you had long forgotten.

You think you have come to some conclusions by the time you reach home but in reality you have got nowhere. Great to catch up all the same…..good times.