Chapter 2 & 3 Response

Shobna Khunkhun

In this weeks readings, I found it to be more practically applicable than last weeks introductory reading. The author provided a detailed flow chart and explanation on exactly how to start closing the open loops of stuff that we collect in your minds. In order to start closing those open loops one can follow the five stages of work flow model: Collect, Process, Organize, Review, Do. The first stage, collect, asks us to simply gather the papers, notes, emails, all of the “stuff” in our heads and place them into specific in-baskets. The process and organization stages seem to be the next most important factors and basis of the model. Both emphasize how to define and assess each thing in your in-basket and further plan an action accordingly. One thing I found very interesting was the authors mention that “you  can’t organize what’s incoming--you can only collect and process it. Instead, you organize the actions you’ll need to take based on the decision you’ve made about what needs to be done” (31). I found this intriguing because it conceptually differentiated process from organization--incoming stuff can be collected and processed but only actions can be organized. While the two are conceptually different, the only thing I had a bit of difficulty with is differentiated the flow charts between the process and organization stages; how are these two stages practically different? Additionally, in the organization stage, I found it helpful when the author defined specific uses for a calendar (i.e time-specific action, day-specific actions and day-specific information),  and the uses for the next action lists for planning steps of a project. I love to make lists, but my to-do lists end up being extremely long an not useful when it comes to implementation. Placing actions on calendars and next action lists might be something extremely useful because it turns the list into categorically specific actionable items. The main points of this reading was how to get all of the “stuff”, thoughts, to-lists out of our heads-so they don’t linger in our psyche-then to process and take action; literally (in a sense) clearing your mind without having to take a yoga class.