Just another Manic Monday…
Posted by Qrystal on October 8, 2007 at 13:09.
Category: Tools. Tags: productivity, task-management.
I am resisting the urge to treat today like a holiday, even though it is one. My husband works across the border, and thus gets a Thanksgiving holiday in November instead of October, and we usually go travelling that long weekend… which means I shouldn’t really take a holiday now AND then. So, chop-chop, go go!
But first (it’s always the “but-firsts” that get me..!) I just wanted to express my excitement about how well inbox-zero is coming along. What a refreshing sight, greeted by an empty inbox when I open my email!! And then I watch carefully as the new messages are retrieved… and I process them all immediately. Process means:
- reply immediately if it would take only a few minutes, then delete or archive;
- add something new to my “to-do-list” in ThinkingRock, then delete or archive;
- drop email in the to “to-respond” folder if it warrants a response but I can’t (need more info) or shouldn’t (it’s work time, and the response would be considered play) respond immediately;
- do nothing with it, and simply delete or archive it.
And I’m really trying hard not to archive too much stuff. If I really must be sentimental about something, I cut and paste it into my Journal. If I really must keep track of when a certain email from a certain person has arrived, and when the response was sent, etc. etc., I archive it … and try to resist the temptation to sort it. I’ve spent a few sessions going through old emails, and shaking my head at how much crap I kept, and how much time I spent organizing it. I’ve been converted to believing that Simpler Is Better! And my mind is already starting to feel less cluttered. Whew.
Anyways, another hot and muggy day is starting to weigh down on me, so I’d better start my productivity meter (stopwatch) and start getting productive.