During the last few months starting over New Years I’ve been on a wild productivity kick unlike anything anyone has seen in the world of Michael Marotta. This has been made possible by David Allen’s Getting Things Done book, which I’ll talk about later.
But today I was just thinking about this urgency I’ve had to get stuff done. I keep thinking that one of these days, I will be ‘DONE’. The point of GTD (Getting Things Done) is to clear your mind of the tasks that weight down your mind, but there’s still always that looming sense of some tasks that have been on your to do lists for way too long and you start to feel guilty.
So what the heck is this magical day I’m working towards? Well, my goal in this dash of productivity is to clear off the items that have been looming over me since I graduated last May. Since my working life started at a crazy internet startup, I’ve put aside almost all my side activities (ie had no life). The problem is that these looming tasks always make me feel like any time spent just for myself is procrastination and could be used productively. GTD is finally helping me to burn through these old tasks. My hope is that I get to a point where I cross off those last few looming things and I sit there and think, “Hmm, I can’t think of anything to do, I’m going to go do something completely fun and unproductive.”
Michael
How is it going?
Has your vision cleared up any since your surgery? Just surfing and came across your site. I am considering getting th epi-lasik done.
Tks
Hey BA, vision has definitely cleared up a lot since the surgery. The haze lasts for the first couple weeks. After that it’s pretty clear but still lingers, but every few weeks after that you realize that you see bits of text you usually couldn’t make out a couple weeks before. I think I’m pretty leveled off now.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Hi Michael, I like your blog. I too am reading “Getting things done,” but then I lost steam when I found the to-do list became so long it was discouraging.
Hey Sheila, glad to hear you like the blog, that’s encouraging to get me posting more.
Interesting that you found your todo list discouraging. When you look at your todo list, realize that everything on that list is one thing that you don’t need to carry in your head. When you look at it this way, a longer list seems like a good thing, especially if it’s very complete. Also, it really doesn’t matter how long these lists are. The zen of the GTD system is that 1)you only focus on the first action on the list and 2)you weed through and tidy up the list weekly so you don’t stress out about the list itself.
In short, be proud of your long GTD list.
I found the audio book version to be an easier way to consume Getting Things Done. I’ve written a small PC application that helps me manage my “Next Steps” list, et. In the process of porting to mac. If anyone is interested I’ll post a link here.
Hey Corey,
I’m usually a fan of audiobooks, but for Getting Things Done in particular I found it helpful to have the flowcharts and lists of things to help you brainstorm the collection phase in paper format so I could read a bit and write down whatever came to mind.
I use kGTD, from http://www.Kinkless.com, for my GTD tracking, though it’d be interesting to check out the app you made.
Hi Corey, I would be interested in seeing your application…I think the GTG concept is a great idea, and I could use some better tricks to help me implement it!
I definitely see the good in being organized and GTD would really help if I could just get to the point of getting everything on the list…and USING it.
But I have to say, when is it ever COMPLETELY done? I would argue that once you’ve finished everything on your “to do list” at work, they will see that you have done a good job and give you more work. It’s the way the cycle works. Sure the list will keep you organized and more control over what you can do, but I really don’t think it’s possible to ever have every last thing done. There’s always more to do.
There’s gotta be a balance between being completely out of control and trying to have control over everything…(because we never have complete control). I think I’m on the other side of the spectrum, so I probably don’t have a lot to say about being in too much control! I could use more of it myself! Looking forward to getting your help with that.
Well I wasn’t talking about being completely done everything. Rather, it’s those ‘residue’ items on my list that everyone has. Those things that stick around and weigh down your list, or worse, your mind if you don’t keep well organized lists. I feel like once you knock those out you finally feel you can pursue other things 100%, get out more without feeling guilty, etc.
Thanks for the interesting thoughts, Tricia. I wrote about something similar in my blog — the post is called
Thanks for the interesting thoughts, Tricia. I wrote about something similar in my blog — the post is called “http://www.revolutionhealth.com/blogs/chickp/the-endless-to-do-lis-3351″The Endless To-Do List.”
I agree with you on that Mike. For you, what does “other things” mean? Focusing on your music or playing racquetball or other things? What constitutes a “residue” item for you?
I would say that clearing the “residue” items first is especially good if you are the type of person who likes to go into projects head-on and full-out (or if you have a one-track mind). It’s like when I clean…I can be really lazy about it, but once I start, I go all-out! In fact, I think the reason why I’m really lazy sometimes is because I know that once I start a project, I’m going to go at it with everything I have…if I’m [insert task here] until 2:00 in the morning, that’s encroaching on my sleeping time. I guess it’s also good to know yourself well enough to find out how you deal best with tasks/projects.
So maybe you have a point there…but I still think it’s healthy to make sure you are doing SOME things for yourself. Finding enough balance to do one or two things…then add more as you go.