Pragmatic Writer

Cultivating clarity. Notes on living well and writing better.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

It’s crazy how easy it is to fall into a routine and put off the things we love just because they aren’t "urgent" or "productive."

Routine is our default state; whatever you stop doing today, you’ll forget about tomorrow.

Make some space today for whatever makes you happy, just because.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

Everyone has something to teach. The problem is, we don’t believe it.

We usually fall into two traps:

We downplay our strengths: Because something comes easy to you, you assume it’s "normal." You forget that what’s obvious to you is a massive headache for someone else. (Clue: Think about the one thing people always ask for your help with).

We feel like we don't know enough: The more you learn, the more you realize you don't know. But you don't need to be an all-knowing guru.

Sure, there are industry leaders way ahead of you, but there are also thousands of people who know absolutely nothing about your topic. Those are the ones you can help.

It's a chain reaction: you help someone get to where you are right now, while someone else helps you pull up to the next level. You don’t need to be the ultimate expert to teach or write about it, you just need to be one step ahead.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

Want to stay consistent on social media?

Try this simple rule: if you haven't written anything today, you're not allowed on the app.

Produce first, consume later.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

We carry a device in our pockets designed to distract us 24/7. We’re so hooked on it that at the slightest hint of boredom, we pull it out on autopilot.

Getting started on something is hard, but getting distracted is effortless.

The best thing you can do for your projects is to cut out the distractions: put your phone in another room, throw it in a drawer, or at the very least, mute notifications and keep it out of sight.

That way, once you get going, you can stay in the zone long enough to actually make things happen

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

There’s no such thing as writer’s block, says Seth Godin, just like there’s no such thing as talker’s block.

Think about it: nobody wakes up one day and realizes they have absolutely nothing to say to anyone, staying completely silent for days or weeks.

And that’s because when we speak, we don’t worry about being perfect. We talk all the time, sometimes we ramble, sometimes we stumble over our words, and occasionally, we say something brilliant.

But the moment we face a blank page, we expect to write only brilliant things. And that’s impossible. Writer’s block is just a form of perfectionism. Spoken words vanish into thin air, but the ones we write down stick around.

The only way to break through that block is to write, even if it’s clumsy. If you keep at it, eventually, the smart ideas will come.

That’s how you improve, bit by bit.

In the end, the only way to write well is to be willing to write poorly first, and keep showing up anyway.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

When we want to start something new, there are a few traps we usually fall into; one of them is the perfect date trap.

It’s thinking there’s an ideal date to start that habit, project, or business venture, because somehow things will just align in your favor.

If it's Thursday, you think it's better to wait until Monday. Or if it's the middle of the month, you'd rather start at the beginning of the next one. And if it's December, the ideal thing is to start with the New Year, right?

It’s happened to me more times than I’d like to admit. And I realized that, in the end, it’s just another way to procrastinate. Because when that date finally comes, it’s incredibly easy to find an even "better" date further down the road.

That’s why the best thing to do is always, always to take action. Take the first step. The one that takes the most effort. Then another one the next day, and another one after that. Consistency is what will eventually get us what we originally wanted.

There are plenty of things I'm sure you wish you had started sooner. Just like in the future, you'll wish you had started today.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

Attention is the most valuable currency today, and platforms monetize it by keeping us angry or anxious just to keep us hooked.

The best thing you can do is ignore rage-bait creators and only consume what blows your mind and makes you a better person.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

I like to think of social media as dessert.

Having it first thing when you wake up is a terrible idea: it gives you a temporary sugar high, followed by the inevitable crash, and you end up dragging that sluggish feeling all day long.

Having it right before bed isn't a good idea either: it keeps you awake, messes with your system, and makes getting a good night's rest almost impossible.

The best time for dessert is in the afternoon, after you've already taken care of your other activities, and always in moderation.

Eating dessert for breakfast, lunch, and dinner wrecks your body. Doing the same with social media wrecks your mind.

Looking at it this way helps me be more mindful about what I consume and when I consume it.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

Get your dopamine hits from writing and publishing, not from getting likes.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

A friend once told me: on your worst day, pour yourself your best whiskey.

Because on a good day, they'll all taste good anyway.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

The real problem is that people still think things are free.

If you're not paying with money, you're paying with your data, and we should all think twice before handing it over.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

When tackling a daunting task, it’s best to break it down into the smallest possible steps and just keep moving at your own pace.

The key is to keep moving forward.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

Want to write copy or a presentation fast?

Pick a problem and use this structure:

Hook: A punchy opening, fact, or question that grabs attention immediately.

The Problem: Explain why it matters and how it’s affecting your audience.

Story: Illustrate the problem. People connect with stories, not theory. Use this to set the stage for your solution.

Solution: Be specific. Don’t try to fix everyone's life—focus on one clear problem and give them the tool to solve it.

CTA: End with a clear, direct call to action. What do you want them to do?

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

Inspiration isn't something you find; it's something you earn through hard work.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

Because you can always fix a bad paragraph, but not a blank page.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

Inertia is a funny thing.

When you’re busy crushing it, it’s easy to just keep that momentum going.

But if, for whatever reason, you hit the brakes and stop, staying stopped becomes the easiest thing in the world.

And waiting around for inspiration to strike again is a trap, because it just won't show up.

You have to push yourself, even just a little bit, to get moving again until you get back into your groove, until everything starts feeling effortless again.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

@Nicolascole77 books

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

@historiador ¿Un libro que te recomienda libros clásicos y te ayuda a entenderlos mejor? ¡Me interesa!

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

Si te encuentras en esta situación, la mejor recomendación es que te metas a un club o a una clase de algo que te guste, te llame la atención. Un club de lectura, de bordado, hacer yoga, entrar a algún deporte o disciplina artística. Si sientes que no tienes tiempo porque estás pensando en tu carrera profesional, siempre están los grupos para practicar inglés o los clubes Toastmasters donde aprendes oratoria y liderazgo.

Es como un filtro, estás haciendo algo que te interesa y a la vez te estás rodeando de personas que comparten ese interés, eso va a hacer que sea más fácil conectar y, mientras seas constante, empezarás a generar familiaridad con los demás. Eventualmente será más fácil que con algunos empieces a platicar y se vean en otros lados también.

Creo que se entiende, pero para que funcione bien tiene que ser presencial, que te permita salir de la rutina, salir de la casa y de la oficina, no importa si solo es una hora a la semana. Si estás en una situación donde tienes pocos o ningún amigo, no se me ocurre una mejor forma de solucionarlo. Va a ser incómodo, sí, pero te prometo que sí se puede y que va a valer la pena.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

Ayer leí este artículo de @freddier

Who Killed Alcohol
https://t.co/hW3Qk3RvzY

Menciona que el consumo diario de alcohol está disminuyendo, lo cual es bueno, pero está siendo reemplazado por otras prácticas que están aumentando la depresión y la soledad. Además, al dejar el alcohol se está perdiendo quizá su único beneficio que era funcionar como “lubricante social”, haciendo que las personas tengan menos amigos y menos relaciones.

Te recomiendo leer el artículo. Y a continuación te comparto mi propia experiencia con el alcohol y una alternativa para recuperar esas conexiones sin necesidad de tomar alcohol.

[Pragmatic Writer @PragmaticNotes]

A estas alturas casi nunca se me antoja la bebida, y cuando se me antoja casi nunca es más de una. He aprendido que uno se puede divertir tanto o más sin alcohol, y como veía que otros también estaban dejando de tomar pensé que era algo general, pero por el artículo me doy cuenta de que no es exactamente así.

Porque aunque es cierto que el consumo de alcohol esta disminuyendo, se está cambiando por el de otras sustancias y por el scroll infinito, cosas que también son nocivas pero, además, individuales. Es decir que ya no solo no toman alcohol, sino que ya no están saliendo, y eso es un problema.

Y aunque el alcohol por si solo no tiene nada bueno, su consumo servia para muchos como un ritual o como una excusa para salir, para ver a otros, y su efecto desinhibe y hace que incluso los más tímidos puedan conectar más fácil. Así, al no salir, las personas tienen menos amigos y menos relaciones amorosas. Están más solas.

¿Deberíamos por eso beber más alcohol otra vez? Freddy dice que no, y estoy de acuerdo.

Pero muchas personas necesitan aprender nuevas formas de conectar. Especialmente los más jovenes. La soledad no deseada trae consigo muchos problemas, después de todo, somos animales sociales. No tener ningún amigo siempre va a ser una mala señal. Así que, ¿qué se puede hacer hacer?