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Getting Things DoneIt's 3:48AM, and I just spent almost an hour unsuccessfully trying to get some software running; namely, the tracks personal time management software, based on David Allen's book Getting Things Done. When I finish getting the software working tomorrow, I'll dig through the house looking for the book, which I haven't seen in a year or so. I'm sure there's some darkly humorous irony here that I'm too tired to appreciate.
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In high demand
Yeah, Robert B. was over the other day and spotted that book on my shelf and quickly wanted to borrow it (which he did). Except it was by a different author Edwin Bliss.
Of course, you can review the principles on wikipedia somewhat without the book. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_Things_Done
Personally, I think it all really boils down to choices in life ,being conscious about how you're time is being spent and realizing when to stop doing something because its not how you want to be spending your time. Its also about delegating when you have people around you that are helping you to achieve your tasks.
Hope that helps some... oh yes, and you are up way too late, exercise helps with that and relieving stress (and which helps with the time management things because you can think more clearly). Just let us know when you want to join for exercise!
More research is needed
I think the magnitude of my problem is such that simple common sense, clear thinking, and reactive working is insufficient. I have to either drop some things on the ground I dearly care about, or get some kind of assistance in organization and task tracking going.
I've delegated some to two wonderful humans—one for bart-massey.com and one for PSU. However, at the end of the day I need to either get a single full-time single-task personal assistant or take some more responsibility for organizing and tracking my stuff using software.
Whee.
No one said time management was easy!
Ok...heres my thoughts on the topic.
1. simple common sense is good, keep that one
2. clear thinking is good, keep that one
3. reactive working is not good (like fire fighting), unless it
is a safety issue or life-n-death situation you are better off sticking to planned tasks. If you decide to do it (i.e. the benefits outweigh the costs of not doing), then you have to consciously decide what will shift because of it. But you should guard against doing this too often (I should talk since I get distracted easily but something that I've become aware of needing to work on myself).
4. planning work is good, important to take time out to think about what things need to get done, when and why. Also scheduling in things we do, that take up time that we subconsciously don't think doesn't take our time. For example, do we pencil in our calendar the blogging time on this site?
If you dearly care about the things, don't want to drop them and realize they won't fit in your schedule, then you must have help. Taking responsibility and tracking your stuff will take time away that you already don't really have but what it can allow you to do is understand where your time is being spent so you can improve or eliminate time wasting activities. If you have way too many things to manage having a personal assistant is good (isn't that what high level executives and lawyers do?)
I went on a regular basis to the student center to see a specialist on time management, she helped me greatly. I know she has worked with faculty as well to help improve their skills, if you'd like I can contact her for you or refer you directly to her.