If your life had a README

Notebook that looks like a README — If software needs a README, maybe our lives do too.

If a life had a README, what would new teammates need to know on day one. This guide shows you how to write your own in a friendly, useful way so people know how to work with you and you can skip guesswork.

Keep it simple. One page. Clear tone. Share only what you are happy to share. The goal is smoother collaboration for everyone, not a perfect biography.

Most productive

Choose yours

Comm style

Direct and kind

Focus blocks

60 to 90 minutes

Energy source

Your fuel

A README is not a contract. It is a friendly guide. Update it as you grow.

TL;DR

What I value: clarity, honesty, momentum. What I bring: helpful docs, thoughtful systems, steady shipping. Working on: saying no earlier, sleeping better, asking for help sooner. Edit to match you.

Installation

Best hours and response time. For example: weekdays 9 to 6 with a protected morning focus block.
Channel preferences. Quick pings in chat, longer thoughts in email, calls for tricky topics.
Share context up front. Offer links or a short brief. Ask the same from others.

Dependencies

Calendar time for deep work and for team touch points.
Lightweight docs that show decisions and tradeoffs.
Basic wellness habits like sleep, movement, and time to think.

Usage

Best ways to work with me

Share a goal and a guardrail. Propose a route together.
Prefer async first with clear written updates.
Offer specific feedback. Expect quick iteration.

Things that slow me down

Vague priorities that change too often.
Meetings without a purpose or a doc.
Hidden blockers that surface late.

Environment variables

FUEL coffee, water, protein or your pick.
PLAYLIST calm focus, beats, or silence.
RECOVERY movement, stretch, sleep, quiet time.

Health checks

If small improvements ship each week, health is green.
If everything is a yes and priorities blur, health is yellow.
If sleep or basics slip for long, health is red.

Known issues

Tendency to over explain. Ask for a short version when needed.
Impulse to fix too much at once. Nudge to slice thinner helps.

Changelog

Quarter or year: what improved, what changed, what you learned.
One habit added, one tool removed.
One lesson you would share with a new teammate.

Make your own README in 20 minutes

Copy the sections that fit you. Skip the rest.
Write like you talk. Keep it kind and practical.
Share with one person you trust and ask for a small suggestion.

A short README reduces friction and builds trust. It helps people help you. Start small, update often.