Discussion Forum > 5T - urgent interruptions?
The system I am using is 5Ux which you can find in the discussion forums. As I wrote there:
"The system is a list of five tasks plus a reserved slot for any urgent task that comes. Therefore, you can have theoretically up to six tasks at a time, but that is not the "natural" state of the system; ideally, it should only have five. Also, once you have six items already on the list and another urgent matter comes, if you want to tackle that new urgent matter using the system, you have to cross out one of the tasks in the list and write the new urgent task down so that the total never goes above six items."
"The system is a list of five tasks plus a reserved slot for any urgent task that comes. Therefore, you can have theoretically up to six tasks at a time, but that is not the "natural" state of the system; ideally, it should only have five. Also, once you have six items already on the list and another urgent matter comes, if you want to tackle that new urgent matter using the system, you have to cross out one of the tasks in the list and write the new urgent task down so that the total never goes above six items."
February 17, 2016 at 8:11 |
nuntym
nuntym
Hi nuntym,
This sounds like a reasonable approach, but I'm wondering if anyone has found a way to do it without changing the basic rules of 5T / implementing a hack like this.
This sounds like a reasonable approach, but I'm wondering if anyone has found a way to do it without changing the basic rules of 5T / implementing a hack like this.
February 17, 2016 at 14:58 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
Seraphim,
I'd add it to a dynamic list and pick it up on the next pass of the 5T list.
If it couldn't wait, I'd add it to the 5T list.
Not sure whether to:
- allow the 5T list to grow
- strike out a task to pick up on the next pass or
- cut the list down to 2 and add the urgent task + 2 others
All this is theoretical. In practice, I'd probably step outside the system.
I'm very interested in Mark's response.
I'd add it to a dynamic list and pick it up on the next pass of the 5T list.
If it couldn't wait, I'd add it to the 5T list.
Not sure whether to:
- allow the 5T list to grow
- strike out a task to pick up on the next pass or
- cut the list down to 2 and add the urgent task + 2 others
All this is theoretical. In practice, I'd probably step outside the system.
I'm very interested in Mark's response.
February 17, 2016 at 15:25 |
Will
Will
Νίκη
February 17, 2016 at 17:22 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
LOL
Nike.
So basically it's the advice Mark has been giving since the beginning of the AF's.
Just do it.
I mean you have the 5T list to remind you what you have been doing before the interruption.
Nike.
So basically it's the advice Mark has been giving since the beginning of the AF's.
Just do it.
I mean you have the 5T list to remind you what you have been doing before the interruption.
February 17, 2016 at 17:43 |
nuntym
nuntym
Seraphim,
I missed something in your original post. "fill it back up again with the items that comprise the urgent interruption".
Wouldn't the individual items go on a dynamic list?
I missed something in your original post. "fill it back up again with the items that comprise the urgent interruption".
Wouldn't the individual items go on a dynamic list?
February 18, 2016 at 12:48 |
Will
Will
"Nike" makes sense for a single short interruption.
But in practice, for me at least, urgent stuff comes in batches. So trying to apply "Nike" quickly turns into "winging it". And that leads to me getting disoriented, like a "deer in the headlights".
After giving this more thought, I think a new batch of urgent tasks comprises a change in circumstances."
So I think I will just invoke this 5T rule: "You can also start a fresh list any time that you feel that a change in circumstances has made your current list inappropriate."
But in practice, for me at least, urgent stuff comes in batches. So trying to apply "Nike" quickly turns into "winging it". And that leads to me getting disoriented, like a "deer in the headlights".
After giving this more thought, I think a new batch of urgent tasks comprises a change in circumstances."
So I think I will just invoke this 5T rule: "You can also start a fresh list any time that you feel that a change in circumstances has made your current list inappropriate."
February 18, 2016 at 20:50 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
Seraphim:
If you are getting plagued by a batch of urgent tasks, then I suggest you drop 5T altogether and adopt the emergency procedure described in Get Everything Done.
This consists of the following procedure:
List all the tasks
Grade them: as follows:
A - Must be done today
B - Should be done today
C - Could be done today
You may need to select a shorter time period than today, e.g. before the conference this afternoon.
Do the A's straight off.
Feed the B's into 5T during the course of the day
Leave the C's until things have settled down again.
If you are getting plagued by a batch of urgent tasks, then I suggest you drop 5T altogether and adopt the emergency procedure described in Get Everything Done.
This consists of the following procedure:
List all the tasks
Grade them: as follows:
A - Must be done today
B - Should be done today
C - Could be done today
You may need to select a shorter time period than today, e.g. before the conference this afternoon.
Do the A's straight off.
Feed the B's into 5T during the course of the day
Leave the C's until things have settled down again.
February 18, 2016 at 21:34 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
Perhaps I should just throw away my current 5T list, and fill it back up again with the items that comprise the urgent interruption?
Any other ideas?