18: Living with Boxes

As Caitie's move progresses to the unpacking phase, Max asks a timely question: "At any given moment, how do you know what to work on?" The Priority team proceeds to drop some serious to-do list science. Max can't remember what David Allen's "Four Criteria Model for Choosing Actions in the Moment" is called, but he recites it perfectly. Given Caitie's current project, the discussion turns to prioritizing tasks in less-than-optimal circumstances—with more to do than you can do, and when facing exhaustion or overwhelm. But despite the name of the podcast, it's not really about "setting priorities," per se. Not all actions are equal, but checking off even the lowest-priority task beats doing nothing. After all, it all has to get unpacked sooner or later (just don't use that example with Caitie for a week or two. Touchy subject).

As Caitie's move progresses to the unpacking phase, Max asks a timely question: "At any given moment, how do you know what to work on?" 

The Priority team proceeds to drop some serious to-do list science. Max can't remember what David Allen's "Four Criteria Model for Choosing Actions in the Moment" is called, but he recites it perfectly. Given Caitie's current project, the discussion turns to prioritizing tasks in less-than-optimal circumstances—with more to do than you can do, and when facing exhaustion or overwhelm.

But despite the name of the podcast, it's not really about "setting priorities," per se. Not all actions are equal, but checking off even the lowest-priority task beats doing nothing. After all, it all has to get unpacked sooner or later (just don't use that example with Caitie for a week or two. Touchy subject).

Links: 

Selfie | Wikipedia

Wookieepedia | Star Wars Wiki

Time Management | Wikipedia

Priority Episode No. 2: "[verb] the One You're With" | Podcast Episode

Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Getting Things Done by David Allen | Amazon

"Procrastination: Oops, Where Did the Day Go?" by Timothy Pychyl | Pyschology Today

Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy F. Baumeister and John Tierney | Amazon

"American Woman" (song) | Wikipedia

"The 6 Horizons of Focus" | The David Allen Company

"Getting Things Done: Making the Best Action Choices" by Trent Hamm | The Simple Dollar

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (A New Edition for 2015) by David Allen | Amazon

Serial (podcast) | Wikipedia

Microsoft Outlook | Wikipedia

Priority Episode No. 16: "Time, Cost, Quality, or Cupholder?" | Podcast Episode

Work-Life Balance | Wikipedia

Opportunity Cost | Wikipedia

John Roderick (musician) | Wikipedia

True Blood | Wikipedia

Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Wikipedia

Extraversion and Introversion | Wikipedia

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain | Amazon

Priority Episode No. 17: "Jedi Body" | Podcast Episode

Topographical Map | Wikipedia

Feminism | Wikipedia