As I mentioned in my recent “Work, Life, Balance, Stuff” post, I’ve been reading and working with David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” system.

One of the key things I’ve gotten from the book (and there are many!) is the practice of determining the next action for any given item. Small question – ‘what’s the next action?’ – but the impact of implementing this small question when sorting through stuff is pretty impressive.

At first, I applied the question to email messages, phone calls, task lists, and so on, and it didn’t take long for me to feel a sense of flow. Like things were moving along, almost coasting – no longer tangled up a tension-filled, overwhelming knot. I began to see progress on projects that had been sitting around for months.

Feeling that sense of flow with the more tangible, practical things made me wonder what the impact might be in other areas of my life. Pretty soon, I was asking, ‘what’s the next action?’ in conversations with my husband about making Thanksgiving plans, and getting the house ready for a weekend visitor. But, the real gem came tonight, when shepherding my two girls (ages three and five) through the process of getting ready for bed. As they bounced off the walls, and off of each other, I continually asked, “what’s next?” until what had become a game for them came to an end with no tears or pouting.

And so, I ask you, where are you stuck? In your job? In your career? In your everyday life? Where are you feeling sluggish or overwhelmed? Got an answer? Good. Now answer the simple question… ‘what’s the next action?’ Literally, the very next action. Is it to make a phone call, have a conversation, do research, brainstorm, make a list? Whatever it is, take that next step, and then ask the question again, and again, and again. Soon enough, you’ll be feeling the flow and you’ll see how contagious it is – and how the momentum that you create can carry over into other aspects of your life as well.

Share