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<< Maybe the best way is to use both approaches? Maybe like a modification of FAF?
1. Scan the whole list until a task "stands out".
2. Once you have done the task, do all the tasks in that page except those that you don't want to do.
3. Once you have done all the things in that page that you want to do, go back to step 1. >>
Actually the approach I'm testing out is very similar to this, though different in detail, and I'm finding similar results to what you are reporting.
The interesting thing about it is that it makes use of both one's feelings that one does want to do something and one's feelings that one doesn't want to do something.
I won't go quite as far as to say that the more you have to do and the less you feel like doing it the better it works, but it does tend in that direction!
Instead I do the task that leaps out and grabs me. (Stands out tall.)
Sometimes it's a task I really don't feel like doing but it has great importance. Sometimes it's a task that due to circumstances I'm extra-prepared to tackle that. Sometimes it's a thing that stands out because it's next to impossible to progress on it (yet somewhat important), and I spend time thinking about the task coming up with a how-to-move-forward. And sometimes it's a task I really want to do now.
Early hours, but I suppose this vantage does get quandrants 2 and 3 equally.
Perhaps it would help if we drop the word "want" from the Standing Out description. Although you've repeatedly explained not to define it, to let the subconscious fill in the blank, the word still carries baggage.
What if instead of scanning for what we "want to do," we scan for what we "are going to do"? As we scan along, we wait for that special feeling of "Aha! This is what I'm going to do next," no "wanting" involved. We might want to do it or have to do it or need to do it before 5pm, etc. Of course, it's all "wanting" at a sort of meta-level, as the "Aha!" is a want-to-do, even if it's wanting to do this hated thing that we don't want to do, so that it's finally done. Literally true perhaps, but way too complicated!
I wouldn't expect this tweak to make much difference for you, because you probably discovered the Standing Out process before trying to verbalize it. The rest of us came to it through your verbal description featuring the word "want," and so we would be more likely affected by a word change.
I wonder whether it will make a difference for anyone.
I actually am leaning towards the opinion that one's looking for this "Aha!" special feeling could be a major cause for resistance.
I mentioned above that shifting my attention from "doing what 'stands out' to "avoiding what I do not want" lets me do more, because I free myself from looking for this "Aha!" feeling and instead I open my heart and mind to notice things that I am OK to do, not just things that I really want to do.
Now I am not saying we should avoid "standing out" altogether. "Standing out" is excellent for looking for urgent tasks. What I am saying is that we should only use "standing out" only when necessary.
<< What if instead of scanning for what we "want to do," we scan for what we "are going to do"? >>
This is precisely what the Random method gives you. But it is faster because it doesn't require any scanning. And less mental energy for the same reason.
Random RAF does the same thing but gives you an "out" if you just can't do the thing right now (defer) or realize it doesn't need doing at all (delete).
<< I wouldn't expect this tweak to make much difference for you, because you probably discovered the Standing Out process before trying to verbalize it. >>
Well, let me tell you how I "discovered" the Standing Out process.
A very long time ago I was reading a book on prayer. I can't remember who the author was, or anything about her except that she was a woman.
She was describing how anyone who takes intercessory prayer seriously tends to end up with a huge list of people to pray for.
She advised making a complete list of people you wanted to pray for and then each day going down the list and praying individually for the people whose names stood out.
That's it. She didn't describe what she meant by that, but I never had any trouble understanding her advice. And it worked so well I started extending it to other things.
<< Random RAF does the same thing but gives you an "out" if you just can't do the thing right now (defer) or realize it doesn't need doing at all (delete). >>
The problem with this is that it does a good job of weeding out the things you can't do now or need to delete, but it's not getting you any faster to the tasks that you do need to be doing now. This becomes a bigger and bigger problem the longer your list becomes.
I reckon if you merge real auto focus and simple scanning, you will more or less have the perfect system.
I think the features of picking up the oldest tasks within RAF are what is missing in simple scanning.
Looking forward to any of your new developments.
<< I reckon if you merge real auto focus and simple scanning, you will more or less have the perfect system. >>
How do you envisage that happening? Because basically RAF is Simple Scanning. It just has a limit on the number of days,
AF4 lends well into such a system since the Closed List naturally fits with "reverse standing out", where you need to be thorough, while the Open List definitely needs "standing out" because of the need to be flexible in handling urgent stuff which typically are found in it. It has a natural landmark to signal the change from "reverse standing out" to "standing out", which is the dividing line, and vice versa. Also, because of the thoroughness of "reverse standing out", you can safely switch from the Closed List to the Active List upon reaching the dividing line without going back to the beginning, and because of its speed (and let me point right now that it is amazing to find a process that is both fast and thorough!) there is little danger of the old disadvantage of AF4 where we bog down when the Open List bloats in size. Finally, dismissal now actually makes sense and is even a natural consequence of the system, since once you have a pass through the Closed List without doing any task, what obviously will be left in the Closed List are the things you do not want to do.
1. Once you have a list of things to do, close it with a line. Everything above this line is the Closed List, while everything below it is the Open List. You can write new tasks into the Open List anytime.
2. Start from the beginning of the Closed List. Do the tasks in order except those that you do not want to do, then cross them out when you have done what you can for now. If needed, rewrite them at the end of the Open List.
3. Once you reach the dividing line, switch to the Open List. Starting from the beginning of the Open List, scan down and do the tasks there that "stand out" as things you want to do, then cross them out when you have done what you can for now. As always, if needed, rewrite them at the end of the Open List.
4. Once you reach the end of the Open List, go back to steps 2-4
5. Once you go through the Closed List without acting on any one active task, dismiss everything above the dividing line by drawing diagonal lines across the pages of the Closed List, then drawing a new dividing line at the end of the Open List, making it the new Closed List. Be sure to review the dismissed items once in a while, for example by adding "review dismissed" into your AF4.
<< [Random RAF is] not getting you any faster to the tasks that you do need to be doing now. This becomes a bigger and bigger problem the longer your list becomes. >>
I can see how that could be a problem.
Generally, I have found Random RAF to be similar to your original "sliding randomizer" system, in that it tends to compress the list. So this mitigates the problem somewhat.
For me personally, I use "no-list" as my default mode of operation, and only switch to Random RAF when I am feeling a bit aimless or unfocused or tired. The more pressing and important things are handled very well by "no-list".
So it's basically identical to AF4, except that you do all the tasks in the closed list in order unless they stand out as not to be done. Is that right?
Which form of "no list" are you using?
1. Write down everything on my mind (on whiteboard or temporary scrap of paper)
2. Choose the top few things (by dotting them or something)
3. Erase everything else
4. If something resists being erased, move it to my Random RAF list.
"Well, let me tell you how I "discovered" the Standing Out process...
"She advised making a complete list of people you wanted to pray for and then each day going down the list and praying individually for the people whose names stood out."
Fascinating! I notice she did not use the word "want." Thanks for the anecdote.
This AF4 variation is very interesting. I will be using it for the next few days to see how it goes.
The words "want to do next" are my attempt to explain how to do it for people who can't grasp the concept. I don't use any question or description myself.
As I said in the above story of how I came across the idea of "standing out", I never had any difficulty grasping the author's meaning. It just seemed perfectly natural to me. So when I first introduced the concept in (I think) my description of AF1, I was surprised when quite a lot of people told me that they had difficulty grasping what I meant.
Since then I feel as if I'm trying to explain the unexplainable. To me, it's as if someone said "Could you please explain the thought processes you go through when you want to move your hand."
I highly suggest you don't, as I explained in Mark's latest blog post.
Mark Forster: <<So it's basically identical to AF4, except that you do all the tasks in the closed list in order unless they stand out as not to be done. Is that right? >>
Yes, and also while processing the Closed List, when I reached the dividing line, I do not go back to the beginning and keep on circulating until I did no task in it, I just went to the Open List.
"The words "want to do next" are my attempt to explain how to do it for people who can't grasp the concept. I don't use any question or description myself.
"As I said in the above story of how I came across the idea of "standing out", I never had any difficulty grasping the author's meaning..."
Very understandable. I think your most effective description is the one about scanning for something that "feels ready to be done."
Christopher,
"It's right there in the part you quoted."
I hadn't noticed! But it's a different "want." Wanting to write "clean out garage" on your list is not the same as wanting to do it next.
The modified AF4 was initially very successful but did not survive until the end of the day. I made good progress through the morning on things that would not have stood out with "normal" scanning. By late afternoon I was anxious to move on to urgent tasks. Af4 is usually good at this type of urgency but I think I was resisting dismissal.
I wonder if anyone has tried limiting the size of the closed list in AF4 ? Rather than creating the closed list by drawing the line at the end of the open list instead drawing the line after a predetermined number of tasks. Say the oldest 10 or 20.
Yeah I noticed it was the dismissal process that ruined the system. I think that means we have to take dismissal out of the equation if we're doing a "Standing out for No" system.
"I wonder if anyone has tried limiting the size of the closed list in AF4 ? Rather than creating the closed list by drawing the line at the end of the open list instead drawing the line after a predetermined number of tasks. Say the oldest 10 or 20. "
You mean a page of tasks? Hmmm....you gave me an idea. I'll be back! >,<
Anyways just throwing out an idea.