Thirteen's podcast's latest episode is on the topic of creating space and the "to-do" lists. I always liked to create a list of tasks and activities we want to accomplish. In the early days, it was just a pen and paper. Then the advent of technology, the logistics for creating a 'to-do' list also got updated. The PDAs, to laptops to smartphone apps. What changed with this and what did not.
If we see the context around any planning tool, the intention is to capture the task to be done, the time/date, location and the people involved. Technology only helps organise these things better and automates some critical things like reminders to get the task done. In today's world, we can also automate some of the tasks, and so it is safe to say that technology completes that task for you in those cases. Isn't life all set then? No. There is a catch here.
No technology can decide what is relevant to you. We all know it's GIGO. But why can't the user control the input? Why have those tasks which are not required or relevant? The answer to this is a bit scary. The users themselves don't know why they do so many things that are not important for them. They do it just because they have not questioned those activities. They do it because it's now their second nature.
How is second nature formed? Who designs it? Forget second nature; who has created your first nature? What are the guiding principles and real drivers for what you do and who you are? I can see how many question marks I am using here. I can't help, though, as these are all questions to be introspected. When we stop for some time and see for ourselves by questioning our thought process and actions, we can only see things opening up for us. The first thing then is not to come up with a to-do list but rather to start with a not-to-do list. The things we should stop doing. The moment we stop doing something, it gives us space. Not only time-space but also mind-space.
A clean slate for a new creation.
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