Tasks

The last few years have been a healing process: recovering from preceding years which appeared to be as hyper-productive as they were unhealthy. I’m ready to re-engage with the art of completing tasks without spending myself and my family in the process. I’m in the process of retraining my executive function muscles.

So much of my early, anxiety-driven productivity life was filled with a revolving door of task management techniques. Years ago, I settled on the Getting Things Done (GTD) method. For me, it has the most logic, sustainability, and ease of restarting when I’m in periods of being unable to keep a flow of completing tasks.

When I burned out (and was functionally forced to rest), I let task-management go. Lots of projects didn’t get done. Much to my surprise, so many projects that felt absolutely necessary were absolutely not. 

My past self used to believe the only thing stopping every task from getting done was a better system. Even though I know it’s not true, my current self still believes it. My task completion process is often brought to a standstill in the wake of the overwhelming number of seemingly-important tasks surrounding every corner of my life.

I can’t do it all. I can’t do A LOT of things I somehow believe I have time for and want to do. I believe I’m capable of doing anything I put my mind to. It is, however, time for me to be realistic about what deserves my time. 

Curiosity is my skill and my kryptonite. I have many special interests that don’t always serve my goals.

I don’t need to better conceptualize the fourth dimension; solve a Rubik’s cube in less than ten seconds; practice driving eighteen-wheelers without one to practice with (I’ve never actually driven one); learn self-defense techniques I can’t practice in person; learn about yachts I’d never even want to own; be a better practitioner of game-theory; study more about how the theory of relativity is no longer accurate or more proven; read articles about string theory’s impact on our future discoveries; figure out better ways to explain the day-to-day impact of inverse square law to musicians and filmmakers; learn how to protect my family from the after effects of nearby nuclear bombs; build furniture that puts Eames to shame (which I don’t and haven’t); roast coffee I don’t like because it’s “better;” or anything else that doesn’t directly impact my current life or goals.

My current and specific business goal is to continue to build residual income. My paths to continued financial success are almost all licensing related: partnership performance and licensable digital asset/content creation.

I love having an organized garage, sharp chisels, a tuned piano, an organized pantry, a well-maintained yard, a clean vehicle, a clean home, clean laundry, a happy family, happy friends, and health. Unfortunately, the futile chase of all of these existing together at all times is fatiguing, distracting, and life-sucking. It’s time for a reframe.

Tasks take time. Time is limited. Limits help me prioritize.

Starting next week, my goals are to start writing more music, understand the music industry (in the ways that fit my specific goals), and to continue to create and post more stock footage.