Keith Scarlett
Registered
Hello,
I'm after some inspiration and guidance regarding a GTD perspective on dealing with backlogs and piles of 'unidentified' items. To make this more relatable I am thinking here of 2 specific cases: a storage unit (small) containing items I had moved in there to assist with the sale of my house and a box of papers (handwritten notes, study materials, official documents). My house has sold yet I notice that I am not dealing with the storage unit items (it is clear I don't actually need a lot of what's in there) and the papers have been languishing in the box for too long.
Neither is urgent but they both 'have my attention'; it is easy to kick them down the road but I really want to address them. My question therefore is twofold:
1. If you're facing a backlog what is the best way to deal with it e.g. in small sections or just to roll your sleeves up and get on with it? Or is it more a question of personal style? Or contemplate the possibility that it won't get down and somehow 'write it off' (I think this wouldn't be possible in either example I mention above)?
2. Where / how does the preferred course of action then get integrated into GTD? Might this be on a daily checklist (actions possibly being 'Assess and organise 5 pieces of paper from the box' or 'Spend 10 minutes assessing and organising papers from the box')? Might it be part of a project (this is how I'm seeing it)? And perhaps this is where I'm falling down as in if it takes the form of project but there is always more pressing or interesting actions / options, how then do I ensure progress is made?
I wonder whether this goes back to GTD original principles i.e. being clear about how much something matters or, alternatively, paring other commitments back such that there is actually scope to undertake the identified / desired action? I also wonder whether it ultimately comes down to discipline: I imagine few people readily engage with matters that are unattractive, effortful and problematic where the yield is questionable?
Any thoughts or suggestions much appreciated.
Thanks.
I'm after some inspiration and guidance regarding a GTD perspective on dealing with backlogs and piles of 'unidentified' items. To make this more relatable I am thinking here of 2 specific cases: a storage unit (small) containing items I had moved in there to assist with the sale of my house and a box of papers (handwritten notes, study materials, official documents). My house has sold yet I notice that I am not dealing with the storage unit items (it is clear I don't actually need a lot of what's in there) and the papers have been languishing in the box for too long.
Neither is urgent but they both 'have my attention'; it is easy to kick them down the road but I really want to address them. My question therefore is twofold:
1. If you're facing a backlog what is the best way to deal with it e.g. in small sections or just to roll your sleeves up and get on with it? Or is it more a question of personal style? Or contemplate the possibility that it won't get down and somehow 'write it off' (I think this wouldn't be possible in either example I mention above)?
2. Where / how does the preferred course of action then get integrated into GTD? Might this be on a daily checklist (actions possibly being 'Assess and organise 5 pieces of paper from the box' or 'Spend 10 minutes assessing and organising papers from the box')? Might it be part of a project (this is how I'm seeing it)? And perhaps this is where I'm falling down as in if it takes the form of project but there is always more pressing or interesting actions / options, how then do I ensure progress is made?
I wonder whether this goes back to GTD original principles i.e. being clear about how much something matters or, alternatively, paring other commitments back such that there is actually scope to undertake the identified / desired action? I also wonder whether it ultimately comes down to discipline: I imagine few people readily engage with matters that are unattractive, effortful and problematic where the yield is questionable?
Any thoughts or suggestions much appreciated.
Thanks.