Do It And It’s Done

Sometimes people can get too caught up in a GTD mindframe. Each and every task which comes in they will write down on their to-do list, and take the appropriate steps to complete it. However some tasks can be done right away, avoiding stress at a later stage.

For me, if something actionable will take less than 5 minutes to do I will do it right away. The task does not get added to my to-do list. Instead, it gets done as soon as it reaches one of my data collection points, and it doesn’t cause me to procrastinate - which means no stress.

However, some tasks are too large to apply the “Do it and it’s done” method to, which is why I enjoy publishing productivity related posts - to help you manage these larger projects and tasks and get them done in an efficient manner.

Do it and it’s done. The phrase to keep in mind - I recommend you print it out and stick it on the wall behind your workstation.

Comments

  1. #1

    Other Ryan

    I follow the “Getting Things Done Eventually” philosopy. Basically you use your memory of what needs to be done, then just wait until your supervisor gets on your case about it before you actually finish it. I find this to be a very stress-free method.

    If you get a task that would take less than five minutes to do, you file it in that part of your brain with the rest of the irrelevant tasks. Then you wait until way after dealine to remember to do it.

    Using the GTDE method gives you plenty of free time to think up excuses for your deadlines.

  2. #2

    Shawn Blanc → thefightspot.com

    I like the way you think, Glenn. I work like this often, but not always. I read that usually when someone goes off task it turns into a 15 minute juant until they come back to what they were doing.

    If I’m working on a design and I get an email that may take 30 seconds to answer it is still an interruption. Hence: no emailing when designing.

    On the other hand, if I’m doing a couple things that are more busy-work and something comes my way that is an easy fix, I’ll do it.

  3. #3

    wphj → www.wphj.wordpress.com

    Haha, good advice, however, if you’re worried about wasting time you probably don’t want to use it up printing out mantras.

  4. #4

    Cloudy Boy

    and my advice…however satirical it may seem is:

    “We pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot.
    Drink up me ‘earties, Yo Ho!
    We kidnap and ravage and don’t give a hoot.
    Drink up me ‘earties, Yo Ho!

    Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate’s life for me.”

  5. #5

    Julian Cheal → www.juliancheal.co.uk

    I totally agree Glenn. Since following this rule of doing something right now if it is just a short task regardless of how high a priority it is, I have found I have actually get more things done.

    As before I would think, “ah, it’s only gonna take a minute to do that. I’ll do it later!”.

    Then later is either too late or never comes. So now I find my self actually doing the things I should, and it makes me feel a lot happier knowing that its been done, so I don’t then keep worrying that I should be doing it.

  6. #6

    Michael Yurechko → michaelyurechko.com

    I’m not even going to leave some long comment for you to read because you probably won’t see it. But I will say this…

    You’re an ass cannon.

    …I do believe this was my post.

  7. #7

    Steffan Williams → www.steffanwilliams.co.uk

    “Other Ryan” - dude, I love it. Amazing approach to things. Pretty much how I react to anything I’m given to do! It works perfectly.

    It’s a shame it doesn’t quite work with assessments (like Uni work) but definitely last minute does.

  8. #8

    paka → www.wants.to.know.com

    Glenn, I agree. In my opinion, that kind of approach comes when one needs to have things done. It is just a way how everyone solves out their things depending on the work and need ones get. If your work require you to be up to date, you just start thinking on more efficients ways to do things, therefore the “GTD in 5 minutes” methodology :)

    BTW. Thing like Google Calendar is perfect. If one works on computer quite often and in different places, such thing is perfect. Just keeps everything up to date, everywhere.

    Cheers,
    K

  9. #9

    Josh → maconlyreview.wordpress.com

    This has just made me GTD experience much better. I put all my to-do’s into my Moleskine and sometime’s I leave tasks knowing that there in my ‘inbox’ and I can do them at a later date. Putting this saying on my wall has persuaded me to complete a whole lot more tasks.

  10. #10

    Helen

    I think ‘doing it straight away’ is a bit different from leaving what you are working on and doing the task.

    My understanding of the GTD system is that you process your inbox at certain times - so you’re checking your voicemail or email, and doing the short tasks as part of that process, rather than during other work times.

    Otherwise it gets ridiculous - in some cases you’d spend as much time adding the task as dealing with it.

    Since I switched to ‘Inbox Zero’ I find I’m increasingly less tempted to ‘check’ my email - because I have to do -something- with them when I do!

  11. #11

    jayp80

    I totally agree. Just do it and get it over with. I’d rather see the item off my list than have to think about when will i have time to do it all. Besides we all have a few minutes to spare if we think about it.

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