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Operation Overdue To Do Items
Sep. 17th, 2012 10:25 amSo, I've been thinking about how to attack my way way way overdue tasks (there are so very many) and I came up with something to try and started on it today. Basically, each day, in addition to whatever's actually due that day (which I've been doing okay at staying on top of, I think) I'll also tackle whatever is at the top of my "Due over a year ago", "Due within the last year(month/week)" lists (Omnifocus is happy to organize my tasks for me this way). It only comes to 7 extra things a day, which is not so much as to be overwhelming, and eventually, if I am consistent, I'll actually be caught up. Best of all, when I do that one thing I can in good conscience close up that particular overdue list and not feel guilty about not doing more of the stuff that's on it.
Like, today one of the things that came up at the top of a list was flipping my mattress. In my head, when I flip the mattress I should take that opportunity to clear out whatever's worked it's way under the bed, and vacuum under there, and vacuum the mattress, and really I want to move the whole bed closer to the wall, and probably I should clean the ceiling fan before I do any of this, not to mention the cobwebs in the corners of the bedroom BUT today I just went ahead and flipped the mattress so that's done and all the rest of that stuff can wait its turn. If I end up pulling out a sleeping bag because I don't make the bed before tonight, that is also okay. Making the bed will come up on some list eventually.
It's pretty liberating and let's me focus on the future more than the past, which I prefer. Actually, I'm focused more on the present, because whatever is actually due today has priority. In theory, anyway. I've just started, of course, but that's the idea.
I ripped through today's overdue items pretty quickly (well, I still have to give myself a pedicure, but that is not exactly arduous (except when it is, but today I am quite determined)), so I think this is doable.
For future reference: Past Overdue tasks (per Omnifocus for iPad) as of 9/17 11 AM = 262
Like, today one of the things that came up at the top of a list was flipping my mattress. In my head, when I flip the mattress I should take that opportunity to clear out whatever's worked it's way under the bed, and vacuum under there, and vacuum the mattress, and really I want to move the whole bed closer to the wall, and probably I should clean the ceiling fan before I do any of this, not to mention the cobwebs in the corners of the bedroom BUT today I just went ahead and flipped the mattress so that's done and all the rest of that stuff can wait its turn. If I end up pulling out a sleeping bag because I don't make the bed before tonight, that is also okay. Making the bed will come up on some list eventually.
It's pretty liberating and let's me focus on the future more than the past, which I prefer. Actually, I'm focused more on the present, because whatever is actually due today has priority. In theory, anyway. I've just started, of course, but that's the idea.
For future reference: Past Overdue tasks (per Omnifocus for iPad) as of 9/17 11 AM = 262