This post is Part 4 of 6 of The Power of Repetition Series.
Clearing Clutter
Other routines can certainly be added. Which routines and when are, of course, unique to the individual.
A weekday repeating task such as “Review today’s calendar” can give a general idea of what the day will look like, so there are no major surprises. You might say, “Oh that appointment is at 1pm. I’ll set a reminder to wrap things up and starting leaving at 12p.”
Another useful one might be “Clear Desktop” to remind you to create homes for all your projects so they don’t just grab your attention when you open the computer.
If some file represents work that you still need to complete, you can add an alias to that file in a task’s note field.
To do so:
- Write a task.
- Open the note field
- While holding Control, drag and drop the file into the task:
Alternatively, you can use the program Hook to create more robust links.
By putting files away and linking them to tasks, you give them a home, set a solid task to move you forward, and ensure that all your work rests in one location. That way, you can arrange your time and tasks, and not feel overwhelmed by them sitting everywhere around you.
You can use the same process to reduce larger piles of clutter. For example, if you have a pile of papers waiting to be scanned, you could create a repeating task that says “Scan at least one sheet of paper”. As long as the papers don’t pile up faster than they’re scanned, the pile will eventually disappear. And, you won’t be quite so overwhelmed by the large pile of work that you just never quite get around to. A repeating task of a discrete amount of work means that you can do as little or as much as you want while still maintaining movement.
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The Power of Repetition Series will post weekly. Links will become available as they are published:
- Part 1 - Introduction
- Part 2 - Build and Keep Habits
- Part 3 - Tackle Problem Habits
- Part 4 - Clear Clutter
- Part 5 - Create Flow
- Part 6 - Avoid Deadline Pressures
