My productivity setup… sort of
Thomas Menguy | December 29, 2005After few months of “Getting Things Done” practice I can began to draw some conclusions. First I’ve learn…what procrastination means, and how it may be, after all, really usefull to help time management.
Then I’ve adapted the GTD methodology to my needs, really simplifying it: for me small (and, ok, fun) is always beautiful.
After those months of practice here are summed up the concepts I daily use and rely on.
- Task list is your main tool.
- “If something takes less than 5 minutes, do it now”, it may sound stupid but it really helps to keep it in mind everytime.
- Delegate as much as possible, but delegation is the easy part: have a way to keep easily track of the follow up is a key point.
- Take the time to find and list your next actions to complete some higher level tasks: a task list with entries that can’t be done is pointless. If nn item is not actionable, cause it is too high level, or is simply a rough idea jotted quickly on paper or outlook, take the time to break it in piece and extract the things to do to achieve it.
- Tasks lists exists : DO NOT keep your todo’s in your brain, be confident in your system, else your mind will be cluttered with short term goals and actions, and you won’t be able to focus on longer term ideas/project etc…
- Make your system as simple as possible: the fewer the steps/concepts, the more you will be able to maintain it and … rely on it.