The Perfect Time Management System
Friday, May 8, 2015 at 12:11 For millenia the best minds in the world have been searching for the perfect time management system. Finally, after twenty years of thinking about little else (or at least that’s how it felt), I have at last managed to invent it.
I hope this will be an incalculable boon to humankind. Imagine, no more frustration at not being able to trust yourself to achieve what you want. Imagine, always being able to decide to do something and know that you will do it. Imagine, being able to unfailingly steer the optimum path through all the clashing priorities of daily life.
The system is very simple. Once you know it you will be hard pressed to think why it would take one person five minutes to think up, let alone twenty years. Yet, as far as I know no one else has ever thought of it before.
Here are a few characteristics of the system:
- It’s a “universal capture” system, i.e. you can enter any task or project without any pre-editing or prioritizing.
- It’s equally suitable for pen and paper or electronic means.
- It can deal with any size list, from the smallest to the largest.
- No matter what order the tasks are written in, it will always give you the optimum path through them.
- It has no problem with urgent tasks.
- It encourages “little and often”.
- You can attend meetings and write down tasks and queries straight into the list.
- Resistance becomes a thing of the past.
- You can enter provisional tasks, i.e. ones you haven’t decided definitely whether to do them or not.
- You can brainstorm straight onto the list
- It requires no randomizers or other equipment.
- and so on.
I’ll be writing more about this in a week or so’s time.
Reader Comments (77)
Seriously - I really can't wait.
<< Is this the same system that will feature in your new book? >>
No, this takes a very different approach.
<< the Final Version, the Alternative Final Version, the Ultimate Time Management System, the Improved Ultimate Time Management System and the Simplest and Most Effective Method of All >>
I think you missed out a few question marks in the titles there, Chris. And the Final Version was supposed to be *my* final version before I turned my mind to other things (which of course I didn't and it wasn't).
But this really is the Perfect System, with no ifs, buts or other qualifications.
I echo the others. I can't wait to see it!
Still, it's always a pleasure to see what you've got cookin' in that noggin of yours
But seriously, Mark, consider a different name. PTMS is unpronounceable. (I won't say it's not Perfect, but doubt that you will be unable to improve on the method, whatever it is.)
Consider that FV wasn't really Final, UTMS wasn't really Ultimate, AF wasn't really Automatic, etc.
We in the geek community like self-referential acronyms, so PERFECT could be a good name, e.g. Perfect Efficient Routine to Facilitate Effective Control of Time. I'll let you trademark that one, if you like it. :-)
<< Is this a time management system or a work processing system >>
How would you define the difference?
<< Is this a time management system or a work processing system >>
How would you define the difference?
I guess he means will you new system will be easely manage projects or tasks ? Is it un acting system or a real method of managing yours work's tasks ?
I can't wait :-)
The excitement of something new lol.
Although I am very satisfied with how my system is right now (it does for me what Mark's Perfect system promises---universal capture, works with pen and paper or electronic, cuts through resistance, able to brainstorm, able to plan, able to handle projects, works with big or small lists, etc.) I am also curious to what Mark has cooked up and I want to see if I can incorporate some ideas into my system, or maybe even replace it totally if it really is good.
"What do you expect will be different for you when using Mark's new system?"
I'm deliberately keeping my expectations low. I don't believe any system can live my life for me. But these caught my eye because of current problems in my life:
◾It can deal with any size list, from the smallest to the largest.
◾No matter what order the tasks are written in, it will always give you the optimum path through them.
◾It has no problem with urgent tasks.
◾Resistance becomes a thing of the past.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/why-do-we-like-making-lists-9765922.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/11123049/The-worlds-most-intriguing-lists.html
Can't wait!
Matt
I'm intrigued and hopeful your new system it isn't radically different from FV.
Good point but what you describe is not anything what would be special only for Mark`s forum, but what is universal experience when dealing with anything new: testing, enthusiasm, excessive using, reactive abandoning ("anti-movement") and in the end appropriate use (or not, depending on the usability of the concept); including becoming fans, anti-fans... (e.g. Alfred Korzybski wrote about these exact stages when describing acquisition of any new meaning). But I would say that what you forgot is that this process did not end in
>>and then everything settles down and we go back to what we were doing before :)<<
but in USING the (method, advice, Mark`s tip or new meaning in Korzybski`s sense) - maybe sometimes, maybe when appropriate, maybe in individualized way, maybe integrated with previous experiences. In the end, our views and approaches how to deal with tasks/work ARE definitely CHANGED. And for me, it is the meaning of all our discussions, ideas we share, tweaks. We are not unchanged by them.
Checking this page throughout the day isn't doing wonders for my productivity :)
1. decide what goes on new AF-list
2. ummmm
If you are using Google Chrome, something like this might suit you: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/page-monitor/pemhgklkefakciniebenbfclihhmmfcd
If you monitor this particular page: http://markforster.squarespace.com/blog then you'll be notified also when Mark next does a new blog post
On Monday, I was just about to plunge into GTD when I happened upon AF. I thought AF looked more promising.
Yesterday, I was ready to plunge into AF, but then I discovered FV and thought it might work a little better for me.
(I also ordered a copy of DIT to read, because the windmill of my mind demands constant grist.)
Today, I was all set to start FV, but now I see PTMS on the horizon.
What to do?
This is not helping with my procrastination habits at all! ;-)
Seriously, though, I'm starting some system this weekend, if not sooner. I have to do it while I'm still in the mood to do it. If I wait too long, I'll cool off, get distracted, and forget all about it.
http://markforster.squarespace.com/forum/post/2106746
for the original instructions and FAQ.
I did check out SMEMA, but I don't think that's the right solution for me. I really need to write everything down. I don't need to act on all of it, but keeping a list of just three things at a time virtually guarantees that I will find three other things to do instead, no matter what they are.
I have some other "systems" in place for specific situations, but I'll post about those over on the poll discussion page.
When Mark introduced the original AutoFocus back in 2009 it really changed the way I approached my work. I was an enthusiastic user of AutoFocus during the spring and summer of 2009. Since then I have backed off somewhat as I have learned the pros and cons of AutoFocus for my particular circumstances. But I still come back to the system regularly, and have a list going right now actually (those timeless words: "2. Go through the page more slowly looking at the items in order until one stands out for you...").
I don't really have high expectations but Mark always seems to come up with clever and original ideas. I'm sure that at least some aspect of Mark's new system will find its way into my own workflow in some shape or form.
For the past couple of years I have been using Todoist. It has a few problems now and again, but it has an optional built-in incentive feature which encourages me often.
The recently I saw a video demo of using GTD using Todoist. Next thing I find myself reading a Kindle version of the latest edition of David Allen's book, updated and only released in the last couple of months.
Yet again I am tantalised by what Mark has up his sleeve in the next few days or so.
A luta continua.
— Albert Einstein
when do you plan realease you new system ? kind regards
The wait is unbearable. When is the keys of unlocking our productivity going to be unveiled. It seems like the new iPhone release. We are willing to wait anxiously in the iMark store.
Hyagrev
Mark said he'd write more about this in a week or so's time. This can be anywhere from a week to two weeks. Also, bear in mind, Mark did not say he was releasing the system in a week or so's time. He said he'd "write more about this", but that's all he committed to publicly.
But yeah, I hope he takes the time he needs to refine his new system and express it fully and clearly. I'm sure he would also prefer to post it during a time he's available (and willing, lol) to answer the initial onslaught of questions after release.
I think it's a point worth emphasizing. All Mark has said is he would write more about it. That's not the same as disclosing the system. I'm sure he must have used that particular unusual wording for a reason.
Well, now everybody knows: I'm greedy.