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 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.
