Get Everything Done

These days my weapon of choice is FVP. But I also stuck a long time with Simple Scanning before. But with both of those systems (and any system really) the tasks that I don't really want to do get left behind as the list grows for many pages.
The solution has been starting a new list, and the previously-left-behind tasks either go away or are managed better in a shorter list.

I've been entertaining the idea of a Do Everything method:
- It's a long list method.
- You enter any and all tasks that come to mind at any time, at the end of the list.
- You process each task one at a time, in order.
- If the task Stands Out (it's urgent, it's important, it's fun, whatever), you work on it for as long as you want.
- If the task doesn't Stand Out (it's boring, there are more urgent/important things to do, can't really make any progress, waiting for input from someone, etc.), you STILL work on it, for at least one minute.*
- You cross out the task. If there is more work to do on it, enter it at the end of the list.
- Continue to the next task.

* Some notes on this:
1- You don't have to set a timer, just what feels like one minute (as a minimum) is OK. The point is to do SOMETHING, however minimal it is.
2- There are many reasons for a task not standing out:
a) It's boring / I don't feel like doing it. You still force yourself to make some progress. After all, it's only one minute, what's the bare minimum you could do? Do that.
b) There are more urgent things to do. If it's something like a meeting, something that has a set starting time in less than a minute, then drop everything and go to your appointment. If not, then don't worry, just work on the task at hand for a minute, the urgent stuff will still be there waiting for you.
c) There are more important things to do. Just like in the previous point, don't worry, just work on the task at hand for a minute (or faster if you can!), the important stuff will still be there waiting for you.
d) Can't make progress right now. Find _something_ that you can do. You could gather the papers in preparation, put them in a folder. You could mentally visualize how the task is going to go, and then make some notes. You could rehearse what you're going to say. You could google it for more information. You could trace the route you're going to take. You could make a mental/written checklist to see if everything is ready.
e) Waiting for someone. Again, find something that you can do. You could send a friendly reminder. Instead of waiting for them, you go to them. You could prepare (and doublecheck) everything on your end. Etc.
f) Sure, but one minute is too little to make any progress. Find something minimal. Taking a page from GTD's book: defining purpose and principles, outcome visioning, brainstorming, organizing, and identifying next actions is still progress.
3- If after one minute of thinking about how to make progress nothing comes up, well then maybe that was the work done for this round.
4- Hopefully those tasks that don't really belong on my list get discarded after thinking about them for a minute or two.

Disclaimer: I haven't really tried this method, and most of what's here I've fleshed out while writing this post.

Has anyone tried anything like this before?

Maybe I'll give it a try this week and report back.

I like the way you have articulated this. I've been toying with improving the dismissal algorithm by at a minimum rewriting the task with new clarifying words or smaller steps.

Or if it is an item is no longer relevant I ask myself, what was the intent of this? If the "why" is still there but the "how" has changed I possibly do some work on changing how the "how" is written.

For example if the task was to "research buying a new camera" and I no longer feel inclined to do so, I may ask myself why did I want a new camera? If the "why" was because I was heading out on a recreational trip and wanted to take a few nicer pictures. I may realize that due to COVID, taking a trip is more difficult and the real task might actually be to research ways to get some recreation in a different sort of way.

Completely different task but same core why.

I often will set a timer and work on something for only one minute. This is usually at the start of the day or the start of a work session. I use it as a warmup to get going. If I have a list of items, 10 works well, I might spend 1 minute on each. Some items that only need to be checked can get done in one minute. Sometimes, after one minute, I realize I don't need to do the task, or don't want to do it.

However, there is a limit to how many items and for how long I can do this. Perhaps no more than a half hour, or no more than 10 items. Eventually my mind will rebel at working for that short a time. If I work for one minute on a task, and want to work longer on it, I set the timer for 2 minutes, and keep increasing it the longer I want to work. Usually I work toward a minimum of 5 minutes on a task. At some point, I get lost in the task, and forget to set the timer. By then, I see which task needs the most time, and abandon the timer altogether, just like you discard the scaffolding when it has served its purpose. It is like warming up before exercise. It is not the main event, only the prelude.
Working for one minute is of value, but I don't think it will get one through every item on the list.
Eventually, you'll reach the point when there are more tasks than there is time for. Many tasks cannot be completed in a minute. Working for one minute keeps the task on the list longer.
If one has 60 items, and spend one minute on each, it will at most take 60 minutes to go through all of them. If each takes 5 minutes it will take 5 hours. However, not all tasks require 5 minutes. On the other hand, many tasks will take longer than 5 minutes.
Timeboxing in these short intervals of time gets to be fatiguing.

Only if the list is very short can one work on every item. I do try to do this sometimes with a list of 10 or 20 items.
Working on a task for one minute is valuable on tasks that one is procrastinating on, that you don't want to do, but have to do, and is urgent. Sometimes you don't feel like doing something until you get started doing it. Sometimes all that is required is a minute or two of your time and the task is done. Sometimes all it takes is getting started and the inertia leaves.
Unfortunately, some procrastination items take longer than one minute. Sometimes I will work on a task for one minute, and then sit and do nothing. If I want to work for 2 minutes, I do that, but if not I stay at one minute. I keep this up. Usually at some point I either finish the task, or forget to reset the timer and continue with the task, or get so tired of being forced to restrict myself to the timer that I dispense with it. This is only a crutch, but it works sometimes.

I do this with AF. When I get to a page that nothing stands out, I say (usually to myself, sometimes to my cat) I say to myself "Is there anything left that I would be willing to spend at least five minutes on today?" If no, the items on the page get dismissed.

A "Do everything" method might work if it uses a short list of items that must-be-done today.
Or must-do before leaving for work, or preparing for a meeting.

Me, too!

The results after (almost) a week of trying this method are that I've been working more productivelly on my personal tasks, but it hasn't make much difference for my professional tasks.

But first I'll address the question directed to me:

avrum:
<< Can you envision doing this a la M. Forster i.e. Throwing everything at the list, and living off the list.
[...]
Or do you envision using this system whenever you have discretionary time, or between certain hours? >>

I would definitely not throw everything at the list, that just ain't me. I have an overall system for myself. Something like an outter "life-management" system.
This is a system more for my discretionary time, and for work hours.


As it's obvious, and as some of you pointed out, the main weaknesses of "Do Everything" are:
1) Long list of tasks.
2) Urgent tasks. (Even worse when this is combined with the previous point).
3) Mental strain.

I have subconciously combatted all of those weaknesses this week, and I intend to make it explicit starting tomorrow.
The solution that seems to work for me is:
- "Tickler file", "Waiting for" and "Someday/maybe" lists, and
- Work-Rest-Work-Rest cycles (a la Pomodoro Technique).


All in all, I really like this system. Maybe it's the honeymoon phase, but I really like it so far.
I'm gonna be sticking to this until the next big thing.