We're going to tackle the 65 items in my Things inbox shortly, but before we do let's set this up with an introduction to the app. Here's why and how I use it.
I’m curious if the processing speed of to-do tasks is a limiting factor. If so, JD is a brilliant system and application for that problem, of course. To my moderately disorganized brain, it feels that the actual limit here is prioritization, or timely surfacing of a specific to-do.
E.g. I have to give a talk tomorrow, I haven’t finished some analysis that I know really ought to go into that talk, but I’m really excited about something else instead. On that end of things is where I usually find my productivity struggle. But I may be uniquely and accutely brain-disorganized or boredom-aversion compared to most.
Absolutely this is a massive part of the problem. The neatest system in the world is no good if you don’t do what past-you thought you should.
I suffer from this. I’ll be addressing it as I move on with my organising. Today’s task is to sort that inbox, and I’ll be recording it.
Can’t wait to see it all. If it helps, like Alex, I’ve tried to divide my days based on JD categories. I haven’t succeeded and I’m wondering if it’s because my categories are too broad.
I love the visual
You’re in good company!
Yep. In our goal-setting session tonight, someone said, “Why don’t you just look at your calendar and pencil in time to do that goal?”
My reply? “Well, funny you should say that — I’m literally staring at my calendar right now, for today, which already has pencilled-in time for washing bedding, doing the weekly house clean, reviewing last month’s budget, and planning next month’s budget… and guess what? I haven’t done a single one.”
And the best part? I have absolutely no justifiable reason why.
Yesterday: Pencils in goals like a boss.
Today: Watches life wipe the floor with me.
Score: Jade 0 – Life 1.
Story of my life: beautifully scheduled, rarely executed.
And this is what they say about the science of procrastination: really it makes no sense that we hurt ourselves like this. Just do the bloody laundry! And yet, time and time again, we let it slip.
My sin is financial stuff. I think because I’ve been delinquent in the past and it’s resulted in nasty shocks. So now things like paying bills or filing returns just fill me with dread – no longer justified – and I put them off again and again.
To the point where I spend an hour putting off something that takes a minute to do. Totally irrational.
Forgot to post this the other day.
Oh and look at that, there’s already a follow-up. 
Hi @johnnydecimal,
I really appreciate your detailed breakdown of how you integrate Things with the Johnny.Decimal system. Your approach to managing the 65-item inbox is both practical and insightful.
One aspect that stood out to me was your emphasis on the psychological barriers to task execution. It’s a common challenge..having a well-structured system but struggling with the actual follow-through. Your candidness about procrastination, especially regarding financial tasks, resonates with many of us.
Your method of categorizing tasks using JD IDs within Things is a smart way to maintain clarity and focus. It not only helps in organizing tasks but also in prioritizing them effectively.
Looking forward to your upcoming videos on processing the inbox and setting priorities. Your insights are invaluable to those of us aiming to refine our productivity systems.
Best regards,
Henry J Bishop
