Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.
Kids and targets
soprina | Apr 23 2007
I'm brand new to GTD, I've just opened the door by listening to Merlin's productive talk comp podcast. There are a lot of things that are in my head that I know I need to organise and simplify, things that i passionately want to do/accomplish...BUT! No matter how many lists I make or ideas I capture I can't change the fact that I have small children with big demands on my time. So I suppose all I can do for now is plod along knowing I will get to those things when I can. The hardest thing is ignoring my music. But I can't record or practice while the kids are awake because they need my attn and I can't make that much noise when they're asleep. We are not in a position to build a studio or hire a nanny like Jonathon Coulton who Merlin interviewed recently on The Merlin Show, so for now that just has to be on my to do in the future list. But then when I really think about it, I'll be back at work next year and the kids will still be home when I am, so where and when does the reality of this dream happen. I think I was happier when I was just thinking I'd get to it once they're at school. Now I feel like I need a plan. Good grief. I'm also studying again right now and I'm trying to get into this GTD mindset to improve my performance there too. Maybe one thing at a time, but that doesn't seem to be the GTD way, thats letting things fall through the cracks. Any suggestions from GTD experts out there! 4 Comments
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 I think that GTD could...Submitted by BMEguy on April 30, 2007 - 5:36pm.
I think that GTD could help you in two ways: 1. If you have a very clear next actions list, you won't waste any of your precious kid down-time (whatever that is that happens to free your attention up) thinking of what you can do. Likely you'll already be a little drained from keeping up with them (I have a toddler of my own) and your brain will have a little bit of resistance to thinking up something new to keep you busy. It might trick you by thinking, "I have to keep the noise down, so there's nothing really productive that I can accomplish right now--maybe it's best just to rest a little." 2. Be diligent about keeping your Someday/maybe list. Having kids will definitely mean that somethings get postponed, but too often our little micro-dreams (those little things that make up our larger life plans) fade from our memory under the tide of day-to-day living and activities. My wife was pretty excited when we found a printmaking art exchange online last May. I saw the bookmark in the browser list the other day and asked her if she was still intending to make that one of her goals, and even though she hadn't completely forgotten about it, she hadn't thought about it in months. The someday/maybe list can help rekindle those little bursts of excitement we have as we think about the possibilities that lie ahead. » POSTED IN:
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