Have you yet discovered that your mind has limited space, and it’s a terrible office?—David Allen
When was the last time you had what David Allen calls “mind like water?” If not lately, or not as often as you’d like, take the Guided GTD Mind Sweep webinar this Thursday, June 13 from 10am-11am Pacific time. This working webinar will give you a supportive and fun opportunity to capture what’s really grabbing your attention. It will also give you a refresher on the fundamental questions to ask to keep things off your mind and get them into your trusted GTD system.
The ability to quickly capture a thought and get it off your mind makes all the difference in how well you can focus on what you’re doing right now. Having a capture tool that’s with you when you’re out and about is essential. The elegant GTD NoteTaker Wallet will capture all those random thoughts that occur at the most unexpected times and places.
All styles and accessories on sale now for 30% off the regular price. It’s a great time to get one for yourself or as a gift.
What’s grabbing your attention right now? What do you think you need to do to get it OFF your mind?—David Allen
Better thinking is within your grasp. Find out more in this excerpt from Todd Brown’s blog post for Next Action Associates.
“Thinking hard?” Hardly.
If you can walk, can you walk faster? Of course. Apply some effort, move those muscles more quickly, and your speed increases.
If you can think, can you think harder? I don’t think so.
In my experience “thinking hard” doesn’t work. I can still hear the voice of Mrs Hamm, my third-grade teacher, “c’mon kids, think hard.” We’re given the sense from an early age that thinking can increase in intensity by applying effort, just like walking.
Applying effort to thinking just seems to get in the way. Telling myself to “think harder” generates resistance and frustration, not better or more effective thinking. But that doesn’t mean I can’t think better, or more effectively.
What does seem to work is removing barriers.
I start by reducing distractions, both internal and external. If I’m feeling diverted by my thoughts, I do a quick “mind sweep.” I write down everything that’s on my mind, big or small, personal or professional. I need to call Ed regarding the contract. I want to talk to Debbie about booking the hotel for our holiday. The client needs the proposal by Friday. Just getting these things out of my head goes a long way toward reducing internal distractions.
I also consider external distractions. I check my surroundings. If I’m feeling distracted by my environment, I see first whether I can minimize or eliminate some sources of that distraction. I close my email client (yes, it can be done). I put my phone on silent. If possible, I get out of a distracting environment altogether. If that’s not possible, I recognize that my ability to get work done that requires deep thinking may be limited. In that case it might be better to focus on quick and easy wins that require less mental resource.
Once potential diversions are eliminated, in my experience thinking is really just about focus. I’m not “thinking hard,” I’m focused on something without distraction. The only “effort” is choosing what to focus on, and then maintaining that focus. Once I’m in that state, I find that effective thinking happens very naturally.
So the key here seems to be to get out of my own way, not about applying effort. It’s as if the secret to running faster were just a matter of reducing drag, not about muscle power. Create the environment to eliminate distractions, choose your focus, and watch the ideas flow.
You can read other blog posts and find out more about Next Action Associates, the only Certified International Partner for GTD in the UK, here.
David Allen’s interview with Dose of Leadership is now available as a free podcast.
Trust yourself to do what you really feel like doing, and what you feel like doing will change. Don’t, and it will plague you.—David Allen
Learn the keys to mind like water in our next “Keys to Getting Things Done” webinar. It’s coming up this Thursday, March 7th from 10am-11am Pacific Time.
We have about 20 seats still available. Register now.
One-minute video describing life with GTD.
(This video is streaming from YouTube, so it may take a few seconds to load.)
Here’s concise advice from David Allen, on asking yourself two questions that can calm the waters of your mind.
Everything that is outstanding in your world and mind, that hasn’t been somehow put onto “cruise control,” will be holding some part of your psyche hostage.
So, simply ask yourself, “What has my attention now?” And then ask, “What do I need to decide, do, handle, and organize, to be able to have my mind let that go?”
