New User....not at the relaxed stage yet!

I just implemented the GTD system into Outlook and have a few questions...thanks in advance for your help

1) I find that I am constantly going to the Next Action lists and completing actions which may not be the highest priority. Part of the reason I do this is that I am procrastinating in tackling the harder actions. How do I avoid this and go right to the highest priority action?

2) Also, in the same vein how often do I look at the @ACTION folder for actionable e-mails.

3) Finally, my job is one where I am free to come up with ideas/do research, etc so I am often faced with large blocks of free time. It is during these periods that I am checking NA's, working on NA's which aren't priorities, etc.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated!
 
stockman;87042 said:
1) I find that I am constantly going to the Next Action lists and completing actions which may not be the highest priority. Part of the reason I do this is that I am procrastinating in tackling the harder actions. How do I avoid this and go right to the highest priority action?

First of all, it is not always bad thing that you are doing not the highest priority Next Actions (remember the four-criteria model for choosing actions in the moment). Also make sure your next actions really describe some phisical activity you need to do in a very clear way with all required details (so you don't have to rethink them every time you read them).
Another trick I used for myself (and we know that it's all about tricks) is for some complex things I create a really simple 5-10 mins next action just to start working on a project. Once I start it is not that hard to continue working on it. It just "start" part I usually have most of the resistance.
 
Do a Weekly Review!

stockman;87042 said:
1) I find that I am constantly going to the Next Action lists and completing actions which may not be the highest priority. Part of the reason I do this is that I am procrastinating in tackling the harder actions. How do I avoid this and go right to the highest priority action?

2) Also, in the same vein how often do I look at the @ACTION folder for actionable e-mails.

3) Finally, my job is one where I am free to come up with ideas/do research, etc so I am often faced with large blocks of free time. It is during these periods that I am checking NA's, working on NA's which aren't priorities, etc.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated!

If you have free time - do a Weekly Review.

It is better to do 2 Weekly Reviews during one week than to crank wrong widgets.
 
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