Post it notes and time management

I just had a sort of minor epiphany when thinking about my time management issues. I make a lot of notes on physical post it sticky notes, and virtual ones on the computer. And a lot of times I won't even do the things, and end up with a mass of notes and things I could do.

I remember reading an article on SOTT, which I cannot find now, that when you write down something that it relieves the pressure of having it in your mind so to speak and categorizes it. And this is rewarding enough in itself that you don't feel you need to go through with it and complete it. I think this is exactly what I do, and the note is just a meaning less few words or sentence.

But maybe it's just life going on and more important things coming first? I have some notes that should just be put away and archived, removed from my space in front of me. Assuming they contain some form of important information. So I think I amass these notes and they just no longer have the initial importance because I wrote them down. But maybe they really aren't important. Maybe it's thinking that every thought is something to remember and carries a lot of weight. I think there may be some faulty thinking on the importance of these things, and the list should be absolute essentials. I have a hard time letting go of the old notes, but maybe archiving them and just getting them out of sight is a way to do that.

But as to my minor epiphany, I was thinking that to resolve this issue: when you make a note put a date on it. Then wait one day and see how important it still is to you. If not delete it or cross it out / throw it away. If it is, wait a week. Repeat the process. I suppose you could wait a month or multiple months, and I do in fact have notes from many months ago (and some little post its years old notes too :P). But usually after a month, if you haven't done it, you're probably not going to. I've heard this can be applied to getting rid of possessions in general, ask yourself if you've used it within the last month.

I've read about lists and the benefits of making notes on SOTT, but I think they can be detrimental too. Maybe there's enough dopamine produced in the categorizing and writing them down. But my dating the notes idea I guess is a remedy for post it madness. And sometimes it's good to start with a clean slate.

I carry a little notebook in my bag. I make a list in the morning of what I need to get done that day. Big and small stuff. It feels good to cross things off the lists. 80% is a good day. Sometimes I find old to do lists. I agree, a lot of the little stuff doesn't seem so important a week or a month down the road. I tend to procrastinate, so not getting the big stuff done leaves me soon facing a mountain of a to do monster. Which makes me want to RUN AWAY!

3D Student said:

But as to my minor epiphany, I was thinking that to resolve this issue: when you make a note put a date on it. Then wait one day and see how important it still is to you. If not delete it or cross it out / throw it away. If it is, wait a week. Repeat the process. I suppose you could wait a month or multiple months, and I do in fact have notes from many months ago (and some little post its years old notes too :P). But usually after a month, if you haven't done it, you're probably not going to. I've heard this can be applied to getting rid of possessions in general, ask yourself if you've used it within the last month.

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Starting with a clean slate sounds like a good idea, 3D Student. I also think that, in order to resolve the issue, you will need to tackle it from several angles. Our 'machines' are pretty darn complex, after all.

For example, your epiphany targets the cognitive aspect of the problem, and perhaps even a bit of the emotional aspect, but I'm wondering if there isn't also some sort of toxicity or deficiency in your body at play here too.

The medical detectives on the forum likely know much better about this, but I am aware that there is a link between bacterial infections and OCD-type symptoms. Magnesium deficiency can also lead to anxiety issues, which can exacerbate compulsive behaviors, like compulsive note-taking. If you're taking iodine and cofactors, and following the iodine thread and the clues found there, it seems to me that this would help you heal any possible physical aspects.

Cognitively, I think that you're on the right track. Perhaps short, 10 minute meditations would help you too. And there's always the fact that, if you're giving yourself 'things to do' it's best to make sure you give yourself 'things you can actually do' and 'things you actually want to do'. What do your notes consist of? Are they practical, are they important for you to actually maintain and move forward in your life, towards your Aim? It's important to recognize and be honest about where we are at.

Emotionally it is important to recognize what emotions are lurking around, holding us back, defeating us in advance. Being patient and 'trusting the process' will help, I think. If you have to throw a note away because you didn't get around to it, and it's really not that important, that's 100% fine! If you're writing notes because you feel better about it, and that's the only purpose it really serves, then surely there is a better way to meet that need, right?

In all I think that just opening up about this issue shows you are on the right track to finding the solution to your problem, so congrats and good luck 3D Student!