Comments on: The Art of Radical Exclusion

By: Joe Breunig

Joe Breunig — Fri, 21 May 2010 12:11:26 +0000

Thank you, thank you, thank you! We need to recognize the time wasters of our lives and gently push them to the side. It’s unfortunate that we’re seldom taught as children the importance of managing one’s time, seeing that its the greatest non-renewable asset that we possess. It seems a lot of the people I’ve worked with fail to grasp the significance of this resource.

I briefly had a supervisor who was a ‘button pusher’; as a result, I seemed to have lots of ongoing conflict with this particular person. His claim/justification for doing this was that ‘keeping me on edge was keeping me sharp and focused’ My response was that ‘he was wasting my time with nonsense and lowering my productivity with said distraction’. I can’t overemphasize the need to stand up for one’s self – even if it means termination from one’s job.

By: stephani

stephani — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:41:37 +0000

This is great advice. Recently I had to bow out of a whole slew of socializing to get a huge project complete. I let everyone know ahead of time via email that I was offline and on sabbatical. When I returned with great joy I sent out a collective “thank you” to all those who supported me with the hiatus I needed, I said something like “I’ve missed birthdays, get togethers, a birth, and an operation, but thankyou to all of you who helped me reach my goals, yeah! we did it! You’d be surprised how supportive people are.
Thanks, Chris.

By: juds123

juds123 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:31:26 +0000

I agree. Just like editing or pruning, take out what is not needed nor essential. And the best part is the feeling of liberation afterwards.

By: kg

kg — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:10:48 +0000

I schedule in weekly no input times where I don’t do email, internet or the phone. If I get too many inputs without a break I feel out of sorts. My family says I’m hibernating but I come out of it refreshed. They don’t really hibernate to the extent that I do.

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:38:39 +0000

I also struggle with this – and just when I think I’ve got it under control… things get out of control! Personally, it’s very hard since the emails and requests I receive tend to have strong emotions tied to them. I am learning to create boundaries and say “no, but….” I have compiled a list of individuals and organizations that I can then recommend so it leaves the message on a positive note.

This is such a great topic for discussion!

By: Deb

Deb — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:11:02 +0000

I am nodding at GirlPie’s comment about a former love who demonstrated a refusal to keep promises.

That aside, my current circumstances have dictated that I use the library’s internet access or my financial boat will not float very long. It is a bit of a hardship on the one hand; and I have had to explain and seek the cooperation of all my sources and my print editors (I freelance for a small hometown paper). However, having my online activity consolidated into two 1 hour dockets has been overall very freeing from a creativity and productivity angle; so much so that I am not certain internet is going to be the first thing I restore once my attorney is paid off. I’ll have to think about it.

Loved the post.

By: Sheri.A.

Sheri.A. — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:21:46 +0000

Hi Chris,

I feel it’s not so much rigorous or even anti-social…I’d say more of a focused in/output kinda thing. Do it, love it.

~Sheri

By: anwar

anwar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:26:35 +0000

Radical exclusion is the essence of living.You need time for yourself whether it is reading that book you been delaying to read , walk along the beach,park – you owe it to yourself.It is like recharging -”you always come out better on the other side”

By: Trackback from the Waki Librarian

Trackback from the Waki Librarian — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:33:54 +0000

[...] First we have this great article on the art of radical exclusion. Now this is going to be very, very difficult for those of us who are people pleasers and volunteers of the world. You know who you are. But just read the article and think to yourself, what is more important: saying yes to everything that everyone ever asks of you or having your sanity at the end of the day. For those who feel stretched too thin, take heart and try the art of radical exclusion.[...]

By: Trackback from Shlepping In BC

Trackback from Shlepping In BC — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 02:03:17 +0000

[...] I may or may not have a good excuse for why I failed to honor the commitment, but one thing’s for sure: if I make a habit of it, I will soon lose the trust of the person who had relied on me. [...]