Get Everything Done

For open discussion.

As you go through your closed list, certain tasks on there never seem to move, yet they should. What's holding these back, and what strategies do you use for moving them forward?

Obviously, some could be tasks you really don't need to do soon, and could be dismissed.

I noticed some that need to be done at another time or place. I think an appropriate remedy is two separate preactions:
1) figure out when and where you will work on it
2) plan to get to that when and where.
Each of those counts to move the task out of the closed list.

I'm sure you have other reasons for stuck tasks, and other remedies. Please share.

I have been looking at some of my 'stuck tasks' and decided that some of them are too big and that's why I'm building up resistance to them. I know that the rules say that you only have to work on a task for as long as you want but I'm still resisting these.

So, I'm just about to break some of these tasks down into mini-tasks that are hopefully too small to resisit! For me these are mostly household tasks:

so "clean bathrom" will become "clean sink and surround", "clean bath", etc

but I think this might help for any types of tasks. Of course, once I've got the kit out and done the sink I might decide to get the whole lot done - that's fine - and if I don't, that's fine too.

Feels like a very trite example but all these things need to be done!

Lucy

All you need to do is decide how to start. Write that down, and either do that on the spot or the next time you come around you should be prepared to start. If you finish the start and get stuck, figure out what's next and write that. IOW, when you cross off the task and reenter it, reenter it with the new next action.

Lucy, your problem got me out of lurk-mode here, as I had exactly the same resistance to household must-do tasks. My solution is to remove the verb at the beginning of the sentence, so I no longer write clean/tidy/dust/etc, I simply write down the room, or the object in question e.g. freezer, oven. It is purely psychological, but I feel as though I have a freer rein to choose what I want to clean first. Then I add the room or object to the end of the list for another session later if needed.
After reading over what I've written I realise that it sounds ridiculous, but all I can say is that it works for me. I hate taking orders even from myself, it appears!
Clara

Hi all
Everyday I have 2hours timeboxed for the lousiest and/or most important stuff I don't particularly enjoy doing. I assume only about 1 1/2 hours actual productivity in that time with 1/2 break time. I use my timer as launches. The default setting is 15 minutes but I'll go as low as 5minutes or as high as 30 minutes. I first choose the one that will bring me the greatest peace of mind to get out of the way followed by the other stuff. The timer method is primarily to launch me to work and also provides a safety net to stop if it's as lousy as I originally predicted. lol ! Usually I limit myself to ONLY 1 1/2 hours of lousy jobs. After they're done, I'm free to pursue the work I like much more! It's not fun but it gets it out of the way early in the day. The rest of the day seems like clear sailing in comparison! LOL!
learning as I go

p.s. I know it's not AF, but I do prioritize my 1 1/2 hours worth of lousy work in order of both peace of mind and importance. That way I won't make the mistake of suffering through unnecessary busy work. It forces me to choose well. I've discovered that in terms of work I don't like, it makes perfect sense not to do more of it than is absolutely necessary. It took me awhile to get good at choosing and realize the benefits of getting it over with ASAP. It really frees up my mind. It's a time-based version of a closed list! When I've clocked in my 1 1/2 hours, I STOP! This will keep it from ever becoming urgent work unless of course, something new and lousy and urgent comes in! LOL! That's actually a fairly rare occurance. Most of new work isn't urgent,same day work.
learning as I go

Clara,

It does not sound silly at all. I have been doing that for some time and hand not identified that was what I was doing... or why. EXACTLY ... you go to the room and then decide how to start ... as the mood strikes.

Learning,

Hey ... THERE you are ;-) I was about to send out a St. Bernard with a keg to find Missy and hoist a few then both go off and find YOU! ;-)

>>> Everyday I have 2hours timeboxed for the lousiest and/or most important stuff I don't particularly enjoy doing. I assume only about 1 1/2 hours actual productivity in that time with 1/2 break time. I use my timer as launches. The default setting is 15 minutes but I'll go as low as 5minutes or as high as 30 minutes. I first choose the one that will bring me the greatest peace of mind to get out of the way followed by the other stuff. <<<

Ah, you've done it again! See, that is a nice (and just a bit different) take on it ... peace of mind. I've long noticed that peace of mind follows getting these things done, but using that as motivation is a new take on it for me.

>>> The timer method is primarily to launch me to work and also provides a safety net to stop if it's as lousy as I originally predicted. lol ! Usually I limit myself to ONLY 1 1/2 hours of lousy jobs. After they're done, I'm free to pursue the work I like much more! It's not fun but it gets it out of the way early in the day. The rest of the day seems like clear sailing in comparison! LOL! <<<

Yeah, the old "eat the biggest frog first" idea. It really does work, I've found.

>>>p.s. I know it's not AF, but I do prioritize my 1 1/2 hours worth of lousy work in order of both peace of mind and importance. <<<

I suppose that those two often go hand in hand.

>>> That way I won't make the mistake of suffering through unnecessary busy work. It forces me to choose well. I've discovered that in terms of work I don't like, it makes perfect sense not to do more of it than is absolutely necessary. <<<

LOL ;-) You'd be surprised at how much dust you can actually live with! There are various laws of diminishing returns and such involved, but generally speaking, it takes X minutes to vacuum a room. Within reason it does not matter if you vacuum once a day or once a month or once a year ;-) If you have guests over every day then you might want to do it more often for that reason, but if not ... unless the dust bunnies are out of control and fighting all night keeping you up, then why not vacuum 1/2 as often or 1/4 as often and recoup that time for better things? I mean, at the end, what will you regret the most ... the creative work not done or the vacuuming not done? LOL ;-)

It is a balance. Bathrooms and kitchens do turn on you more quickly than living rooms, for example. And if I let the filing get too far behind, I start loosing efficiency. And if I don't keep my time management system up to the second, then all is lost ;-)

>>> It took me awhile to get good at choosing and realize the benefits of getting it over with ASAP. It really frees up my mind. It's a time-based version of a closed list! When I've clocked in my 1 1/2 hours, I STOP! This will keep it from ever becoming urgent work unless of course, something new and lousy and urgent comes in! LOL! That's actually a fairly rare occurance. Most of new work isn't urgent,same day work. <<<

Sound advice. I've not experienced that yet. I either keep on going until I drop or get disgusted and quit naturally ... often early.

Hey, (((Mike)))
I can envision you and a huge slobbery Saint Bernard walking together. I visualize a tube from the rum barrel going right into your mouth.....(sort of like those beer hats you see at sports events! ROTFL!) I'd hope that you'd find me in time to share the last few drops in the keg! lol!
re: vacuuming....BAD example! My German Shepherd sheds like crazy! That alone would nullify my 30second dropped food rule! LOL! It almost seems prophetic that when I miss more than a day of vacuuming, that's when I drop something delicious and/or expensive. My Missy has enjoyed lots of steak, shrimp, lobster, etc over my negligence! LOL! I might forget about some rooms for a few days, but I do the kitchen twice a day.....just in case I need to retrieve some food off of the floor! (I have bad hands.......) If it's yet to be cooked, I'll scoop it up. I'm banking on the cooking process to kill what wasn't washed off. If it's been cooked, Missy gets it! LOL! Who knows what's "living" on those paw prints or WHERE the fallen hair was originally located her body? *blush* LOL!

In reference to binging or petering out on work, that's where the beauty of my weekly system comes in. I have a WEEKLY cap. The daily cap is mostly a guiding tool. But I RARELY binge on crappy jobs! LOL! I binge on the challengin and fun stuff. That's no concern because the important stuff is safe and corralled. This little system prevents falling behind. In fact, it keeps me usually a bit ahead. I like the wiggle room! LOL!
Plus, since my pain is unpredictable, I actually need more wiggle room but I can't remember when I've screwed up an ENTIRE week! LOL! Some days, I don't even have any crappy jobs at all! Then I can change my sorting criteria to important stuff to move forward or use the opportunity to free up future time. My little system really works well for me. Of course, I still FEEL the effort I need to apply to the crappola jobs! LOL! There's no getting around that! LOL! But....ironically, the harder I have to apply myself, the sweeter it is when I'm done! The elation I get from the sheer relief from finishing it really gives me a nice buzz that I can use toward other work! I'd be a fool to waste the gratitudes...especially the hard-won victories! I'm such an attitude wimp about this stuff.....ROTFL! Perhaps, if I didn't dislike it so much, it would be FAR EASIER to get it done! Either way, I'm glad to have it done and gone ASAP! LOL!
Nice to see you again!
learning as I go

Living rooms are easier to keep spick and span because we can do other things whilst we clean and tidy them - eg watch telly. And because the mess is right in front of us, it's easier to do 'little and often'.

Kitchens and bathrooms are much easier to close the door on. And there's something marvellous about the way they look and smell when they've been blitzed - all those hard surfaces gleaming together. But the 'little and often' approach there would save me two hours every Saturday afternoon. I am going to try Lucy's approach and see how I get on.

>>> Hey, (((Mike))) <<<<

Hey, Hey, Hey ;-) ;-)

>>> I can envision you and a huge slobbery Saint Bernard walking together. I visualize a tube from the rum barrel going right into your mouth.....(sort of like those beer hats you see at sports events! ROTFL!)

LOL ;-) Just envision a gaggle of cats all going off in different directions, sniffing the trail, getting distracted by ... well, by anything! LOL ;-) From time to time I rattle a box of kibble to reel them back in ;-_

>>> I'd hope that you'd find me in time to share the last few drops in the keg! lol! <<<

No worries, rum for you, cream for Rory, and water for Missy ;-)

>>> re: vacuuming....BAD example! My German Shepherd sheds like crazy! <<<

Ah, of course, pet hair. Drat!

>>> That alone would nullify my 30second dropped food rule! LOL! <<<

OMG, you too? I love that rule ;-)

>>> It almost seems prophetic that when I miss more than a day of vacuuming, that's when I drop something delicious and/or expensive. My Missy has enjoyed lots of steak, shrimp, lobster, etc over my negligence! LOL! I might forget about some rooms for a few days, but I do the kitchen twice a day.....just in case I need to retrieve some food off of the floor! (I have bad hands.......) <<<

Hey ... watch the organ language ;-)

>>> If it's yet to be cooked, I'll scoop it up. <<<

Yeah, that's my MO as well. The only line I draw is that if I salvage it, it goes on MY plate, not my wife's. LOL ;-)

>>> I'm banking on the cooking process to kill what wasn't washed off. If it's been cooked, Missy gets it! LOL! Who knows what's "living" on those paw prints or WHERE the fallen hair was originally located her body? *blush* LOL! >>>

LOL ;-)

>>> In reference to binging or petering out on work, that's where the beauty of my weekly system comes in. I have a WEEKLY cap. <<<

I'm not sure I read where you actually defined what you mean by "cap". I've been seeing it in your writings and always got what you were saying, but I think I had better ask now.

>>> The daily cap is mostly a guiding tool. But I RARELY binge on crappy jobs! LOL! I binge on the challengin and fun stuff. That's no concern because the important stuff is safe and corralled. This little system prevents falling behind. In fact, it keeps me usually a bit ahead. I like the wiggle room! LOL! <<<

Yes, that makes loads of sense.

>>> Plus, since my pain is unpredictable, I actually need more wiggle room but I can't remember when I've screwed up an ENTIRE week! LOL! <<<

I see your thinking there as well.

>>> Some days, I don't even have any crappy jobs at all! Then I can change my sorting criteria to important stuff to move forward or use the opportunity to free up future time. <<<

I like that way of looking at work ... freeing up future time.

>>>> My little system really works well for me. Of course, I still FEEL the effort I need to apply to the crappola jobs! LOL! There's no getting around that! LOL! But....ironically, the harder I have to apply myself, the sweeter it is when I'm done! The elation I get from the sheer relief from finishing it really gives me a nice buzz that I can use toward other work! I'd be a fool to waste the gratitudes...especially the hard-won victories! I'm such an attitude wimp about this stuff.....ROTFL! Perhaps, if I didn't dislike it so much, it would be FAR EASIER to get it done! Either way, I'm glad to have it done and gone ASAP! LOL! <<<

Yes, that "buzz" is really helpful energy.

>>> Nice to see you again! <<<

Yeah, but it would have been more fun with the big dog and the booe ;-) ;-)