Comments on: When Productivity Becomes An Habit http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/02/27/when-productivity-becomes-an-habit/ One of the longest running and most respected productivity blogs on the net! Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:02:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: James http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/02/27/when-productivity-becomes-an-habit/comment-page-1/#comment-21866 James Sun, 09 Mar 2008 08:54:58 +0000 http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/02/27/when-productivity-becomes-an-habit/#comment-21866 I agree with you. I am fortunate in that I don't have 75+ projects in my work and personal life to constantly worry about. However, if I ever need to clarify stuff or regain focus I immediately jump into my notepad and start noting my projects and next actions down. I agree with you. I am fortunate in that I don’t have 75+ projects in my work and personal life to constantly worry about. However, if I ever need to clarify stuff or regain focus I immediately jump into my notepad and start noting my projects and next actions down.

]]> By: Potent Mind http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/02/27/when-productivity-becomes-an-habit/comment-page-1/#comment-21856 Potent Mind Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:12:49 +0000 http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/02/27/when-productivity-becomes-an-habit/#comment-21856 I am glad you clarified because although I do believe productivity can become a habit and an automatic process, I was wondering how you were going to remember it all if you had a lot to do. I also like to use a notebook, but I love having a pad of post-it notes that I can jot stuff on and stick onto my monitor or some other surface near my computer. I am glad you clarified because although I do believe productivity can become a habit and an automatic process, I was wondering how you were going to remember it all if you had a lot to do. I also like to use a notebook, but I love having a pad of post-it notes that I can jot stuff on and stick onto my monitor or some other surface near my computer.

]]> By: James http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/02/27/when-productivity-becomes-an-habit/comment-page-1/#comment-21617 James Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:05:32 +0000 http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/02/27/when-productivity-becomes-an-habit/#comment-21617 Rolf, I predicted a comment similar to yours. It occurred to me after writing the post that I had wrongly given the impression that I now exclusively use my head to remember and process <i>everything</i> that comes in. This is not my intention. However my fundamental point still applies. Productivity can certainly become an habit, which can result in a lot of systems and tools becoming redundant. For instance, I don't track my clutter/cleaning program for my home anymore simply because it's all in my head and I can pick out what needs doing without a sheet to tell me. I think it's no coincidence that a lot of old-school managers and bosses hardly ever write down what they need to do next. Also, your head isn't as unreliable as GTD would have you believe. I still use a notepad when necessary and I admit much of my viewpoint is based on the fact I don't (currently) have a particularly hectic schedule. It's naive to expect to be able to remember and get your head around 75+ projects without some system in place. However, I don't believe that you should assume that your head can't handle <i>anything</i> at all. Rolf, I predicted a comment similar to yours. It occurred to me after writing the post that I had wrongly given the impression that I now exclusively use my head to remember and process everything that comes in. This is not my intention. However my fundamental point still applies.

Productivity can certainly become an habit, which can result in a lot of systems and tools becoming redundant. For instance, I don’t track my clutter/cleaning program for my home anymore simply because it’s all in my head and I can pick out what needs doing without a sheet to tell me. I think it’s no coincidence that a lot of old-school managers and bosses hardly ever write down what they need to do next.

Also, your head isn’t as unreliable as GTD would have you believe. I still use a notepad when necessary and I admit much of my viewpoint is based on the fact I don’t (currently) have a particularly hectic schedule. It’s naive to expect to be able to remember and get your head around 75+ projects without some system in place. However, I don’t believe that you should assume that your head can’t handle anything at all.

]]> By: Rolf Katzenberger http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/02/27/when-productivity-becomes-an-habit/comment-page-1/#comment-21612 Rolf Katzenberger Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:30:58 +0000 http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/02/27/when-productivity-becomes-an-habit/#comment-21612 James, are you sure you can actually <em>do</em> all next actions, the moment you've determined and prioritized them, for all of your 75+ projects? If so, teach me please! If I recall, David Allen recommends the reliable system as a set of external markers, next actions being something like bookmarks. For tasks you can complete within two minutes, do them immediately. That way they don't even enter the system. The rest does, for sure. But the reliable system isn't just about remembering. It also records the knowledge you've added beyond the information, while you were processing and organizing stuff. James, are you sure you can actually do all next actions, the moment you’ve determined and prioritized them, for all of your 75+ projects? If so, teach me please!

If I recall, David Allen recommends the reliable system as a set of external markers, next actions being something like bookmarks. For tasks you can complete within two minutes, do them immediately. That way they don’t even enter the system. The rest does, for sure. But the reliable system isn’t just about remembering. It also records the knowledge you’ve added beyond the information, while you were processing and organizing stuff.

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