Get Everything Done

Interesting. I do work off my list for most of my (work) days, but I am finding more and more that I will use different methods for processing during the day. When I first come in, I almost always use AF2 revised, which allows me to deal with the end of the list first. After a full cycle around the list, I may do an FV, which gives me focus on preselecte dtasks. I will often do it as a modified 3 or 5T (which I know is officially a no-list method) where I timebox each 3-5 tasks and replace when 2 or 3 are done.

If I am still working, I may go back to AF2 or if the brain is fried, do a Randomizer.

Anyone else switch methods throughout the day.

…from the quoted article:

>> The most productive people frequently try new systems instead of finding and sticking with a single method that fits their style. <<

Ha! No! In his books, on his website and here on the forum Mark always stresses the importance of consistency, so I guess it is preaching to the choir to say that constantly switching systems lowers your productivity.


>> Constantly cycling through systems forces you to think about your own productivity. <<

Because you'll find this leads you to nowhere?

If you are already very productive, you probably continue to search for ways to increase your efficiency.

Most of that does not lie in the "system" but how you perform the work itself. (Once you solved the basic TM problems, which you woulf have if you are amongst the most productive people.)

avrum:

>> My goal is to find a less haphazard way of leaving/returning to the structure and rules of Simple Scanning.<<

Here's what I do:

––} one task on my list is "relax", that is anything "non-productive", everything "productive" is on the list

––} when I want to go off-list, i "do" this task

––) I also close the notebook as a "official" physical sign that I am off-list

––} naturally, when I go back to the list, I know where to proceed and BTW it starts with crossing off a task, yay

––} while the notebook is open, I force myself to work the list.


Yes, as others have mentioned sometimes we have days with no or nearly no discretionary time. Be it because of a full schedule or because one big task just fills the day. Well, on those days I just do the work of that day. The Long List was never meant to manage those days…


BTW, those type of days make me all the more grateful for the time I have with my list.

Avrum:

What I found to work best for me is to set a prompt/trigger for each item on my list. My list isn't long and the items on my list only take 30 seconds or less (I make it this way by design). But having prompts for easy behaviors builds repetition, and repetition creates productivity. Some prompts are task based (After I wake up, After I check my calendar), others are time based (After 2 P.M, After 4:30 P.M).

avrum:

<< Christopher - that's brilliant. I'm going to adopt this and report back. >>

Thanks! Yes, I am eagerly awaiting your report. Specially how you start your days with this!


<< Also - curious, what do you do for work? >>

I am in a freelance home office situation similar to Mark's. My main income at this time is from graphic design work. My background is also in design.

Connor:

Do you then work only for 30 sec on a task before you return to your list or is the 30 sec portion just what's written on the list and you go from there but the tend to work longer on a given task?

Interesting post. Sadly I have no solution. Like you I tried many things GTD, MF lists AF1 and so on there is always a time where all goes wrong. I can stick as hardly as I can it will go wrong at a certain point. I call it the parkinson effect. I think the effect is caused by the number of tasks and choices to do. If I put it in a data base such as Omnifocus it is organized but not really engaging in action. If I put it on a MF list it getting longer and longer and at a a certain point impossible for me to make a crucial choice. It is tempting to put relevant stuff in a box but at a certain point I spend more time organizing than doing. So what do I do ? I understand that our brain is able to choose and make optimal choices. I also understand that I am a paper man. So a sheet of paper is better for me than a digital file. Better for thinking, better for acting. All methods are just guideline some works for once and evaluates. The best is to stick to goals first. Then make choices to put your efforts on what matter at the present time. At last make some planification for acting in the future. When things gets complicated I open a paper folder where I jot notes about this sunject and make summarizing later. I try to make things simple. IE braistorming in the morning of my first 10 items juste numbered as they come to me. I try to focus on solution not on tasks. I try to delegate and follow what I attend from others. I put everything on my paper note book one by one and read the list again and again not as an engagement but as a reminder of stuff I need to do. I also accept that I can't do anything but only what matter the most at the present time. I also accept my imperfection. My human nature. I prefer a certain kind of burden that a strict organisation because my brain sorts naturally what must be done. And I also have a very big trash where I jot all my written and irrelevant papers. I try at last to take life as it is. Un permanent. Chaotic. But surprising and opportunistic. At now 56 years old (67 in February 14 th) I understand that methods, structures and so on are just a way of avoiding stuff to do at the right time also that from chaos comes light little by little.

Chris:

Yes, I almost always work longer than 30 seconds on a task, but if I complete the task then I don't feel guilty not doing anything more.

The reason I make my tasks tiny is so they always occur. The reason I specify when to do them is to build repetition.

When I started the system, most of the time I would only do the small task, but I would feel successful because that was all I asked myself to do.

Stealing an analogy from the book Mini Habits by Stephen Guise, doing a new behaviour is like introducing a cat to snow for the first time. If you throw the cat into the snow it's just going to run back inside. If you place the cat near the edge of the snow it's more likely to be interested in the snow and venture out when it feels ready.

Our brains like to do what they've already done, introducing something new takes time and repetition. If I start small then this new behaviour wont feel threatening to my brains normal routines.

I find it helps to stick to my list / current system by using a note book I love.

I recently started a BIG (several months) project so I bought a new moleskein to track it in. It has lined pages on the right and blank pages on the left. So I can draw pictures on one side, and make lists on the other side. I like blank pages for non-verbal thinking, sketching and using my brush pen.

Now it also holds my long list, still tracking the BIG project on special pages in the front.

Note book is called Moleskine Two-Go Hard Cover Notebook.

Seraphim,

There is less expensive Midori type note book at Dick Blick Art, momenta-the-explorer-journal. I made my own cover for one a long time ago using thin leather. The Momenta explorer cover is not real leather. I am thinking of using it for my list in 2019 with a list section, calendar and plain paper sections.

Bernie

I like the idea of a plain notebook too. High quality paper is a main criteria for me. I have found good ones at Target, Greenroomeco.com, is one I like.

By Melanie via Seraphim:

<<I realized that experimenting with productivity methods IS the best practice>>

I've been wondering if we could say that it's generally good practise to have a portion of one's time/efforts spent on experimentation. Examples:

- we read what we're interested in but also skim other things to see if anything else catches our interest
- a college degree is often composed of a major plus electives. Those electives could spark entirely new directions.
- we watch YouTube videos from channels we know, and YouTube throws up new channels that might interest us
- we maintain our "base suite" of productivity practises for most of our weeks, but try out new practises with a subset of our activities.
- local governments mostly do business as usual, but some conduct pilot projects for new ideas
- businesses/professionals have time for "professional development" where they might be exposed to new ideas in their field