“We need more logs!” Or dedicated to time management
Like many habraly people, I ran into the problem of lack of time. And just like that, I tried to find a suitable time management system. These attempts led to the fact that I began to doubt the axioms of GTD, about which I will try to tell below.
We begin, as they say, with the very roots of the problem. Where does the “lack of time” come from?
It's all pretty commonplace.
Firstly, people have created a number of tools that accelerate and facilitate work. Man began to do more. And he began to shoulder more too. That is why time, paradoxically, was not enough.
Secondly, such a characteristic of work as “dimensionality” has completely disappeared. By the way, read the word. It very accurately defines the characteristics of the workflow. The dimensionality has disappeared in its literal expression - as an opportunity to divide the work into separate "measures" and do it gradually; and figuratively - more and more questions need to be addressed “here and now,” and they just can't wait.
That is why we acquire all kinds of electronic devices that are designed to replace a workplace. Although, you must admit, the very idea of carrying a table with you and the computer looks quite wild, but more and more people with the tenacity of maniacs want to work anytime, anywhere.
In addition, a large number of techniques appear that are designed to help a person somehow sort out a salad in his head. Adherents of these techniques urge us to write everything down, divide it into categories and immediately rush to do one or the other. Depending on the priorities.
Any of these techniques ultimately comes down to the following steps:
Time management systems pay so much attention to recordings that it becomes unclear whether there is anything in these systems besides keeping records ...
There are only 2 tasks that can be solved with the help of recordings:
The more complex your record system, the greater the risk of slipping into procrastination. That is, you will not do things, but endlessly review and organize their list. This, of course, entertains, but does not contribute to the advancement of work. Strictly speaking, the time management system should be such that its maintenance does not turn into an independent task.
When reading Allen’s book, I was haunted by the feeling that part of the GTD system was invented not to make it easier for a person to do the job, but simply because the author of the system was very fond of laying out pieces of paper in the cells.
In addition, the thought does not leave me that some of Allen’s original premises are incorrect from the beginning, or at least not as universal as the author wants.
“Getting things done” begins with one assumption. Say, any thought about work automatically means stress. People think about work, think, and then become mournful by the mind and are not capable of shock capitalist labor.
However, the assumption is incorrect. A person is not nervous when he thinks about work. Forcing us to lose our peace can be concerns about sanctions for not doing the job well, or a lack of understanding of how to do this job. There are many of these concerns.
But a person is never worried if he understands how to do work, if he has enough time to do it, and if he understands that his work will be rewarded. What is interesting: GTD does not resolve these concerns in any way if they do arise. There is only one thing that helps to cope with them - a change of work.
The idea of taking time into account is a rather strange thing. Often I hear: "How can it be pointless to spend so much time on X, when you can make money at this time?"
After all, we are not in bookkeeping. If all the time that was not included in our diary is considered lost, then we will get to the level of a manager from a famous joke about conducting a brass band. In it, I remind you, the manager demanded to reduce the brass band, not understanding why so many instruments are needed performing the same part.
The human brain works constantly, and not only when it is prescribed by the authorities. Therefore, as Bruce Mau says, " drink coffee, ride a taxi, breathe fresh air ." The muse is a capricious woman, and often comes in the morning, to breakfast, and not in the evening.
In addition, adherents of 100% use of working time would like to wish to divide their day in approximately this way: 6 hours for sleep, 18 for work. Not for procrastination on the Internet, namely for work. Then think about how much time you can stretch this way, and what is the price of it.
You can shoulder as much as you like, but you need to do things one at a time. Not a hundred things at the same time, guided by a mountain of pieces of paper or records in the GTD system. Better to do one thing in full than to start a few. Firstly, a sense of achievement (which, incidentally, motivates) does not appear when you started, but when you finished. Secondly, you most likely will not have to return to this business.
Multitasking is good only in computers. In order to listen to music at the same time as work. A person needs to do things one at a time. Gradually. Measuredly.
We begin, as they say, with the very roots of the problem. Where does the “lack of time” come from?
It's all pretty commonplace.
Firstly, people have created a number of tools that accelerate and facilitate work. Man began to do more. And he began to shoulder more too. That is why time, paradoxically, was not enough.
Secondly, such a characteristic of work as “dimensionality” has completely disappeared. By the way, read the word. It very accurately defines the characteristics of the workflow. The dimensionality has disappeared in its literal expression - as an opportunity to divide the work into separate "measures" and do it gradually; and figuratively - more and more questions need to be addressed “here and now,” and they just can't wait.
That is why we acquire all kinds of electronic devices that are designed to replace a workplace. Although, you must admit, the very idea of carrying a table with you and the computer looks quite wild, but more and more people with the tenacity of maniacs want to work anytime, anywhere.
In addition, a large number of techniques appear that are designed to help a person somehow sort out a salad in his head. Adherents of these techniques urge us to write everything down, divide it into categories and immediately rush to do one or the other. Depending on the priorities.
Any of these techniques ultimately comes down to the following steps:
- Make a bunch of leaflets (take a notepad / special system for a computer / something else for control and accounting);
- On each piece of paper write down the task / project / work of a lifetime;
- Slightly higher tasks write on the leaflets different words. From "nafig did not give up" to "must be done immediately !!! (or prioritize in another convenient way); "
- Put them in a stack;
- Meditate over the stack until enlightened;
- After enlightenment, your effectiveness will increase ... Increase, I said!
- Congratulations, you are a time management guru!
Time management systems pay so much attention to recordings that it becomes unclear whether there is anything in these systems besides keeping records ...
There are only 2 tasks that can be solved with the help of recordings:
- Reminder
- Systematization
The more complex your record system, the greater the risk of slipping into procrastination. That is, you will not do things, but endlessly review and organize their list. This, of course, entertains, but does not contribute to the advancement of work. Strictly speaking, the time management system should be such that its maintenance does not turn into an independent task.
When reading Allen’s book, I was haunted by the feeling that part of the GTD system was invented not to make it easier for a person to do the job, but simply because the author of the system was very fond of laying out pieces of paper in the cells.
In addition, the thought does not leave me that some of Allen’s original premises are incorrect from the beginning, or at least not as universal as the author wants.
Stress ≠ work thoughts
“Getting things done” begins with one assumption. Say, any thought about work automatically means stress. People think about work, think, and then become mournful by the mind and are not capable of shock capitalist labor.
However, the assumption is incorrect. A person is not nervous when he thinks about work. Forcing us to lose our peace can be concerns about sanctions for not doing the job well, or a lack of understanding of how to do this job. There are many of these concerns.
But a person is never worried if he understands how to do work, if he has enough time to do it, and if he understands that his work will be rewarded. What is interesting: GTD does not resolve these concerns in any way if they do arise. There is only one thing that helps to cope with them - a change of work.
Unaccounted time ≠ time lost
The idea of taking time into account is a rather strange thing. Often I hear: "How can it be pointless to spend so much time on X, when you can make money at this time?"
After all, we are not in bookkeeping. If all the time that was not included in our diary is considered lost, then we will get to the level of a manager from a famous joke about conducting a brass band. In it, I remind you, the manager demanded to reduce the brass band, not understanding why so many instruments are needed performing the same part.
The human brain works constantly, and not only when it is prescribed by the authorities. Therefore, as Bruce Mau says, " drink coffee, ride a taxi, breathe fresh air ." The muse is a capricious woman, and often comes in the morning, to breakfast, and not in the evening.
In addition, adherents of 100% use of working time would like to wish to divide their day in approximately this way: 6 hours for sleep, 18 for work. Not for procrastination on the Internet, namely for work. Then think about how much time you can stretch this way, and what is the price of it.
Man is a one-task creature
You can shoulder as much as you like, but you need to do things one at a time. Not a hundred things at the same time, guided by a mountain of pieces of paper or records in the GTD system. Better to do one thing in full than to start a few. Firstly, a sense of achievement (which, incidentally, motivates) does not appear when you started, but when you finished. Secondly, you most likely will not have to return to this business.
Multitasking is good only in computers. In order to listen to music at the same time as work. A person needs to do things one at a time. Gradually. Measuredly.