Getting things done when no deadlines at all ?

[Même eux]

Hi,

I'm new on this forum.
I'm currently reading the book and I saw every video I could find on GTD.
I have no doubt it is a very effective method for busy people (managers etc...) who have a lots of deadlines.

I was wondering if there's people here who use GTD without having deadlines.

I have a thousand things I could think of doing, a hundred of projects (short or long term) I'd like to, or should pursue, but there's nothing I really HAVE to do, and very few things that couldn't wait.

I would be happy to give more detail on my case but I don't want to make a thousand lines first message.

Do you think GTD can be of any help for non busy people, who still want to get things done ?

Thanks for your help.

 

[TesTeq]

GTD will not force you to do anything.

I have a thousand things I could think of doing, a hundred of projects (short or long term) I'd like to, or should pursue, but there's nothing I really HAVE to do, and very few things that couldn't wait.

So these are all Someday/Maybe projects (ideas). Write them down.

GTD will not force you to do anything. If you look for motivation to do something important read Leo Babauta's zenhabits blog.

 

[Barb]

Sure!

Hi,

I'm new on this forum.
I'm currently reading the book and I saw every video I could find on GTD.
I have no doubt it is a very effective method for busy people (managers etc...) who have a lots of deadlines.

I was wondering if there's people here who use GTD without having deadlines.

I have a thousand things I could think of doing, a hundred of projects (short or long term) I'd like to, or should pursue, but there's nothing I really HAVE to do, and very few things that couldn't wait.

I would be happy to give more detail on my case but I don't want to make a thousand lines first message.

Do you think GTD can be of any help for non busy people, who still want to get things done ?

Thanks for your help.

First, welcome to our world! We're glad to have you.

You don't have to be a high powered executive to have GTD work for you. Why don't you substitute "things I would like to get done" for "things I have to get done" in your thinking and see if that makes a difference. For example, one of my projects is to clean out my closet. Nobody has a gun to my head, I don't HAVE to do it, but I'd like to because it bugs me So, to move forward on that project, there will be a number of "next actions" that I'll set up. They might range from "research new clothing hanger solutions and find shoe organizers" to "try on pants for fit".

See if changing your mindset a bit will help. Remember, a project is anything you want to get done that has more than 2 steps to it.

 

[CoffinDodger]

If you find you have time on your hands and have got the system in place I would really recommend doing some work and thinking on your Horizons of Focus. It could lead you to discover new directions and priorities in your life and can be very motivating.

As someone who has a ludicrous amount of things on the go at the moment, and is having to do some hard renegotiating of commitments, I truly envy your position

 

[Oogiem]

I was wondering if there's people here who use GTD without having deadlines.

I have a thousand things I could think of doing, a hundred of projects (short or long term) I'd like to, or should pursue, but there's nothing I really HAVE to do, and very few things that couldn't wait.

I have a mix of things with deadlines and hundreds of potential or active projects with no deadlines that I really don't have to do at all. Knitting projects, quilts, sewing projects, some farm building stuff etc.

GTD helps with all of it and allows me to dream about future ideas more easily.

 

[Cpu_Modern]

IMHO not having set artificial deadlines for the myriad of projects that are due ASAP is one of GTD's strong points. The system is "honest".

Motivation to work on the projects should come from "within". If it isn't there, something has to be changed: either drop the project(s) altogether or work on your constitution. Changing "rules" of how you work "da sistem, yo" doesn't cut it.

Exception: the quite normal inertia that stems from not being in motion (usually the day begins with you laying in bed) and also the speed of execution. Those can be improved with things like ZTD (or DIT or SMART or RPM or ABC or W?).

 

[Todd V]

re: Deadline-less - What to do?

It can be *very* difficult to get things done without the external pressure of a deadline (usually imposed on us by others). It is that social stigma attached with disappointing others that makes deadlines such a powerful (but often burdensome) component of the work we "choose" to do everyday.

Much of my work has been without deadlines, and what I've discovered is the absolute necessity of not only describing and articulating the successful outcomes on all of my projects, goals, horizons, but also *reviewing* these successful outcomes as part of my regular reviews.

When I designed the Ready-Set-Do! program for the mac, one the features I added to help me complete these types of deadline-less tasks was a little "Get Motivated" component I added to the RSD 8-Ball. It brings up each of these outcomes for me to review from my projects. I love just clicking through each of these outcomes first thing in the morning because it reminds me of all of the amazing things on the other side of completing that project that the completed project would make possible.

So describe all of your outcome visions in past tense - answer the question "What new things would success on this project make possible?" and then review these as often as you can when you need some motivation to move on them.

Hope that helps.

 

[lolajl]

It can be *very* difficult to get things done without the external pressure of a deadline (usually imposed on us by others). It is that social stigma attached with disappointing others that makes deadlines such a powerful (but often burdensome) component of the work we "choose" to do everyday.

Oh, yes, I definitely agree! I find if I don't have a deadline of some sort, I will tend to procrastinate, especially if it's an unpleasant task that I really don't want to do.

And some tasks, well, you want to get cleared away asap so you can get on with your business. For instance, we've been busy decluttering our household since we're planning to do some entertaining during fall/winter. We got the big tv cabinet that we'd been using in my home office to old our printer, supplies, and so forth moved downstairs into hubby's mancave/den/storage room (suburb townhouse with no basement). Right now, all of my books, etc. are in my sewing room waiting to be moved back.

I need to find a nice cabinet and bookcase for my home office so I can get on with reorganizing the sewing room. So, I have a self-imposed deadline of until the end of month to get the needed furniture for my home office.