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Core dump
Finally back to feeling pretty normal after vacation. Poop is almost normal, I pretty much remember what I'm doing at work, and flexibility (which had really, REALLY degraded) is back to normal except for my spine. I bet I'll be sore tomorrow though, following my first 'normal' weightlifting session in weeks. :b
Any core dump of today has got to include more exitement about Getting Things Done (the link is to the book this time, not the wikipedia entry). In case the title doesn't make it clear, the book is about how to be productive; how to get things done; in a fairly stress-free manner, organized, and with a clear mind. And it seems like a good system -- not only inspiring but fairly practical. There are some interesting thoughts scattered throughout (example, talking about the importance of having a trusted to-do list outside your brain so that your brain doesn't have to keep reminding you of stuff all the time: There's really no need to ever have the same thought more than once, unless you happen to enjoy having that thought. Hmmmmmmmm). There are annoying aspects to the book, though, and the worst one in my mind is that it aims itself so obviously at high-level executives and CEOs. The things in the example project lists, for example, have things like "determine executive compensation packages" as well as "build treehouse in backyard for kids." I wish that there were a version of the exact same book with examples aimed more at a normal working-class person, because there's nothing in the system that makes it not work for the average schmoe. I can totally see the benefits of it for, say,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
savage_rose... and me, of course! Too bad it's such a snooty-sounding read.
Anyway, as for the system: I'm not done reading yet and I haven't started implementing, but so far the thing that's rung most true for me is the idea that most people use their various "in-boxes" (physical, electronic and mental) for a giant stack of cruft, not just stuff coming in but anything else that needs to be done at some point plus possibly some reference material. This is so because people don't have a trusted system for putting work-in-progress into. And yes, that would explain my tremendously bloated email in-box at work... I just never thought of creating folders as nice and general as "Reference" and "In Progress" and "Waiting for someone else". I think I want to do that first thing Monday morning.*
My head is absolutely roiling with ideas right now. I have to make some medical decisions soon, everyone around me at work is going a little crazy and I'm determined to be the calm spot, and there are a zillion nonwork things I'd like to do. Also, my mother sent me a giant packet of information on emotional abuse, and I read a lot of it tonight. I'm disturbed at how much of my past family life comes straight from most of the bulleted lists on what emotional abuse is. It's true... I was ridiculed and belittled; not listened to with respect; subjected to bouts of surprising and unexpected anger; met with disapproval regardless of my actions; and living with someone I was afraid of. Shit! I was rather hoping that the definitions wouldn't fit or something. While I was reading about all this I felt sick to my stomach at the thought of what my mom went through -- she was subject to more of it, and as an adult, which is probably worse since she had more right to equality -- but I also ran HLM through all the lists of warning signs, bad behaviors and whatnot, and I'm pleased to conclude that he comes up clean. This is not surprising, of course. The cats curl up on him because they can sense he is quiet and kind, and so do I.
And, right then, the last little bit of drama. An SUV went through the window of our local independent bookstore today and pretty totally fucked its shit up. :(bluechromis was standing outside it when it happened, which is scary as hell -- and, only a little less scary, I would have been there myself in a couple of hours. The bookstore's website says "To the best of our knowledge, none of the injured customers sustained life-threatening injuries, nor were any of the Café's or the bookstore's employees injured." Um, that's not remotely what blue said on the cell phone, but let's hope it's true.
* at work, not gmail... and yes, fellow nerds, I see your minds at work already phrasing comments about how searching is changing all this, but let's have this argument after you've read the book too. I'd love to talk about it with more people.
Any core dump of today has got to include more exitement about Getting Things Done (the link is to the book this time, not the wikipedia entry). In case the title doesn't make it clear, the book is about how to be productive; how to get things done; in a fairly stress-free manner, organized, and with a clear mind. And it seems like a good system -- not only inspiring but fairly practical. There are some interesting thoughts scattered throughout (example, talking about the importance of having a trusted to-do list outside your brain so that your brain doesn't have to keep reminding you of stuff all the time: There's really no need to ever have the same thought more than once, unless you happen to enjoy having that thought. Hmmmmmmmm). There are annoying aspects to the book, though, and the worst one in my mind is that it aims itself so obviously at high-level executives and CEOs. The things in the example project lists, for example, have things like "determine executive compensation packages" as well as "build treehouse in backyard for kids." I wish that there were a version of the exact same book with examples aimed more at a normal working-class person, because there's nothing in the system that makes it not work for the average schmoe. I can totally see the benefits of it for, say,
savage_rose... and me, of course! Too bad it's such a snooty-sounding read.Anyway, as for the system: I'm not done reading yet and I haven't started implementing, but so far the thing that's rung most true for me is the idea that most people use their various "in-boxes" (physical, electronic and mental) for a giant stack of cruft, not just stuff coming in but anything else that needs to be done at some point plus possibly some reference material. This is so because people don't have a trusted system for putting work-in-progress into. And yes, that would explain my tremendously bloated email in-box at work... I just never thought of creating folders as nice and general as "Reference" and "In Progress" and "Waiting for someone else". I think I want to do that first thing Monday morning.*
My head is absolutely roiling with ideas right now. I have to make some medical decisions soon, everyone around me at work is going a little crazy and I'm determined to be the calm spot, and there are a zillion nonwork things I'd like to do. Also, my mother sent me a giant packet of information on emotional abuse, and I read a lot of it tonight. I'm disturbed at how much of my past family life comes straight from most of the bulleted lists on what emotional abuse is. It's true... I was ridiculed and belittled; not listened to with respect; subjected to bouts of surprising and unexpected anger; met with disapproval regardless of my actions; and living with someone I was afraid of. Shit! I was rather hoping that the definitions wouldn't fit or something. While I was reading about all this I felt sick to my stomach at the thought of what my mom went through -- she was subject to more of it, and as an adult, which is probably worse since she had more right to equality -- but I also ran HLM through all the lists of warning signs, bad behaviors and whatnot, and I'm pleased to conclude that he comes up clean. This is not surprising, of course. The cats curl up on him because they can sense he is quiet and kind, and so do I.
And, right then, the last little bit of drama. An SUV went through the window of our local independent bookstore today and pretty totally fucked its shit up. :(
bluechromis was standing outside it when it happened, which is scary as hell -- and, only a little less scary, I would have been there myself in a couple of hours. The bookstore's website says "To the best of our knowledge, none of the injured customers sustained life-threatening injuries, nor were any of the Café's or the bookstore's employees injured." Um, that's not remotely what blue said on the cell phone, but let's hope it's true.* at work, not gmail... and yes, fellow nerds, I see your minds at work already phrasing comments about how searching is changing all this, but let's have this argument after you've read the book too. I'd love to talk about it with more people.
no subject
What a beautiful statement. Not that I doubted it before, but it sounds like you picked the right person.
What the hell with the SUV?! How did that happen? It's one thing to be in a fender-bender, but something has to be seriously fucked up for a vehicle to go through a building.
The emotional abuse stuff... Sometimes it helps to put names on bad things so that you can put them in their place. I knew someone once who was abused by her parents who started out saying "they aren't bad people, they are just bad parents" even when she admitted to sexual abuse. When she finally called it absue, then she was better able to see that they were bad people and she shouldn't have anything to do with them because of it. You're example isn't as extreme, but creepy as the thought of admitting it is, maybe it's better to call a spade a spade here so that you can move on. Good luck with it.
no subject
Of course the email about the issue at Company X with Product Y with Feature Z from Boss 3 goes in folders - Company X, Product Y, Feauture Z, Boss 3, and Reply Immediately.
That being said, my system has been hosed by my company's archiving. I used to have a single folder called 'Useful Tidbits' that is now split across multiple archives and my current mail. Sorta ruins the point.
no subject
And thanks for the book tip. I'm ordering it now...it's even on sale at Amazon!
no subject
SO MANY things are cheesy yet true. Sigh. Survivors unite. :)