Komal Thakkar, GTD Coach and Trainer in Australia, writes about a shifting your thinking around what to choose from the to-do list.
It's not a to-do list, it's a buffet!
- Thread starter davidcoforum
- Start date
Yes she is. I'm hoping to record her on some GTD topic in the next month or so.
KMT
0
Thanks Murray, Good to see you here. My best wishes for you always.
Longstreet
Professor of microbiology and infectious diseases
It was a wonderful piece. I do want to point out, however, that recent studies in neuroscience have shown that when we have to make choices from a large sample multiple times a day, even the staunchest of us will experience decision fatigue. That has been documented in multiple studies. We always use the analogy of a restaurant menu and having to choose from many options on what we want to have for the meal. But this is only one time; we make our choice and then enjoy our dinner. If one does this hundreds of times a day, decision fatigue would quickly set in. Our brains have finite resources and can quickly become depleted. This is why I enjoy creating a hot list for the day from all of my next actions.
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Longstreet
Professor of microbiology and infectious diseases
Here is a post from Next Actions Associates in England on this topic:
www.next-action.co.uk
In Praise of the Short Sub-List - Next Action Associates
In their newfound enthusiasm for discovering the freedom and relief of getting everything out of their head, journeymen GTD® practitioners can fall into
www.next-action.co.uk
TesTeq
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@Longstreet Here's another one by Robert Peake: "Eating the Menu"
www.next-action.co.uk
Eating the Menu
It's a nice place. You've been here before and recall how much you like the food. Yet as you scan down the menu, your breath quickens, your pulse shoots up.
www.next-action.co.uk
Longstreet
Professor of microbiology and infectious diseases
Yes, I have seen that article. I embrace the concept overall; however, I maintain my position that neuroscience research clearly has shown that if one has to choose from a large data set hundreds of times a day, decision fatigue will be a big problem.
Murray
Registered
Good balanced guidance here. And I loved the sign-off: "Here’s wishing you all the right lists in your life, big and small, to free up your brain for much better things."Here is a post from Next Actions Associates in England on this topic:
In Praise of the Short Sub-List - Next Action Associates
In their newfound enthusiasm for discovering the freedom and relief of getting everything out of their head, journeymen GTD® practitioners can fall into
Here‘s an old piece I remember on different daily workflow strategies:Here is a post from Next Actions Associates in England on this topic:
In Praise of the Short Sub-List - Next Action Associates
In their newfound enthusiasm for discovering the freedom and relief of getting everything out of their head, journeymen GTD® practitioners can fall into
Longstreet
Professor of microbiology and infectious diseases
I hope I did not offend Komal. As a professor and scientist, I was just relating recent data from neuroscience studies on making multiple decisions throughout the day. If anyone thrives from choosing from very long lists all day long, then bravo for you! And as we all know, GTD is MUCH more than just choosing next actions.
At any rate, these discussions are always quite useful. Cheers!
At any rate, these discussions are always quite useful. Cheers!
KMT
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I keep a list called "when braindead" - and work off this when my decision fatigue kicks in. it is a list of mechanical things to do.
I absolutely agree with the punch list for the day, however, do find my energy level and context may change depending on the unplanned portion of the day as well and compels me to look at my buffet options more than once!
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