GTD 2006.37: Coping with Open Loop Paralysis

Are you suffering from Open Loop Paralysis? Just about every GTDer comes down with malady at one time or another: the sheer weight of all the things on your plate just drags you down.

Spotting the general symptoms of Open Loop Paralysis is easy:

• You start the day thinking about all the things you need to do and the next minute, you’re exhausted.
• You spend increased time reading blogs and feeds you don’t care about.
• You literally feel dragged down and heavy.

Now, there’s the Open Loop With Others variant, where the sheer number of people waiting on your sorry butt is beginning to look like a roomful of nagging ghosts. And then there’s the Open Loop With Yourself variation, where all the things you know you should be doing are like hundredweight chains looped around your body.

The steps to a cure for either form of Open Loop Paralysis are the same:

1. Start by getting what’s paralyzing you out of your head and into your GTD system or at least down on paper. Include not just everything you owe everyone else, but especially all the things you know you owe yourself.
2. Your goal is to renegotiate with yourself or whoever everything on that list you can: You want to create some breathing room so you can get things done. Start by marking each item as either R for renegotiate, S for stuck with or T for Too old/Too far gone.
3. Starting with the R’s redefine what it will take to complete each Task or Project, what the next action will be and what is a realistic completion date, or even if you really need to do this. After you’ve gotten through estimating everything, go back and reach out and let that person know what you are going to be doing.
4. With the S’s (aka bills), you’re stuck with these until you’ve got them under control. So, figure out what you’re going to need to, and plan how you are going to do it.
5. For the T’s, the commitments that have soured and there’s no way to redeem or rehabilitate them, well, that’s the way it goes. Time to let them go. Burn the list (away from the office), flush it down the toilet, crunch it into the smallest little ball ever and throw it away. There’s no point in beating yourself up any further.

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Comments

[Bob Walsh]

No micro spycams here! :) Just dealing with my own GTD issues when and where I see they might have value to others as well.

[Dean]

You been watching me at the office or something? This is dead on stuff. Thanks for your thoughts on this topic.

[Steve Schapel]

Dear Bob,

You struck a chord with me there, Mate. You had me laughing and crying at the same time! "Open Loop Paralysis" indeed - did you make that word up? Anyway, thanks, I'll be acting on your advice as soon as I see my way clear :-)

[Matthew Cornell]

Nice post, Bob.