 | mark.szoke  says:Today, while browsing through the search function on RTM, I noticed something was missing- a field for whether a task has been postponed, or for how many times it has been. However, a quick browse of the advanced search features awarded me with this wonderful operator: postponed: (>/< x number of times). My mind reeled with the possibilities:
My personal favorite- The "ugh" list. I have a nasty habit of continually postponing certain tasks, or just "forgetting" to put a due date/priority, thinking, "I'm sure I'll take care of it someday". That day never seems to come around. So, I create a search query/ smart list with the operators: (postponed:"< 5" OR due:never) and voila! instant terror!
(for those of you who, like me, use tags for tracking certain projects, can also break down those roadblocks using this method by including the operator- tag:"world domination", or whatever project your stuck with)
Before getting right to work, I'll make sure to check my tasks to see if the problem wasn't me after all, but with them. Some tasks aren't really "to-do" items at all, but goals (I read a really awesome tips and tricks about using RTM for resolutions and goals), sometimes my tasks should really be broken up into smaller tasks, and some of them have either resolved themselves by now, or I just don't want to do them anymore.
Now after I've fixed my tasks (and improved my list as a whole), I'll just pick a day where I have a LARGE block of free time, (this sunday for me), Print out my all my dirty secrets of procrastination (this just seems like a job for pen and paper), roll up my sleeves, and put as big of a dent as I possibly can into that list. Any tasks left uncompleted will be given a due date, which I will stick to like glue. Imagine the enormous satisfaction!
Remember, the idea is to have to do this as little as possible!
that's all I got.
Posted at 6:40am on February 18, 2010 |
