Get 'er Done!

A typical day at the office. Note the sticky notes (several sizes and colors) the crowded in box and the paper on the right that needs to be filed.

Another stack that needs to be filed or put back into binders.

A screen capture from my Iphone of the app "Easy Task".

This time of year there are many distractions at school. There is no normal schedule anymore. Prep time is used to attend IEPs. Music practices take some students out of class. Visits to the middle school take everyone out of the building for half the day. And it’s hard to ignore the beautiful weather. Add in a track meet, 25k run, my son’s birthday, self diagnosed adult ADD, sleep deprivation, CEP 810 -- there is a lot on my mind. So far, the Getting Things Done philosophy has helped get some of these things out of my mind because I have a plan in place.

I had a difficult time following the blog by Kelli Forrister due to the updating of her files. So I looked up GTD and David Allen. I even downloaded his podcasts to listen to in the car. After listening to a couple of his first podcasts, I was ready to collect what I had on my mind. I’ve always been a sticky note/scrap paper type of guy. I am always writing something down and sticking it my pocket. I'lI start the day at school making a list of materials I need related to the lesson plans and leave room for a running to-do list. I write things in the corner of the whiteboard when something comes up in class. It worked (or so I thought). I often wrote the same things over and over (e.g. plan next LA meeting, type out track letter, organize science and LA folders, etc.) The papers kept piling up on my desk. I thought it was time to reinvent myself.

I knew I could use paper and pencil, but I didn’t need another stack of paper on my desk or another note going through the washing machine. So I went to my iphone. I found a free app called “Easy Task.” It uses similar buzzwords as the GTD system such as “next action.” I have been adding things to the list as they pop into my head. T-ball game. Got it. LA meeting idea. Done. Follow up with a call to NASA (Yes, that NASA. For a tile from the space shuttle I heard about on Twitter. Found out my new principal went to Space Camp. Yeah! Brownie Points.) I can sort my actions by importance, due date, or type of action. I can even sync it with some calendars (Google calendar is not one of them. Shucks!).

Going through the GTD process is slow right now. I am still thinking about how I am thinking about GTD. I forget to enter dates when I use Easy Task. At first I didn’t like it. But then I realized, when listening to Allen, is that I’ve done a lot of this before. If I were to create a lesson on getting organized for my students, I would create similar tasks. It is really the easiest way to stay organized. I am beginning to like it. I now get the sense that my CEP 810 instructors created the task calendar with GTD in mind (Begin... Due...).

I think this process will help me. I can be heard muttering, “If it takes less than two minutes, do it!” I spend a few minutes each morning while my computer is turning on to file the papers that need to go back into cabinets or binders. I went through my physical inbox at school and purged many things that I realistically will not complete (ISD classes I thought were interesting, old memos I have taken action on already, LA department meeting minutes that need to be filed with the head secretary). I have reestablished my priorities. Most importantly, I do feel less stress. I feel I can see what I need to do with the push of a button. I can see today, the next week and some things I already want to complete over the summer... (Pause to enter CEP 810 assignments now)... I’m back. Yes, I see GTD as helpful.
I will continue to try GTD. If I can use it the rest of the school year and for my tasks over the summer, I feel I will be more comfortable with it as the school year approaches (and the family trip to Disney). As one instructor said, “Even if you don’t use this exactly, your thought process is much different. You’ll never look at assessments the same way again.” I can insert organization where assessment is in that sentence, and it will be true. Get the task on paper; get the idea on paper, and then follow up on it!