Rev Matt June, 2009 blog entries

Posts for June, 2009

I Get The Job Done

Every few weeks someone will write about struggling to get away from email/twitter/etc or write about their need to take a blog break without actually doing so or gush about some new software tool that blocks your access to certain sites (either completely or just during certain hours). Lifehacker (one of my favorite sites) and the GTD fetishists can be reliably counted on to write up every single piece of limiting software that comes out. Like much of the process-obsessed crowds favorite things, it strikes me that the amount of time you 'save' with your hyper-productive methodology is more than eaten up with tweaking the methodology and trying out new and better tools for accomplishing said productivity goals. None of the GTDers I've known are actually any more productive than any of the other people I've worked with, but they are sure a lot more aware of how much they do.
Which isn't to say organization and discipline aren't important and can't help you get your work done more efficiently. I make a serious effort to stay organized to a sane rather than psychotic degree and it is very helpful. If you have to install a suite of specialized software and plugins and adopt a rigid process for handling every possible event during an average workday just to keep up you clearly are doing something very very wrong. Setting realistic goals, keeping on top of tasks, aggressive use of a calendar and reminders, sure. But it seems that a lot of people become so into the concepts and techniques that they lose sight of the actual goals and shoot right past the point of diminishing returns at about 150MPH with the brake line cut.
Back to my main point, the subset of that approach that focuses on preventing you from using your computer in the way that you want. I get that it's a self control issue, it still baffles me. It is harder to take an action than to not take an action, in general. Simple physics. You have to expend energy both physical and mental to check email, cruise over to twitter, etc etc. Not doing so is easier. Rather than switch over from that spreadsheet you're working on to check facebook, just stay in the spreadsheet and keep working. No special software needed. Also: turning off your computer is a remarkably effective way of getting a break from the online world. Me? I can be assured enforced offline time every evening and weekend: I have three kids. I even get the bonus of several times a month getting time away from work for the unending doctor's appointments!

Posted on June 26, 2009 | 3 comments so far.

Weary from the stress, getting delirious

Some pointless amusement for a friday. I uploaded a list of artists in my music library to wordle.net and it threw this back at me (click for full size image):