Quote
“There is usually an inverse proportion between how much something is on your mind and how much it's getting done.”
— David Allen, in Getting Things Done (2001) · Getting Things Done →
Why it was said
David Allen makes this observation early in Getting Things Done, while explaining why unfinished commitments, which he calls open loops, keep pulling at our attention until they are captured somewhere we trust and given a next action.
What it actually means
The things that occupy our thoughts most are often the ones we have not defined: we know they matter, but not what the next step is. So the mind keeps reminding us, at the wrong moments and without moving anything forward. Allen's remedy is to get each commitment out of your head, decide the very next physical action, and keep both in a system you review. Once that is done the worry eases, because the brain no longer has to act as the reminder.
How to use it
- 1Write down everything that is on your mind right now, work and personal, on one list.
- 2For the item that bothers you most, decide the next physical action, such as emailing the supplier about the delivery date, and put it in your calendar.
- 3Review that list once a week so your mind can trust it.