Comments on: Why is it so hard for human beings to get organized? http://www.gtdtimes.com/2009/07/31/why-is-it-so-hard-for-human-beings-to-get-organized/ The Hub for All Things GTD Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:30:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jeffrey W. Cox http://www.gtdtimes.com/2009/07/31/why-is-it-so-hard-for-human-beings-to-get-organized/comment-page-1/#comment-2867 Jeffrey W. Cox Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:40:32 +0000 https://reports.davidco.com/admin1/gtdtimes/?p=1902#comment-2867 Here's my two, two cent's worth: 1) A different take that I’ve observed over time – people usually say this ("why is it hard to get organized") when they’ve hit crisis mode (i.e., they forgot to do something critical, they’ve fallen behind on a project). 2) I agree that people are generally organized. I was talking with my banker about “being organized” and she said, “well, I’m not organized; I have post-it notes everywhere.” I said to her (as I do everyone), “Actually, you are very organized – you do what works for you to keep you moving forward.” -- Jeffrey W. Cox www.FixYourToDoList.com/blog www.EnhanceYourOutlook.com (a productivity add-in for Microsoft Outlook.) Here’s my two, two cent’s worth:

1) A different take that I’ve observed over time – people usually say this (“why is it hard to get organized”) when they’ve hit crisis mode (i.e., they forgot to do something critical, they’ve fallen behind on a project).

2) I agree that people are generally organized. I was talking with my banker about “being organized” and she said, “well, I’m not organized; I have post-it notes everywhere.” I said to her (as I do everyone), “Actually, you are very organized – you do what works for you to keep you moving forward.”

– Jeffrey W. Cox
http://www.FixYourToDoList.com/blog
http://www.EnhanceYourOutlook.com (a productivity add-in for Microsoft Outlook.)

]]> By: Lynn O'Connor http://www.gtdtimes.com/2009/07/31/why-is-it-so-hard-for-human-beings-to-get-organized/comment-page-1/#comment-2856 Lynn O'Connor Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:16:51 +0000 https://reports.davidco.com/admin1/gtdtimes/?p=1902#comment-2856 I love DA's answer because it speaks to how I am about things I WANT to do and feel passionate about. The need for a system accompanies the many things I have to do, that are not quite so internally driven, that are extrinsically driven activities. I have to organize and manage a speaker class that is something like a 13-week conference. I have to do it, its an obligation, I even enjoy it, but it is not the same as my daily writing, responding to students, clients, friends, who have asked me to write about something for their benefit. I have no trouble with the latter. I don't have to put it into and through a system, it’s an intrinsically driven activity. David tells us to pay attention to what has our attention, and when I do that organization ceases to be difficult. When I have to shift my attention to something that is not what I am naturally paying attention to, organization is difficult, I fall off the wagon, and fight my way back to GTD. I love DA’s answer because it speaks to how I am about things I WANT to do and feel passionate about. The need for a system accompanies the many things I have to do, that are not quite so internally driven, that are extrinsically driven activities. I have to organize and manage a speaker class that is something like a 13-week conference. I have to do it, its an obligation, I even enjoy it, but it is not the same as my daily writing, responding to students, clients, friends, who have asked me to write about something for their benefit. I have no trouble with the latter. I don’t have to put it into and through a system, it’s an intrinsically driven activity. David tells us to pay attention to what has our attention, and when I do that organization ceases to be difficult. When I have to shift my attention to something that is not what I am naturally paying attention to, organization is difficult, I fall off the wagon, and fight my way back to GTD.

]]> By: Todd V http://www.gtdtimes.com/2009/07/31/why-is-it-so-hard-for-human-beings-to-get-organized/comment-page-1/#comment-2853 Todd V Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:09:46 +0000 https://reports.davidco.com/admin1/gtdtimes/?p=1902#comment-2853 This was my experience, too. That gut-level identification or desire is what I needed to propel me into overcoming the initial resistance. Often the resistance is just the fear of the unknown (e.g., fearing that the organizing will take too long, require more work than I really want to output, etc.). But learning the habits of GTD for getting organized rewarded me with higher levels of clarity on my life and work. And *experiencing* that extra clarity reinforced the original gut-level desire to get (and stay) organized. Soon after that the flywheel starts to turn and what initially feels like "work" becomes second nature. This was my experience, too. That gut-level identification or desire is what I needed to propel me into overcoming the initial resistance. Often the resistance is just the fear of the unknown (e.g., fearing that the organizing will take too long, require more work than I really want to output, etc.). But learning the habits of GTD for getting organized rewarded me with higher levels of clarity on my life and work. And *experiencing* that extra clarity reinforced the original gut-level desire to get (and stay) organized. Soon after that the flywheel starts to turn and what initially feels like “work” becomes second nature.

]]> By: Eric http://www.gtdtimes.com/2009/07/31/why-is-it-so-hard-for-human-beings-to-get-organized/comment-page-1/#comment-2852 Eric Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:33:15 +0000 https://reports.davidco.com/admin1/gtdtimes/?p=1902#comment-2852 On the contrary, I've learned to become more organized because of human nature. I am driven by getting things done (not TM there) and by being reliable. I found out awhile ago that I tend to not accomplish those goals when I'm not organized. And if I'm organized, I can accomplish those goals which makes me happy and makes my life easier. And the biggest thing that I've learned that works for me is to write things down. I have two, maybe 3, methods for keeping track of items and they work for me. And the biggest thing is that I have the discipline to follow through with this which is what a lot of people lack. On the contrary, I’ve learned to become more organized because of human nature. I am driven by getting things done (not TM there) and by being reliable. I found out awhile ago that I tend to not accomplish those goals when I’m not organized. And if I’m organized, I can accomplish those goals which makes me happy and makes my life easier. And the biggest thing that I’ve learned that works for me is to write things down. I have two, maybe 3, methods for keeping track of items and they work for me. And the biggest thing is that I have the discipline to follow through with this which is what a lot of people lack.

]]> By: Darla http://www.gtdtimes.com/2009/07/31/why-is-it-so-hard-for-human-beings-to-get-organized/comment-page-1/#comment-2851 Darla Sat, 01 Aug 2009 01:12:44 +0000 https://reports.davidco.com/admin1/gtdtimes/?p=1902#comment-2851 Some people are more naturally organized than others. It's a talent, a gift, a trait, I think. Just like playing the piano or any other skill - it comes more easily to some people, but you can learn how to play. You may never play as well as Chris Martin, but you can learn and improve. Some people are more naturally organized than others. It’s a talent, a gift, a trait, I think. Just like playing the piano or any other skill – it comes more easily to some people, but you can learn how to play. You may never play as well as Chris Martin, but you can learn and improve.

]]>