# In search of a status document ### What I’m Looking For I’m looking for a **method of communicating my current workload and capacity** in a way that’s visible, honest, and easy to maintain. My load at any given time is relevant to collaborators, friends, and mentors, and it’s also relevant to me. I want to be able to **see at a glance how much I’m carrying**, how close I am to capacity, and whether I’m overloading myself. My work centers on helping people help animals, and the more I can support others effectively, the better. But that’s only sustainable if I stay within my own limits. When people work side by side, it’s easy to read each other’s capacity by vibe, like noticing how full a friend’s wheelbarrow is while you move soil together. But in a **remote, fractional environment**, that natural awareness disappears. When I meet with one collaborator, others have no sense of the rest of my commitments that day. So I’m imagining something like a **“status document”**, a simple, transparent summary of: - What I’m working on - My current capacity (for example, 80 percent) - What I’m prioritizing or deprioritizing - How much energy I have for new commitments Sharing this regularly could improve communication, accountability, and self-awareness. It might help me pause before taking on too much, and help others see when I’m at capacity or need support. It could also serve as a tool for reflection, both live and retrospectively, to improve how I approach work and balance. --- ### Possible Options (in rough order) Features I want... - sd - Master Log - most flexible and forgiving - How to do this? - Spreadsheet - markdown - Features wanted... - Auto-publish - - - **Shared Dashboard or Google Doc**: Updated before meetings, viewable by teammates or mentors. - A dashoard feels like the best option - My preference would be the use of canvas in obsidian - cons - not currently publishable - can't be specficallly shared - Alternative - Notion - **Public Calendar**: Include both meetings and focused work blocks, shared with collaborators and friends. - Pros - People see my gaps - Easy enough to review retrospectively - Software to use - ?Obsidian - ?Notion - ?Google Calendar - Pen + Paper + Autophoto - Transparencies - **Physical Whiteboard**: Visible during calls and in my home office, integrated into daily agendas. - (this feels unsuitable) - **Agenda Check-In**: A quick status share at the start of every call (“I’m at 80 percent this week”). - (this feels insufficient, though relying more on structured [[agendas]], feels wise) - **Abandon the Idea**: Accept that communication will stay as is, though this feels like a missed opportunity. Poor options.. - WhatsApp Status --- ### Suggestions for Writing the Actual Document - Keep it **visual**, using bars, percentages, or color codes for load. - Include **sections for focus areas**, **current projects**, and **personal energy level**. - Add a **weekly reflection** or short “state of mind” note. - Make it **shareable but lightweight**, with no heavy formatting or jargon. - Write in the **first person**, warm but factual. - Experiment with **automation**, such as syncing calendar events to show workload. ## Why I am not doing this right now... - uncertainty ## Good next step.. -