FV and FVP Forum > FV-AV (Alternative Version)
I read it the same way you did and couldn't figure it out. Your revision helps it make a little more sense and I can now see the possibility that it could work. As you indicate, the important part might be the "Compared To" part of the question.
The way I think it might also work is as an alternative to the normal way of processing the list with FV. I think that's something Mark envisions when he says that its "for all of us when we have some particularly heavy tasks to get through".
I doubt we will really know until we try it. Like so many of Mark's systems, they sometimes sound like they can't possibly work, yet they do. In other words try it before tweaking.
The way I think it might also work is as an alternative to the normal way of processing the list with FV. I think that's something Mark envisions when he says that its "for all of us when we have some particularly heavy tasks to get through".
I doubt we will really know until we try it. Like so many of Mark's systems, they sometimes sound like they can't possibly work, yet they do. In other words try it before tweaking.
May 5, 2012 at 23:24 |
MartyH
MartyH
I'm looking forward to trying it (on Monday). I am wondering if it makes sense to switch between FV and alt-FV. Mark says that alt-FV is like going uphill. Doesn't it make sense to go downhill after going uphill? Then the easier tasks will get taken care of as well.
May 6, 2012 at 1:57 |
vegheadjones
vegheadjones
What about urgent items which you are not resisting? Do you still enter them with a dot? Guess so..
I also do not see how my creative and interesting tasks/projects will be selected in this system.
Maybe it is me, but I also do not have a lot of tasks I resist. Can only think of one on the top of my head. So if I break the resistance to this one, then what? Work only on the root item with no chains?
I think this system will work for serial procrastinators and someone who really has nasty tasks on their plate. (This person does however a deeper problem, being if his job is the right one?)
I also do not see how my creative and interesting tasks/projects will be selected in this system.
Maybe it is me, but I also do not have a lot of tasks I resist. Can only think of one on the top of my head. So if I break the resistance to this one, then what? Work only on the root item with no chains?
I think this system will work for serial procrastinators and someone who really has nasty tasks on their plate. (This person does however a deeper problem, being if his job is the right one?)
May 6, 2012 at 7:02 |
Nico McDonald
Nico McDonald
Could you please kindly point me in the direction of the thread tht started the FV-alternate discussion? I haven't been able to figure out when I do a forum search. Thanks!
May 6, 2012 at 12:30 |
Lillian
Lillian
It is from the email that we just received.
May 6, 2012 at 12:36 |
tobba
tobba
tobba - thanks. that would explain why the forum search wasn't helping :) Now to figure out why my email now thinks Mark is spam?!?
May 6, 2012 at 13:02 |
Lillian
Lillian
Does every chain need to be built using the same question? Couldn't you build a 'high resistance' chain, work on that unti either the chain is done (or one of the 'reset' options from the original emails comes up), then build chain #2 using the original question? That way both the high-resistance and the 'little' stuff gets done.
May 6, 2012 at 13:07 |
Lillian
Lillian
Maybe another way to build a "cycle downhill" chain is to ask if the task is bigger than the previously selected task. (Bigger: Maybe equating to resistance as well")
If you get to an urgent task (due in the next 7 days) then it should be selected, but your question now changes for the next items after this item to: "Is the item more urgent than the previous item?"
This will have the effect that you get rid of the urgent items first and then break down the large project/tasks.
If you get to an urgent task (due in the next 7 days) then it should be selected, but your question now changes for the next items after this item to: "Is the item more urgent than the previous item?"
This will have the effect that you get rid of the urgent items first and then break down the large project/tasks.
May 6, 2012 at 15:38 |
Nico McDonald
Nico McDonald
I think I have to call 'skeptic' on AV-FV, because if you *can* do it, then you're supremely pragmatic - like Mark :-), and a To Do list or GTD would surely work well too.
For the rest of us it's more about 'sugaring the pill' of doing stuff we don't really want to do, and choosing what stuff we do really want to do out of everything, yes?
For the rest of us it's more about 'sugaring the pill' of doing stuff we don't really want to do, and choosing what stuff we do really want to do out of everything, yes?
May 6, 2012 at 16:59 |
smileypete
smileypete
" ... Instead of "What do I want to do before I do x?", the question becomes "What am I resisting more than x?"
Yes, yes, yes!
I use FV on work, and on a question, "What do I want to do before I do x?" often the answer was "Something. In general I want nothing" :)...
At my number of tasks is 90% "Should make" and about 10%, "I want to make". I am not ready to cause to transform me, the task "Should make" in tasks to "Want..."
I tried to make today a chain, "What am I resisting more than x?".
It works for me!!!
Today I made 9 tasks and the beginnings 2 projects.
Before I solved 5-7 tasks in day.
For me it is very important.
Mark, I thank you, change of a key question very much helps me!
Yes, yes, yes!
I use FV on work, and on a question, "What do I want to do before I do x?" often the answer was "Something. In general I want nothing" :)...
At my number of tasks is 90% "Should make" and about 10%, "I want to make". I am not ready to cause to transform me, the task "Should make" in tasks to "Want..."
I tried to make today a chain, "What am I resisting more than x?".
It works for me!!!
Today I made 9 tasks and the beginnings 2 projects.
Before I solved 5-7 tasks in day.
For me it is very important.
Mark, I thank you, change of a key question very much helps me!
May 6, 2012 at 17:49 |
Sacherk
Sacherk
MartyH:
Yes, your post makes sense to me. I think that my Revision is wrong. Your explanation--that we should use AV only at limited times and use normal AV at other times--is consistent with what Mark wrote.
Yes, your post makes sense to me. I think that my Revision is wrong. Your explanation--that we should use AV only at limited times and use normal AV at other times--is consistent with what Mark wrote.
May 6, 2012 at 22:16 |
moises
moises
I thought of and will try vegheadjones' and Lillian's idea of cycling between the 2 versions and see how it goes.
May 7, 2012 at 0:46 |
Misericorde
Misericorde
This could be interesting. I resist doing things I enjoy. When the moment to do it arrives, I think I should do something harder or more important. I feel guilty doing things that are just for me, or less urgent, or that I want to do -- so I don't do them. That's resistance.
I think Resisting More will be a good alternate question.
Next week is a good test week. Two errand days, with prep before most errands.
I think Resisting More will be a good alternate question.
Next week is a good test week. Two errand days, with prep before most errands.
May 7, 2012 at 1:45 |
Cricket
Cricket
Have you received more than one mail? My first is dated the 4th April and there is no second one in my Gmail. The reference 'It is from the email that we just received.' from tobba gives an impression that there is at least 2 mails.
And sorry, this question doesn't belong to the subject.This thread seems to be the best place to ask because of the reference above.
And sorry, this question doesn't belong to the subject.This thread seems to be the best place to ask because of the reference above.
May 7, 2012 at 22:20 |
pkNystrom
pkNystrom
First day "uphill." Tiring but very productive. I definitely focused on difficult tasks/projects, and made good progress on all of them. My chains tend to be long, this one was 31 items, and still have 11 items left, but only a few of them (the ones on top of the list) are of the high resistance.
Lok forward to pushing through them and going downhill on my next run!
Lok forward to pushing through them and going downhill on my next run!
May 7, 2012 at 23:15 |
vegheadjones
vegheadjones
@pkNystrom,
I've received exactly two emails about the Final Version. The second email, which arrived on May 5, sketches an "alternative version" of FV--with the alternative to be used only in special circumstances or by especially hardy souls.
To generate this alternative to FV, Mark simply changes the question used for pre-selecting tasks.
I've received exactly two emails about the Final Version. The second email, which arrived on May 5, sketches an "alternative version" of FV--with the alternative to be used only in special circumstances or by especially hardy souls.
To generate this alternative to FV, Mark simply changes the question used for pre-selecting tasks.
May 8, 2012 at 1:08 |
isinger
isinger
moises:
<< How do the little things take care of themselves? >>
Because one tends to just do them without really thinking about it.
<< How do the little things take care of themselves? >>
Because one tends to just do them without really thinking about it.
May 8, 2012 at 11:09 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
vegheadjones:
<< Mark says that alt-FV is like going uphill. >>
Actually I said it was like cycling downhill.
<< Mark says that alt-FV is like going uphill. >>
Actually I said it was like cycling downhill.
May 8, 2012 at 11:10 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
Nico:
<< Maybe it is me, but I also do not have a lot of tasks I resist. >>
In that case stick to normal FV.
<< Maybe it is me, but I also do not have a lot of tasks I resist. >>
In that case stick to normal FV.
May 8, 2012 at 11:11 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
smileypete:
<< I think I have to call 'skeptic' on AV-FV, because if you *can* do it, then you're supremely pragmatic - like Mark :-), and a To Do list or GTD would surely work well too. >>
Not sure I quite follow you here.
Normal FV works you up from an easy start to something more difficult. (This is a general remark - there may be other reasons than easiness why tasks are chosen).
Alternative FV gets you to tackle the most difficult thing head-on, then rewards you with a series of tasks that gets easier and easier.
<< I think I have to call 'skeptic' on AV-FV, because if you *can* do it, then you're supremely pragmatic - like Mark :-), and a To Do list or GTD would surely work well too. >>
Not sure I quite follow you here.
Normal FV works you up from an easy start to something more difficult. (This is a general remark - there may be other reasons than easiness why tasks are chosen).
Alternative FV gets you to tackle the most difficult thing head-on, then rewards you with a series of tasks that gets easier and easier.
May 8, 2012 at 11:17 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
pkNykstrom:
<< Have you received more than one mail? >>
You should have now received Issue 2 of the newletter. If you haven't, please send me your email address and I will send you another copy by a different route. Use the Contact tab on the top menu to contact me or send direct to mf@markforster.net.
<< Have you received more than one mail? >>
You should have now received Issue 2 of the newletter. If you haven't, please send me your email address and I will send you another copy by a different route. Use the Contact tab on the top menu to contact me or send direct to mf@markforster.net.
May 8, 2012 at 11:21 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
Alternative FV as it's called here is something I was practising already - which basically translates as getting your most important task done first. This is hardly rocket science.
May 8, 2012 at 23:08 |
Shak
Shak
Today I asked "What am I resisting?", but without actually making a chain. I chose the first project I was resisting but had no excuse not to do at that moment. I'm using a prioritized list, so I didn't need to look through the entire list to know it was a good choice. The best choice, actually -- you can't get better than high-priority, high-resistance if you'll actually do it rather than stall.
I'm exhausted -- all my high-priority projects got attention -- enough attention that I don't need to do them for a few days. I'm out tomorrow, but will use it again.
I'm exhausted -- all my high-priority projects got attention -- enough attention that I don't need to do them for a few days. I'm out tomorrow, but will use it again.
May 9, 2012 at 1:27 |
Cricket
Cricket
<< Alternative FV as it's called here is something I was practising already - which basically translates as getting your most important task done first. This is hardly rocket science. >>
Alternative FV may well result in getting your most important task done first. Even standard FV has this result much of the time. But the algorithms themselves do far more than that. I think you are glossing over about 90% of what FV and FV-alt actually do:
- Universal capture
- Integrated frequent review of all outstanding work
- Sifting and sorting what really needs to be done, vs stuff that doesn't really matter
- Implicit prioritization - no need to pre-sort or number priorities
- Defeat procrastination by addressing its psychological causes
- Respond to changing environment, conditions, and priorities
- Handle urgent tasks
I could go on but I hope this is enough.
Alternative FV may well result in getting your most important task done first. Even standard FV has this result much of the time. But the algorithms themselves do far more than that. I think you are glossing over about 90% of what FV and FV-alt actually do:
- Universal capture
- Integrated frequent review of all outstanding work
- Sifting and sorting what really needs to be done, vs stuff that doesn't really matter
- Implicit prioritization - no need to pre-sort or number priorities
- Defeat procrastination by addressing its psychological causes
- Respond to changing environment, conditions, and priorities
- Handle urgent tasks
I could go on but I hope this is enough.
May 9, 2012 at 7:13 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
4 day of work passed in AV hard.
I noticed the following: in the AV mode all chains equally difficult, "heavy".
In the FV mode - not so, chains happen different, both "heavy", and "easy". "Weight" of the chosen chain is set by the first, oldest task.
What for me it is correct?
I doubt...
So, I will work before the end of the week in the AV mode to begin all "heaviest" projects. Then I want to return to FV.
Probably, transition to the AV mode it is necessary to do, for example, for a week, once a month, as reset?
I noticed the following: in the AV mode all chains equally difficult, "heavy".
In the FV mode - not so, chains happen different, both "heavy", and "easy". "Weight" of the chosen chain is set by the first, oldest task.
What for me it is correct?
I doubt...
So, I will work before the end of the week in the AV mode to begin all "heaviest" projects. Then I want to return to FV.
Probably, transition to the AV mode it is necessary to do, for example, for a week, once a month, as reset?
May 9, 2012 at 10:43 |
Sacherk
Sacherk
Shak:
<< Alternative FV as it's called here is something I was practising already - which basically translates as getting your most important task done first. This is hardly rocket science. >>
You are missing the point.
Alternative FV *may* result in getting your most important task done first, but that is not what the method is about. The amount you are resisting a task is not necessarily related at all to the actual importance of a task.
What makes it important to get resisted tasks done is the fact that the more one resists a task the more it causes a general lack of energy in dealing with *all* tasks - it creates a generalized sense of resistance to the whole of your work.
Of course if you are one of those lucky people who never find themselves resisting a task or project, then Alternative FV is not going to be of much use to you.
<< Alternative FV as it's called here is something I was practising already - which basically translates as getting your most important task done first. This is hardly rocket science. >>
You are missing the point.
Alternative FV *may* result in getting your most important task done first, but that is not what the method is about. The amount you are resisting a task is not necessarily related at all to the actual importance of a task.
What makes it important to get resisted tasks done is the fact that the more one resists a task the more it causes a general lack of energy in dealing with *all* tasks - it creates a generalized sense of resistance to the whole of your work.
Of course if you are one of those lucky people who never find themselves resisting a task or project, then Alternative FV is not going to be of much use to you.
May 9, 2012 at 15:26 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
This is nuts -- in a good way. Either that or I'm at that point in my cold when I don't have the energy to resist!
I predicted I'd work on my personal-improvement goals more (aka hobbies with goals), since I often resist them (out of guilt), and that resistance blocks the whole day. Instead, I'm doing paperwork. Papers invariably arrive when I don't want to deal with them, so they accumulate and resistance builds. I've done more paperwork in an hour than I usually do in a week!
I predicted I'd work on my personal-improvement goals more (aka hobbies with goals), since I often resist them (out of guilt), and that resistance blocks the whole day. Instead, I'm doing paperwork. Papers invariably arrive when I don't want to deal with them, so they accumulate and resistance builds. I've done more paperwork in an hour than I usually do in a week!
May 9, 2012 at 15:51 |
Cricket
Cricket
An insight: Sometimes I leave small paperwork jobs (like purging my "think about it" email folder, or matching receipts to the credit card statements) until they're big enough to be worth dealing with, or the month is complete, or some other magic time. That's resistance, right? It's a different type than "big ugly pile" resistance, but it's still resistance. The next few weeks will be interesting. It will be nice to be consistently on top of the paperwork, like I used to be pre-kids.
May 9, 2012 at 15:55 |
Cricket
Cricket
I have not used FV for several days. So today I decided: it is good opportunity to test FV-AV for the first time. To start quickly with FV again, to gain some energy (by going through tasks which drained most of my mental energy by anticipating them) and to know that the further I will go through the ladder, the easier tasks will come.
And...it worked like a charm. I will stay with normal FV, but occasionally - when I need some change, or when being stuck, or not using FV for some time - I will switch to FV-AV as additional method how to move.
And...it worked like a charm. I will stay with normal FV, but occasionally - when I need some change, or when being stuck, or not using FV for some time - I will switch to FV-AV as additional method how to move.
May 10, 2012 at 15:00 |
Daneb
Daneb
Hi Mark:
Just checking in to say I've had a very productive day using AV FV - thanks so much for the system.
Just checking in to say I've had a very productive day using AV FV - thanks so much for the system.
May 15, 2012 at 18:41 |
Leon
Leon
Mark:
<< You are missing the point.
Alternative FV *may* result in getting your most important task done first, but that is not what the method is about. The amount you are resisting a task is not necessarily related at all to the actual importance of a task.
What makes it important to get resisted tasks done is the fact that the more one resists a task the more it causes a general lack of energy in dealing with *all* tasks - it creates a generalized sense of resistance to the whole of your work.
Of course if you are one of those lucky people who never find themselves resisting a task or project, then Alternative FV is not going to be of much use to you. >>
Should we call it Alternative FV or FV-AV? Anyway...
I haven't tried Alternative FV, but it sounds like it would be more difficult to practice because you have to somehow force yourself to do the thing you least want to do first, and it feels like that might just create resistance to the system itself, as I found the compulsory C2 in SuperFocus did. If you can do that, maybe you don't need help with procrastination! The "cycling downhill" thing is great, if you can get to the top of the hill, but that may be easier said than done.
I'm wondering how Alternative FV compares with using Prioritized FV when prioritizing by resistance? After all, I had high-resistance tasks particularly in mind when I designed the tweak that defines Prioritized FV. Then you could start with the task you most want to do and benefit from the laddering effect of standard FV, while still applying more focus to resisted tasks...
<< You are missing the point.
Alternative FV *may* result in getting your most important task done first, but that is not what the method is about. The amount you are resisting a task is not necessarily related at all to the actual importance of a task.
What makes it important to get resisted tasks done is the fact that the more one resists a task the more it causes a general lack of energy in dealing with *all* tasks - it creates a generalized sense of resistance to the whole of your work.
Of course if you are one of those lucky people who never find themselves resisting a task or project, then Alternative FV is not going to be of much use to you. >>
Should we call it Alternative FV or FV-AV? Anyway...
I haven't tried Alternative FV, but it sounds like it would be more difficult to practice because you have to somehow force yourself to do the thing you least want to do first, and it feels like that might just create resistance to the system itself, as I found the compulsory C2 in SuperFocus did. If you can do that, maybe you don't need help with procrastination! The "cycling downhill" thing is great, if you can get to the top of the hill, but that may be easier said than done.
I'm wondering how Alternative FV compares with using Prioritized FV when prioritizing by resistance? After all, I had high-resistance tasks particularly in mind when I designed the tweak that defines Prioritized FV. Then you could start with the task you most want to do and benefit from the laddering effect of standard FV, while still applying more focus to resisted tasks...
May 17, 2012 at 20:52 |
Deven
Deven
Hi Deven,
I would encourage you to try AV FV (or whatever it's called!). It feels both liberating and satisfying to hit the high resistance tasks head on! Or maybe it's just me...
Remember only *some work* needs to be done on those high resistance tasks and obviously this tends to have the effect of disarming the inherent high level of resistance within. And then one can be rewarding with the first task in the pre-selected chain when it is an easy one.
I also think Mark is correct when he states that the smaller tasks take care of themselves - at least that's my experience so far.
I would encourage you to try AV FV (or whatever it's called!). It feels both liberating and satisfying to hit the high resistance tasks head on! Or maybe it's just me...
Remember only *some work* needs to be done on those high resistance tasks and obviously this tends to have the effect of disarming the inherent high level of resistance within. And then one can be rewarding with the first task in the pre-selected chain when it is an easy one.
I also think Mark is correct when he states that the smaller tasks take care of themselves - at least that's my experience so far.
May 17, 2012 at 21:19 |
Leon
Leon
Alternate FV starts with the hard task, then rewards you with something easy (and guilt-free, since it's still something on the list, unless you write "eat ice cream").
I tried a few chains of Alt-FV with priorities. It worked very, very well the few times I did it.
Prioritize the list by priorities, _not_ by resistance. If things are going well, the resistance on the high priority tasks will drop.
I can see problems doing it for too long, though. Once the resistance is broken on the early (high-priority) jobs, lower-priority jobs with high resistance will have to be dotted -- taking time away from the high-priority ones.
I tried a few chains of Alt-FV with priorities. It worked very, very well the few times I did it.
Prioritize the list by priorities, _not_ by resistance. If things are going well, the resistance on the high priority tasks will drop.
I can see problems doing it for too long, though. Once the resistance is broken on the early (high-priority) jobs, lower-priority jobs with high resistance will have to be dotted -- taking time away from the high-priority ones.
May 18, 2012 at 1:16 |
Cricket
Cricket
Some responses generally seem to be hypothetical really i.e. not tested out for any length of time. I think I will try my best to run with AV FV for a target of 30 days (which would in itself be a massive achievement for me) and try to draw some conclusions.
I wonder what sort of data Mark (and others) would collect to understand wether the system works (other than merely a feeling or sense that it does)?
I wonder what sort of data Mark (and others) would collect to understand wether the system works (other than merely a feeling or sense that it does)?
May 18, 2012 at 9:59 |
Leon
Leon
My concern about the Alternative FV question is the loss of the laddering effect. But I haven't tried it yet to compare.
Has anyone tried alternating back and forth between the standard FV question and the Alternative FV question, every other chain? That might have interesting results.
Has anyone tried alternating back and forth between the standard FV question and the Alternative FV question, every other chain? That might have interesting results.
May 18, 2012 at 18:00 |
Deven
Deven
>What makes it important to get resisted tasks done is the fact that the more one resists a task the
>more it causes a general lack of energy in dealing with *all* tasks - it creates a generalized sense
>of resistance to the whole of your work.
I felt the need to quote this from Mark's post above. I think it's very key.
Steve
>more it causes a general lack of energy in dealing with *all* tasks - it creates a generalized sense
>of resistance to the whole of your work.
I felt the need to quote this from Mark's post above. I think it's very key.
Steve
May 20, 2012 at 4:10 |
Steve
Steve
I tried alternating between the 2 versions which proved very effective. Asking " what do I want to do before I do x?" on the first run allowed me to tackle the oldest task and those 2 that I felt comfortable doing then.
On the following run asking " what am I resisting more than x ?" allowed me to again do the oldest task and those 2 that I would not have done until they were unavoidable when they became the oldest tasks on my list.
I was able to tackle a task in a day that I knew otherwise I would have avoided until I had to which would have been at least a week.
Alternating between the 2 versions is like interval training: sprinting and then jogging. The " reward" for the hard tasks is knowing the easy version is coming up.
A God send for a procrastinator!
Bravo, Mark!
On the following run asking " what am I resisting more than x ?" allowed me to again do the oldest task and those 2 that I would not have done until they were unavoidable when they became the oldest tasks on my list.
I was able to tackle a task in a day that I knew otherwise I would have avoided until I had to which would have been at least a week.
Alternating between the 2 versions is like interval training: sprinting and then jogging. The " reward" for the hard tasks is knowing the easy version is coming up.
A God send for a procrastinator!
Bravo, Mark!
May 21, 2012 at 10:17 |
Misericorde
Misericorde
It makes sense that the combination of BOTH questions might be better than either one alone.
I wonder, instead of alternating chains (which might be confusing, remembering which question you did last), is there a good way to combine them in EACH chain?
I'm thinking of an approach that would generate a chain that is worked FV-style for the first half to provide the laddering effect until you reach the "peak" of the chain in the middle of the chain where you're working the most-resisted task, followed by "cycling downhill" to the end of the chain, AFV-style. But I'm not sure how to effectively combine both preselection styles into the same pass without recopying tasks.
Any ideas?
I wonder, instead of alternating chains (which might be confusing, remembering which question you did last), is there a good way to combine them in EACH chain?
I'm thinking of an approach that would generate a chain that is worked FV-style for the first half to provide the laddering effect until you reach the "peak" of the chain in the middle of the chain where you're working the most-resisted task, followed by "cycling downhill" to the end of the chain, AFV-style. But I'm not sure how to effectively combine both preselection styles into the same pass without recopying tasks.
Any ideas?
May 21, 2012 at 16:56 |
Deven
Deven
I don't think combining the questions into one is possible since on some level they contradict each other. A question like "what do I want to do before x *or* what am I resisting more than x?" seems like an awful lot of items will get dotted. I also don't think a 'formal' selection rule about when to use the 'want to do before' vs the 'what am I resisting' question is necessary.
It seems like it's more of a 'gut reaction' of which question makes the most sense at the time. If that means that 10 chains are the "do before" question before hitting a root task where everything, or anything, can be done before because you really really really don't want to do the root task...that's when to switch to the "resisting more than" question.
It seems like it's more of a 'gut reaction' of which question makes the most sense at the time. If that means that 10 chains are the "do before" question before hitting a root task where everything, or anything, can be done before because you really really really don't want to do the root task...that's when to switch to the "resisting more than" question.
May 21, 2012 at 17:53 |
Lillian
Lillian
I don't think combining them would work, at least not for me.
"Want to do before" already has many factors. Urgency, pleasure, ease, current energy style, commitments, deadlines, size of project.
It's nice to break out the factors and concentrate on one at a time sometimes. Assuming you pre-select often enough, I'd even suggest focusing on one or two factors for each chain. Urgency (the one with a long-term view) would need more turns than, say, pleasure or joy at finishing. A cycle that focused on joy at finishing would be a great source of energy.
"Want to do before" already has many factors. Urgency, pleasure, ease, current energy style, commitments, deadlines, size of project.
It's nice to break out the factors and concentrate on one at a time sometimes. Assuming you pre-select often enough, I'd even suggest focusing on one or two factors for each chain. Urgency (the one with a long-term view) would need more turns than, say, pleasure or joy at finishing. A cycle that focused on joy at finishing would be a great source of energy.
May 22, 2012 at 15:45 |
Cricket
Cricket
Mixing the questions doesn't work for me. "What would my boss want me to do before X?" is usually different from "What would my wife want me to do before X?" Asking the right question in the right context can really galvanize the system. Mixing them up, well, just makes me feel mixed up. :-)
May 23, 2012 at 2:02 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
Maybe do FV-AV in the morning and normal FV in the afternoon.
Would help to finish a chain around lunch time and again at the end of the day.
Another question to ask could be 'what does it make sense to do before X?'
Would help to finish a chain around lunch time and again at the end of the day.
Another question to ask could be 'what does it make sense to do before X?'
May 23, 2012 at 15:03 |
smileypete
smileypete
I understand the benefit of doing high-resistance stuff first. But, as Mark has always pointed out, the little commitments become big commitments if we don't take care of them.
So, in normal FV, in one of my chains I will want to check my email and check my inbox. These are not high-resistance tasks, but I want to do them because I need to do them in order to stay on track. If I wait till they bubble up to the root task of my list, it could be a few days. I don't want to go a few days between checking inbox, email, and calendar.
Maybe I have this all wrong. Maybe if I do the high-resistance tasks first, I will cycle through my entire list a few times a day. Then I don't have to worry about not getting to my email, inbox, or calendar. This seems very unlike to me, however.
I am clearly missing something here. What is it?
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Revision:
OK, maybe this is it: after I force myself to tackle the resistant tasks a number of times, they stop being resistant. This is, in fact, my experience with little and often. At some point the letter I need to write to the dishonest vendor loses its resistant quality. Now it becomes a simple matter of printing it, signing it, copying it, addressing the envelope, etc. The resistance has vanished.
So, the email, inbox, and calendar are no longer low-resistance tasks COMPARED TO the other tasks on my list which have themselves lost almost all their resistance. I no longer need to wait for the routine recurrent tasks to bubble up to the root position, because they have become high-resistance relative to everything else.
I like this idea. It is now a commonplace in psychology that avoidance increases negative emotions. The best activity is almost always to confront that which I want to avoid.