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Fast way to get unstuck

From the endlessly helpful and fascinating time burglar called the C2 wiki comes “List Your Way Out Of Stuckness.” I really like the idea behind this—particularly that notion of breaking your tasks into smaller and smaller pieces. I also just like the word “stuckness.”

Although I haven’t decided whether I think there’s a functional difference “Fears” and “Worries,” I do think this kind of exercise can be really valuable. It gets amorphous anxieties out of your brain’s echo chamber, and that’s always a good thing.

I think I’d even want to take this a step further, and, at the end of the exercise, meditate on what the brain dump meant: what’s the take-home message of all that cogitating and how can I learn from it (or not get hung up by it) in the future.

So, anyhow, I made a template and printed out a bunch of copies to keep handy. Help yourself.


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Al Nye's picture

"It gets amorphous anxieties out...

“It gets amorphous anxieties out of your brain’s echo chamber, and that’s always a good thing.”

If you say so ….

Brandon Bowman's picture

First, I'd like to thank...

First, I’d like to thank Merlin for throwing up his template, I took a peak at it and found it to be a good start. I had a couple issues, first that it printed so light on my printer it was almost unreadable, but that is on big deal, and second I wanted another field, so I whipped up a modified on in Photoshop on my iBook and I’d like to put it up for consumption. This one is in PNG format as the PDFs Photoshop spit out are kinda wonky. My Braindump Template. Cheers,

Brandon “solarce” Bowman

Risto Klint's picture

Quote: I also just like...

Quote: I also just like the word “stuckness.???

I like the word “stuckness??? as well! I also wrote a seldom used word today: “browless??? :-) You might just enjoy it - have a look!

I’m sure the template will come in handy for the madness I deal with! Thanks!

Risto

Joshua Allen's picture

Making lists is a great...

Making lists is a great procrastination technique. However, I found the list of worries is quite effective. During stressful times, I would keep a whiteboard in my bedroom and write on it “5 things to worry about”. Then I could imagine the very worst that could possibly happen, and go to sleep knowing that I would not forget to worry in the morning.

Slacker Manager's picture

GTD/Lifehacks Roundup This post won't surprise...

GTD/Lifehacks Roundup

This post won’t surprise anyone paying attention to the recent GTD frenzy, but I needed a summary, just for my own reference and figured others might too.

Life As A Knot's picture

http://WWW.tsuibhne.net/knot/archives/000456.html 43 Folders: F

http://WWW.tsuibhne.net/knot/archives/000456.html

43 Folders: Fast way to get unstuck…

About Merlin Mann

Merlin Mann's picture

Bio

Merlin Mann is an independent writer, speaker, and broadcaster. He’s best known for being the guy who started the website you’re reading right now. He lives in San Francisco, does lots of public speaking, and helps make cool things like You Look Nice Today. Also? He looks like this, answers questions, and has something like a life.

 
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