Learn to control money but do not allow it to control you

ani_26

Firewalker wrote: »

Well, do you think I don't find this one peculiar as well? But it has always worked with me - the box thing. It is another way to say that it is on my 'daily programme' - however, putting it on my daily programme gives me motivation, not discipline. I am not big on discipline and/or authority.

The colouring is funny - if your weekly tasks (leading to something really great and wonderful) are on a mind map, completing them and drawing a yellow line through looks (and feels) wonderful.

I think that you would like a blog called zen habits - have a look. Leo Babauta is all about increased productivity but at the same time he thinks that 'control is an illusion' and that 'the best goals are no goals'. Have a look...

Firewalker

I'm way too eccentric and disorganised, but i like it that way

The blog looks interesting. Living with chaos is more me :rotfl:, although my life now, i guess is less chaotic, than its ever been.


Maybe you reach a point in your life where you DON'T need any goals anymore. The process of life is always shifting. Increased productivity - not something i ever contemplate at all, but then i've always been a grafter, and expect perfection in everything i do. But then thats not productivity, is it? Productivity, a measure of output. Blimey. Its a tough old world we live in.

Lara44

I have daily lists but never seem to manage them and always feel terminally unproductive. But when I got back from Uganda I found a 9-month timetable (that I had done in January) that had just a few headings of big things to be done / thought about - and I was able to put some of those very satisfying coloured lines through a lot of them.

In answer to your journal writing problem FW I think we need to asses productivity and change over 2 or perhaps even 3 different periods of time. All but one of the goals remained undone for very good reasons related to the changing progress of daily work. Only one was undone due to proacrastination - and it definitely gives a sense of perspective when you realise you have avoided something for 6 actual months :eek:

(The headings were a mix of goals and outputs).

Cheery_Daff

I agree Lara about the shock of seeing things undone for a long time - I recently started playing my flute again after a long time of putting it off cos I was too scared (long story) - last week I found my exam certificate (which was the last time I played regularly) - 13 years ago yesterday :eek:

FW - productivity isn't only measured by words on the paper! Lara's right - measure over longer timescales... (I agree about ticking things off too! :T)

You asked somewhere a while ago if I was still working on the weekly list, 3 things a day system.... I'm enjoying my weekly list! :T Not quite managed 3 things a day... partly because I struggle to identify my '3 things' - does a phone call count as a thing?? Because sometimes saying 'well I've made 3 phone calls today, boss, so I'm not doing anything else' doesn't wash :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Currently reading 'Getting things done' - not got to the end yet so not entirely sure what I think..

Triciaxx

Cheery_Daff wrote: »

I agree Lara about the shock of seeing things undone for a long time - I recently started playing my flute again after a long time of putting it off cos I was too scared (long story) - last week I found my exam certificate (which was the last time I played regularly) - 13 years ago yesterday :eek:

FW - productivity isn't only measured by words on the paper! Lara's right - measure over longer timescales... (I agree about ticking things off too! :T)

You asked somewhere a while ago if I was still working on the weekly list, 3 things a day system.... I'm enjoying my weekly list! :T Not quite managed 3 things a day... partly because I struggle to identify my '3 things' - does a phone call count as a thing?? Because sometimes saying 'well I've made 3 phone calls today, boss, so I'm not doing anything else' doesn't wash :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Currently reading 'Getting things done' - not got to the end yet so not entirely sure what I think..

My study is in the basement - don't panic, I'm not doomed to a life underground! the house is on a hill and I have daylight from about 5 feet up. The rest of living is done above here so I have 2 lists - one for 'me' and one for 'household'.

Usually 3 or 4 on each, not including the basics like cooking, shopping, laundry, etc. If something gets carried over, it gets an asterisk. 2 days = 2 asterisks. 3 days transmogrifies into a frog/pesky dragon and has to be dealt with before anything else. Given an OCD need to tick boxes - so satisfying - I usually keep up to date.

Before I acquire a halo and am proclaimed a saint :eek::eek:, I should stress that I tailor my list to what I think I can realistically achieve so I can bask in the glory rather than wallow in failure.

The heady glow of adding ta da items to my list at the end of the day is enough to keep me going most of the time. When I don't, I retrospectively declare a holiday. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

You may also notice that I have not included housework in either list :cool:

Firewalker

Cheery_Daff wrote: »

Not quite managed 3 things a day... partly because I struggle to identify my '3 things' - does a phone call count as a thing?? Because sometimes saying 'well I've made 3 phone calls today, boss, so I'm not doing anything else' doesn't wash :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Currently reading 'Getting things done' - not got to the end yet so not entirely sure what I think..

The three things have to be 'key things' - ones that get you closer to wherever you wish to be. The rest of the time is for casual e-mail and phoning.

Getting things done didn't go well with me - too technical and regimented. But I know many people who swear by it.

FW

Firewalker

Triciaxx wrote: »

Before I acquire a halo and am proclaimed a saint :eek::eek:, I should stress that I tailor my list to what I think I can realistically achieve so I can bask in the glory rather than wallow in failure.

Absolutely key - there have been voices arguing that the reaosn we proscrastinate is because we do not know when to stop. Putting too many tasks on our list is a particular expression of this.

FW

Triciaxx

Firewalker wrote: »

Absolutely key - there have been voices arguing that the reaosn we proscrastinate is because we do not know when to stop. Putting too many tasks on our list is a particular expression of this.

FW

In all honesty, it did take me till a late retirement to realise this. TAKE HEED ALL YE YOUNGSTERS. :eek::eek::eek:

Cheery_Daff

I think my 'three things' list would work much better for patchwork life/me related projects rather than work at the minute - partly just because my work is pretty much dictated by someone else/the project rather than coming from me - I have a limited amount of choice about what I do at any one time.

What fills my head is the shower needing fixing, the front door needing replacing, wanting flute lessons, doing the garden, plotting for the future....

Hmm, will have a think on.

With Getting Things Done - I like the idea of gathering everything together in a giant pile, then going through and doing the things that wil take less than 2 mins, and 'processing' the rest, adding to various lists etc, but you're right, it does sound rather regimented! Will see what I think when I've got to the end...

Working at home today - perhaps I'll try with 3 tasks

Firewalker

Interesting day, today! First thing in morning I had a bit of a row with friend and co-author. Normally we do discuss things in a heated way but it is OK – this morning something was wrong. Probably because Friend was upset (she is having a bit of thing at work and her confidence is a bit shaken) and because I was cross (having made her come to work with me here I had managed to double book myself and had to spend the whole day in the office). So, first thing in the morning I did tell her that I like the idea of what brings together our new project but really don’t like the way she has written it. And it was not nice...

But then, before I left for the office, things got better – in fact I know where to order really high quality and in-expensive bread flour because Friend told me.

The rest of the day was fine although a bit boring – but I did earn £500 which is exciting but then I am going to pay substantial proportion of it in tax. I did say some time ago though that I am one of these people who really want to pay loads of tax – and not because this will mean that I am earning loads as well but because the ability of a state to look after its weaker members is a measure of its culture and civilisation.
After a splendid but rather expensive dinner – tune with anchovy, asparagus and potato and olive ragout – we plaid a game of monopoly. OH and I wiped out friend and Little Boy again. We do make a great partnership in all that – it is true of life as well.

If you are out – have great time; if you are in – sleep well; wherever you are have a very, very nice weekend.

Firewalker

Lara44

You too FW!