Lots of people want to get organized, but what does that really mean? Is it all about creating complex filing systems, or buying the latest electronic gizmo, or about keeping a spotless desk top? To answer this question, I came across a great article from David Allen who proceeds to take the mystery out of the concept of “organized”:
“Let me explain. When something is “organized” it means simply that it’s where it needs to be. Where is that? In a place that reflects what the thing specifically means to you.
“You are disorganized if you need something somewhere that you don’t have it or have something somewhere that you don’t need it.”
To read more from this fascinating article, which contains an easy guide on making basic decisions about the stuff in your life, simply click over to this web site.
Years ago I was a certified yoga teacher in the Kripalu tradition. I was drawn to yoga as a way to find centering, peace, and health in my life. Perhaps one of the reasons that GTD has always connected for me is that it takes the ancient wisdom from the mountaintop and brings it straight to the modern office. I recently came across this great quote from a Raja Yoga school of wisdom that clearly demonstrates the reason why it is important to get things out of your head and to bring them to completion in a timely manner.
“People started keeping calendars a century ago. Why? Because life’s time-based commitments got more complex than they could trust their mind to manage. If you think that a Projects list is unnecessary, then throw away your calendar and trust life will just let you know what you should be doing, in the moment. Good luck. If you decide you need a calendar, then keep a list of your projects you’re committed to completing, as well as appointments to keep. Otherwise you’re intellectually dishonest.”
According to Pink’s study of the scientific literature, most people erroneously believe that external motivations like money and fancy benefits motivate us to do good work. The conclusion he draws is that what truly motivates us is the ability to direct our own lives, learn new things, and improve the lives of the people around us. Pink provides examples of ways to improve your own level of drive. His book also identifies different ways that organizations can use self directed motivation to inspire their workforce in ways that the old approach of carrots and sticks was never able to do.
One way to move a project forward is to pose a simple question – what is the next action? Each project on your plate requires a physical action to move it forward, such as making a phone call, writing an email, drafting a memo, walking down the hall to visit HR, cleaning a cabinet, etc. The question forces you to get real about the project by making it solid and tangible in your mind. It can create momentum that will move the project to completion.
For example, if inbox zero is your goal then keep track of the number of messages in your inbox at the end of the day when you leave work. If you want to be faster at the computer, track and record the number of words you can type per minute. To keep your commitments under control, maintain an accurate project list, count the projects on it, and discover the maximum number of projects that your stress management can handle at one time. In short, if you have meaningful productivity goals ask yourself how to measure progress because, “If you don’t measure it, it must not be important.”
very system has one bottleneck tighter than all the others, in the same way a chain has only one weakest link.
“I was taking a cycling class one time and the instructor made a comment that intrigued me. Between intense bursts of climbing hills she said, ‘recovery builds confidence and strength.’ Whereas part of me wanted to keep a fast pace and just keep going, I took her advice, slowed my speed down to rest my legs and heart. I was stronger on the next hill I climbed. OK–so you knew there’d be something GTD in this: the Weekly Review is recovery. It’s my time to relax my mind and body from the frantic pace of the daily grind. It builds confidence in my system letting my mind know it’s OK to relax and be creative. It gives me mental strength to make better choices because I’m seeing a clear picture of everything instead of chasing after latest and loudest.”
Efficient Librarian 