Since falling deep into productivity, self-improvement, self-exploration topic, I came across with many good writers producing useful/valuable content, but I rarely take time to navigate to their website and actually read an article or two.
Let's setup a weekly reminder:
- pick a website from the chosen list
- browse for a couple of minutes
- pick a title or two that draws your attention
- read the article
For quite some time, I was obsessed with reading only books, which isn't bad, but articles are shorter, you don't need weeks/months to digest it.
- Articles
- Short, specific piece of information, you can jump from topic to topic (today you are investigating vaginas, next day you are reading about productivity hacks).
- Books
- You go deep/wide into a certain topic (eg reading 500 pages about Linux command line). Series of articles on the same topic displayed in some logical order.
If you are running (or want to run) your own webpage, checking other people's website is great not only for content, but you will also get the idea of what structure/design you like.
Instead of endlessly scrolling rubbish entertaining channels — Youtube, Pornhub, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, local/world news — browse and read an article from one of the following websites:
anti-uni.blogspot.com
It is actually a dead website, but I keep coming back because it reminds me of my early "dig into productivity" days — year 2017.
Seems like a young German stud going his own way.
One year has 52 weeks. Young man read more than 52 books in a year and commented everything in "Meine Buch Challenge 2014". Also interesting: "Meine 17 meist besuchten Blogs in 2014".
Dude was writing for two years, disappeared after "Brief an meine Mutter" post. With all that knowledge, I am sure he is fine, wherever he is.
waitbutwhy.com
A group of three behind the website: content creator, businessman, manager/secretary.
- random topics: some useful, some "what the fuck", some too long to read
- 1-2x posts per month
- lots of drawings involved: half article, half cartoon
chrisbailey.com
Chris took a year off after college (business degree with specializations in management and marketing), he wanted to know everything about the topic of "productivity".
He started his website as AYOP aka "A Year Of Productivity", proceeded with "A Life Of Productivity", nowadays it is chrisbailey.com, because his topics go beyond productivity.
He has been busy, he published 3 books already plus one Audible Original (!?): ~The Productivity Project; ~Hyperfocus; ~How To Train Your Mind; ~How To Calm Your Mind.
Dude meditates for 30 minutes every day and wouldn’t trade the ritual for anything — his words.
zenhabits.net
Leo (zenhabits) quit smoking, started running, started blogging in 2007, keeps going strong up to date, writes a couple of short posts per month: simplicity, mindfulness, clear the clutter so you can focus on what's important, create something amazing, find happiness.
His website is a reflection of his life philosophy: simple and clear. Date, title, content only as text, no clutter.
He wrote a couple of (short) (e)books — habits, mindfulness, traveling & living light — offers training programs aka Fearless Habits, Fearless Purpose, Fearless Impact. Leo is a fearless man!
sive.rs
Sivers is on another level, a beast. He sings, writes, codes, fucks, moves & lives different places, used to perform in a circus, accidentally created a business (CD Baby), sold it for 22$ million (also wrote a book about it).
Minimalist website, like zenhabits — I basically copied Sivers' and Leo's concept of a website. No fancy garbage, full focus on content.
You need to intake Sivers' articles slowly, with cautious. They are short, but so much useful/stimulating info, your head goes on fire.
Interesting:
- his "now" page, where he regularly updates his current projects and activities
- he personally replies to every email he receives
- if you lack idea of what books to read, Sivers shares detailed notes from the last 360+ books he has read
Sivers wrote a couple of books: ~Anything You Want; ~Your Music And People; ~Hell Yeah Or No; ~How To Live; ~Useful Not True.
kk.org
Kevin Kelly is 70 years old: dropped out of college after a year, explored Asia as a poor, solo photographer almost 10 years on a 2500$ per year budget, cycled across continental US — oh, cycling, that sounds familiar.
Some of Kevin's stuff:
- Cool Tools: website which recommends the best/cheapest tools available (reviewing tools daily for 20 years)
- or subscribe via recomendo.com and get 6 brief personal recommendations of cool stuff delivered to your inbox
- Excellent Advice for Living: a book of 450 modern proverbs for a pretty good life
- Screen Publishing: tips, tools and news for independent publishing on screens
positivityblog.com
Discovered this blog recently, immediately recognized valuable content, even though it has a super cheesy domain name. Written by Henrik from Sweden: 40 years of age, lives with his wife, full-time blogger and business owner with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Gothenburg.
"Back in 2006 I dived into the topic of personal development" — fuck me, this is getting boring, another one with "let's dig into self-improvement" story. Learning via his own experiments and experiences. Try stuff, does it work (!?), write an article about it, share it with others.
A post, pinned at the top: "How To Start A Successful Blog: 46 Tips That Got Me 1 Million Monthly Readers" — oh my, maybe I should read it (even my mother doesn't read my blog).
Henrik writes and sells courses:
- The Self-Esteem Course — 37$, 90 day no questions asked money back guarantee
- 31 Days to a Simpler Life Course — 27$
- The Art of Relaxed Productivity
- The Smart Social Skills Course; Stop Worrying Today; Stop Procrastinating Now
medium.com
A platform with xy writers on xy topics — worth giving a visit from time to time.
Medium: "Stay curious. Discover stories, thinking, and expertise from writers on any topic".
You can read 3 articles per month for free, or become a member for unlimited access.
All articles are tagged, so you can explore only topic that interests you (eg business, productivity, mindfulness, relationships, programming, writing).
ted.com
Well known platform, TED: "Ideas worth spreading". Explore any topic, pick your preferred format: text/audio/video (while Medium is more text based platform).
Sometimes I feel reluctant towards the page, probably because it got too popular. After cooling down, I know things aren't low quality, just because they are popular.
SL: "Preberi članek na teden" strani
Odkar padel v "produktivnost" topik, naletel na veliko zanimivih strani, ki producirajo kvalitetno/uporabno vsebino.
Življenje je kaos. Namesto, da bi bral nekaj uporabnega, hitro pristaneš na naključni, poceni, zabavni vsebini.
Predlagam, da se nastavi tedenski opomnik: izbereš internetno stran iz seznama, brskaš par minut, izbereš članek, ki pritegne pozornost in ga prebereš.