Comments on: Multitasking at 10,000 Feet: How to Keep Your Project List from Having 70 Things On It (And Ruining Your Life)

By: Productivity Tools for Academics, Grad Students, and Scholars — Goannatree

Productivity Tools for Academics, Grad Students, and Scholars — Goannatree — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:25:52 +0000

[...] and useful! What’s Best Next has great advice on project management including planning, multitasking and controlling your [...]

By: >Multitasking and Getting Things Done « Pilgrims & Pastors

>Multitasking and Getting Things Done « Pilgrims & Pastors — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 23:39:41 +0000

[...] >I’m sure that no one else out there struggles with organization and life management, but just in case some of you are like me, then check out Matt Perman’s recent post, here. [...]

By: Seedplots » Planning and projects

Seedplots » Planning and projects — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:51:51 +0000

[...] original article is found here. Written by Editor in: Organizing life | Tags: [...]

By: Scott Cheatham

Scott Cheatham — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:29:15 +0000

I guess I’ve always done this in some form anyway. It makes sense in long range planning. What I’ve always done is look at my projects from a realistic standpoint. Nick Cernis talks about this idea in his ebook “Todoodlist” and mentions that we should organize projects on a fortnight (two week) basis. This has clarified it for me as I consider projects in my weekly review and see which ones I could logically work on in the next two weeks. Focus on those and stay with them unless emergency arrives.

By: Justin Buzzard

Justin Buzzard — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:46:32 +0000

For me, Omnifocus is proving incredibly helpful in tweaking the GTD issues mentioned in your last two posts. With Omnifocus I can view tasks under project headings or context headings, even placing the project headings under larger role headings. Also, I can create numerous folders for projects: active, upcoming, someday/maybe, etc.

Great posts Matt.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:41:45 +0000

Russell: I’m just a bit of the way into Allen’s new book. Glad to hear he seeks to address some of these things. I’m looking forward to the rest of the book.

By: Crash

Crash — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:11:12 +0000

Sounds like you need to apply that “focus on one or two” to your book list. You are currently reading way to many books. Finish one and move the rest to the “upcoming books” list.

By: Russell

Russell — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:14:25 +0000

Great post! I really appreciate your perspective on this and the pragmatic solution. Have you read Allen’s new book, Making It All Work (MIAW)? He addresses similar concerns and directs the majority of his work to the concept of “focus”. Essentially, he is rectifying the immaturities of the original GTD or the lack of emphasis on focus and priority that was found in the it.

Thanks for your blog!

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:51:57 +0000

Great advice! I’m going to try this.

By: Jerry Wall

Jerry Wall — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:07:37 +0000

Ditto to Jonathan’s comments. Great post, Matt. And I too have found this blog incredibly helpful. I’m not there yet, but you’re making a real difference. (In Box to Zero has been amazing!)

By: In Light of the Gospel » Blog Archive » Multitasking, Projects, and Ruining Your Life

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:16:40 +0000

[...] Matt Perman has a helpful post on the issue of multitasking and accomplishing projects. He writes, When you start practicing GTD, you usually end up rather quickly with about 70 projects on your list. That is fairly typical and normal for most people, and it is a genuine reflection of the digital and dynamic environments that most of us find ourselves in. [...]

By: Daniel Montgomery

Daniel Montgomery — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:32:47 +0000

Very helpful. Putting your wisdom to work this week.

By: Jonathan Coleman

Jonathan Coleman — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:34:26 +0000

Great post Matt! Your blog (linked from Justin Taylors near its inception) has led me to learn and implement GTD. It has made me so much more effective, especially the zero your inbox article. Next to that one, this is my favorite so far. Thanks!