Quotes About Tasks

In the academic world, most of the work that is done is clerical. A lot of the work done by professors is routine.

You can't work on 15 problems at the same time.

There are some things that you can work on immediately.

What do you want to get done? In what order of importance? Over what period of time? What is the time available? What is the best strategy for application of time to projects for the most effective results?

people aren't inclined to work on tasks in the wrong order, since they derive satisfaction from accomplishment, and a motivation toward meaningful accomplishment tends to steer them onto the critical path. A little pressure might decrease wasted time slightly and cause an equally slight improvement in focusing on the critical path.

Errand day was when all the adult houseguests went out to deal with shopping and business.

When time itself turned into a work factor, personal calendars became a key work tool.

Frankly, as soon as you have two things to do stored only in your mind, you've generated personal failure, because you can't do them both at the same time. This produces a pervasive stress factor whose source can't be pinpointed.

there are five discrete stages that we go through as we deal with our work. We (1) collect things that command our attention; (2) process what they mean and what to do about them; and (3) organize the results, which we (4) review as options for what we choose to (5) do.

A Projects list Project support material Calendar actions and information Next Actions lists A Waiting For list Reference material A Someday/Maybe list

Open loops can include everything from really big to-do items like "End world hunger" to the more modest "Hire new assistant" to the tiniest task such as "Replace porch lightbulb.

Not being aware of all you have to do is much like having a credit card for which you don't know the balance or the limit - it's a lot easier to be irresponsible.

next actions. Those ideas fall into the broad category of "project support materials," and may be anything from a notion about something you might want to do on your next vacation

Ask yourself, "When do I need to see what, in what form, to get it off my mind?" You build a system for function, not just to have a system.

One of the most powerful skills in the world of knowledge work, and one of the most important to hone and develop, is creating clear outcomes. This is not as self-evident as it may sound. We need to constantly define (and redefine) what we're trying to accomplish on many different levels, and consistently reallocate resources toward getting these tasks completed as effectively and efficiently as possible.

next actions will make sense for you: • "Calls" • "At Computer" • "Errands" • "Office Actions" or "At Office" (miscellaneous) • "At Home" • "Agendas" (for people and meetings) • "Read/Review

A "Projects" list • Project support material • Calendared actions and information • "Next Actions" lists • A "Waiting For" list • Reference material • A "Someday/Maybe" list

capturing all the things that might need to get done or have usefulness for you—

Esa preocupación permanente y estéril por todas las cosas que tenemos que hacer es por sí sola la mayor consumidora de tiempo y energía. —KERRY GLEESON

This constant, unproductive preoccupation with all the things we have to do is the single largest consumer of time and energy. —Kerry Gleeson

three different kinds of activities you can be engaged in: Doing predefined work Doing work as it shows up Defining your work Doing

You must use your mind to get things off your mind. An

Projects do not need to be listed in any particular order, whether by size or by priority. They just need to be on a master list

Three things go on your calendar: • time-specific actions; • day-specific actions; and • day-specific information.