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43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

The _Not_-To-Do-List

52 Projects: A Not-To-Do List

I suspect Jeffrey’s Not-To-Do list could use a place over most of our desks some days.

A few I particularly liked:

  • Do not start wading through all the magazines you subscribe to but never read.
  • Do not go to IMDB to see who that actor was in that movie you saw the other night. Or what that girl from that show from way back when is doing now.
  • Do not search for gray hairs.
  • Do not post to your blog.
  • Do not start fantasizing about sex.
  • Do not start worrying about all the time you’ve already wasted.
  • Do not put on Prince and party like it’s 1999. (Well, okay, maybe ONCE, just to get you fired up about your project.)
  • Do not start going through your closet.
  • Do not organize your spice rack.

My concern, of course, is that staring at these would be a bit like fighting the “don’t think about biting your tongue” trick; it would be all I could do not to run and queue up “Let's Pretend We're Married”.

Trejkaz's picture

Hmm, I dunno. Having...

Hmm, I dunno. Having a spice rack organised doesn't make it any more efficient to complete your project, unless your project involves cooking.

 
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