Getting some things done October 1, 2007

Well, my new personal organisation system is partly working.

Since I implemented the system at work, I’ve managed to keep my inbox empty, and have really started to make productive in-roads into my task list.  I respond with simple emails very quickly, and don’t get the “email build-up” stress that I used to get.

I’ve not yet managed to get a similar system working at home.  Partly, that’s due to tiredness – it’s very difficult (for me, anyway) to continue working when I get home, which can mean that progress with this blog and my online CV can be slow.  I also get distracted so easily by, well, anything really.  I need a solution to this.

Mrs H-to-be and I saw the Merchant of Venice at the Globe the other week, and I think Billy Shakespeare nailed the crux of the problem with this:

“I can easier teach twenty what were good to be done than to be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching.”

So, I’ve proposed (to myself) to make my home-working system a bit fluffier, perhaps with some nice rewards.  Look out for that increased posting rate.

Time management and getting things done September 13, 2007

There have been some interesting discussions on Web Worker Daily recently on GTD.

This week, I started implementing my own policy, at home and at work, to tackle the frequent email crises that I have. It still needs a little work, but so far I have found it an absolute joy to have an empty inbox by 9.30am. I’ve also been able to start reducing the size of my task list (and that is akin to sorting out stuff in the loft).

My policy focuses on emails and tasks, as my work is largely dictated by email. It consists of processing my inbox twice a day, first thing in the morning, and again during the last hour of the day. I do any tasks that take 10 minutes or less immediately, and create tasks for any that will take longer or can’t be done immediately.

During the rest of the day, I work on tasks. (I’m looking at some system of categorizing and prioritizing my tasks at the moment).

I haven’t fully implemented the 5-sentence email policy, but I use it as a rule of thumb. I’ve found that other busy people appreciate this, and I’m not aware of anyone having taken offence at my brief emails yet. (Though I am careful about that).

The proof of the pudding, for my spare-time management system (similar to my work one) will be a higher post-per-month ratio on Tall Tales. We’ll see.