What trekking through Iceland taught me about knowledge work
In 2016 I did a self-supported 10-day trek through Iceland with a group of people.
Rain, glaciers, and 25kg on my back taught me more about knowledge work than you'd think.
The physical informs the mental. 🧵
In 2016 I did a self-supported 10-day trek through Iceland with a group of people.
Rain, glaciers, and 25kg on my back taught me more about knowledge work than you'd think.
The physical informs the mental. 🧵
One day, we hiked for three hours through the rain. In a circle.
In bad conditions, navigation becomes tricky. If you find you didn't make any progress, do what we did: rest a bit, take a bath (icy lake optional), and then continue.
Oh, and don't make the wrong turn twice.
In bad conditions, navigation becomes tricky. If you find you didn't make any progress, do what we did: rest a bit, take a bath (icy lake optional), and then continue.
Oh, and don't make the wrong turn twice.
Train up for hard efforts
Before we set off on that trek, we did a bunch of hikes in the Alps together to check we were up to the task. You can't just jump from couch to trek without training.
The same is true for knowledge work: long hours of focus require training. So train.
Before we set off on that trek, we did a bunch of hikes in the Alps together to check we were up to the task. You can't just jump from couch to trek without training.
The same is true for knowledge work: long hours of focus require training. So train.
If you don't use it, you lose it
In 2016 I was in the best physical shape I've ever been in. Since, I've almost excl. focused on the mental. During the PhD I did less and less sports and it shows.
The same goes in reverse: to keep sharp intellectually, keep training your brain
In 2016 I was in the best physical shape I've ever been in. Since, I've almost excl. focused on the mental. During the PhD I did less and less sports and it shows.
The same goes in reverse: to keep sharp intellectually, keep training your brain
One day, we attempted a glacier crossing but had to turn back
Navigating through the cracks was difficult, we had gear malfunctions, one of us was delirious from an injury. So we turned back.
That sucked. But some things are too hard in a given moment. Know when to stop.
Navigating through the cracks was difficult, we had gear malfunctions, one of us was delirious from an injury. So we turned back.
That sucked. But some things are too hard in a given moment. Know when to stop.
Guides help, but you do the walking yourself
Walking with 25kg on my back wasn't easy. And no matter how good the guide, walking with the load was on me.
Same goes for intellectual efforts. Note-taking tools and systems can guide you...but only you can do the thinking
Walking with 25kg on my back wasn't easy. And no matter how good the guide, walking with the load was on me.
Same goes for intellectual efforts. Note-taking tools and systems can guide you...but only you can do the thinking
Wet socks don't matter
Putting on wet socks in the morning is not fun. But it also doesn't matter, because after two minutes you won't notice anymore.
Parts of reading and writing are the same. Sucks to start, but once you do it the worst is over. So...put the socks on anyways.
Putting on wet socks in the morning is not fun. But it also doesn't matter, because after two minutes you won't notice anymore.
Parts of reading and writing are the same. Sucks to start, but once you do it the worst is over. So...put the socks on anyways.
If you enjoyed these lessons:
Follow me @cortexfutura. I'm writing about making knowledge management more dynamic and useful through Knowledge Ops and Algorithms of Thought
Follow me @cortexfutura. I'm writing about making knowledge management more dynamic and useful through Knowledge Ops and Algorithms of Thought
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