In Getting Things Done, productivity guru David Allen brilliantly explains that we are either attracted or repelled to a task. If we can slip into the task without having to work through a series of pre-steps, then we’ll likely roll up our sleeves and get it done. If, however, the thought of doing the task seems daunting, or makes our mind go blank, then we’ll avoid it like.
It’s simple: attract or repel.
In my opinion, the biggest make or break factor in staying on top of things and wanting to get things done in our classrooms is having a clean desk. Trust me, I know.
For the first five years of my teaching career, I was a messy desk guy. I actually took pride in my messy desk believe it or not. I also, however, rarely did my planning and marking in my classroom. I did it at home with all of home’s distractions. Without knowing it, my desk repelled me.
Then, after listening to a Brian Tracy audio lecture (for which my friends still hassle me about), I tried doing what seemed to be the easiest suggestion to implement: always keep a clean desk.
The results, no joke, were incredible. It was like the difference between the ice at the beginning of a hockey game just after the ice has been cleaned and the players jump on the ice all excited to get started, versus the end of a hockey game when everyone’s exhausted, tired, and annoyed with the gazillion grooves and chips in the ice.
I got things done, big time!
If you want to quickly test it out, just look at the pictures below and think of your gut reaction to the questions beneath them:
or …
It’s simple:
- more tasks than we can handle cause stress
- we’re either attracted or repelled to tasks
- we need to create an attractive situation where we want to get tasks done
- we won’t get anything done if our “work alter” (i.e. desk) repels us
- so, decide to own an attractive, clean desk … which will
- help you decrease task load by getting things done … which will
- decrease your felt stress
So, Sanity Saver #2 is the most concrete of all five, and you have one week to test it out before we introduce our next one …
Own a Clean Desk!
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But they soooo didn’t. With the exception of a couple of sweet, ESL female students who always worked hard, as soon as we finished our last book, my students’ checked out.
Then there’s the fact that we teachers often have to work with a clientele that doesn’t want to work with us, or with helicopter parents who have no problems telling you how you should be teaching and grading their son or daughter differently. Oh, I almost forgot the marking, calls home, attendance and late slips, coaching, and after-school time for extra-help and make-up assignments.
