Discussion Forum > Simplest system to improve time usage
Know what fulfils you. When you know what you are doing with your life you will know what to do with your weeks and days.
August 10, 2012 at 14:35 |
michael
michael
Just get on and DO stuff and stop this obsessing and endless minutiae (I speak as someone who used to obsess with systems, felt really busy - and ultimately got nowhere)
August 10, 2012 at 22:43 |
Chris
Chris
@chris or decide to do less, poignantly highlighted here http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/01/top-five-regrets-of-the-dying
August 10, 2012 at 23:00 |
michael
michael
Alan wrote:
"simply record everything you do in a list . . .Awareness will automatically lead you to make small changes for the better."
I've been doing this for moths. And, yes, it does help reduce mindlessness. I am using toggl (toggle.com) for this.
"simply record everything you do in a list . . .Awareness will automatically lead you to make small changes for the better."
I've been doing this for moths. And, yes, it does help reduce mindlessness. I am using toggl (toggle.com) for this.
August 10, 2012 at 23:40 |
moises
moises
There is a lot of minutia discussed here, but I don't think this one is even close to that category.
August 11, 2012 at 2:54 |
Alan Baljeu
Alan Baljeu
Chris:
"Just get on and DO stuff and stop this obsessing and endless minutiae..."
... I think it's safe to say that all of us reading this forum just get on and do stuff with whatever system we use. But a lot of us — especially Mark — enjoy the art of systems design (or whiskey blending!), and the "smile-inducing" innovation and "aha!" moments sparked through the continual sharing of ideas and asking of simple questions — like Einstein did. From a seedbed of this minutiae and obsessive questioning grow the good ideas that ultimately bloom into systems, or components for systems, fit for every temperament.
One should always ask if their methods can be improved or simplified as they gain life experience and new insights through the asking of questions and sharing of ideas. Incremental improvement.
As much as I agree with your command to take action, I strongly oppose the call to "stop this obsessing and endless minutiae". Science is fun. Mark and the forum contributor's questions and science/art experiments with system design have produced solid innovation and have been very helpful to many of us.
"Just get on and DO stuff and stop this obsessing and endless minutiae..."
... I think it's safe to say that all of us reading this forum just get on and do stuff with whatever system we use. But a lot of us — especially Mark — enjoy the art of systems design (or whiskey blending!), and the "smile-inducing" innovation and "aha!" moments sparked through the continual sharing of ideas and asking of simple questions — like Einstein did. From a seedbed of this minutiae and obsessive questioning grow the good ideas that ultimately bloom into systems, or components for systems, fit for every temperament.
One should always ask if their methods can be improved or simplified as they gain life experience and new insights through the asking of questions and sharing of ideas. Incremental improvement.
As much as I agree with your command to take action, I strongly oppose the call to "stop this obsessing and endless minutiae". Science is fun. Mark and the forum contributor's questions and science/art experiments with system design have produced solid innovation and have been very helpful to many of us.
August 11, 2012 at 4:31 |
Michael B.
Michael B.
Michael B: I completely understand and agree that it's fun and spawns exploration into interesting areas. I'm not "calling" for anything. I'm simply responding honestly to the title of this thread: "Simplest system to improve time usage"
I've been playing with productivity systems for at least twenty years. In my experience the __simplest__ system to improve time usage is to get on with your work instead of coming onto a forum to have interesting conversations about how you might possibly think about a new way of possibly getting on with your work, then feeling all faux-productive armed with this new idea that you'll try out (and I use you generally as I've done this far too many times myself).
If you want a more __efficient__ system then use something as complex as you need to support the slice and dice views you need, and no complex more than that. That might be a text file, a project management app, a calendar and task list, whatever. It has an overhead which pays dividends in enabling greater efficiency. So it's no longer the simplest but it's an improvement.
If it stops doing that then you've probably gotten good at gaming it and you need to address your own behaviour before you try and fix the system with yet more tweaks, which is just another way of procrastinating and not getting on with your tasks. There are a large number of people on this kind of forum in this category as well as people who are just discussing for the enjoyment of it.
I've been playing with productivity systems for at least twenty years. In my experience the __simplest__ system to improve time usage is to get on with your work instead of coming onto a forum to have interesting conversations about how you might possibly think about a new way of possibly getting on with your work, then feeling all faux-productive armed with this new idea that you'll try out (and I use you generally as I've done this far too many times myself).
If you want a more __efficient__ system then use something as complex as you need to support the slice and dice views you need, and no complex more than that. That might be a text file, a project management app, a calendar and task list, whatever. It has an overhead which pays dividends in enabling greater efficiency. So it's no longer the simplest but it's an improvement.
If it stops doing that then you've probably gotten good at gaming it and you need to address your own behaviour before you try and fix the system with yet more tweaks, which is just another way of procrastinating and not getting on with your tasks. There are a large number of people on this kind of forum in this category as well as people who are just discussing for the enjoyment of it.
August 12, 2012 at 1:40 |
Chris
Chris
the value of "productivity" is questionable
http://www.markforster.net/blog/2007/5/14/in-praise-of-doing-nothing.html
http://www.markforster.net/blog/2007/5/14/in-praise-of-doing-nothing.html
August 12, 2012 at 12:15 |
michael
michael
For me, two best (and simple) methods which helped me use my time more effectively:
- time recording everything for cca week
- make today plan in the morning, set it aside (copy) and in the evening check what was done, what not.
From those two activities I learnt that I terribly overestimate my time possibilities and underestimate how long things takes. From this realization, I (1) focused on less number of more important things (usually 3-4 main tasks/day), MIT - most important tasks to be done first or as soon as possible. (2) reduce some pleasant things which took too long (for me it was cooking, which is my great hobby. Yes. You cannot cook two gourmet meals per day and not to expect 2-3 hours to disappear mysteriously...)
- time recording everything for cca week
- make today plan in the morning, set it aside (copy) and in the evening check what was done, what not.
From those two activities I learnt that I terribly overestimate my time possibilities and underestimate how long things takes. From this realization, I (1) focused on less number of more important things (usually 3-4 main tasks/day), MIT - most important tasks to be done first or as soon as possible. (2) reduce some pleasant things which took too long (for me it was cooking, which is my great hobby. Yes. You cannot cook two gourmet meals per day and not to expect 2-3 hours to disappear mysteriously...)
August 12, 2012 at 15:29 |
Daneb
Daneb
"the value of "productivity" is questionable
http://www.markforster.net/blog/2007/5/14/in-praise-of-doing-nothing.html"
True. Of course "improve time usage" doesn't only imply productivity.
http://www.markforster.net/blog/2007/5/14/in-praise-of-doing-nothing.html"
True. Of course "improve time usage" doesn't only imply productivity.
August 13, 2012 at 4:28 |
Alan Baljeu
Alan Baljeu
I am sure all these ideas have merit, but I don't think they can claim to be "the simplest". That would have to go to Gerry's one-rule system:
http://simpletimemanagement.blogspot.com/2011/03/worlds-simplest-time-management-system.html
http://simpletimemanagement.blogspot.com/2011/03/worlds-simplest-time-management-system.html
August 13, 2012 at 18:21 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
Hm, Gerry's is indeed simpler, but it doesn't really meet what I was getting at. I'm not entirely sure there's a coherent distinction to be made, but let me try. Writing down a list of things to do and simply looking at them is just going to lead to you doing those things you wrote. You may do them more efficiently, but it's not necessarily an improvement in how you spend your time.
On the other hand, Gerry's simple goal system is specifically directed at managing what you spend your time. Mark's Dreams book is also. And recording your activities and reviewing them (as stated in the intro post) is as well. A to-do list keeps you busy. A done list keeps you reflective, which leads you to change.
On the other hand, Gerry's simple goal system is specifically directed at managing what you spend your time. Mark's Dreams book is also. And recording your activities and reviewing them (as stated in the intro post) is as well. A to-do list keeps you busy. A done list keeps you reflective, which leads you to change.
August 13, 2012 at 20:56 |
Alan Baljeu
Alan Baljeu
+JMJ+
I think AF2 naturally tends to this pattern. I have been noticing that the things I do most often are always in the forefront of my AF2 list, and I just act on new tasks here and there to keep my list from growing.
I think AF2 naturally tends to this pattern. I have been noticing that the things I do most often are always in the forefront of my AF2 list, and I just act on new tasks here and there to keep my list from growing.
August 18, 2012 at 12:50 |
nuntym
nuntym
I found a quote I had from somewhere, which I paraphrase:
If everything is put on a timeline, you're going to fail, because the things that the clock will bring you are not the things that the heart will bring you.
Learn to live without the future. This breaks a mindset that says accomplishment is the measure of success. In a linear time it is; but in a quantum consciousness, accomplishment is measured by the peace and joy at just "being."
If everything is put on a timeline, you're going to fail, because the things that the clock will bring you are not the things that the heart will bring you.
Learn to live without the future. This breaks a mindset that says accomplishment is the measure of success. In a linear time it is; but in a quantum consciousness, accomplishment is measured by the peace and joy at just "being."
August 20, 2012 at 15:01 |
michael
michael
Alan,
I use a tm system simply to make sure I don't forget the things I have to do and want to do. This is different than the idea of recording what you actually do. I think it is a great idea to do what you are describing as it will allow one to see where their focus is and make changes if they like. I think to compare what we actually do to what we set out to do especially in the area of our big life goals is very valuable. Thanks for the idea, Gerry
I use a tm system simply to make sure I don't forget the things I have to do and want to do. This is different than the idea of recording what you actually do. I think it is a great idea to do what you are describing as it will allow one to see where their focus is and make changes if they like. I think to compare what we actually do to what we set out to do especially in the area of our big life goals is very valuable. Thanks for the idea, Gerry
August 20, 2012 at 16:34 |
Gerry
Gerry
After one week if you like it continue for two more to establish the habit.
As for how to pick what to do, just use whatever method you've been following already.
I'm starting this now.
My Inspiration for this is Darren Hardy's The Compound Effect, ch. 2.