  |  | Improving your juggling skills:
making headway in a busy world
If you are like most of us, you probably have several projects on the go, the "In" basket on your desk is stacked high with unfinished business, your email inbox is bursting at the seems and your Blackberry is so active it’s hot to the touch. As you continue to juggle the demands, the balls get heavier and continue to increase in number. More often than you’d like, one of the balls hits the floor with a resounding THUMP.
How do you not become overwhelmed?
It’s simple: you deal with each item in a way that is concrete and that won’t allow it to get lost in a flurry of other activity. That way, your brain can forget about it and move on.
Simple—not to be confused with easy.
In his book, Getting things done: The art of stress-free productivity, author David Allen says that you have to look at each item and ask yourself some basic questions.
- Is it “actionable”? That is, do you have to do something to move it forward?
If NO, file it in one of three places: the trash can, a "Someday/Maybe" file or your "For Reference" file. Then, forget about it and move on.
If YES, go to the next question.
- Will taking care of the next step of this item take less than two minutes?
If YES, do it. Then, forget about it and move on.
If NO, either delegate it; or defer it in one of two ways:
- if there is a due date, put it on your calendar; or
- if there is no due date, put it in your “Next Actions” file to be done as soon as you can. This file should be reviewed at least weekly.
For more details on the how this process can work for you, pick up David Allen’s book, Getting things done: The art of stress-free productivity, or visit his website.
[This article was originally written by Adams Jette for the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy newsletter Bulletin. Reprinted with permission.]
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