I stole this idea from Andy of Vistage group 914 today – thanks Andy!
Two Desks
Andy’s idea is to have a box 2 desk and a box 3 desk.
People who have been on my time management course will remember that some tasks, which I call box 2, are urgent but not important. These are the all the hassle, the emails, the junk that HAS to be done, and which people are waiting for, the jobs the are maintenance rather than progress, …..that probably fills 50% of our days – or more!
So you would have one desk for this, with a computer connected to email, and papers all over it where you’re working on things.
And then…..
you’d have your box 3 desk, for the things that are important but not urgent. The things that don’t have to be done today but which will make your life better and your business more successful if you do them. Things that are easy to procrastinate, and which need concentration, and a decent chunk of uninterrupted time. If you have smaller easier or more fun tasks on your desk you’ll leave the hard stuff and do those instead.
So on your box 3 desk you have a clear surface, phone switched off, no landline, no emails, maybe not even a computer, or maybe one with only Word and Excel on it. All the petty junk is just shoved over onto your Box 2 desk, which needs to be out of eye sight – maybe behind you. you could just swivel your chair around 180 degrees to get to the other desk, or, perhaps even better, go to a different room for a chunk of quiet productive box 3 time each day.
And what’s even better, is that if you’re neglecting box 3 you’ll know, because you won’t have been over to that other desk for a while.
What a great idea – thanks Andy!
Leave a Reply