Worthy ? GTD is also. . . .

G

gtdstudente

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GTD users,

Perhaps GTD methodology can also be a understood as an intrinsic-&-subjectively adaptable extrinsic-&-objective methodological means for dynamically mastering Calendar(s), Contexts, and Cycles (daily, weekly, Seasons, etc., i.e., routines) for optimally easier engagement in fulfilling all of life's necessary obligations and discretionary pursued Projects, Areas-of-Focus, Horizons, etc. ?

Thank you very much for all GTD appropriate engagements

Meanwhile, hoping your next Weekly Review is your best Weekly Review to date

As you see GTD fit. . . .
 
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gtdstudente said:
GTD users,

Perhaps GTD methodology can also be a understood as an intrinsic-&-subjectively adaptable extrinsic-&-objective methodological means for dynamically mastering Calendar(s), Contexts, and Cycles (daily, weekly, etc., i.e., routines) for optimally easier engagement in fulfilling all of life's necessary obligations and discretionary pursued Projects, Areas-of-Focus, Horizons, etc. ?

Thank you very much for all GTD appropriate engagements

Meanwhile, hoping your next Weekly Review is your best Weekly Review to date

As you see GTD fit. . . .
Click to expand...
In other words:

Some aspects of GTD expressed as 'simply' as possible ?

Reasonably predictable Calendars-&-Cycles and Intrinsic, Extrinsic/Internal, and External Contexts coordinated through one's best particular rhythmic personal Constitution as possible ?

Meanwhile, as to what can possibly be a good GTD chronic/kairos Next Action motivation . . . each-&-every completed Next Action is one less GTD coordination ?

All and any comprehensive GTD comments and rewrites most welcomed

Thank you very much

As you see GTD fit. . . .
 
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I propose an alternative view - and a much more general.
GTD is simply the professional doing of what people always did concerning organizing their lives - under circumstance when the intuitive doing of it is not sufficient anymore.

explanation:
There is a natural workflow preceeding every action humans (and often machines and animals) do.
1. getting an input - 2. evaluationg it - and if anything needs to be done - 3 doing it immediately or postponing it (= storing the decision somewhere) and doing it later (selecting among the future options)

this is so universal, it was so when our ancestors lived in caves, it is how we cook our dinner, and how we will land on Mars.
lets call this universal workflow "organisation of work".

Now, for millenia, work itself was heavy, manual, usually lasted long.
The corresponding organisation part was "relatively rare", based on simple -usually natural- triggers.
It could be managed with our bodies and in our mind. And if we did not remember, dirty kids, hungry animals and weedy gardens reminded us soon.

The world changed. Progress means that almost any visible work can be done faster, easier, with less effort.
But if loading and unloading a washing machine takes 2x5 minutes (my grand-granmother washed half a day, and prepared her soap..), the "freed up time" is being used for other activities (similarly easy and shorter).
Our days became FRAGMENTED between much more activities. Plus many activities are mental, less manual.

Now add the above mentioned "organisation of work" (2 or 4 steps) to EVERY ACTION in both worlds (to the simple one and to the fragmented new)

I guess it is clear: nowadays the "organisation of work" takes up a considerable portion of our lifes.
(some call it "shallow work" - which is rather debatable. What is sure - it cannot be avoided).
And this is only the USEFUL "foreplay".
The added burden of deciding upon useless (or only potentially useful) artificial inputs adds a significat volume to this workflow. (first 2 steps)
Most of it is mental...

Getting Things Done is therefore nothing else, just the principles needed for the professional execution of this ever-existing workflow.
In a world where the throughput is high and if the "pipeline gets easily clogged" the pressure will rise... if we do not manage it professionally

----
and yes, DA added a fifth step (actually the fourth = review), because whatever was stored for later in our fast-changing world (even if in a perfect form and place) - eventually becomes obsolete. Simply because the world (and us in it) change very fast.
 
Stefan Godo said:
I propose an alternative view - and a much more general.
GTD is simply the professional doing of what people always did concerning organizing their lives - under circumstance when the intuitive doing of it is not sufficient anymore.

explanation:
There is a natural workflow preceeding every action humans (and often machines and animals) do.
1. getting an input - 2. evaluationg it - and if anything needs to be done - 3 doing it immediately or postponing it (= storing the decision somewhere) and doing it later (selecting among the future options)

this is so universal, it was so when our ancestors lived in caves, it is how we cook our dinner, and how we will land on Mars.
lets call this universal workflow "organisation of work".

Now, for millenia, work itself was heavy, manual, usually lasted long.
The corresponding organisation part was "relatively rare", based on simple -usually natural- triggers.
It could be managed with our bodies and in our mind. And if we did not remember, dirty kids, hungry animals and weedy gardens reminded us soon.

The world changed. Progress means that almost any visible work can be done faster, easier, with less effort.
But if loading and unloading a washing machine takes 2x5 minutes (my grand-granmother washed half a day, and prepared her soap..), the "freed up time" is being used for other activities (similarly easy and shorter).
Our days became FRAGMENTED between much more activities. Plus many activities are mental, less manual.

Now add the above mentioned "organisation of work" (2 or 4 steps) to EVERY ACTION in both worlds (to the simple one and to the fragmented new)

I guess it is clear: nowadays the "organisation of work" takes up a considerable portion of our lifes.
(some call it "shallow work" - which is rather debatable. What is sure - it cannot be avoided).
And this is only the USEFUL "foreplay".
The added burden of deciding upon useless (or only potentially useful) artificial inputs adds a significat volume to this workflow. (first 2 steps)
Most of it is mental...

Getting Things Done is therefore nothing else, just the principles needed for the professional execution of this ever-existing workflow.
In a world where the throughput is high and if the "pipeline gets easily clogged" the pressure will rise... if we do not manage it professionally

----
and yes, DA added a fifth step (actually the fourth = review), because whatever was stored for later in our fast-changing world (even if in a perfect form and place) - eventually becomes obsolete. Simply because the world (and us in it) change very fast.
Click to expand...
@Stefan Godo

Thank you very much for your very good GTD post

Very much in agreement with you expression of GTD and it's Trash option is most valuable to facilitate workflow

All five steps are GTD crucial and one can greatly benefit in developing those GTD skills

However, with all due respect in regard to:
"Getting Things Done is therefore nothing else, just the principles. . . . "
Perhaps it might be worth adding . . . just the principles for purposes, which in GTD terms could mean Areas-of-Focus ?

Thank you sir and as you see GTD fit. . . .

Thank you very much
 
gtdstudente said:
@Stefan Godo

Thank you very much for your very good GTD post

Very much in agreement with you expression of GTD and it's Trash option is most valuable to facilitate workflow

All five steps are GTD crucial and one can greatly benefit in developing those GTD skills

However, with all due respect in regard to:
"Getting Things Done is therefore nothing else, just the principles. . . . "
Perhaps it might be worth adding . . . just the principles for purposes, which in GTD terms could mean Areas-of-Focus ?

Thank you sir and as you see GTD fit. . . .

Thank you very much
Click to expand...
Sure, you are right, I wanted to keep it as short as possible, and did not write about the higher horizons.

So, the second part in very simple terms:

In all of the organizing workflow steps (and in the actions themselves = in life in general) we need CRITERIA to clarify/decide/judge/like/dislike/evaluate....

These criteria form a DYNAMIC INTERNAL MAP, based on which we can decide what anything IS, whether it needs action, ....).

In GTD we call this internal representation of the world (and us in it) the set of Higher Horizons.

please note that they form a continuum of time based entities - actions/projects/long term plans and visions and two - although potentially changing, but not necessarily time-bound parts - in GTD called AreasOfFocus, and Purpose/Principles.

(not going into more details how this is constructed by the human "minding process" and how actually the indentification with the result creates "ego"/"identity" - all religions and mystical movements deal with -unhinging- this process).

So yes, GTD (as several purely top-down systems) acknowledges the existence of this internal Map, and actually gives a concrete recipee on updating its time bound parts. (and partially the rest)
I mentioned in the first part the Review - as a necessity to react to the ever changing world (actualize the Map).

You are right that Reviewing actions and project without CONTEXT lacks meaning (you placed it IN AoF, but it is is more general).
Hence we speak (althopugh much less) about regular (less frequent - or need based) updates of the longer/higher horizons as well.

GTD does not spend too much time (rightly so) on the highest horizon itself - it would wade into the mystical/religional realms.
But it covers the practical side to a relatively large extent - for sure sufficient to lead a fine, balanced life.

In this sense, GTD for me is the practical foreplay to "knowing my true self" - by unloading the "necessary mental burden" of everyday life to proper places. creating "mind like water" BEFORE inquiring who I am.
 
Stefan Godo said:
Sure, you are right, I wanted to keep it as short as possible, and did not write about the higher horizons.

So, the second part in very simple terms:

In all of the organizing workflow steps (and in the actions themselves = in life in general) we need CRITERIA to clarify/decide/judge/like/dislike/evaluate....

These criteria form a DYNAMIC INTERNAL MAP, based on which we can decide what anything IS, whether it needs action, ....).

In GTD we call this internal representation of the world (and us in it) the set of Higher Horizons.

please note that they form a continuum of time based entities - actions/projects/long term plans and visions and two - although potentially changing, but not necessarily time-bound parts - in GTD called AreasOfFocus, and Purpose/Principles.

(not going into more details how this is constructed by the human "minding process" and how actually the indentification with the result creates "ego"/"identity" - all religions and mystical movements deal with -unhinging- this process).

So yes, GTD (as several purely top-down systems) acknowledges the existence of this internal Map, and actually gives a concrete recipee on updating its time bound parts. (and partially the rest)
I mentioned in the first part the Review - as a necessity to react to the ever changing world (actualize the Map).

You are right that Reviewing actions and project without CONTEXT lacks meaning (you placed it IN AoF, but it is is more general).
Hence we speak (althopugh much less) about regular (less frequent - or need based) updates of the longer/higher horizons as well.

GTD does not spend too much time (rightly so) on the highest horizon itself - it would wade into the mystical/religional realms.
But it covers the practical side to a relatively large extent - for sure sufficient to lead a fine, balanced life.

In this sense, GTD for me is the practical foreplay to "knowing my true self" - by unloading the "necessary mental burden" of everyday life to proper places. creating "mind like water" BEFORE inquiring who I am.
Click to expand...
@Stefan Godo

Yes . . . agree

Brought up Purposes and Areas-of-Focus due to your GTD seriousness

Was hoping the Purpose / Areas-of-Focus parameters might also help facilitate your concentrated GTD focus . . . to do anything satisfactorily well there is usually real skill involved, also and in other words, ends [five life parameter on this end] need to be carefully chosen in order to prevent unnecessary effort dilution possibly undermining really important habit/skill development(s) ?

Thank you very much

As you see GTD fit. . . .
 
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