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

technology overload?

Last night I had trouble with my computer and became extremely panicked when I couldn't work, couldn't check my email, couldn't surf the net... I couldn't even call my parents because I don't have their phone number memorized.

I started to feel like I've gone on technology overload. I mean, I buy this nice computer, then I spend all this time trying to find the perfect apps for it or the perfect wallpaper or how to make it distraction free-- and what does it add up to? Me dependant on something and not really getting much work done.

Even the lo-fi forum seems to fall into the perfection trap-- the perfect moleskine, the perfect fountain pen. Is it all just a waste of time.

I mean, Cormac McCarthy wrote one of the best books I read last year (The Road) on a portable manual typewriter.

Do you ever feel trapped like I do?

And how do I get out?

Stew's picture

I know what you mean...

johnfitzgerald;8036 wrote:
I know what you mean about the trap of embellishing/refining a 'perfect' system- it can become a very big distraction from actually putting the system to use. I know I tweak my system more than I'd like to.

I went through a period when I first started GTD where I'd overhaul my system every few days. Lofi. Hifi. Lofi. Moleskine. Index cards. Composition book. Hifi again. Circa . Of course, learning how different systems worked for me was fun. I just can't believe I wasted so much time doing it. Now my tweaks are much more on the minor scale. I've come to accept the fact that it will never be exactly perfect. Planning complex projects is rarely a walk in the park, but I've made it a tolerable and sometimes fun process.

 
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