I read Getting Things Done a few years ago and loved the concept. I followed the plan laid out in the book and tried desperately to organize my self. I definitely made things easier, but still felt that I wasn’t completely working the system.
Over the last few days of focusing on my meditation/mindfulness challenge I realized that I needed to really work the GTD system in order to help slow down the “wild dog” in my head.
So these last few days I’ve been purging my mind and writing down all the “projects” that I have on the go. GTD defines a project as any outcome that requires two or more actions. I stopped when I reached over twenty active projects. These are things like finish renovating the basement and plan school for five children for the next ten months.
Experts recommend that top project managers should carry no more than 4 work projects. GTD fans say that when adding in home projects, your list should hover around 6-8.
I apparently have too many projects on the go. Which might explain why I’m having trouble keeping track of what needs to be done and feel like I’m never get anything finished.
Because I’m not.
So I called my friend Ash. She’s my organizing hero. She is currently raising three month old twins and still finds time to sew. She apparently has two projects on the go and won’t add more until one is done. It always feels to me like Ash is getting things done.
Because she is.
So I need to pair down my active projects lists and move all the rest to the Someday/Maybe list. This way they will still be around, but they will be out of my mind.
And how, you are probably not asking, does all this fit in with my meditation challenge? Jan says on day six, in response to a question about, “Is it enough?” that only I personally can tell if it is enough. I have been working very hard at trying to slow down and find myself. So for me, while I haven’t been finding/making time to just sit, I have been breathing and slowing down and trying to clear out the clutter in my head.
If I can pare down my projects that will, hopefully, lessen the buzzing in my brain which in turn will allow more room for keeping track of what I’m working on and hopefully more success at getting things done.
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After I thought about it, I actually have 3 live projects at any given time but am only able to work on two ever. The third is in case I get seriously bored/sick of #1 or #2. For me, if I don’t have a third option I won’t work on anything when I need a break from #1 and #2. I’d rather work on #3 than endlessly surf the web during my project time, as I’m prone to do.
I’m glad I could help! You can do this!!! And I also feel sheepishly famous now that I’m posted on the blog. Silly.