Wednesday
Oct052005
Some David Allen "twos" - two reasons we procrastinate, and two kinds of problems
Wednesday, October 5, 2005 at 1:22PM
Here is a pair of related thoughts that I picked up from David Allen's Getting Things Done. Paraphrasing him:
The second case ("life problems"), which Allen credits "Steven Snyder" for (here?) is really a generalization of his approach - we haven't clarified the task sufficiently to "intelligently dumb down" your mind, or we haven't focused sufficiently on the positive outcome.
What looking at this finally connected for me was what Allen says at the end of his book (and which is one of the quotes on his complimentary RoadMap notepad): There are only two solutions:
For reference, here are some other ideas for addressing procrastination and todo anxieties:
- There are only two reasons for procrastination: The task is either a) overwhelming (too big), or b) not motivating (unpleasant).
- There are only two problems in life: a) You know what your want, and you don't know how to get it, and/or b) you don't know what you want.
- What's the next action?
- What's the desired outcome?
The second case ("life problems"), which Allen credits "Steven Snyder" for (here?) is really a generalization of his approach - we haven't clarified the task sufficiently to "intelligently dumb down" your mind, or we haven't focused sufficiently on the positive outcome.
What looking at this finally connected for me was what Allen says at the end of his book (and which is one of the quotes on his complimentary RoadMap notepad): There are only two solutions:
- Make it up.
- Make it happen.
For reference, here are some other ideas for addressing procrastination and todo anxieties:
- Moving Through Procrastination Easily
- 43 Folders - Kick procrastination's ass: Run a dash
- 43 Folders - Unpacking the anxieties on your TODO list
- 43 Folders - Cringe-Busting your TODO list
- Writer's Block, Geek-Block, and Procrastination
- If it's on your mind, it's probably not getting done
- Make it up! Make it happen!
- Psychic Ram has limited space and it's a terrible office
- Your ability to generate power is directly proportional to your ability to relax
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