From the course: Time Management Fundamentals

Mastering the what, when, where processing system

From the course: Time Management Fundamentals

Mastering the what, when, where processing system

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- If you've completed the course up to this point, you're probably aware that processing is important, but what is it? Processing is the act of deciding how to deal with something. Specifically, what the next step is to complete it, when you're going to take that step, and deciding where it belongs, its home. What, when, where processing is at the heart of helping you master your time. Here's how it works. First, pick up or look at just one item from one of your approved gathering points, one and only one. If you pick up two items or pick up another item when you're processing something, you're switchtasking, which wastes time. Next, ask yourself, what is the next step? Meaning, what's the next action step I need to take to move this thing toward completion? Then ask, when will it be done? Meaning, during my available time, when should I take that step? Now, later? What specific time will you choose, and how long will it take? Finally, ask yourself, where is its home? Meaning, where does this thing belong? Should I file it away, delete it, put it in a new home? And that's it. Get in the habit of asking yourself these three questions every time you pick up an unprocessed item. What is the next step? When will it be done? Where is its home? To condition your mind, ask yourself the questions out loud. What is the next step? When will it be done? Where is its home? If you consider these questions, you'll realize you're already processing, but you're likely doing it inefficiently with constant attention switches. Instead, you're now going to begin processing in a focused way, which will save hours of time every week. It all begins with consciously asking yourself, what is the next step? When will it be done? And where is its home? Let's now explore these three questions in depth.

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