One way to Making Life Easier and More Productive

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Finding the Words

The past 6 weeks, I have been blessed to enjoy a breakthrough here at Wealthy Affiliate and there have been some leaps forward in my output and input here. One of the advantages is that I have been doing more writing and constantly reviewing habits and how I generate my writing ideas.

I still have days and times when I sit in front of the computer willing the words to appear from my fingers; Maybe that happens to you too.

I get some tea, switch on some music, probably curse a few times. Stroke the cat. Stare in to space and repeat. But subsequently, I follow up with some kinder words to myself, and apologize to Self, for the earlier cursing...

Be more Productive

Then I go for a walk, and preferably alone as "me" time. I do try to walk every day as briskly as I can, almost as if I am running late for an appointment. I spend 40 minutes on average and do about 4km (about 2.5miles). And I use the phone app to keep track of my steps.

So what, you may say.

Well, I get ideas when I walk as I'm sure you do too. I also get ideas when I'm driving, or in the supermarket or the dentist waiting room. But the thing about ideas when you are walking you can talk through some of them with your self. With your inner critic.

I'm finding it a powerful combination, because I'm walking fast, breathing hard, discussing things; sometimes out loud. Occasionally in my head.

What if I could record some of these ideas? Wouldn't that be the best? And imagine if you can have the ideas transcribed into text? Wouldn't that be even better?

I have discovered this really neat app called Otter. Dictate and Transcribe. They offer a free and paid service. The Free service has a limit to the number of minutes (I think its 600 minutes) that you are able to record each month. Typically, my ideas come in bursts, so there are breaks in between recording each section while I walk up a hill, or reflect on part one of an idea.

Make your life easier

Now some of you have probably come across it already. I did a search here on Wealthy Affiliate and found that Catherine (TheCatherine) has used it before here https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/thecatherine/blog/I-want-to-... so my apologies if you have heard of it and not tried it yet, or if you are familiar with it.

I am just so excited, that by the time I return to my desk after the walk, then my main ideas are already captured and I just need to sit down, and get them out on my site or in my planner with just a bit of a tweak. Another added bonus, is that I can often have more than one brainstorming session during the walk, and not forget any of it. In the past I would have ideas - and then forget them all by the time I got back.

(Only downside is I haven't worked out how to export the articles, but I can copy the transcribed text while on my phone, and paste that into an email to myself. Then on the laptop open the email and copy the text to my site.)

So many applications

I think I have only scratched the surface of using this app. Suddenly so many options and use of the technology are available. When you are discussing contracts; discussing the colours to paint your house, discussing holiday plans or weekend ideas.

Give it a try. Otter.ai

P.S. There is no affiliate program and I derive no benefit in recommending this service or product. I just think everyone will find it useful and beneficial. We are all winners.

Let me know your thoughts either good or bad.

Michael

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Recent Comments

18

Hi Michael, It's so good to learn that you got the bounce back in your steps. Congratulations. What you have described is writer's block and we all experience it one time or the other. Walking is an effective way of dealing with writer's block.
If you have a Gmail account, you can use the mike that shows up on your drive to record your ideas. It's just as good as Otter and does not cost you a cent. The good thing about it is there's no restriction on use.

Thanks Dada. I did not know that about recording dictation with google. I may try it and see which is easier for me.
Best Regards
Michael

Hi Michael
I have just downloaded Otter. It is very good. Thank you for the heads up.

I use Notion.os for all my writing (which is free for individuals).
My test recording easily transferred to notion using the standard ios share facility ... but the shared text is in a strange format.It was easy to cut and paste straight into a writing document but I'll work on it to see if there is a better way.

notion is web based with additional apps for ios, android, macOS and Windows. So my transfer was from Otter to notion on the iPhone which instantly showd up in all other versions installed when connected to the internet. So it transferred, effectively, straight to the PC.

Otter is cheaper than Dragon ... and is free for up to 600 minutes per month.

I need to test it more but the first pass looks very good.
:-)
Richard

Sounds like a really cool idea Michael, must try it out!

Wishing you much success and significance! Best wishes from Long Beach CA...

FYI. I have just realised that I can log in to my account on the desktop/laptop, and the recordings are all there, so that is even better!

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