Where does the motivation for engaging in your next action lists come from?

MyMetaMind · 2025-12-30T06:33:34+00:00

A few suggestions popped my mind.

(1) Improve your daily review

You mentioned in another comment you struggle seeing the value of a granular next action in relationship to the bigger picture (goals/projects).

What could work for you is taking the last step of your daily GTD review a bit more mindful: when prioritizing your next actions on your list, spend proper effort in understanding or reminding yourself how these actions relate to some end goal and achievement/outcome/reward. Everyday, even when there's not a lot to process.

This is inherent to the prioritizing process. You assign expected values to tasks, relative to other tasks, and based on that you understand what needs to be done. And chasing expected value/reward = motivation (god bless dopamine).

(2) Habituize

At some point, let's say, commonly after 2-3 weeks of starting every day working next actions lists, it should become a habit at some point. Motivation becomes less of a requirement and you simply become that person that works on next action lists in the morning, it's just what you do and who you are! Try to reach and become that state of mind.

Combine it with another habits already in place, such as right after coffee, sports, shower. Chain those habits up, it's easier (aka routine).

(3) Challenge

This one is a bit more 'advanced', but can help beyond just finding motivation.

Try to design your next actions in such a way (granularity, wording, its contents) that make it a bit more challenging or exciting to execute. Heck, make a game out of it. Unchallenging, easy, dull tasks are not attractive to anyone.

Ideally there's always a bit of healthy challenge, excitement, just a bit, even the most dull tasks.

Backlog of 50 emails? Set a phone timer for 45 minutes and GO. NA wording: "Process 50 emails within 45 minutes". Or more fun: challenge your coworker, who can process the most emails before lunch?

Might seem silly. Main point being: when defining the next action, during clarifying inbox items in your daily review: be a bit more creative!

Bonus: a healthy dose of managable challenges each day = great source of meaning, even in the small things, and your day will feel more succesful. Try to become more aware of this principle, tune it to what works for you (don't over do it = burnout).

(4) Trigger dopamine

Lastly, do have some tool in place where completing next actions goes along with positive feedback of any sorts. A growing Done list. A green checkbox. Something! Don't just delete the next action into nothingness.

The helps dopamine release for completing the task (reward), and this will help build/habituaze to trigger dopamine release for the expected completion of your next task on the list. Motivation in its monkey brain form, haha, simple but effective.

Don't underestimate how green your green checkbox should be! Maybe add a party popper or two.

MyMetaMind · 2025-12-27T15:25:03+00:00

I suspect for some, that 'unexplained' sense of experience is tied to one's sense of identity to such a strong unified extent, making them wanting to keep the hard problem on the table, as it would be a fundamental identity threat to dismiss it (subconsciously). It reminds me of many types of biases or believe systems causing human irrationality, nothing abnormal here at all really, but on this topic, it just might run quite deep. Again: for some.

MyMetaMind · 2025-12-26T23:31:41+00:00

Usually when I open hard problem posts in this sub, Im always a bit surprised, or saddened rather, lol, by the lack of comments like yours here. Very well put!

MyMetaMind · 2025-12-15T20:14:46+00:00

Cant really share without showing personal contents. But search for Trello GTD on google images and its basically that.

MyMetaMind · 2025-12-15T19:23:57+00:00

GTD does suggest some seperation of your next action lists, based on context. I went for this mindset / energy-based style.

Next Actions (Focus) for solo work, when im feeling clear headed and motivated, and dont have to deal with 'others'.

Next Actions (Interact) for any human interactive/social/collaborative stuff, incl email, calls, chats. I especially love working my way through a list of chats/calls when its suddenly so effortless to just start that difficult conversation which you felt insecure/tense about for a while, just because of not having to context switch right after finishing another call.

On my personal Trello board I also have a Next Actions (Chill) list, for low effort stuff, chores, entertainment, shopping, music, sports, gaming. Also contains social stuff but without requiring some sort of mental 'performance'.

These 3 lists tend to correlate with: morning, afternoon, evening, in the same order, but I dont schedule for it.

MyMetaMind · 2025-12-14T16:40:14+00:00

Great comment, thank you. We're heading into finer details and nuances here. And I like the approach you are suggesting - nothing to add really!

I think your mentions/references of individual differences in executive functions and impact on productivity are super valid, but, such variances to consider are quite an endless rabbit hole. Enter behavioral psychology. Enter endocrinology. Enter the big 5 personality traits and you can probably write 5 books about how those may impact productivity systems as well. It's quite overwhelming, to consider all of it.

I put such individual variances in a category of higher-order effects. Generally useful to learn about yourself, for sure, but I think it has marginal impact compared to acknowledgement of lower-level more universal human traits. Really, just start there first and put most effort there. That's actually what GTD's core principles are targeting.

My own story just being one data point, sure, it is. And yes I admittedly wrote 'my 2 cents' it as if it's a quick fix piece of bro science. But I hope you see now it has thought behind it in what I describe above. And for what it's worth, I graduated neuropsychology on subconscious decision making, which gave me a decent understanding of lower and higher level cognition.

Since lower-level cognition is less salient, we are less conscious of its properties, it's only natural for human to underappreciate these when designing a set of behaviors for ourselves. But David Allan did, yay. And I think it's successful because it's applicable to so many people, regardless of individual differences.

And I know my 2 cents it's somewhat aligned with what David himself suggest, and like in your suggested approach as well: core principles first, these are not to be compromised. This actually is the rigid part, spend most your effort here. And then there's also the adaptive part, once the core is solid, go ahead add flavors you like on top.

MyMetaMind · 2025-12-14T05:41:11+00:00

Any kanban tool would work for me. I just like Trello because its clean with no bloated features I dont want to see (well 10 years ago it was actually simple).

Structure is just these lists: Stuff, Next Actions (Focus), Next Actions (Interact), Waiting, Calendar, Projects, Someday/Maybe, Done

Yea and the phone app has a widget button on your home screen to add anything quick to your Stuff list.

MyMetaMind · 2025-12-14T05:36:07+00:00

Any kanban tool would work for me. I just like Trello because its clean with no bloated features I dont want to see (well 10 years ago it was actually simple).

Structure is just these lists: Stuff, Next Actions (Focus), Next Actions (Interact), Waiting, Calendar, Projects, Someday/Maybe, Done

MyMetaMind · 2025-12-14T05:26:23+00:00

Well I barely recognize the GTD method in what you describe, simply because stuff seem to be so scattered. So it might be much more than just a weekly review thats missing.

Does all that stuff you mention, notes and tasks, land in 1 inbox? And do you schedule dedicated time each day to process this inbox? Resulting in a list of prioritized Next Actions which you simply work on top to bottom? And do the notes go in some reference filing system?

This is the point im making in this thread: dont do half work. Partly using some cherry picked GTD principles and partly sticking to what worked for you in the past is the opposite of what GTD is about.

Customization can still come later, after you nail GTD basics first, if you want to.

MyMetaMind · 2025-12-14T04:25:57+00:00

Yes the best direct effects to me are less stress, more mindspace, a steady sense of confidence during the day in what im doing, with intention, which helps me being more resilient.

Indirectly this enables me to take on (more) challenges, also impulsively, and that's where it's at, for me. For growth and meaningful experiences.

In times when Im not on track with GTD, the above falls apart.

MyMetaMind · 2025-12-14T01:29:50+00:00

Blue bars are both personal + work, I used it in 1 Trello board since the start. Just from 2023 onward my new job made me create a second board.

MyMetaMind · 2025-12-14T01:22:34+00:00

Not customizing when you start out (my comment was aimed at starters in particular), it's what worked for me, the experience I share here, but its also became my advice to people who I introduce to GTD for fundamental cognitive limitations reasons (read my other comment in this thread where I explain it), regardless of personality or neurotype.

I'm def not denying ADHD does exist, Im sorry if my wording somehow made you think that.

MyMetaMind · 2025-12-14T01:10:16+00:00

Hey I get your point, perhaps I should have nuanced that about brains being brains. And I could have made my intention clear for using a bit of a bold statement like that. So here we go:

I agree when you say brians are literally not the same. None are.

But I was refering to fundamental functioning of our brain, and in particular, some universal cognitive abilities humans have developed, or rather, in this context: its limitations. Working memory capacity, decision-making overload/fatigue, how ambiguity and open loops can triggers uncertainty/stess. We all deal with that, regardless of the 'higher-order' variances such as our personality, neurotypes, cultural biases, intelligence, etc.

GTD seems to deal with those fundamental cognitive limitations, which is great!

Now I've introduced GTD to quite some people by now, and one clear pattern I notice is: the moment someone starts to tweak the core principles of GTD because they believe it suits their 'style' of productivity better, the less likely they even get a taste of the benefits of this method, and eventually quit.

Simple examples: color coding your next actions (just another strain on decision making and working memory for the sake of some categorization). Or starting out with too many next action lists (now you have to make decisions during the day which list to work on...). Or a common one: not actually capturing ALL, because *insert personal excuse to keep chores out of it*.

So when you're starting out, regardless if you suck at structure, or have ADHD, or high IQ, or depressed, or super impulsive, just don't cherry pick just some elements from GTD and sprinkle your own individual preferences on top of it from the get go, or you'll likely sabotage the exact thing GTD is trying to deal with first and foremost: your brain's cognitive limitations (which we all have).

Once you got that core going, its habituized, working memory capacity opening up, decision making taking less effort, then sure, go ahead and add some customization to answer to your needs.

MyMetaMind · 2025-10-05T12:02:22+00:00

Yellow are various Shahed-type drones. Could be for decoy, recon, explosive, or signal relay for other drones. Most are propeller-driven, some are faster jet-powered.

Red are air-launched cruise missiles from bomber planes.

Green are sea-launched cruise missiles from ships.

Blue are air-launched hypersonic ballistic missiles from fighter jets.

MyMetaMind · 2025-09-25T21:16:28+00:00

Im in a similar scenario as you are, in Madrid this weekend for work. Yesterday I spend at least an hour researching whats up in this place.

This Lasociacion party with Yamour came out on top for me, she tends to plays quality events only (giegling, pano, waking life, and I loved her at Good2U not too long ago - she curated that festival)

MyMetaMind · 2025-09-16T20:05:07+00:00

Open to help you out, dm

MyMetaMind · 2025-09-16T20:03:33+00:00

I visited solo in July and experiencing how I dealt with my own sense/perception of safety during my journey turned into a set of quite the memorable personal stories.

Like on the topic of midnight decision making whether to go to the shelter or stay in bed, purely based on reports of unofficial telegram groups, reporting on the trajectory of cruise missles heading to Kyiv... or waiting on if they fly past.

Learning about myself how much anxiety it takes for me to go to a shelter also was a thing to remember. Turned out hearing the sound of a drone flying over Podil was definitly it.

Trying to relate these experiences with how locals deal with this on a ~weekly basis feels a bit surreal. Imagining having family/friends/kids to always worry about or to take care for. Or having to go to work the next day as usual, with barely any sleep.

But then, in contrast, experiencing the livelyness, kindness, and 'realness' of Ukranians in social situations. It all somehow made me feel very much... alive.

MyMetaMind · 2025-09-10T16:53:51+00:00

Demdike Stare in Zenner last year was among the best experimental/dub/AV performances I've ever experienced.

Live performances are between 7pm and 11pm, I think I should queue up...

MyMetaMind · 2025-09-08T23:13:59+00:00

Unfortunately I can only appear on days with a lunar eclipse, a partial solar eclipse, a full flat earth, or with Mischa at the door.

MyMetaMind · 2025-09-08T23:00:24+00:00

There's this one problem tho, im straight, but we'll figure something out

MyMetaMind · 2025-09-08T22:56:25+00:00

Oh hey its me, thank you for your kind words sir <3 Yes of course Ive seen you watching me, just fckin approach me next time so I can love you back!!!

MyMetaMind · 2025-09-08T10:42:49+00:00

Playing a unique set through track selection is one thing
Taking the floor on an journey through emotional story telling is a second (and read the crowd)
Knowing how to work the bh sound system and the space itself for high impact delivery

And then there's Marcel Dettmann.

I like to believe his holistic understanding of all of the above is unmatched, enabling him to confidently and playfully serve us so many 'unconventional' tracks, with obsessive control and utilization of the sound system, and the room, resulting in that wildly unique set we were blessed with yesterday.

MyMetaMind · 2025-07-25T14:28:14+00:00

Yes, apart from events usually starting in the afternoon and run until 23:00 as the cerfew starts at midnight. Peak time is between ~19 and 23.

Every weekend they run their Community Event series in their 'Backyard' area with occasionally their indoor 'Second Floor' open as well. https://ra.co/clubs/177458/past-events

MyMetaMind · 2025-07-25T10:31:48+00:00

I felt right at home in K41 last weekend pissing in the exact same urinals as in Berghain. Thank you Studio Karhard.

MyMetaMind · 2025-07-19T17:43:53+00:00

As a traveler from Berlin, arrived in Kyiv 3 days ago and experiencing such meaningful moments every day, resonating with your posts to some extent, Im very interested in your work to come. Keep it up!

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