There’s a new blog called Proto-Scholar that has had some useful posts lately. In addition to the tip about reading your final draft out loud, I thought the advice on working academic conferences would be helpful for those new to the scene.
Today I read how the author, Rebecca, has fallen off the GTD wagon and I finally had to confess to myself that I did so over a month ago. Even though I’ve been working hard these past few weeks, I’ve been in linear mode, focusing mostly on one project. Meanwhile, a stack of miscellaneous papers has sat unprocessed on my desk and I haven’t done a weekly review for ages.
If any of you can relate, I can recommend checking out Merlin Mann’s thoughts on getting back to GTD. It won’t surprise those who know GTD that the first thing he suggests is doing a mind sweep using an “incompletion trigger list” to clear your head.
Things always seem to back up for me right before a trip, and I’ve found that the perfect time to clear my psychic RAM and get projects sorted out is on a plane. Another reason I’m looking forward to traveling soon!
Any thoughts on best ways to clear up backlogs or avoid them in the first place? Let us know in the comments.
4 comments ↓
Obviously I have no advice on not falling off *grin* but I know part of why we fall off is that we prioritize keeping our system going BELOW whatever that single item is that has our attention. We stop doing weekly reviews, we stop clearing our inboxes and soon our system is in shambles.
Therefore to get back on I think the FIRST thing we have to do is give ourselves PERMISSION to take the time to do it. I gave myself permission last night to go through all the loose papers, stagnant lists and piles that were most immediate, then did it.
I have more to do still but I no know that all of my actions are in one place instead of scattered on meeting notes, emails, etc. But that process took time; hours actually, and it was important for me to prioritize it last night ABOVE all the other stuff that is pressing in.
Maybe that means that to not fall off we have to keep our system at the top of our priority list and remember that we will get to all those scary things more efficiently and with more energy if we keep on top of our syste,
Very well said, Rebecca. Thanks for the comment.
Rebecca’s point about giving yourself permission to maintain the system (or to catch up) really resonates with me. I had been sliding lately as well and decided to start the week by taking a full day to regroup. I finished the day with a clean desk, 4 emails in my inbox, and at least 2 good new ideas! The other (unanticipated) consequence was that I had acute productivity-related nightmares on Monday night but have slept great ever since. Didn’t realize that not maintaining GTD was affecting my quality of sleep, but I really think it was.
Taking that day sounds like a smart move, jt.
As for your sleep, it made me think of that NYT article on sleep and memory this week. If the brain processes bits and pieces of our day while we sleep, trying to make connections and file memories, it seems like you’d be reducing its workload by closing as many of the open loops as you could consciously identify before you went to sleep. But I guess that doesn’t mean you’d necessarily have a better night’s sleep. (Maybe the brain needs a good workout during sleep, or maybe it gives itself one regardless of the daily input, and maybe none of this is related to how we feel when we wake up in the morning?…just wondering aloud here.)
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