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The Flight of Time: GTD Progress Part 1

by HijabMan :: posted 16 May 07

In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
Consider the flight of time!

Verily, man is bound to lose himself

unless he be of those who attain to faith, and do good works, and enjoin upon one another the keeping to truth, and enjoin upon one another patience in adversity.*
– The Qur’an, Chapter 103, as rendered by Muhammad Asad

HomeInKabul asked me how I was doing with GTD, or Getting Things Done, so I’ve decided to give you all a little progress report. The premise of GTD, an organizational system that I’m trying to implement in my life, is simple:

“Get everything out of your head. Make decisions about actions required on stuff when it shows up — not when it blows up. Organize reminders of your projects and the next actions on them in appropriate categories. Keep your system current, complete, and reviewed sufficiently to trust your intuitive choices about what you’re doing (and not doing) at any time.” -David Allen, in Ready For Anything

Sounds simple, doesn’t it? For most people though, including myself, it involves learning new habits, and breaking years of old behaviors. I’ll explain.

I get up around 5:30-6 AM every weekday morning, get to work by 7-7:30 and don’t get home until around 5-5:30 pm (on Fridays I leave at 12:30). I also try to run HijabMan, Muslim-A-Day, The American Family Blog. Muslim Comic Strip, Organic Halal, & RespectYourParents.Com are on the way. They are fairly simple sites to set up, but they all involve writing, planning, and research. I’m also trying to set up a monthly (at the least) video log. Throw in apartment-related duties/maintenance, conferences, going back to school, keeping up with friends…. so I’ve gots a lot on my plate, and I keep on adding to that plate.

It was leaving me constantly stressed out, despite my rather pleasant demeanor and upbeat attitude (ain’t I modest ;). I would let things pile up in my head, in my house. My apartment was a mess, I didn’t attend family functions because I had to “do work at home.” In reality I was so daunted by all of the crap that I had to do that I would sit on the couch and vegge, fast forwarding through life.

And while I knew I needed to break out of the underlying depression, lethargy, and attitude of escape, I didn’t have sufficient motivation until that visit to see my friend Ablah and her two kids. Staying with those kids and the woman raising them on her own, as I’ve said before, was life-changing. I couldn’t live how I was living if I sought to be a balanced adult raising balanced children and in a fulfilling marriage. [Women from Sweden or those who have EU citizenship are encouraged to inquire about my single-dom.]

Now this may seem a little over-the-top, a little dramatic. Point well-taken. In some ways I want to tell myself to stop being such a drama mama. Many of my friends wonder if I’m over-doing this whole approach I have on life: getting organized, getting in shape, getting good food in my body, getting my finances in order, establishing regular prayer… I seem to have all of these goals, and I want to get them done, now, now, now.

They are worried that I’m going to burn out. They are worried I’m trying to take on too much at once. From this blog, and the way I talk about it in my everyday life, I sound like I’m completely flipping a switch. And to a certain extent I am, but I’m actually moving at a much more gradual than what they perceive. Besides, I’ve spent 24 [25 in a couple weeks!] years in this rut. I feel like I’ve wasted hours and hours of my life, and so I’m ready to make better use of my time and Get Things Done.

I talk about it lots, and so it seems like I’m walking it too, but you’ll find out just how much walking I am doing, in the next post.

Related Link (And A New Favorite): No Impact Man

*Note on quoted verse from M. Asad:

The term “asr denotes “time” that is measurable, consisting of a succession of periods (in distinction from dahr, which signifies “unlimited time”, without beginning or end: i.e., “time absolute”). Hence, asr bears the connotation of the passing or the flight of time – time which can never be recaptured.

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1. Sarah at 16 May 07 :: #

   good luck, friend…

2. homeinkabul at 16 May 07 :: #

   Thanks for responding. I understand the feeling of “underlying depression, lethargy, and attitude of escape” – it’s what has motivated me to try to implment the same GTD process in my life as well. I’ll let you know when I do. Salams

3. sabrina at 17 May 07 :: #

   To some extent, I am glad to see this post that I am not the only one “escaping” or trying to fast forward through life. It was a major blow this academic year (which is still ongoing, one more final and I am already out of breath). It even happened to me that during an exam, I just sat there and didn’t write down anything, because it was the exact same problem I had done the night before, and something just kept me from writting. Was I tired? Possibly! Was I lazy? Indeed. So, the consequences of squandering time are serious. But consequences of “getting used to” being lazy and wasting time is even more severe just because it’s nearly impossible to get out of that gutter.

   I wish I could ask to be “reborn” and start my life over, or at least last 3-4 years.

   I am glad that you have diagnosed it before it’s too late. I am not sure if I can do anything for myself. I am in a hopeless situation. But, Allah gives life after death, and I hope those of us who feel so helplessly hopeless will find some glimmering light of hope and God will be merciful enough to give life to my seemingly dead soul.
   It’s hard. It’s really hard, and it’s ugly! Calling it “depression” is nothing but an excuse to escape life and taking responsibilities. It’s easy to throw our hands up in the air and join the prozac nation. But, that is only “giving in”.

   Let me stop before I convince myself that I am helpless and hopeless and depressed and hence justifiably having poor use of time.

   To a brighter day!

4. homeinkabul at 18 May 07 :: #

   Sabrina, it sounds like you are really depressed. It’s not an excuse. Depression is an actual disease and it’s not giving in to ask for help. There is a difference between taking prozac for fun or whatever and taking it because you need help. I am sorry if I am cominng off as bossy – it’s in my nature, what can i say? :)

   But seriously, there is no shame to going to speak to a school counselor.

   salams,

   hik

5. HijabMan at 18 May 07 :: #

   I’m going to step in here, and say Sabrina. You rock. If you wanna talk i believe you gots my number/email. And I agree with you. prozac nation = giving in.

   HomeinKabul: Imma have to disagree with you there. I’m not so sure prozac is the answer either way.

   Counselors Yes (though, God first). Drugs No. In my humble opinion.

6. homeinkabul at 20 May 07 :: #

   HM & Sabrina,

   We’ll just have to agree to disagree. I do understand where you are coming from, there are people using Prozac to get away from their issues and not deal with them. And of course, I agree – God first but the help is there for a reason. The help (therapy + medicine) can be and often is a gift from God. The outright refusal to consider medication when the person is genuinely ill – is dangerous to advocate. I have been to therapists when I needed it and if they suggested it, I would consider prozac. Shukur, I haven’t needed to but very close friends have and they shouldn’t have to feel like they are ‘giving in’. Actually, now that I’ve written all that, I realize that I am very worried about the fact that you believe that prozac is equal to giving in, especially if you want to be an Imam. I have thyroid issues, should I just go off of my synthroid, even though I become seriously ill without it? What’s the difference between synthroid and prozac?