Sophia, have you considered buying a motorscooter? Not real practical in the winter where you live, but it would for sure save you a 2 hour busride during the off times.

I have yet to find any of these productivity things useful for someone in any of my types of job (admin assist, customer service or costume shop manager) because they all seem to be about eliminating or managing interruptions. However, the interruptions ARE my job. I have to answer the phone, I have to drop everything to help my boss or my student or a customer figure out something, I have to deal with actors who need something right then. The thing is, I have to get actual work done between these. The techniques seem to suggest putting the interruptions in a box and dealing with them all at once, but the customers don't really appreciate that!

Sophia, have you considered buying a motorscooter? Not real practical in the winter where you live, but it would for sure save you a 2 hour busride during the off times.

I would, but I think I would be too scared to drive one. I can't even ride a bicycle in traffic because I feel like I am going to die!

BTW, this designer has some beautiful paper tools for productivity:

[link]

Theodosia is me. But I didn't get that from GTD; i got it from my dad, who never wears a shirt without a pocket, because he keeps a little memo pad and a pen there at all times.

It makes shopping both easier and harder for him: "No pocket, no pocket, no pocket...POCKET!!! Score!"

Also, le nun, great link! I am def going to try out some of those tools; see how they work for me!

ETA: er, le nubian, not le nun. Although I am tempted to start calling you le nun!

I don't use an overall productivity method, but I use Autofocus for my todo list management. And of course I use flylady for my home organization stuff. It was nice not to be scrambling before we left for this month-long trip.

Stuffing and cranberry plate for breakfast here. Yum.

I keep my lists for shopping, work, to do, etc on my phone. I have always had limited memory function so I developed note taking skills early.

I had seen the David Seah stuff before, but I think it's time to revisit. And oooo, Liese - that Autofocus system is tantalizing. I think that might work for my brain.

To deal with demand resistance, a strategy in acronym form from DBT: VITALS.
Validate the feeling of "don't wanna."
Imagine yourself doing the task peacefully and productively
Take small steps
Applaud yourself for making progress
Lighten the future load (think about how good it'll feel to be done)
Sweeten the pot (play music you like or promise yourself a small reward for completion)

You can use any or all of the steps that work for you. It's helpful to me to have an actual procedure to break down getting through that feeling of resistance.

Of course, I'm typing this from my bed where I'm slounging when I need to be packing. You still have to use it to make it work.

Thank you smonster.