Kanban Review

Since switching majors, I've gone from the schedule and workload of a photojournalism student (odd hours, physical projects, lots of lab hours, frequent guest lecturers, morning classes) to that of a early childhood education student (lots of reading, frequent papers, observation hours, online quizzes, night classes). The adjustment is going well. I really enjoy all of my classes and am exploring a whole new field of interests. But it's been a bit of a stumble adjusting to the different type of work. I have to continually remind myself to catch up on reading or do research for that paper, something I didn't do often in photo. I've been doing ok so far (Haven't forgotten to take an online quiz yet!), but the new bulk of work has left me feeling overwhelmed.

Luckily, since productivity is a virtue, many Objectivists have found efficient means of getting through their workloads. A favorite is the Getting Things Done, or GTD method by David Allen. I plan to reread GTD and implement it once I have a better workspace, i.e. my own apartment. But till then I have my own simple productivity hack suggested by my friend Rory:



It's called a Kanban. The idea is to have 3 columns, one for things that need to get done, one for works in progress, and one for finished tasks. The works in progress are usually limited to a finite amount, in my case, 5 things to do.

And that's it. It's a very simple system. Perhaps too simple for some, but just right for my impatient, wandering mind. I like it because:

1. The limited number of works in progress allows me to prioritize what needs to get done by importance and urgency. It also allows me to focus on a small number of things, rather than a super long list that leaves me reeling. I feel much more in control when looking at my top five to-do's.
2. I LOVE the "Done" column. It seems superfluous, but it's necessary because 1) it closes any open loops so that those tasks are done for sure and I can put them aside to focus on what needs to get done now and 2) it feels wonderful to move a task from "Doing" to "Done". It concretizes that I am being productive and makes me aware when I'm idling.
3. The "To-Do" column helps me get ready for impending surges in work. For instance, I have a whole mess of application deadlines coming up. Knowing a wave of work is coming let's me mentally prepare, as well as keep my schedule open.
4. The system allows for easy switching up should priorities change.

Since putting it up I'm a lot more calm about my workload. My biggest issue at the moment is the 5 task rule on certain days when little things tend to pile up, like laundry, taking out the trash, going to the bank, etc. But otherwise it's been very effective. Now I just need to figure out how to get it up on the wall with something besides gaff tape...

Interesting Lectures

Here's a few interesting lectures from TED (Technology Entertainment Design).





Has anyone ever noticed how at the beginning of each talk the audience applauds and all stop together at the exact moment a person starts speaking? It's gotta be fake track, right?