K
Krackeman
Guest
I have been "lurking" here on the board for a number of months now and I have just started listening to GTD Fast ... but I have one question that has been plaguing me, so I thought to post it here:
IF
1) I need to have an effective system to capture and organize
2) That system is up to date
3) I need to completely trust/believe that my system will have the information I need at the appropriate time
THEN
How do I manage myself when I am in a "multiple context" environment?
To elaborate: I have found that some items keep popping up as I try to clear the deck. Week after week, these few items or projects are still very much on my mind. I do not feel settled. I initially tried to go back and make sure my outcome was clearly defined. It was. I checked if my next action was indeed actionable. It was. I had gobs of support material and notes that got organized. Everything I was doing should have brought peace and gotten these things off my mind.
I then realized that most of my stress came from worrying that I wouldn't see the reminder. I didn't trust my system! Horror! Upon further reflection, I found that I am afraid that I will "miss it" ... that I will not look at the right list. I spend the majority of my day in an environment where I always have access to a computer, phone, the internet, my files ... this is all day every day. Multiple contexts from one chair.
So how do I get to a point where I can get the project off my mind? As I review my lists, I find myself asking "what was the NA for Project X? Which context did I put that in?" ... doesn't sound like "mind like water".
A FEW CLARIFICATIONS:
1) Please, do not bombard me with palm/outlook/lotus/tech solutions! I am a techie person. I am aware of the multiple category possibilities and Palm do-dads to track this stuff. Simple fact: my pen and paper planner are the only tools that truly allow me to work as fats as I think. I have found this true after a few years of "trying everything". The only tech solution I have any hope in would be the Tablet PC, but the funds will not be available for that this year, so I need a mid-tech solution. Thanks!
2) I also want to avoid the plain-vanilla/palm/tech/paper/rock & chisel debate. I know my planner works for me (BTW it's a cheap-o At-A-Glance binder with a slot for a journal/notebook in the front flap ... collection and processing in an 5.5 x 8.5 package .... i love it)
3) I have considered altering my contexts, but have yet to brainstorm a set that relieves this fear of "missing it". I have considered Professional/Personal/Errand - too broad and my Professional and Personal life are not easily compartmentalized .... I thought about Communicate/Create/Get/Waiting ... too ... something (odd?) ....
4) What I would really love to hear is how you have developed your contexts to be a system you can trust ... because once I trust that the system will give me the information appropriately, I am "there".
Thanks and apologies for the long post,
B Kracke
IF
1) I need to have an effective system to capture and organize
2) That system is up to date
3) I need to completely trust/believe that my system will have the information I need at the appropriate time
THEN
How do I manage myself when I am in a "multiple context" environment?
To elaborate: I have found that some items keep popping up as I try to clear the deck. Week after week, these few items or projects are still very much on my mind. I do not feel settled. I initially tried to go back and make sure my outcome was clearly defined. It was. I checked if my next action was indeed actionable. It was. I had gobs of support material and notes that got organized. Everything I was doing should have brought peace and gotten these things off my mind.
I then realized that most of my stress came from worrying that I wouldn't see the reminder. I didn't trust my system! Horror! Upon further reflection, I found that I am afraid that I will "miss it" ... that I will not look at the right list. I spend the majority of my day in an environment where I always have access to a computer, phone, the internet, my files ... this is all day every day. Multiple contexts from one chair.
So how do I get to a point where I can get the project off my mind? As I review my lists, I find myself asking "what was the NA for Project X? Which context did I put that in?" ... doesn't sound like "mind like water".
A FEW CLARIFICATIONS:
1) Please, do not bombard me with palm/outlook/lotus/tech solutions! I am a techie person. I am aware of the multiple category possibilities and Palm do-dads to track this stuff. Simple fact: my pen and paper planner are the only tools that truly allow me to work as fats as I think. I have found this true after a few years of "trying everything". The only tech solution I have any hope in would be the Tablet PC, but the funds will not be available for that this year, so I need a mid-tech solution. Thanks!
2) I also want to avoid the plain-vanilla/palm/tech/paper/rock & chisel debate. I know my planner works for me (BTW it's a cheap-o At-A-Glance binder with a slot for a journal/notebook in the front flap ... collection and processing in an 5.5 x 8.5 package .... i love it)
3) I have considered altering my contexts, but have yet to brainstorm a set that relieves this fear of "missing it". I have considered Professional/Personal/Errand - too broad and my Professional and Personal life are not easily compartmentalized .... I thought about Communicate/Create/Get/Waiting ... too ... something (odd?) ....
4) What I would really love to hear is how you have developed your contexts to be a system you can trust ... because once I trust that the system will give me the information appropriately, I am "there".
Thanks and apologies for the long post,
B Kracke