Comments on: Getting things done the dirty way

By: How Do I Keep My Sanity? | So You Want To Teach?

How Do I Keep My Sanity? | So You Want To Teach? — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 18:13:05 +0000

[...] Eliminate clutter I have previously mentioned my clean desk. Get rid of superfluous crap. The way to do it is to throw stuff away. If it hurts you to throw away all of those Christmas gifts you’ve received from students, take a picture of them and then chunk them. You don’t need desk decorations. I have one inbox and one outbox. They are on top of a filing cabinet; not on my desk. The only things that live on my desk are my computer and my phone. I am trying to find a computer cart so I can clear it.In my desk drawer, I try to maintain no more than three pens, two pencils, a highlighter, and a pad of paper. Use a filing system and use your free time (conference period, lunch period, etc.) to file. I’m not going to rehash David Allen’s entire GTD system (although I do plan on finally reading the book this summer), but I will point you to some great sites that refer to it. And a variation. It will definitely create a much more peaceful work environment for you. [...]

By: How Do You Keep Your Sanity? | So You Want To Teach?

How Do You Keep Your Sanity? | So You Want To Teach? — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:48:36 +0000

By: Questions That Will Save Your Career: Question 7 | So You Want To Teach?

Questions That Will Save Your Career: Question 7 | So You Want To Teach? — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:32:33 +0000

[...] In my desk drawer, I try to maintain no more than three pens, two pencils, a highlighter, and a pad of paper. Use a filing system and use your free time (conference period, lunch period, etc.) to file. I’m not going to rehash David Allen’s entire GTD system (although I do plan on finally reading the book this summer), but I will point you to some great sites that refer to it. And a variation. It will definitely create a much more peaceful work environment for you. [...]

By: One Snarky Chica with Issues » Blog Archive » Issues link roundup for 6/3 - 6/9

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 00:48:05 +0000

[...] Getting things done: The Dirty Dishes Method at Steve Aitchison’s Change Your Thoughts blog An excellent GTD article that focuses on breaking down tasks in order to accomplish them. This method really does work, especially if the task is something that you don’t really want to do. [...]

By: gadgotra

gadgotra — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 10:23:58 +0000

Great advice for dish washing!

By: Steven Aitchison

Steven Aitchison — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 20:58:53 +0000

hi Marc, you’re right however a lot of people look at the whole project and get dismayed sometimes by the enormity of it. You’re right though it’s great to break the project down, whatever it is.

By: Marc

Marc — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 18:37:37 +0000

Breaking down large projects into multiple sub-tasks is the key to completing any project correctly… Only then will you be able to accurately evaluate the problems at hand.

By: Steven Aitchison

Steven Aitchison — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 11:04:46 +0000

Hi Robyn

Thats a great point. I have some great conversations with my sons when doing the dishes together and they seem to open up a bit more when doing the dishes, my wife has said this on many occasions.

By: Robyn McMaster

Robyn McMaster — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 10:24:07 +0000

Steve, my mom taught me to put all the glasses in hot, sudsy water first. Her rationale was that if I did not the glasses would come out spotted and dirty. Next the silver went in for the same reason. And, pots and pans were to be last — and those dirtiest of all at the tail end on the chore.

This process involves the left side of the brain – our great organizer.

I’ve not veered from the method except when modern technology entered the picture and I bought a dishwahser and learned a whole new process.

I talked to Mom while doing dishes – had some deep conversations. The dishwasher took the personal element away in a sense.

Thought you’d enjoy this perspective, Steven. Haven’t thought about it in years.