From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Marcin Borkowski Subject: Re: An Org-based productivity tool Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2018 10:19:18 +0200 Message-ID: <87pnwd9bzt.fsf@mbork.pl> References: <87efcxaibq.fsf@mbork.pl> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Return-path: Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([2001:4830:134:3::10]:50143) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1gBbdn-0006In-6h for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sun, 14 Oct 2018 04:20:48 -0400 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1gBbdj-0007tU-DL for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sun, 14 Oct 2018 04:20:47 -0400 Received: from mail.mojserwer.eu ([195.110.48.8]:34240) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1gBbdh-0007so-HC for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sun, 14 Oct 2018 04:20:41 -0400 In-reply-to: List-Id: "General discussions about Org-mode." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Sender: "Emacs-orgmode" To: Peter Neilson Cc: emacs-orgmode@gnu.org On 2018-10-11, at 16:57, Peter Neilson wrote: > On Thu, 11 Oct 2018 10:03:15 -0400, Bingo wrote: > >> Le 10 octobre 2018 21:45:53 GMT+05:30, Marcin Borkowski >> a =C3=A9crit : >> >>> >>> - a warning when my efficiency is lower than a set value, and info >>> about >>> how much work I need to do to bump it up to that value. >>> >> >> Nice, but it has an anti-feature. For procrastinators, warnings >> frequently have negative effects. It can be understood in multiple >> ways : >> >> 1. "What the hell" effect : As Dr Art Marckman tells in the book >> "Smart Change" , there is a "what the hell" effect where the victim >> goofs off even more to the extent of giving up a goal if he realizes >> that he is falling behind schedule, or has goofed off more than was >> advisable. The solution is to forgive oneself, and not beat oneself >> up. This warning looks like beating oneself up. >> >> 2. Showing how much work needs to be done to catch up goes against >> some self improvement philosophies. E.g. dividing work into subtasks >> helps in not getting overwhelmed by the amount of work. Or the >> recommendation to plan breaks in addition to planning to slog, >> otherwise the plan to slog becomes overwhelming and procrastinators >> give up. >> >> Of course, if it works for you, go for it. > > Sabotage of the TODO list ... > > Managing the flow of my own work sometimes runs into unintended > sabotage, perpetrated by others or by me. The offending tasks are > often large, incapable of division, and not immediately crucial. For > example, somewhere in the middle of my list of "Get it done some other > time, but not now," tasks is this one: "Repair the International 454 > tractor." It rests comfortably on that list unless I either (1) need > to use that tractor, or (2) hear my wife telling me, "Why don't you > ever get the 454 running? You never get anything done around here! > I need to use its bucket, and the Mahindra doesn't have one." From > that point onward, and my "TODO" thoughts about writing, about > programming, or about training horses are derailed. In case (1) I need > to figure out some other approach, like maybe using the Mahindra. In > case (2) my wife is right--as always--and my tendency is to stop doing > anything at all. > > My org mode TODO list is absolutely no help when I encounter one of > these show-stoppers. If anything, the list is an additional albatross > adding to my already encroaching depression. Have you heard about Beeminder? (Note: I'm a user, but I have no financial interest in recommending them. Also, I made an Emacs/Org-mode client for their software.) It is my primary way of staying on track with my TODOs. This tool is just a helper. Best, -- Marcin Borkowski http://mbork.pl