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An earlier post covered chapters 1 through 9 of this aged classic. I've come to like it more and may go back, re-read, and resummarize the earlier chapters.
Tasks Better Left Undone
Tasks that we know how to do but are unimportant attract more of our time than they are worth, while the important, but hard-to-grasp tasks languish. C tasks are best not done at all. The 80/20 rule can be useful in pruning massive lists of to-dos and obligations. CZ are the designation for low-priority tasks that can be deferred indefinitely without harm. Simply letting Cs age may show that they are CZs. Aging a C is not risky because they gradually gain priority rather than suddenly becoming A-1s. [In GTD terms he seems to be recommending a kind of "Never/Maybe" file for items that have some "ought" connected to them, but really seem neither enjoyable nor important.] For incoming items, he recommends sorting into priority order. Those items undone are to be left for tomorrow, if time is available after doing tomorrow's As. As the stack gets thick, the items at the bottom are moved to increasing remote storage, finally becoming candidates for the trash. Items should be handled once, but, at least, you should make a decision about what action is to take place the next time the paper is handled.
Accommodating Yourself to Other People
Learn to say "No". Compromise (through negotiation). Time-Share.
How to Create Quiet Time for Yourself
You may have trained others to waste your time.
Ask Lakein's Question
What is the best use of my time right now ? Repeat this question until it becomes habitual. Trust your first answer, unless your gut objects. This question is to be asked at any interruption point, intended or unintended. Has something that was an A become a lower priority ? Is something that would have been worth completing if it had taken 30 minutes no longer worthwhile now that it seems it will take another 60 minutes after the first 30 has passed ?
Using the Swiss Cheese Method [against Procrastination]
A plan, even to do A-1s must be used to be valuable. If a plan doesn't lead to action, re-examine your choice. Procrastination can be due to a task being unpleasant or overwhelming. For overwhelming tasks you should poke a hole in it by performing an "instant task" that takes 5 minutes or less that makes the overwhelming task a little easier. Starting on such a task is an opportunity to continue on the project. If one hole doesn't get you going, try another one. If nothing gets you involved, then just decide to spend a maximum of, say, 5 minutes on the project. After 5 minutes, you get to decide whether or not to continue.
A plan, even to do A-1s must be used to be valuable. If a plan doesn't lead to action, re-examine your choice. Procrastination can be due to a task being unpleasant or overwhelming. For overwhelming tasks you should poke a hole in it by performing an "instant task" that takes 5 minutes or less that makes the overwhelming task a little easier. Starting on such a task is an opportunity to continue on the project. If one hole doesn't get you going, try another one. If nothing gets you involved, then just decide to spend a maximum of, say, 5 minutes on the project. After 5 minutes, you get to decide whether or not to continue.
How to Find Instant Tasks for Instant Involvement
Do more detailed planning. Do the plan for someone else. Get more information (to become more interested and more committed). Get physical. [Sharpen the pencil you are going to use to write the research plan for the background for one of the setting for the book you are going to write.] Do something (anything) on your A-1 project that fits your current mood. It might lead to your working on the important aspects of the project. Give yourself a pep talk. Make a commitment to someone.
Try Stimulus Change to Keep Involved
Always plan a step after the one you're working on. A to-do list gives you a choice of things to do. Natural evolution of a project can provide interesting paths to follow. Try a work break instead of a rest break. Change your location. Change your approach to the task. What if there's too much information: file, condense, organize, discard. Write something down.
Sometimes It Pays to Slow Down
If you're avoiding something that you essentially dislike, slow down to make a careful decision NOT to complete it. Think about the consequences of procrastinating. Revisit your attitude toward the unwelcome task.
Don't Let Fear Get in Your Way
Fear of the consequences of completing the task may be what is slowing you down. For serious fear, try doing an easy step that is less fear-provoking. Be explicit about your fears and WORK to prevent the outcome that you fear. Finally, just imagine the worst to lower your expectations and expose your fears for the unrealistic fantasies they probably are.
The Real Price of Delay
Delay often causes tasks to escalate in importance, difficulty, and emotional pain. Consider the consequences of delay. Maybe you really don't work as well under pressure as you think. Run some experiments.
Learn to Stress the Benefits
Give yourself an extra reward to get particularly troublesome tasks done. Remind yourself of connections to life time goals. Convert the thing into a game. How fast can you get it done?
How to Get Back after You've Escaped
What are your favorite escapes ? Indulging yourself ? Socializing ? Reading ? Doing it yourself ? Overdoing it ? Running away ? Daydreaming ? Preparation [Sharpening all the pencils in the office]? Circling around the periphery ? Emotional escapes: fear, anger, guilt, etc. ? Admitting to yourself that you are wasting time by not working on A-1 priority may eventually have an effect. Cut off your escape routes. Do ***nothing*** (until you can't stand it anymore).
How to Do Better Next Time
Build your will-power. Practice it in gradually more difficult situations (when you DON'T have to). Just push yourself a little when you want to stop (another minute, another 100 yards, another page)
Do Your Best and Consider It a Success
It's all a learning experience. A "failed" effort is, 1. an effort and, 2., an experiment. "Trial and success".
All in all, this is not a bad book. Because it is old, it forces you to think about the psychology of the subject, not the technology. Many of the recommendations are very consistent with GTD. I liked the idea of explicitly letting NAs and projects age into oblivion. The various tricks for dealing with procrastination are useful. I really liked his explicit discussion of the benefits of having several tasks to choose from. His focus on the A-1 priority task is reminiscent of Mark Forster, I hear tell (I won't have my copy of DIT for another month !!! ). Some of his recommendations are very reminiscent of sound behavior modification and cognitive-behavioral techniques.
Dennis C. During
"To make laws that man cannot, and will not obey, serves to bring all law into contempt." - Elizabeth Cady Stanton, American women's rights advocate (1815-1902)
"What is not surrounded by uncertainty cannot be the truth." - Richard P. Feynman, Nobelist, physicist, raconteur, bongo player, safe-cracker
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