GTD desktop image keeps me on track
Some weeks are crazier than usual. Some weeks so many things are thrown at me that I just want to go back to bed and hide under the covers. Father ill in hospital, Major site going live, kids on school vacation, big home remodeling project attracting tv network, large new business proposals in the works, etc. etc. I can’t sort through all of the incoming information fast enough to figure out the “next actions”.
Mind is nothing “like water”. It’s more like mud. Too many things are rattling around in my brain, I can’t even think where to begin my day. Yes, they are in my GTD system (Evernote) or in my inbox , but do I trust myself to actually focus enough to check on them? These kinds of weeks threaten to undo the entire GTD methodology.
To keep me on track and help me to actually START the day, I’ve added David Allen’s “Mastering Workflow” chart to my laptop desktop. It is posted on the wall next to my desk as well, but since I spend so much time glued to my computer, I can’t miss it here. I use two monitors to help organize my laptop desktop, so the chart is sure to peek through on one of them.
This image is straight from David Allen’s “5 Phases of Mastering Workflow” article. You can download it for free by requesting it at his website. My only change was to add a few reminders (in red) to myself to make sure I check:
- My daily calendar so I don’t miss any appointments or deadlines
- My Gmail account, where all of my numerous email addresses receive mail
- My Daily Folders (Tickler file, of papers for things that need to get done that day, i.e. tickets, bills to pay, etc.)
- Next Action Folders (supporting papers and large folders that support Next Actions which are in Evernote)
In this way, I do not waste 15-30 minutes when I go into the office in the morning. I know exactly what I must check, process, and what needs to be started on.
Stumble it!
February 23rd, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Just a note about that little timer in the corner. That is not a clock. It is a timer that is set to countdown from 15 minutes and beep. In this manner I don’t spend too long on any single task. Usually if something takes more than 15 minutes I either:
a. delegate it to someone else.
b. schedule it for a day/time slot when I can spend more time on it
c. Evaluate if I can NOT do it
February 23rd, 2007 at 4:06 pm
All of my desktops are set up this way. If you’d like something prettier, you can check out anabubula.com. I have a link directly to their desktop wallpaper at Juggling Sheep.
Jay
February 23rd, 2007 at 4:30 pm
that is great! Thanks! This is much better looking than my hacked up job!
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:49 pm
[…] GTD Desktop Image Keeps Me on Track: Once you’ve mastered the workflow, add a diagram like this one to your desktop for optimum […]
January 8th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Where in the world did you get that clock? That is AWESOME and would help me in time audit’s sooo much. I must have it. Now you just need to get a Fujitsu S510 scanner and go totally paperless and you’ll be set. (http://www.worshiptrench.com/?p=231 for pics and my love affair with this scanner).