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June 27, 2008

Going Numb to Reminders

A smoke detector works because you drop everything when it goes off in case of emergency. Your door bell works because you answer the door when it rings knowing it means someone is there. A reminder on your calendar works because it gets you to focus on something timely--or does it?

Feel like you've gone numb to the Reminder windows that pop up on your Calendar? (Hint: answer yes if you find yourself clicking snooze or dismiss most of the time when you see that window.) Don't feel bad. Most programs are built to help you to go numb to those Reminder because they set them on everything that is timed.

I'm not saying don't use reminders--just use them sparingly so that when they go off, they actually mean something.

Outlook is famous for putting reminders on everything by default. To turn them off by default go to Tools>Options>Calendar options and uncheck the reminders box:

When you really do want to be reminded of something timely, just manually check off the Reminders box within the entry:

In Lotus Notes, the same setting is under Tools>Preferences>Calendar & To Do>Alarms:

And the place to manually set the ones you do want in Notes is in the top right-hand corner of any entry:

In Google Calendar, check under Settings>Notifications.

I've never found I've needed reminders all that much, as long as I scan my Calendar often enough throughout the day. When I start my day, I typically open--and keep open--3 things:

My Calendar
My Inbox
My Action lists

Hope this helps!

Posted by Kelly at 03:08 PM | Comments (6)

June 21, 2008

@BrainToast

It's 4pm on a Friday. You want to keep cranking through stuff (at least until the boss leaves) but you know you're mentally fried and know you really don't have any business doing important things or talking to important people. That's a perfect time for a context called @BrainToast:

Posted by Kelly at 11:35 AM | Comments (13)

June 07, 2008

GTD & personality types

While GTD may not be for everyone, I think there's something it in for anyone. In fact, it's often fascinating to see the range of people who are attracted to GTD. In any given month I can be doing GTD classes for Baptist camp directors, Wall Street brokers, software engineers, admins and actors. You would also be amazed at how people implement GTD and what they find valuable. I've had incredibly technical people decide to keep their lists on paper. I've had artists love the system because it helps them be more creative and wanted to keep their lists online. I've had power planners have major "Ah-ha" moments from working with the less linear part of their brain doing something like mindmapping, during Natural Planning Model (p.54 of the book).

Someone recently wrote to me and asked:
David has occasionally made reference to Myers Briggs personality types and I wondered if anyone has worked out whether some of the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicators) fit better with GTD than others.

For instance, I'm an ISTJ and GTD comes naturally to me. My wife is an ENFP and it doesn't come at all easy to her. When we did the GTD-Q analysis (A GTDConnect feature) she, not surprisingly came out as a Visionary/Crazy Maker and I came out as a Captain/Commander. We make a great team!!

But I wondered if, in your coaching experiences, you'd ever used MBTI and whether you've seen any tie-up with willingness or aptitude to GTD?

My response:
Good question. I have not seen any formal review of GTD and types, although we've all encountered the differences in coaching and seminars. Our staff has gone through many assessment tests so we are both familiar with them and know how to work well with each other and our clients.

Some types will be more attracted to tracking than others. Even within tracking, some will want a less linear system than others. Some will want to do more planning versus just diving in and doing. Specific to Myers-Briggs, here are a few resources I have found interesting:

Out of Time: How the 16 types manage their time and work
Type Talk at Work

By the way, according to Myers-Briggs, I'm an ENFJ and my husband is an INTP. We couldn't be more opposite in that respect and we work fantastically together!

I think personality type tests are interesting, if they are used in the spirit of learning who we are and how to leverage our strengths. I've also seen them help people relax and accept some part of themselves that they previously had been pressuring themselves to change. If you tend to be a crazy maker, then enjoy being a crazy maker!

Posted by Kelly at 10:20 AM | Comments (2)