Organize IT

When it comes to planning out your life there are two approaches. You either plan from the top down (start with where you want to be and plan how you’re going to get there) or plan from the bottom up (start with what you’re doing now and plan how you going to get to where you want to be). Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages but is there another way?

The GTD vertical map (or horizon of focus) has always stood out like a sore thumb. It’s a neat idea and can certainly offer a lot of value to people, but in a book that focuses so much on the here-and-now, it just feels tagged on with too little detail on it. I decided it was about time it was really addressed but as I thought about it and tried to really implement it, something occurred to me. It actually kinda sucks.

We all know the importance of keeping promises to people. Keeping promises leads to trust which is one of the bedrocks of any good relationship, whether it be with friends, work colleagues or your partner. However there is one element of keeping promises that gets overlooked – keeping promises to yourself.

View original image

I had the day off last Sunday with my fiancée and because the weather was so nice we decided to spend a few hours at Castle Howard, an historic house surrounded by a massive estate (great for picnics). I was in the museum reading about some of the former lords and ladies that had lived there, and one thing that became apparent was that they all did a lot of personal writing, typically in the form of letters to their family and friends. One individual in particular stood out because of how thoughtful, self-explorative and intelligent she came across. She happened to be the one who also put most of her ideas and feelings down on paper.

Over the last year my diet has greatly improved. Gone are the days of binge drinking, snacking and takeaways every night (such was the life of a student). While I’ve certainly not become some super fit, salad eating health freak, I am now much more aware about what I eat and it has been one of the more successful lifestyle changes I’ve developed. Below I’ve described how I put my habit building suggestions into practice. Why not share tips from your own experiences?