[Journal] Knowledge Work - Sascha

Sascha · February 12

2026-02-12 Upcoming Morning Project and Habit Book

The result of my exploration is an article draft (or rather: a rough outline) for an article for the site that ties the probabilistic element to skill and workflow.
I restarted my work on my habit book by allocating some slots of my week to it. I really feel the old habits being activated. A real asset for my work. Just a little warm up and I'm deep into the topic again and have an easy time to navigate the respective areas of my Zettelkasten.

Sascha · February 21

2026-02-21 Executing Projects?

A long time ago, I wrote an article on how to write a book without trying hard. Since I am not 100% sure about attacking the habit book, I wondered which books I could finish before. Currently, I have ~25 books that are half to three-quarter finished (the draft). I even have more than enough material on dog training to write a very comprehensive (compared to the books I read) book based on my research for my own dog. Just by constantly writing-to-think this is the output of raw material. Publishing is the true bottleneck for me.
My current theory is that I gravely lack the skill, which means that I need to practice. Smaller projects than the habit book would be the way to go.

andsil · February 21

@Sascha said:
2026-02-21 Executing Projects?

A long time ago, I wrote an article on how to write a book without trying hard. Since I am not 100% sure about attacking the habit book, I wondered which books I could finish before.

This is sad news for me, but I understand why.

Sascha · February 21

@andsil said:

@Sascha said:
2026-02-21 Executing Projects?

A long time ago, I wrote an article on how to write a book without trying hard. Since I am not 100% sure about attacking the habit book, I wondered which books I could finish before.

This is sad news for me, but I understand why.

If I tackle the smaller projects well, I will be available to make my life-time's research available much early in multimedia (books included).

Sascha · February 23

2026-02-23 Some Projects, but more order

I am figuring out to align my work better. I am reconnecting with my old ideas on how to create and publish. That means I will be more rigorous on focussing my efforts towards publication.
The primary book project will be the basic training protocol, the novella version of my core book on training. I reviewed my outline and there only medium nuts to crack like designing specific training plans for different use cases. Here, I will try to move to publication quickly.
Fun fact. The outline for my fantasy source book has now 14k words.
I am also creating the new slides for the new iteration for ZK101.
First, I have to finish processing a paper on habits. Sadly, it is a very useful paper. So, it might take me some hours.

Sascha · February 25

2026-02-25 Moving quick

First 4700 words of the basic training protocol are in.
I am wondering if I should just rush through the first draft, just writing what I already got to say, or if I should do research when the need arises.

Sascha · February 26

2026-02-26 Moving quick 2

6777 words of the basic training protocol are in.
Currently writing with Typora and not Writer because of the heavy use of images and tables. I will test writing in a specifically set up Obsidian vault.

Sascha · March 3

2026-03-03 Rinse and Repeat

11k words of the basic training protocol are in.
The draft is fattening up nicely.
Currently, writing in Obsidian for increased interconnectivity and use of images and tables. Works reasonably well.
This week, my goal is to clean up the ZKM book manuscript and process all comments that are still open and unresolved.

Sascha · March 6

2026-03-06 Writing a book is fairly easy if...

15k words of the basic training protocol are in.
I will have to cut out a lot because I want the book to be much closer to a how-to and a training manual then the reference-laden core book of my main project. So, a lot of calculations that take quite some time will be cut and saved for later.
The specific set up is not perfect but quite good already for writing which confirms my suspicion of Obsidian's nudging. Perhaps, I'll have to go through another row of testing the classical apps for the Zettelkasten Method to update my knowledge.

RowanDee · March 9

You’ve mentioned multiple times in both a few articles and posts/comments on the forum - for example in the article on the 6 building blocks on knowledge - that you have/were working on a “larger project on creating a pattern language for knowledge.” I’ve found this a very philosophically/academically intriguing idea.

Are you still working on this project and what exactly does/did it entail? Might we ever see a book about it?

Sascha · March 9

@RowanDee said:
You’ve mentioned multiple times in both a few articles and posts/comments on the forum - for example in the article on the 6 building blocks on knowledge - that you have/were working on a “larger project on creating a pattern language for knowledge.” I’ve found this a very philosophically/academically intriguing idea.

Are you still working on this project and what exactly does/did it entail? Might we ever see a book about it?

Yes, I am still working on this project. It is basically a collection of methods and techniques to work with knowledge wrapped in my hybrid-theory of knowledge. It is hybrid because I don't have a clean academic theory of knowledge like a philosophical work, but rather a cyborg-esque theory based on both the philosophical underpinnings and practitioner approaches (I hesitate to mention him because I have a bipolar relationship to him) like de Bono's.

While the Zettelkasten Method book will focus on the bigger picture of building and using a thinking environment, this book (or course?) will focus on the material and the methods themselves.

Sascha · March 10

2026-03-10 Writing

Basic training protocol now at 21.1k words. Still moving quickly.
I have to watch the size of this beast. 21.1 words with the amount of tables and illustrations typical for such a book can already mean 150 pages.
Way behind the comments. Thought that I could resolve the comments last week. Family came first. But one mighty push in the morning should bring me up to speed.
The current plan is to finish the first draft within the next weeks (plans always work out...) and then move quickly to the next book which likely will be (working title) "Why we feel so bad today", which is a fairly short non-fiction book on the mechanics behind the modern phenomenon of people on average feeling worse and worse (which will likely continue).
The idea is to have a couple of drafts in the pipe to keep multiple publications moving to take up the actual text production up a notch.
Long articles like the PARA post and the Atomic Note-Taking Guide could be expanded into small books with little effort. I wonder if it is worth shooting such material out into the world via the blog.

harr · March 10

@Sascha said:
Long articles like the PARA post and the Atomic Note-Taking Guide could be expanded into small books with little effort.

Have you considered the opposite?

Personally I miss articles that explain key concepts of your method in a short and concise manner. One idea per article, with just enough context to make it understandable.

I wonder if it is worth shooting such material out into the world via the blog.

If you want to test the material with readers, why not?

Sascha · March 18

@harr said:

@Sascha said:
Long articles like the PARA post and the Atomic Note-Taking Guide could be expanded into small books with little effort.

Have you considered the opposite?

Personally I miss articles that explain key concepts of your method in a short and concise manner. One idea per article, with just enough context to make it understandable.

I wonder if it is worth shooting such material out into the world via the blog.

If you want to test the material with readers, why not?

Both can be explained by how I decide to write: I have a genuine idea or problem that I like to attack, and then I attack it via an article. There is little agenda or overarching plan behind each article.

I manage effort and mindset instead of picking tasks. The English translation is quite an improvement on the German version, basically a next edition. That means that the foundation of the Zettelkasten Method is accessible.

Most likely, that means that I won't publish articles on the foundational layer anymore unless I fill a gap left in the book.

Sascha · March 19

2026-03-18 AI revolution is happening

Schedule is still stuffed and chaotic.
Demoted the basic training protocol to my morning session (0500-0700)
Manuscript is sitting at 24k words. The low word count is deceiving since I did more outlining, planning and referring to my ZK. So, next sessions should be smooth sailing.
I will hard-schedule non-input time-blocks into my calendar. Currently, my dog runs and walks are strictly without any input.
I was presented with a very interesting idea on how to teach AI knowledge work and thinking. So, I am starting to grow my AI skills more.

Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.

So, my villain arc might get started finally.

ctietze · March 19

I brought up the Butlerian Jihad recently and nobody understood it, so you may fly under the radar for a while

Sascha · March 31

2026-03-30 Basic Writing

Basic Training Protocol = 47k words. A bit more comprehensive that I anticipated. But no wonder, since 15 years of being a trainer accumulates. (Especially, if you are a bit on the manic side)
Did some preparation work to create a comprehensive AI editor.
Did some preparation work to create an AI assistant as a studying assistant.

The last two are quite exciting. I don't know why. The characterisation "exciting" is a factual statement. Whenever I know that I have to work with AI, I start to dream about AI. Then, I wake up wired and fired.

Most likely, it is Zettelkasten withdraw. I still don't have time for dedicated Zettelkasten sessions.

But I am also excited about using AI to train the brain, instead of letting AI chinking away at our minds which are already under massive attack.

Next three days, family is away. So, perhaps, I will do evening sessions.

Sascha · April 6

2026-04-06 Changing Morning Routine

Some minor changes. Instead of starting with the morning run, I start with mobility. So, now it is:

0400 Waking Up
0400-0410 Getting ready
0410-0430 Mobility (Shoulder, Hip and spine (I do different waves))
0430-0630 Work
0630-0700 Run with nose breathing (+dog)

As I am writing the basic protocol my perspective on how to optimise the day gets sharper again. It is marvellous how skin in the game changes one's cognition.

As a forty-year-old, I need to push the neurogenesis of my hippocampus much more than 20 years ago to keep myself fresh and ready to learn.

Sascha · August 25

2026-08-25 Nootropics again

I decided to introduce three substances once again:

L-Theanine (aids focus, balances the jitteriness of coffee which doesn't affect me)
Tyrosine (catecholamine precursor. Taken on empty stomach for dopamine and noradrenaline)
Ginseng (typically mild effects, but I am a hyperresponder to many substances)

iylock · November 1

It has been a year since you wrote this journal. I am curious to know what kind of effects it has had.

Sascha · November 3

@iylock said:
It has been a year since you wrote this journal. I am curious to know what kind of effects it has had.

The current effect is non-existent. I was wondering why this is after reading your question. The solution is: I forgot about this journal for 2 months now.

But it has an effect while doing it. It provides a regular practices of paying attention. This is what it did for me. There is a perfect saying about being a business owner: You need to work on your business and not in your business. If you don't you are still an employee. To some extent, this applies to one's way of living. Obviously, you have to just live. However, you have to invest time and attention in working on your life.

Because I am doing it for so long, it became rather natural to me. However, it is a constant adaptation of the foundations. Coincidently, the last entry was about the change in my morning routine that I now revert.

0400-0700 is my first block of doing my thing. That means that I can design these three hours relatively free. So, one of the goals is to get some movement in, take care of the dog, and do everything in such a manner that it supports my cognition. Getting natural light in your eyes in the morning is quite powerful. So, I started to run last in this time window. Now, I lead with my run and get the benefits of the cognitive afterglow of movement (+ cold shower effects).

So, journaling is mainly a tool to direct the attention and increase consciousness. These are the main effects of journaling.

I have to thank you for the reminder. My schedule changed because my wife started to work again and I take care of the kids substantially more. And one one day of the week, I will have at least one kid permanently. So, I will again search for the optimal schedule and practice.

2026-11-03 Again: Start the day with the run and mobility

There is no chance anymore to run after sunrise. So, I revert back to start my day with the morning run. I also divided my daily coffee into two dosages and drink one after my morning routine and before my first work block. Like that I can properly load the morning with catabolism/activation.

I now start to practice the mini-essay writing practice as an integral part of my schedule.

iylock · November 9

@Sascha Thank you for sharing your experience!

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[Journal] Knowledge Work - Sascha

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