I’m a huge nerd for time management literature. I admit it is my beach reading. It is fun to learn about the crazy or complex or thoughtful systems people come up with. My favorite of all time is Getting Things Done by David Allen. While some of the time management literature just gives me the giggles for its OCD tendencies, GTD was the first to resonate with me as something actually doable. I read it many years ago and no matter how much I stray I always come back with my tail between my legs. The system, while it may be daunting to start, just works. Some people don’t like it because the system requires a full understanding and recognition of your commitments. You have to be honest with yourself about everything you have taken on.
Every so often, especially when I am feeling overwhelmed, I skim through the book again and do a little check in to make sure I am aware of all of my open commitments and tasks. This semester has been insane for many reasons both personal and professional, so I felt the need yesterday to take some time to decompress and think through my life. I feel much more in control and know what I have on my plate the rest of the semester and year. I also know that I can say “No” without feeling guilty. It is a great feeling. If you haven’t read GTD (or the many GTD summaries on the web), I encourage you to do so even if just to learn some little tricks for managing your time.
But, what does GTD have to do with ALA Council? In my overview of life yesterday I had to recognize that, yes, I am running for ALA Council again this year and, yes, I need to put some effort into running. So, here’s my pitch. Why should you vote for me for ALA Council? I promise that my Council membership will not change the world or librarianship, but I can promise that I will be fully committed to the position. I can come with a willingness to work and an understanding of how I can fit this work into my life. My platform focused on early career librarians and mentoring (and you can read my platform here), but when it comes down to it, you should vote for me because I am good at my job and when I decide to add a commitment I commit to it as fully as possible. Ultimately, I know how to get things done.
GTD workflow. Don’t let it scare you.
