The last couple of months I’ve been getting back in to Getting Things Done (aka GTD), which is a set of personal organization methods.  If you’re interested, check out their site, read the book and try it out.  I used GTD at work before I started Seminary, but never really implemented it in my personal life so it was very hard to adapt to the different demands of being a student.

A couple of months ago, I reread the book and actually tried to follow it as closely as I could and it has done nothing short of completely revolutionizing my life.  That sounds like an exaggeration, but I really mean it.  Not only am I dramatically more productive, but I feel happier, more dynamic, confident, responsible, patient, present for other people, etc.

One central part of these methods is a formalized “Weekly Review”.  Without explaining every step, I’ll just say it involves totally clearing the decks, taking everything you have to do now or in the future and everything on your mind and everything you might want to do someday and putting all of that “Stuff” in to your system.  For me that means little note cards in folders, but for most normal people that would mean putting it on lists, or in some software.

The result for me is an incredible sense of peace.  The author of GTD, David Allen, calls it “Mind like water” borrowing from martial arts.  Whatever you call it, it’s awesome.  I’ve also discovered that the time when I most need to review is usually exactly when I think I don’t have time for it.  Yesterday, for example, I had plans to make pulled pork tacos (Carnitas) for a community meal at my Apt complex, roast coffee with friends, go shopping for and prep taco toppings, play ultimate frisbee, buy tiny liquor bottles for a pinata at the party, and host the party or at least kick it off.

Basically, the last thing I thought I had time for was an hour long review.  I was totally stressed out and overwhelmed.  But, I managed to squeeze it in and by the time I finished, I was so glad because it meant I had zero extra stress going to that frisbee game.

They say in the book that the weekly review is central to the process and I think I understand why, it’s the one time in the week when I feel the most “on the ball”.   You’d think it would be overwhelming to look at absolutely everything, but actually it’s more overwhelming to have all of it floating out there undefined.  When you step back and look at the bigger picture of my day to day tasks and obligations, it is incredibly relaxing.

The other thing that I’ve found is that the weekly review offers a great opportunity to connect and reflect on how to live your values and vocation.  I’ve created a little meditation exercise that I follow which I will post another time.