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A Beginner´s Guide to Getting Things Done

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Re: A Beginner´s Guide to Getting Things Done

#61

Post by NikolaeVarius »

d0mine wrote: post #52
dogruck wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You make the bizarre claim that nobody successfully follows GTD because you’ve never done so, and you know many others who have also failed to do so. That’s like a fat dude looking around at the donut shop and saying “nobody ever sticks to their diets, haha!” I’ve used GTD for years. I just shattered your claim.

As a side note: diet doesn't work long term: > After about five years, 41 percent of dieters gain back more weight than they lost. Long-term studies show dieters are more likely than non-dieters to become obese over the next one to 15 years. > ... The study found that a single diet increased the odds of becoming overweight by a factor of two in men and three in women. Women who had gone on two or more diets during th…

Diet works just fine.

Human willpower doesn't work long term.

Re: A Beginner´s Guide to Getting Things Done

#62

Post by ThomPete »

dogruck wrote: post #55
ThomPete wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you read what i wrote? You proved my point :) you dont do it anymore.

I’m not seeing your joke. Confused. Maybe you’re like an evil hypnotist. “You will stop following your diet. You will stop following your diet. You will stop following your diet.” :-) Seriously though — I think these two claims are both frequent and harmful: 1. It’s impossible to stay disciplined in the long run. 2. Discipline sucks the joy out of life. On the contrary, I think discipline gives you freedom.

I misread what you wrote my apologies.

Anyway, I don't see how you shattered anything.

First of all, I never attempted to do GTD exactly because I never saw the value. So I didn't fail at it I simply decided not to do it once I realized what it required.

Second of all that you have used GTD for years doesn't mean you are going to continue using it. Lets talk in 10 years and see.

Re: A Beginner´s Guide to Getting Things Done

#63

Post by PeOe »

submeta wrote: post #51
PeOe wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey, thanks for your comment. I also think so. GTD is more keeping track and less actually defining priorities or what to do first. Nonetheless, it´s a very efficient system if you already know where you´re headed and know where your priorities lie. My favourite author, Tim Ferris, has brought the 80/20 analysis to my attention. It´s really great for determining how to set priorities and deciding what to focus on. It…

I do agree that GTD helps to start learning to keep track of all the moving parts in our lives. That's the micromanagement part. Many people I know do not have a clue how to tackle this part of their lives (some of them are excellent at getting results, at macro managing their lives, but if you look at the details of their lives: there is a total mess) Re 80/20 (Preto Principle): There is also a book from Richard Koc…

Cool! Thanks for the book recommendations. I will make sure to get my hands on them and check them out.

As per the inequal distribution - that´s very true! Personally, I find it to be a huge motivator for myself. To strive to get a bigger piece of the cake, specifically because of the unequal distribution. Of course, with topics like the wealth gap it isn´t such a pleasant fact. I guess it really depends on the angle you look at it.

Re: A Beginner´s Guide to Getting Things Done

#64

Post by berdon »

kaybe wrote: post #59
jstewartmobile wrote: post #31

This was mercifully shorter than the Cal Newport book. That's about all I can say for it. Ivan Sutherland had the secret, and it only took one paragraph to share it: ' I used to hate washing dishes. I would delay as long as possible. Eyeing the daunting pile of dishes, I would say to myself, “I'll be here forever at this dumb task.” The enormity of the task deterred me from starting. I still dislike washing dishes, b…

There is a second step to this: 'You can stop if you want to.' Just washing one plate does not mean I have to wash all of them. Stopping after only half of them is acceptable and preferable to not starting. So I can pick up and wash one without worrying about the full task.

But can you leave your friends behind cause they don't stop and if they don't stop they're no friends of mine?

The beauty of telling yourself "I can stop" comes in when you're really just lying to yourself to reduce the barrier of the first dish. "Oh, I'll just do a couple and then stop. Well I only have a few left..."

Re: A Beginner´s Guide to Getting Things Done

#65

Post by PeOe »

agumonkey wrote: post #48
jstewartmobile wrote: post #31

This was mercifully shorter than the Cal Newport book. That's about all I can say for it. Ivan Sutherland had the secret, and it only took one paragraph to share it: ' I used to hate washing dishes. I would delay as long as possible. Eyeing the daunting pile of dishes, I would say to myself, “I'll be here forever at this dumb task.” The enormity of the task deterred me from starting. I still dislike washing dishes, b…

I used this numerous times. It works often but not always.

That´s interesting. In which case hasn´t it helped you? I mean, breaking up tasks into smaller pieces does make the "big task" way more manageable.

Re: A Beginner´s Guide to Getting Things Done

#66

Post by tudelo »

d0mine wrote: post #52
dogruck wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You make the bizarre claim that nobody successfully follows GTD because you’ve never done so, and you know many others who have also failed to do so. That’s like a fat dude looking around at the donut shop and saying “nobody ever sticks to their diets, haha!” I’ve used GTD for years. I just shattered your claim.

As a side note: diet doesn't work long term: > After about five years, 41 percent of dieters gain back more weight than they lost. Long-term studies show dieters are more likely than non-dieters to become obese over the next one to 15 years. > ... The study found that a single diet increased the odds of becoming overweight by a factor of two in men and three in women. Women who had gone on two or more diets during th…

I don't really get what you are trying to say. Those who are obese are more likely to be obese again? That seems intuitive. It's also equally as true that not all obese people stay obese. What is your solution to weight loss? I think it depends on the definition of diet is used. Fads don't work, but something has to. In my experience, it's just a lack of commitment and the availability of delicious high caloric food.

Re: A Beginner´s Guide to Getting Things Done

#67

Post by tudelo »

dogruck wrote: post #56
d0mine wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a side note: diet doesn't work long term: > After about five years, 41 percent of dieters gain back more weight than they lost. Long-term studies show dieters are more likely than non-dieters to become obese over the next one to 15 years. > ... The study found that a single diet increased the odds of becoming overweight by a factor of two in men and three in women. Women who had gone on two or more diets during th…

You’re right — most people will fail to stick with diets, exercise, and personal organization. Frankly, it feels hilarious that researchers had to spend time proving that claim. Just look around! On the other hand, there’s a powerful minority of people who do stay disciplined. They get a lot of stuff done. Lastly, although it’s easy to fail, it is possible to join that powerful minority.

It's not only possible, it's so much easier than most think. It's just a case of just doing it, like cleaning your room or washing your dishes.

Re: A Beginner´s Guide to Getting Things Done

#68

Post by stochastic_monk »

barrkel wrote: post #47
ThomPete wrote: post #7

GTD is the utopia of productivity. Everyone attempts to reach it but almost no one (if any) ever will. Those who get the closest realize that you can't live your life like that. In my world GTD become a goal in itself rather than a way to better manage your life. With a few exception (calendar) I lived my life in a way that would make a GTD enthusiast cringe. I am always impressed by those who attempt to do it but ne…

I think GTD can be dangerous for people who like systems too much; a bit like people who play RPGs because of the rules around bookkeeping of stats and deciding of battles, rather than for the imagined world the bookkeeping keeps honest. I'm highly task-oriented in my work, but mostly it's just a list of lists, maintained in a text file with infinite persistent undo. Every task starts out as a line, gets a few sub-li…

I tried GTD years ago, and I went down a crazy rabbit hole and lost any productivity I had.

Pomodoro isn't as much of a black hole for me, but I do better just closing browser windows/turning off wifi/putting in earplugs instead of headphones, and focusing until I get to a point where I'm ready/need to take a break. And that's usually 30-60 minutes as it is.

tl;dr: GTD is bad for me, disconnecting, earplugs, and punctuated focused periods of effort are good.

Re: A Beginner´s Guide to Getting Things Done

#69

Post by PeOe »

mindlessmarty wrote: post #5
mathgeek wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Adding things to calendars is the biggest habit I've built from reading the book years ago. That's the one thing I recommend as the best takeaway if you only have one.

I haven't read the book, since this comes across as new to me...but doesn't this just makes you more alert/self-aware? Which is good but what is the point of adding things to do in a list or calendar if you don't actually go and make them? Is this discussed in the book?

It is in fact discussed in the book. GTD is great for procrastination if used wrongly, because only adding stuff to the lists isn´t going to complete the tasks. Also, it is important to note that GTD isn´t a fool proof system. Without constantly reviewing the tasks and checking whether tasks should be added to another list, the inbox piles up and then the system doesn´t make sense anymore.

Re: A Beginner´s Guide to Getting Things Done

#70

Post by jo909 »

dogruck wrote: post #55
ThomPete wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you read what i wrote? You proved my point :) you dont do it anymore.

I’m not seeing your joke. Confused. Maybe you’re like an evil hypnotist. “You will stop following your diet. You will stop following your diet. You will stop following your diet.” :-) Seriously though — I think these two claims are both frequent and harmful: 1. It’s impossible to stay disciplined in the long run. 2. Discipline sucks the joy out of life. On the contrary, I think discipline gives you freedom.

Relying on discipline alone is whats harmful. Studies repeatedly show that most people can not reach their goals by only relying on willpower. Good systems/diets etc define strategies that _reduce_ the amount of discipline required to stick to it.

Saying "be disciplined" is roughly in the same category as telling someone to "be happy". It's a great goal, but no help at all for someone who is not already there.

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