Getting Things Done: Where Does YOUR Motivation Come From?
January 28, 2008
This is my third post on Getting Things Done…the others are here and here.
Right now I’m delaying today’s major task and necessary evil: stacks of papers. Why? Because blogging is more fun and papers aren’t. Besides-it’s slightly chilly in my basement and I’m enjoying being cozy under a blanket while I type. Ha! Plus, papers don’t talk back, blog posts sometimes do. Likely no one but me will read my papers (fortunately), but at least 1500 readers will read this post today. So, how do I go from here to there? How do I get my Royal fanny off this chair and into the thick of “Getting Things Done” so I can help all my papers find a home? I know the answers already, but doing them is a different story!
Here is a strategy for getting my Royal fanny up and moving:
1. Stand up
2. Turn on some fun, fast-paced music like “Dancing Queen” by Abba
3. Get a trash bag ready, locate my file folders, and labeler
4. Set a timer for 45 minutes (less overwhelming than 60)
5. Go and get as much done as I possibly can, “everything has a home” mantra
6. Take a break and do something I LOVE for 15 min (like a healthy grilled veggie sandwich for lunch)
7. Repeat process, if necessary, and yes, I dare say it will be absolutely necessary.
Writing this is perfect because now I’m mustering up the courage to get busy…so yes, kind friends, you must be my motivation today. Thanks! It also helps that I have a guest coming to stay…and I really can’t have my papers all over the bed anymore (office/guestroom). Papers don’t make a very nice comforter. I’m starting to hear dancing queen in my head…better go turn it on. 
Today’s Magic Wand: Where does your motivation come from?
Share with us!!!!
Getting Things Done: Everything Has a Home
January 21, 2008
Celebrate with me! My email in-box is empty (a miracle) thanks to my new mantra (when I see a quick task) “Do it now… it’s just 2 minutes.” Paper in-boxes and my bedroom closet are the opportunities to conquer this week. As I mentioned in the previous post about Getting Things Done by David Allen (GTD), I’m trying not to get overwhelmed by my quest to be an “Organized Startup Princess” so I’ve decided to just add one new productivity skill/thought process each week.
Leslie Kent, my friend, hair stylist and Feng Shui specialist told me to add “Everything has a Home” to my organizational mantras (or if you like, Everything has a Castle!) Perhaps this is basic you to you, but I never thought of organizing that way. Previously I would think “I have deal with that” or, “I have to put that away” Now I say, “Everything has a Home.” It brings more love to my thoughts and energy and there’s no “I have to” in the sentence.
This mantra fits well with the GTD system and how to manage your in-box in Allen’s workflow chart (what is it? does it belong to me? if not, who? delegate? do it now (under 2 min.) or schedule a time for it…file it for a future resource, “give it a home”) Leslie suggested when you’re cleaning up your “stuff” you go through similar same steps…look at the item in front of you and think, “does it belong here? if not, where? trash? does it belong to someone else? can I give it a home?” is it time to give it a new home (donate)? Getting Things Done is about developing and creating new habits…in this case I’m starting with my mindset and how I THINK…repeating questions when I encounter “stuff” is liberating because I have a system now to know what to do next.
Another tip from Leslie, “Only keep what you LOVE, get rid of what you LIKE.” What a powerful concept. Last night I took off a framed print that had been above my HEAD for 2 years that I only so-so liked because it “matched” my decor and immediately the energy shifted, even now with a blank wall I LOVE it. I also took out everything “work-related” (sorry Matt but no Dell Monitor for a client in our bedroom!) and took away extra decorations that just didn’t bring the word “LOVE” to mind. AAAH, relief and peace to my mind and spirit! I LOVED waking up today.
Want More Tips??
Here’s a few posts on Getting Things Done (all written from the productivity guru Leo at Zen Habits, one of my favorite places to get inspired lately):
How to Actually Execute Your To Do List
Today’s Magic Wand: Make a few post it notes for your office, entry way, kitchen counter, etc. “Everything Has a Home” and enroll all family members to practicing “everything has a home” this week. Particularly in the high traffic areas where people tend to “dump” their stuff and forget that “Everything Has a Home.”
Enjoy creating a space of LOVE and Order!
Getting Things Done in 2 Minutes
January 11, 2008
Recently we held our first Startup Princess Networking Tea Party of the year and we discussed the David Allen book, Getting Things Done. It’s already changing my life.
Warning! This is not a book for reading in your bathtub….it really is a book that requires digesting with high levels of energy to concentrate and take notes. But don’t get scared, I highly recommend the effort. It’s definitely a “must read” regarding personal organization and processes for managing “piles of stuff” so there’s a reliable system. Confession: I’ve been the “slightly scattered” Startup Princess and I’d really rather be the “organized and effective” type, so I’m on a quest to change my behavior and decrease my mental stress and burnout/ADD functions because “I have so much to do, if I can just concentrate on where to begin.”
Last Fall I digested Timothy Ferriss‘ “4 Hour Work Week” and it shifted my paradigm of hard work and enjoying life more fully and now I’m working 10 instead of 50, taking more time to do other things important to me, including vacations and family activities, service, etc. I’m over my email addiction (90%) and my obsession with checking my web traffic (getting a desktop computer and putting it in the basement was the secret there, instead of lugging my mac laptop wherever I went like it was my nursing babe). Now if I can just manage the 10 hours that I AM working with order instead of chaos, I think we’ll see great levels of effective outcomes in 2008!! So, I begin with Getting Things Done and have high expectations…afterall, it is a national bestseller, so I hope it will work for me too.
Because I am quite overwhelmed with the thought of tackling my messiness, I’ve decided to just take a new baby step each week. In the book there’s a workflow chart (you can download for free under “free articles” if you create an account on David Allen’s site). 
In the book’s workflow chart it breaks down “what to do with stuff” by saying you should first (1) identify “what is it?” is it trash? is it something you need to keep for future as a reference? what do you need it for? Is it yours? Once you identify with the object and there’s an action associated with it (2) then you’re supposed to just do it then if it will take you less than 2 minutes. This is the teeny tiny baby step I’ve taken in the last several days and it’s really making a difference because I’ve realized how many quick and painless things I overlook often that I can get done in a heartbeat. I love it. Perhaps you will too…
Today’s Magic Wand: If you’re looking at your “To Do” list or in box and you can “get it done in 2 minutes”, don’t put it off any longer. You’ll be amazed by how quickly things will start getting done and your mind will start feeling lighter because it’s such an easy thing to check off. You’ll start to feel energized and organized because you ARE…one baby step at a time.
What’s the NEXT Baby Step you’d recommend?? I’d love to hear your thoughts… what do you think is essential for reclaiming my space and my thoughts? If you’ve read the GTD book, what do you think I should focus on next? What has worked for you?Â
