Jan
8
GTD (with a side of ADD)
Filed Under Productivity, Organization
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For me, the beginning of 2008 has sparked a flurry of organization attempts both at home and at the office: I’m trying to gather together my tax information in a way that actually makes sense for once. I’m trying to set up Quicken (for the third time now) and make it really work and produce information I care about. I’m in the last stages of organizing my e-book (The Effective Executive Assistant) which is proving to be a technological nightmare. I could go on and on with the projects that are currently absorbing every minute of my spare time - but I won’t. Let’s just say, I’ve got a lot of pots on the stove that I have to keep stirring gently to make sure they don’t completely boil over.
And so I turn to the organizational process. Getting Things Done, the popular book and productivity system developed by David Allen, is one of the most talked about productivity tools in the blogosphere. (To find out more about my thoughts on the usefulness of it, read Getting Over GTD) As a productivity blog-junkie, I know a thing or two about GTD and the dozens of systems that have been created in its wake. I have never, nor do I ever plan, to follow it to the strict letter of the law. But I am always in the process of refining my own system so GTD often influences my decisions of how to do things.
And let me tell you, I am experiencing severe GTD-ADD. This is what happens when you get so concerned with being productive that you can’t even concentrate on getting ONE thing done, because you’re thinking about the process of getting EVERYTHING done. I’m so wrapped up in the system that I can’t focus on the actual task at hand. Whenever I sit down to work on my e-book, I wonder if it’s the appropriate use of my time. Whenever I sit down to strategize the use of time, I wonder if I shouldn’t stop all the planning, take my own advice and JUST DO IT ALREADY. It’s a vicious - unproductive - cycle!
I blame GTD and the unrealistic expectation it creates. There is this overriding idea that once a “perfect” organizational system is in place, you won’t forget things, you’ll be twice as productive, you’ll achieve more in less time and it will all be stress-free and covered in rose petals. Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating but that’s how I feel. I have this idea that people who are really productive and organized are experiencing a world I’ll never know. They’re ten steps ahead of me and I’m struggling to just keep my head above water. So anything I do with my precious time suddenly begins to feel like a waste of it. I start to feel panicked that I’m not fully, 100% on-track.
And you know the really sad part of all of this? When I start to feel overwhelmed with projects, like I don’t know what I should be doing with my time, and that I just can’t concentrate on getting even one thing done, do you know what I do? I read productivity blogs. No joke. I can waste hours reading Zen Habits, Achieve-IT, LifeDev, Ian’s Messy Desk, and Organize IT. I bounce around the internet, living in a state of pure and total ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) concentrating on nothing but still feeling like I’m gathering the necessary information that will one day catapult me into the ultimate “Productivity Zone”.
I am totally aware that this is NOT the best use of my time.
And yet, I feel that the extreme focus on multi-tasking and getting things done is quite counterproductive in itself. I think it sidetracks us and makes us feel like we’re never productive enough, never organized enough. And such thoughts are de-motivating, distracting and downright irritating.
There is probably a fine balance that I simply haven’t achieved. But I have to wonder if others feel this same way. Do you feel that all the focus on getting things done makes you even LESS focused when trying to get things done? Or am I alone here?
If it’s just me, I’ll shut up and live with my GTD-ADD on my own. I’ll be ok. Distracted and less productive than you…but ok.
If you liked that post, then try these...
Project Management Simplified by Chrissy on November 26th, 2007
Tips for Performing Well Under Pressure by Chrissy on April 30th, 2008
End-of-Year PERSONAL Review by Chrissy on December 4th, 2007
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11 Responses to “GTD (with a side of ADD)”
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Great article!! It’s almost as if you have read my mind! I’m so busy making sure that everything gets written down so I don’t forget anything (as it appears I no longer have full use of my own memory) that I worry I have forgotten to write something down or that someone will tell me that I’m a fraud!
“Do you feel that all the focus on getting things done makes you even LESS focused when trying to get things done?”
Absolutely! You are not alone, I too spend my time when I go into panic mode reading up on planning, it’s almost as if I will suddenly find the Holy Grail and my planning system will all fall effortlessly into place.
I look forward to your e-book!!
Yeah I used to have this sort of problem. I’d be super-productive for a few weeks then it would drop down as the month went on until I’d hit rock bottom, scrap my system and do pretty much nothing, all because of the reasons you described. It was the pressure and expectation to keep that productivity up! I think the people who are twice as productive are probably those who really need to be so in their daily work lives (GTD was written for CEO’s no less).
Lorraine - Awesome! I’m so glad you and I appear to be in the same boat. Let me know if you find that Holy Grail, ok? And thanks for being encouraging about the e-book…it’s such a HUGE project! Kinda overwhelming.
SpiKe - Very comforting to hear you weigh in on this. Organize IT makes me believe you’re a productivity guru. Glad to hear you’ve had the same struggles as the rest of us!!
I am not sure if this helps, but I do not think GTD means you are ALWAYS getting things done.
Once you know what you want to do, just get it done with your tools. The rest of your time is for YOU!
I am not sure if you feel you have too much on your plate or if you feel you should be getting something done even though you completed what you want to do.
Remember all moments of our life do not have to be productive. I am reading/listening to Tim Ferriss 4 Hour Work Week and he focuses on making your time matter for what you want to do. Let your systems help the other stuff get done.
Chrissy, It’s not just you! - I also have taken away some good ideas from GTD, but when I try to follow it more rigorously I just end up feeling like a dog chasing his own tail, while being LESS productive. Thanks for another great post. (And I’m also looking forward to your e-book!)
Great article! Chrissy, you are not alone.
“And yet, I feel that the extreme focus on multi-tasking and getting things done is quite counterproductive in itself. I think it sidetracks us and makes us feel like we’re never productive enough, never organized enough. And such thoughts are de-motivating, distracting and downright irritating.”
This is so true for me. I try so hard to be good at getting things done, that I end up getting sidetracked and being unproductive because I’m “doing research” on how to be organized and get things done.
I am also looking forward to your e-book!
Oh, all of you guys are motivating me to get that e-book done!! Thanks!
And I’ve got to say that it’s really nice to see that others feel the same way about this GTD stuff. Productivity planning can make you feel exactly the way Matthew says - “like a dog chasing his tail”.
I think Brian brought up a very good point - every minute should NOT be spent trying to be productive. We should all get comfortable with the idea that being “unproductive” is a natural and necessary part of life. In fact, I venture to say that being “unproductive” could actually be “productive” in the long run. After all, taking a day off to just veg-out can be very rejuvenating - meaning that when you DO get back to work, you actually get more accomplished. Hmmm…I think I like that idea. More to come on that….
Hi Chrissy!
This is the first time I visit your blog and reading this post it seems like reading my mind: I agree with all of it and all of comments.
I’m in the same situation.
Sometimes, the search for GTD improvement or the creation of GTD tools, seems to me a way to procrastinate. That led me to ask myself if I really want to do the things I was organizing for (no final answer yet).
I’m curious if you have the same sensation
Bye!
Rod - I really like your question and I took some time to think about it. The first most obvious answer is that I probably don’t really WANT to be doing some of these things. If I did, it wouldn’t be a struggle to concentrate on them, right? But, in the case of organizing my tax information for example, I want the END RESULT of that task. I really, really want it. Which is why, though the process is a pain, I’m sticking it out and trying to do it. Likewise, there are a lot of tasks at work that I don’t necessarily “want” to do, but that I need to do because I want to be successful. Because of that, I try to find the most effective way of doing them.
It’s a great question though - I think we should all ask ourselves, when we’re really having problems sticking to a task - why are we doing it in the first place? If we really don’t care about what it is and what it accomplishes, we should let it loose and spend our time more wisely for sure.
Really excellent point - please keep reading and commenting!! It’s so valuable to have people contribute their thoughts.
What a great post.
I suffer from this dreadfully.
I have of course come to realise what my problem is….
My current system of getting thihgs done doesn’t work or me. Or at least, I haven’t made it work for me.
I keep looking at prodctivity blogs in the hope that I’ll eventually come across the one thing that’s going to fix what’s lacking in my system.
It’s not going to happen is it?
….Because the thing that’s lacking - is me!
Hahaha.
Actually, I’ve only just come to this realisation after reading your blog, so I guess I owe you one.
Tkanks. Dave.
Sorry, I meant Thanks.
Sincerely.