Hi All,
I was just wondering if anyone else has found the process of writing down every single NA to be overly tedious. I've been a practitioner of this methodology for about two years, and I've come to the conclusion that I just can't be bothered with that level of detail tracking...
I've found that I'm more productive if I just take something that I have to do and write down the general "outcome" i.e. "Change Direct Deposit info at work", and work it until it's done. This as opposed to writing down each of the consecutive NA's as each is completed, such as:
1. look online for the Direct Deposit Authorization Form
2. Download Direct Deposit Authorization Form
3. Fill out Direct Deposit Authorization Form
4. Attach voided check to Direct Deposit Authorization form
5. Mail form to human resource department
6. Waiting For... Direct Deposit change to take effect...
The above is great if you hit a road block along the way to know where you're at with a "project", but over the years I've found that if I don't follow through all the way (or as far as I can) in the moment, what I've ended up with is just a bunch of incomplete projects. Using the above detailed list, I'd often be apt to stop working a "project" once the NA was completed and not move on to the next item (especially if the next NA was in a different context). Now, by working straight through and changing contexts if need be, I get much more accomplished!
Another element that I battle with is prioritizing. I know that David advocates letting your intuition prioritize for you, but for some reason I can't get this to work for me. I've recently gone back to the old FC way of prioritizing (A, B, C, 1, 2, 3), and I've found I'm much more productive if I complete all of the A's first, then B's, etc. I've noticed that I've had less of the really "important" things fall through the cracks (happened to me all the time with straight-forward GTD). Now, I look at something that has an "A" next to it, and even if it's something that "repels" me, I see the "A" and know that I must do it TODAY. I force myself to do it because it's an "A". I've found that with GTD, it's too easy for me to put off things that "repel" me and just work on the stuff that attracts me.
I love the theory of GTD, my problem has been in the implementation. I'm not disciplined enough to allow my conscience dictate what must get done first, and I'm not anal retentive enough to get down to that level of detail Has anyone else had similar experiences? If so, what have you done to make it work for you?
I was just wondering if anyone else has found the process of writing down every single NA to be overly tedious. I've been a practitioner of this methodology for about two years, and I've come to the conclusion that I just can't be bothered with that level of detail tracking...
I've found that I'm more productive if I just take something that I have to do and write down the general "outcome" i.e. "Change Direct Deposit info at work", and work it until it's done. This as opposed to writing down each of the consecutive NA's as each is completed, such as:
1. look online for the Direct Deposit Authorization Form
2. Download Direct Deposit Authorization Form
3. Fill out Direct Deposit Authorization Form
4. Attach voided check to Direct Deposit Authorization form
5. Mail form to human resource department
6. Waiting For... Direct Deposit change to take effect...
The above is great if you hit a road block along the way to know where you're at with a "project", but over the years I've found that if I don't follow through all the way (or as far as I can) in the moment, what I've ended up with is just a bunch of incomplete projects. Using the above detailed list, I'd often be apt to stop working a "project" once the NA was completed and not move on to the next item (especially if the next NA was in a different context). Now, by working straight through and changing contexts if need be, I get much more accomplished!
Another element that I battle with is prioritizing. I know that David advocates letting your intuition prioritize for you, but for some reason I can't get this to work for me. I've recently gone back to the old FC way of prioritizing (A, B, C, 1, 2, 3), and I've found I'm much more productive if I complete all of the A's first, then B's, etc. I've noticed that I've had less of the really "important" things fall through the cracks (happened to me all the time with straight-forward GTD). Now, I look at something that has an "A" next to it, and even if it's something that "repels" me, I see the "A" and know that I must do it TODAY. I force myself to do it because it's an "A". I've found that with GTD, it's too easy for me to put off things that "repel" me and just work on the stuff that attracts me.
I love the theory of GTD, my problem has been in the implementation. I'm not disciplined enough to allow my conscience dictate what must get done first, and I'm not anal retentive enough to get down to that level of detail Has anyone else had similar experiences? If so, what have you done to make it work for you?