So I am now reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  I have heard about this book for a long time, but I always resisted reading it.  I’m not sure why I was resisting it, as it is a very good book, and I agree with much of the content within it.  The reason I finally picked it up was because I have started to use a FranklinCovey planner (yes, a paper planner).  I was intrigued by some of the pages within it that have you identify your values and write a personal mission statement, so I decided to pick up the book.

So I have been doing a lot of reading and searching on the web on organization and time management.  I’ve read Getting Things Done, and have figured out it’s just not for me.  While searching on the internet I ran across Mark Forster.  I started doing some of the things I found on his website and my productivity increased.  More importantly, my stress level has gone way done.

Mark is beta-testing a new time management system right now, called AutoFocus.  While the concepts in AutoFocus are interesting, I have been reading his book “Do It Tomorrow“.  I have been implementing some pieces of DIT, and I have to say it is actually working for me (something that GTD failed horribly to do).  I really like the ideas in it, as well as the fact that he expects you to be a person, instead of a superman.

Highly recommended.

I seem to make this same resolution every year.  To get organized.  To stop having stuff overflowing from every horizontal surface.  To know what is going on, to keep good notes, do things on time, and not forget stuff.  It never quite seems to work out the way I want it to.

Right now at both work and home, I have stuff piled up on my desk that needs to be done, filed, or just plain thrown away.  My filing systems are in disarray, my email is overflowing, and I am exhausted from information overload.  I keep far too many things for no good reason, and am loath to toss or get rid of anything that I once thought was cool, or that I used a lot, even though I don’t use it anymore.

Still, I need to get a handle on all this stuff.  I plan to sell off, give away, or toss most of the physical.  It has all become stuff I rarely use, or just plain don’t need.  I’ve already cut down on my books, and have even disposed of my collection of Analog SF magazine.  There’s lots more to get rid of, and of course to organize into some semblance of sanity.

Wish me luck.