{"id":18925,"date":"2017-06-08T09:48:41","date_gmt":"2017-06-08T08:48:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.next-action.co.uk\/?p=18925"},"modified":"2017-06-08T09:50:19","modified_gmt":"2017-06-08T08:50:19","slug":"speak-brain-want-get-things-done","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.next-action.co.uk\/2017\/06\/08\/speak-brain-want-get-things-done\/","title":{"rendered":"How to speak to your brain when you want to get more things done"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

When setting out to do work, how we define our projects and tasks has a huge impact on whether we\u2019ll make good choices in terms of doing the right thing, keep working, overcoming procrastination and even simply getting started. This is an actual (sic) transcription of a conversation with my brain to throw some insight into how to capture projects, size and write tasks for maximum productivity.<\/p>\n

Me \u2013 Morning Brain, are you ready to get work?<\/p>\n

Brain \u2013 Hmmm, that depends \u2013 what have you got for me to do?<\/p>\n

Me \u2013 Well, we\u2019re working at home today so we can do almost anything on our lists, but the first thing I\u2019d like to do is to pay a supplier, as he\u2019s sent us an IBAN number for a European bank.<\/p>\n

Brain \u2013 Whoa, slow down there cowboy, a payment for European bank? Have we done this before? I don\u2019t think so, that sounds difficult\u2026 How about putting the kettle on, let\u2019s get coffee, I know how to do that.<\/p>\n

The science bit – Piers Steel, an organisational psychologist, states that tasks that we have a low self confidence level to complete (i.e. ones which are difficult to do or we haven\u2019t done before) cause procrastination. The key here is to reduce the difficulty of the task. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Me \u2013 OK, I clearly put that into my system incorrectly, as we actually have more than one action, and it might even be a very small project. Let\u2019s try again. How about we go to Google and just check out how to make an international payment?<\/p>\n

Brain \u2013 Go to Google and check something out\u2026 OK, we\u2019ve done that before – I can do that.<\/p>\n

Me \u2013 (5 mins later) Hey, it seems really easy to pay the bill. In fact, it\u2019s just like making a domestic payment. Let\u2019s keep going, shall we?<\/p>\n

Brain \u2013 Well, now that I\u2019ve done that task I\u2019m feeling pretty good about myself \u2013 OK, go for it.<\/p>\n

The science bit \u2013 Steel says our brains have a desire for immediate gratification, and when we complete something, not only do we get a chemical hit that makes us feel better, but our confidence to complete goes up. As a result, our willpower outweighs the task so it\u2019s easy to keep going. It\u2019s OK to put a small task into your GTD system as a means of getting going, and then having done that, work on until you can\u2019t do any more due to time or resources. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Me \u2013 Well done Brain, now I\u2019d like to have a look at a project that\u2019s become\u00a0blocked and see if we can create a next action to move it on.<\/p>\n

Brain \u2013 OK, I\u2019m feeling good, we paid that bill didn\u2019t we, let\u2019s crush it! What\u2019s the project called?<\/p>\n

Me \u2013 Well, I\u2019ve written it as \u2018Magician\u2019.<\/p>\n

Brain \u2013 Oh man, you are kidding me\u2026 what am I supposed to do with that?! \u00a0Have we to get a Magician\u2019s kit for the kids, book a magic show, or are you hoping that I\u2019ll magically know what to do next?<\/p>\n

The science bit \u2013 the central executive in our brain requires that we use different lenses to see the end of a project and make decisions on what to do next. Therefore, we have to be able to switch between both images. Recent research at the Dominican University states that if we have a clear outcome and have defined a next action, we are up to 67% more likely to complete the project. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Me \u2013 OK, let me describe what \u2018done\u2019 looks like. \u2018We\u2019ve hired a kid\u2019s magician for our son\u2019s birthday party on the 10th<\/sup> December.\u2019<\/p>\n

Brain \u2013 Fine, can you capture that in our GTD system so that I\u2019m always clear on the gap between what needs to be delivered and where we are now? So, what\u2019s next to do, and remember, I like to see tasks in 20 minute chunks and written so that I know exactly what I have to do. I get tired easily you know.<\/p>\n

Me \u2013 Great, it\u2019s captured, the next action is to call the magician and see if he\u2019s available.<\/p>\n

Brain \u2013 Have you got the number?<\/p>\n

Me \u2013 No.<\/p>\n

Brain \u2013 Well the next action is to get the number \u2013 sometimes I despair!<\/p>\n

Me \u2013 Sorry, let\u2019s have a cup of tea, can you remind me later?<\/p>\n

Brain \u2013 No, as you know, I\u2019m only good for remembering 2-3 things at any one time.<\/p>\n

The science bit \u2013 our brain is mostly stimulated to remember things by the outside environment, for example you may be at the supermarket and see note paper which reminds you that you have a report to write. Trying to use our brains to remember things will only work if an event creates an emotional reaction and you can\u2019t help but forget it (your first kiss \u2013 you\u2019re thinking about it now right, even though you weren\u2019t a moment ago), or you use lots and lots of repetition, but even then an external memory system helps you to remember. A doctor does not go about all day thinking about knees and all their associated disorders, it\u2019s only when they see a knee that the information is retrieved. So, create an external system for remembering what to do.\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Me \u2013 I\u2019ve put \u2018get a number for the magician\u2019 into our list.<\/p>\n

Brain \u2013 Great, how about a coffee?<\/p>\n

Me \u2013 Latte, flat white, cappuccino, cortado?<\/p>\n

Brain \u2013 Oh for goodness sake, just put the kettle on!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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