Comments on: Monday Master Class: How to Start Down the Long Road from Chaos to Efficiency http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/21/monday-master-class-how-to-start-down-the-long-road-from-chaos-to-efficiency/ Demystifying Student Success Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:08:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Robert Talbert http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/21/monday-master-class-how-to-start-down-the-long-road-from-chaos-to-efficiency/#comment-6364 Robert Talbert Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:20:49 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/21/monday-master-class-how-to-start-down-the-long-road-from-chaos-to-efficiency/#comment-6364 Good article. Just one minor quibble: GTD, referenced at the end of the article as a "complicated time management system", is neither complicated nor is it a time management system. In fact the essence of GTD is to remove complication from the way we manage our "stuff". Read the linked article, or read David Allen's book on the subject. Good article. Just one minor quibble: GTD, referenced at the end of the article as a “complicated time management system”, is neither complicated nor is it a time management system. In fact the essence of GTD is to remove complication from the way we manage our “stuff”. Read the linked article, or read David Allen’s book on the subject.

]]> By: alexa http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/21/monday-master-class-how-to-start-down-the-long-road-from-chaos-to-efficiency/#comment-6340 alexa Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:05:54 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/21/monday-master-class-how-to-start-down-the-long-road-from-chaos-to-efficiency/#comment-6340 People who know me well enough to see me in action have a warped impression of me--they all seem to think I'm some ridiculously organized girl with a streamlined and well-controlled day. I've tried to convince them that my life is just as insane as their lives are, but this falls on deaf ears. You're right that having an organization plan is key--I stripped my system down and built it back up very slowly through trial and error. It's very simple and streamlined and it works. It's not that I'm better at controlling the chaotic moments that come at me from left field, it's that I've stripped all unnecessary bits from my day/week/month so I know I'll get the essential items accomplished and have the time and space to deal with unforeseen circumstances. I say 'no' to anything extra and not mandatory if it doesn't fit into my schedule. In a given week, I manage to get all imperative work, play and family time accomplished. It's taken me years to perfect my system, but it was worth it to avoid the craziness of a cluttered and disorganized life. People who know me well enough to see me in action have a warped impression of me–they all seem to think I’m some ridiculously organized girl with a streamlined and well-controlled day. I’ve tried to convince them that my life is just as insane as their lives are, but this falls on deaf ears.

You’re right that having an organization plan is key–I stripped my system down and built it back up very slowly through trial and error. It’s very simple and streamlined and it works.

It’s not that I’m better at controlling the chaotic moments that come at me from left field, it’s that I’ve stripped all unnecessary bits from my day/week/month so I know I’ll get the essential items accomplished and have the time and space to deal with unforeseen circumstances. I say ‘no’ to anything extra and not mandatory if it doesn’t fit into my schedule.

In a given week, I manage to get all imperative work, play and family time accomplished. It’s taken me years to perfect my system, but it was worth it to avoid the craziness of a cluttered and disorganized life.

]]> By: Daisy http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/21/monday-master-class-how-to-start-down-the-long-road-from-chaos-to-efficiency/#comment-6321 Daisy Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:20:04 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/21/monday-master-class-how-to-start-down-the-long-road-from-chaos-to-efficiency/#comment-6321 wise advice. :D wise advice. :D

]]> By: Gary http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/21/monday-master-class-how-to-start-down-the-long-road-from-chaos-to-efficiency/#comment-6317 Gary Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:41:28 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/21/monday-master-class-how-to-start-down-the-long-road-from-chaos-to-efficiency/#comment-6317 This is great advice Cal, I will print it out and keep it with me as I head into my second semester next week (I'm in Australia). This is great advice Cal, I will print it out and keep it with me as I head into my second semester next week (I’m in Australia).

]]> By: John Updike http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/21/monday-master-class-how-to-start-down-the-long-road-from-chaos-to-efficiency/#comment-6316 John Updike Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:47:31 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/21/monday-master-class-how-to-start-down-the-long-road-from-chaos-to-efficiency/#comment-6316 Hey, thanks for the post, this one was really needed for me. It's hard to start everything at once... Hey, thanks for the post, this one was really needed for me. It’s hard to start everything at once…

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