Comments on: Monday Master Class: Apply Weakest Link Theory to Time Management http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/07/23/monday-master-class-apply-weakest-link-theory-to-time-management/ Demystifying Sustainable Success Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:12:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Study Hacks http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/07/23/monday-master-class-apply-weakest-link-theory-to-time-management/#comment-6274 Study Hacks Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:28:56 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=24#comment-6274 <blockquote>I like the idea of the 15 minute restart. But for me, the problem is not restart complexity, it’s restart motivation. My email is almost zero most days, I have shed my old time scheduler (www.gradefix.com) and only use outlook as my task manager and calendar. I’m so relaxed I just don’t do anything.</blockquote> Sounds to me like there isn't anything else for you to do. You have basic system that seems to handle what you need. Go with that...

I like the idea of the 15 minute restart. But for me, the problem is not restart complexity, it’s restart motivation. My email is almost zero most days, I have shed my old time scheduler (www.gradefix.com) and only use outlook as my task manager and calendar. I’m so relaxed I just don’t do anything.

Sounds to me like there isn’t anything else for you to do. You have basic system that seems to handle what you need. Go with that…

]]> By: Hung-Su http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/07/23/monday-master-class-apply-weakest-link-theory-to-time-management/#comment-6271 Hung-Su Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:02:10 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=24#comment-6271 "The adoption of a time management system is often the result of an extreme encounter with stress. Upset by the chaos born of an uncontrolled schedule, the hypothetical student decides to inject order back into his life. Soon, an impressive time management system is born. Every to-do will be captured immediately! Project lists will be broken down, tasks categorized! Daily time blocking will root out wasted minutes, and keep days productive!" I can relate to this so much it's frightening. I discovered GTD, 80-20, and productivity in general as a result of massive course failure nearly a year ago, and truly doing the tasks I have appointed myself has been a shaky affair. I like the idea of the 15 minute restart. But for me, the problem is not restart complexity, it's restart motivation. My email is almost zero most days, I have shed my old time scheduler (www.gradefix.com) and only use outlook as my task manager and calendar. I'm so relaxed I just don't do anything. Since this is my problem I don't have a solution, but the topic of restart motivation over complexity might be an interesting topic for a future post =) “The adoption of a time management system is often the result of an extreme encounter with stress. Upset by the chaos born of an uncontrolled schedule, the hypothetical student decides to inject order back into his life. Soon, an impressive time management system is born. Every to-do will be captured immediately! Project lists will be broken down, tasks categorized! Daily time blocking will root out wasted minutes, and keep days productive!”

I can relate to this so much it’s frightening. I discovered GTD, 80-20, and productivity in general as a result of massive course failure nearly a year ago, and truly doing the tasks I have appointed myself has been a shaky affair.

I like the idea of the 15 minute restart. But for me, the problem is not restart complexity, it’s restart motivation. My email is almost zero most days, I have shed my old time scheduler (www.gradefix.com) and only use outlook as my task manager and calendar. I’m so relaxed I just don’t do anything. Since this is my problem I don’t have a solution, but the topic of restart motivation over complexity might be an interesting topic for a future post =)

]]> By: Study Hacks http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/07/23/monday-master-class-apply-weakest-link-theory-to-time-management/#comment-6133 Study Hacks Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:32:07 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=24#comment-6133 Thanks Maru. I think the article has been overlooked since it was from the early days of the blog, before I had readers...I hope to drive some new attention this way. Thanks Maru. I think the article has been overlooked since it was from the early days of the blog, before I had readers…I hope to drive some new attention this way.

]]> By: Maru http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/07/23/monday-master-class-apply-weakest-link-theory-to-time-management/#comment-6132 Maru Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:28:58 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=24#comment-6132 Hey Cal, I'm surprised this thread hasn't gotten more comments. From my experience, someone who is just starting on GTD or some other type of list-based task management system should expect to lose track and restart three or four times before they actually consistently use the system for a long time. (i.e. The six-week cycle you mention is repeated a few times before one is consistent.) And if it takes longer to restart, the longer people will procrastinate putting in the time investment to get back on track... - Maru Hey Cal,

I’m surprised this thread hasn’t gotten more comments. From my experience, someone who is just starting on GTD or some other type of list-based task management system should expect to lose track and restart three or four times before they actually consistently use the system for a long time. (i.e. The six-week cycle you mention is repeated a few times before one is consistent.)
And if it takes longer to restart, the longer people will procrastinate putting in the time investment to get back on track…

- Maru

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