"Do It Tomorrow - and other secrets of time management" by Mark Forster

This book was discussed in another thread (I'm move it over here). I ordered the book from amazon in the UK, and it just arrived today. Will report back after I've had a chance to read it!

 

Forster's plan for backlogs

I'm doing basically what Forster said - though I've never heard of Forster. That's interesting. Did he write book? Should I buy it? It sounds like it his ideas fit what works for me - I'd like to read more about it.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

Backlogs, Mark Forster & technique from book

Correction - he didn't say 2 hours, he was suggesting making it the first thing you do each day, or your 'current initiative'. He didn't say how long that should be, since it's whatever you can manage.

I have been meaning to review his books - oooops.
I mean, a book is a book is a book, and none of them are going to do it *for* me (damn!), but I do get frustrated when I read other books with advice such as 'Just sit down and work on whichever task you least want to do for an hour, and you'll soon find yourself making progress!'*

Well... *duh!*
If I could do that, I wouldn't have a problem!

Different organisational books are aimed at different levels - some of the ones that actually work for me, get negative reviews from people who were looking for how to colour code their filing system, or what style of box would most suit their home office. roll eyes
It's why I prefer books on organisation for ADHD, and the ones recommended here - at least they're at my 'level'.

Er, I'm getting massively sidetracked. Sorry.

Anyway, Mark Forsters advice was at least on my 'level'. He suggested overcoming resistance by just telling myself I 'only' had to do the first thing. Ie I 'only' have to open the file, his example was he 'only' had to get his lawnmower out of the shed, he didn't actually have to mow the lawn.
He suggested starting in increments of 5 minutes (rather than an hour!), if that's what worked.

One technique from 'Get Everything Done & Still have time to play' was only doing 5 minutes on each item in my task list, and repeatedly going through it and increasing it to 10 minutes, then 15 etc - I didn't
Like this:
Update CV 5 10 15 20
Water plants 5
Tidy Room 5 10 15 20
Check email 5 10
Update website 5 10 15

(it also gives you an idea of how long things take on a daily basis, so you can start just giving yourself a longer timed burst to start with if you're not resisting it)

That list thing was useful in the past, but unfortunately doesn't work for my current job.
Which. Speaking of - I should get back to.

Good luck?

* From a real, but instantly forgotten organisation book. tongue out

bought Forster's book from a store in the UK

I ordered the Forster book from the UK. The book was cheap, but the shipping was three times what the book cost. Oh well. I think it will help me. He has a Web site:

http://www.markforster.net/do-it-tomorrow/

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

Forster's book is unavailable - where did you get it?

Neither B&N nor amazon.com have the Forster book. B&N says it won't be available until November 1st. Where did you get it?

Edit... Are you in the UK, perhaps? It's available from amazon.com in the UK.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

the early morning theory intrigues me, too.

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