How to Handle My Endless Stream of Ideas

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GreatNatez

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Hello everyone! I took a break for a while from using GTD. I've recently started using it again but have run into some trouble with the system. So, I write everything down on my capture list, so that I can clarify what I have captured, and I'm immediately stuck. Not because I don't know how to clarify the items, but because there is... so many of them. Like how I am supposed to clarify all of them if I have tons and tons of different ideas? It helps me a little bit to separate important vs non-important items, but there's still so many. I just don't know how to clarify them all. I will sit for hours trying to clarify everything, but then I've spent so much time just clarifying items on my capture list. That, by the time I start some of the next-actions, I'm already burnt out from clarifying. I refer to my areas of focus and write some of my ideas down on my someday/maybe list, but there's still so many. Another similar problem that I'm having is that I'm always thinking of so... many... ideas. Like could I do this, or this, or possibly that. I have tons of ideas that I write down. I mean here's a question. What if you thought every thought that there is to think? Then how would you clarify anything? You would spend the rest of your life just clarifying and not even doing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am at my breaking point with GTD and am going to quit it again if I can't figure out how to handle all of my ideas. Do any of you have an endless number of ideas of things that you want to do or that could be important?
 
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GreatNatez said:
Hello everyone! I took a break for a while from using GTD. I've recently started using it again but have run into some trouble with the system. So, I write everything down on my capture list, so that I can clarify what I have captured, and I'm immediately stuck. Not because I don't know how to clarify the items, but because there is... so many of them. Like how I am supposed to clarify all of them if I have tons and tons of different ideas? It helps me a little bit to separate important vs non-important items, but there's still so many. I just don't know how to clarify them all. I will sit for hours trying to clarify everything, but then I've spent so much time just clarifying items on my capture list. That, by the time I start some of the next-actions, I'm already burnt out from clarifying. I refer to my areas of focus and write some of my ideas down on my someday/maybe list, but there's still so many. Another similar problem that I'm having is that I'm always thinking of so... many... ideas. Like could I do this, or this, or possibly that. I have tons of ideas that I write down. I mean here's a question. What if you thought every thought that there is to think? Then how would you clarify anything? You would spend the rest of your life just clarifying and not even doing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am at my breaking point with GTD and am going to quit it again if I can't figure out how to handle all of my ideas. Do any of you have an endless number of ideas of things that you want to do or that could be important?
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@GreatNatez ,

Use GTD Workflow . . . beginning with "What is it/this?" . . . then . . . "Is it actionable?" . . . continue

When in doubt throw it out . . . When in doubt keep it . . . it gets easier
 
This is interesting, because the volume is creating a bottleneck in your system, and it has to be solved in a way that doesn't move the bottleneck elsewhere. If you could magically become lightning fast at clarifying and organising then some of these could happen:

- Your projects and action lists would become so large that it would be difficult to choose something to do.
- Your someday/Maybe list would be enormous and unwieldy.
- Your reference would be so full of information that it would be hard to navigate.

I think that the answer has to be capture less and trash more, probably a little of each.

Capture Less

You'll have to come up with your own filter. As a start, maybe instead of capturing everything that pops into your brain, try capturing only what is on your mind.

Trash More

This is quick and doesn't move the bottleneck elsewhere. When asking "Is this actionable", don't consider it in a hypothetical way. Instead, consider whether you really want to make a commitment to completing it in the context of everything going on in your life.

Perspective

You mention areas of focus, but what about your higher horizons? Greater perspective might make the path clearer.
 
Someday/Maybe items do not really need to be clarified. For example, you’re snowed in at Logan airport in Boston with the whole city shut down, and your brain spontaneously emits one word: “Belize.” For most people, this would be a Someday/Maybe. You could write down “Vacation in Belize” or ”Retire to Belize” but why bother? Reference Items also do not need to be clarified, and neither does trash. For purposes of getting on with your life, you might want to prioritize clarifying things you know are projects or next actions.
 
I think @mcogilvie's advice is on the money. I'd also ask how well you've clarified your higher-level horizons. If you really know what's important to you, it helps you say "no" to distractions.

And I've found it's perfectly OK for me to capture a thought and then toss it instead of putting it in my system. That's a form of clarification, and knowing I made an actual decision about it helps keep it off my mind.
 
cfoley said:
Capture Less

You'll have to come up with your own filter. As a start, maybe instead of capturing everything that pops into your brain, try capturing only what is on your mind.
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I'm not sure someone can really "over-capture." Also, I'm not sure what difference you see between what "pops into your brain" and "what is on your mind."

If you mean distinguishing between a passing thought about something I don't need to record in any way because they're just random noise -- learning the cha-cha and buying a Brooks Bros. suit are two thoughts that just came to mind as I write this -- and a thought I'll want to get into my system then, yes, I agree, let former type of thought go. But I can make that distinction intuitively only because I've clarified my higher horizons.
 
mcogilvie said:
For example, you’re snowed in at Logan airport in Boston with the whole city shut down, and your brain spontaneously emits one word: “Belize.”
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Is that what my brain emits? I can think of other words that would come to mind more readily.
 
GreatNatez said:
What if you thought every thought that there is to think? Then how would you clarify anything? You would spend the rest of your life just clarifying and not even doing.
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@GreatNatez I imagine that that's what philosophers do. ;)

I am jealous that you've got so many thoughts worth capturing. On average I've got less than one per day and it's more than I can properly engage with later.
 
bcmyers2112 said:
I'm not sure someone can really "over-capture." Also, I'm not sure what difference you see between what "pops into your brain" and "what is on your mind."

If you mean distinguishing between a passing thought about something I don't need to record in any way because they're just random noise -- learning the cha-cha and buying a Brooks Bros. suit are two thoughts that just came to mind as I write this -- and a thought I'll want to get into my system then, yes, I agree, let former type of thought go. But I can make that distinction intuitively only because I've clarified my higher horizons.
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You've got my meaning exactly. "Pop into head" implies impulsive thoughts while "on your mind" implies something that causes you concern or that you think about a lot.

www.merriam-webster.com

Definition of COME/POP INTO ONE'S HEAD

become a thought that's not a result of reasoning… See the full definition
www.merriam-webster.com www.merriam-webster.com


I think we broadly agree. We're both saying don't capture the random noise. I'm also saying if you do capture the trivial, then trash it at processing time. And we are both saying that clarifying the higher horizons will help.
 
GreatNatez said:
Hello everyone! I took a break for a while from using GTD. I've recently started using it again but have run into some trouble with the system. So, I write everything down on my capture list, so that I can clarify what I have captured, and I'm immediately stuck. Not because I don't know how to clarify the items, but because there is... so many of them. Like how I am supposed to clarify all of them if I have tons and tons of different ideas? It helps me a little bit to separate important vs non-important items, but there's still so many. I just don't know how to clarify them all. I will sit for hours trying to clarify everything, but then I've spent so much time just clarifying items on my capture list. That, by the time I start some of the next-actions, I'm already burnt out from clarifying. I refer to my areas of focus and write some of my ideas down on my someday/maybe list, but there's still so many. Another similar problem that I'm having is that I'm always thinking of so... many... ideas. Like could I do this, or this, or possibly that. I have tons of ideas that I write down. I mean here's a question. What if you thought every thought that there is to think? Then how would you clarify anything? You would spend the rest of your life just clarifying and not even doing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am at my breaking point with GTD and am going to quit it again if I can't figure out how to handle all of my ideas. Do any of you have an endless number of ideas of things that you want to do or that could be important?
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In GTD capture is one of the most important rule. It is usual at the beginning to capture anything. When this will be an habit you will see that there is a natural selection about capturing. You will pass from capturing anything to capture only but what has your intention. So your brain will make a kind of natural " filter " which will say : OK that's important for me, OK I need that later, OK I have to track that and so on.
Then, later on, everything which really matters you will be applied the clarifying process.

One of the best practice I use for that is to use a sheet of paper. DA recommend one sheet per topic. I prefer one list. When something happens instinctively I decide to write it or not. Sometime I am on the rush so I just write a quick sentence for my " future " me. Later I come back and clarify. Sometime it is quick (less than 2 mn) I don't write anything and just do it. Sometime it directly go on my list eg my waiting for list, a new project I must do as soon as possible which goes on my project list. It is just a question of GTD experience and feelings.

Regarding to what you wrote, if it is possible for you, may be you could first make my system on paper. It is much better for GTD. Writing force to acting and simplification.

Oh I think of another trick ! When I clarify my list on a paper sheet,I always read first my list and cross everything I can...
Some Items has no interest, Some are over, some are interesting ideas, some can be done quickly (< 2 mn : it happens when I am full focus on something and don't want to loose this precious energy. So I do it immediately. For example I had a short email to do I did it immediately it looks 1 mn or so...) This trick Is one of the most important for me. My purpose is to keep my inbox list as short as possible to ne able to apply a real and serious clarification eg avoid anything that don't matters.

Hope that helps ;-)
 
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GreatNatez said:
Hello everyone! I took a break for a while from using GTD. I've recently started using it again but have run into some trouble with the system. So, I write everything down on my capture list, so that I can clarify what I have captured, and I'm immediately stuck. Not because I don't know how to clarify the items, but because there is... so many of them. Like how I am supposed to clarify all of them if I have tons and tons of different ideas? It helps me a little bit to separate important vs non-important items, but there's still so many. I just don't know how to clarify them all. I will sit for hours trying to clarify everything, but then I've spent so much time just clarifying items on my capture list. That, by the time I start some of the next-actions, I'm already burnt out from clarifying. I refer to my areas of focus and write some of my ideas down on my someday/maybe list, but there's still so many. Another similar problem that I'm having is that I'm always thinking of so... many... ideas. Like could I do this, or this, or possibly that. I have tons of ideas that I write down. I mean here's a question. What if you thought every thought that there is to think? Then how would you clarify anything? You would spend the rest of your life just clarifying and not even doing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am at my breaking point with GTD and am going to quit it again if I can't figure out how to handle all of my ideas. Do any of you have an endless number of ideas of things that you want to do or that could be important?
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@GreatNatez

Just as an additional thought . . . perhaps as many "Mind Sweeps" as necessary to 'empty' the ideas backlog that might be a productive way to address the particular concern: "Endless Stream of Ideas"

If feeling up to it, perhaps appropriately trying "Mind Sweeps" sittings/sessions as necessary might include utilizing time tested cognitive distribution practice through pen to paper capturing with one sheet of 8 1/2" x 11" paper per idea might be worthy?

As a further consideration given the potential volume of "idea sheet"s, one might also find it worthy to initially sort/parse the paper "ideas sheet"s into their appropriate Areas-of-Focus piles prior to GTD Workflow 'finalizing' when the question is asked "What is it?" is commenced

As such, "What is it?" processing through Reflecting for Organizing from "is I T Actionable"?

N O for choosing One of Three "N O" Possibilities:
N O > . . . Trash I T
N O > . . . Maybe/Someday List/Folders I T
N O > . . . Reference Files, Checklists, List(s), etc. I T for Projects, Next Actions, Random Actions, etc. for their Support Ease

Y E S > Choosing from two of three 'D' Possibilities: Do I T [Two Minutes or Less] . . . Delegate I T [Waiting for]
Y E S > In choosing last of the three 'D' Possibilities: Defer I T = not now, therefore: Projects . . . Calendar-/-Tickler . . . NA Contexts


If applicable, it might also be prudent to consider having some additional healthy support available for comprehensive "Mind Sweeps" for/if anything too 'dramatic/'toxic' shows up that is/becomes/seems too difficult/overwhelmingly to intellectually/emotionally 'process' since preset and future ideas might also include 'remembering' life's past journey's which can unfortunately possible include the random walks through the wrong places at the wrong time given life's 'war-zone' experiences no one seems to fully avoid unscathed?

As you see GTD fit. . . .
 
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I have lists in Someday/Maybe:

- Books to read
- TVs/Movies/Websites
- Plants to try
- Food ideas
- Garden ideas
- Home ideas
- Finance thoughts
- Electronics Stuff
- Restaurants to try
- Travel thoughts
- Writing thoughts

and so on and so on and so on and so on. Once it's in a Someday/Maybe list, it is clarified, as far as I'm concerned.

Edited to add: This is in OmniFocus where it's easy to make folders. All of these things have a context of List, and that context is On Hold. So none of these things demand attention when I'm working actionable stuff.
 
Perhaps put all ideas into a self-imposed incubate group for a pre-defined amount of time. After that amount of time has elapsed, then clarify the idea, but only after ruthlessly culling the ideas. How many drunk ideas don't pass muster of daylight? Instead you may be in a dopamine fueled buzz of having lotsa good ideas and they all seem worthy as a consequence. Do as little work (ie "clarifying") as possible on them until they've had time to percolate and then do the clarifying, followed by an energetic mental gladiatorial festival to see who lives and who dies, and how the survivors fit in the pecking order of your actions list.
 
Gardener said:
I have lists in Someday/Maybe:

- Books to read
- TVs/Movies/Websites
- Plants to try
- Food ideas
- Garden ideas
- Home ideas
- Finance thoughts
- Electronics Stuff
- Restaurants to try
- Travel thoughts
- Writing thoughts

and so on and so on and so on and so on. Once it's in a Someday/Maybe list, it is clarified, as far as I'm concerned.

Edited to add: This is in OmniFocus where it's easy to make folders. All of these things have a context of List, and that context is On Hold. So none of these things demand attention when I'm working actionable stuff.
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I made it differently. Don't know if it is the right way or not. These lists are in a folder call Reference. I put in someday what is for the future and what I may do in the future wether I I will do it or not. Did I miss something ?
 
FocusGuy said:
I made it differently. Don't know if it is the right way or not. These lists are in a folder call Reference. I put in someday what is for the future and what I may do in the future wether I I will do it or not. Did I miss something ?
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I'm not saying that my way is either the standard GTD way or the best way. It's just best for me, because I'm very distracted by long lists, so I need to hide this stuff until I'm specifically in the mode to go look at it.

I do think of "someday/maybe" as a perfectly acceptable place for both things I will do, and things I only might do, if that's the concern? The effort involved in deciding if I really WILL read that book, for example, or grow that vegetable, is just not worthwhile for me. It will sit there in a big list of "maybe" until I decide that, yes, THIS is the month that I will grow Chiogga beets or read one of those novels that Agatha Christie wrote under a pen name.
 
In his Implementing GTD on MS Outlook Guide, DA recommended keeping a category called "Ideas" in Notes. This is a parking lot for ideas that you're not sure what to do with but you don't want to lose. As part of the "Review Relevant Checklists" step of the weekly review, this is something that you would review and prune on a regular basis.
 
David Allen said somewhere that as we get things out of our head and into our system, our brains gradually get emptied of all that "stuff" we keep reminding ourselves about, so we have more brain space, and we start having lots of ideas. Maybe this is what is happening for you.

Then a problem arises for you that you have so many ideas that it is overwhelming to try to capture them all. In fact, you think it is impossible to ever do this. The problem is so unpleasant that you want to quit GTD, and historically, you do quit. Then you come back to GTD. You are really wanting to get past this frustrating problem, and you aren't sure how to do that. Is this true?

I'd like you to notice exactly when this problem arises, so you can clearly identify the nature of the problem. It might surprise you. I'd like you to use a mind sweep to capture your ideas. Do this at a separate time before you attempt to clarify your ideas.

For instance, get out a stack of clean white copy paper, an empty inbox, a pen, and perhaps your favorite beverage. Turn off your phone. Turn off your computer. Adjust your chair, so your feet are flat on the floor, your seat is supported by the chair seat, and your back is supported by the chair back. Take several slow, deep breaths and bring yourself to quiet presence in the moment. You are taking this time out to be with yourself.

Allow yourself to rest and wait for whatever arises. If something comes to mind, write this idea on a page of copy paper. Write only that one idea on the page. When you finish writing, put the page of copy paper into the inbox.

If you notice a problem occuring durng this process, that is also something that is coming to your mind. Write that idea on a page of copy paper, too, and then put the page of copy paper into the inbox.

Continue with this mind sweep process until you want to stop, and then come to a stopping place. I suggest that you find a congenial time for this practice and do it each day.

Set aside your inbox with your captured items inside for later processing. Do your GTD clarifying at a separate time no sooner than tomorrow or this weekend. Let's see when the problems you mention start to develop.

Best wishes,

Emily
 
GreatNatez said:
Hello everyone! I took a break for a while from using GTD. I've recently started using it again but have run into some trouble with the system. So, I write everything down on my capture list, so that I can clarify what I have captured, and I'm immediately stuck. Not because I don't know how to clarify the items, but because there is... so many of them. Like how I am supposed to clarify all of them if I have tons and tons of different ideas? It helps me a little bit to separate important vs non-important items, but there's still so many. I just don't know how to clarify them all. I will sit for hours trying to clarify everything, but then I've spent so much time just clarifying items on my capture list. That, by the time I start some of the next-actions, I'm already burnt out from clarifying. I refer to my areas of focus and write some of my ideas down on my someday/maybe list, but there's still so many. Another similar problem that I'm having is that I'm always thinking of so... many... ideas. Like could I do this, or this, or possibly that. I have tons of ideas that I write down. I mean here's a question. What if you thought every thought that there is to think? Then how would you clarify anything? You would spend the rest of your life just clarifying and not even doing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am at my breaking point with GTD and am going to quit it again if I can't figure out how to handle all of my ideas. Do any of you have an endless number of ideas of things that you want to do or that could be important?
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It sounds like you're experiencing a common challenge for those who are naturally creative and constantly generating new ideas. You might find it helpful to explore academic research on this topic to see if what you discover aligns with your experiences.

Many of us have been conditioned to believe that life fulfillment comes from constant doing, which can lead to a sort of addiction to activity. In my experience, shifting the focus toward being—simply existing and appreciating the present moment—can help calm the mind. Practices like walking in nature, meditation, and mindfulness have helped me quiet the part of my brain that constantly pushes me to do more. This approach might not be a traditional GTD response, but it has been effective for me.
 
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