Intermittence

I have a problem.

• Every week or two, my boss orders me to clean up my office.
• Every month or so, I actually clean out my Inbox and file papers.
• Every year or two, my lovely wife comes to my office and organizes it for me.

My problem isn’t that I don’t know how to be neat and organized. To be honest, I don’t know what my problem is, and that’s part of the problem.

I’ve recently become fascinated with the content at 43 Folders, a weblog devoted to being organized and effective and, consequently, happier. They say that money can’t buy happiness, but I’m starting to think that organization can. I know that I’m pretty much stuck working other people for most of the rest of my life (I played fast and loose with my money and my credit for about fifteen years, and it’s going to take a long time to recover) so the more skilled I become at handling that aspect of my life, the more thoroughly I’ll be able to enjoy the time I spend away from the office.

The owner of 43 Folders makes frequent mention of Getting Things Done (linked to Merlin Mann’s Associate account, as he turned me on to the book—it’s only fair), a copy of which I purchased yesterday. While I haven’t yet cracked the book open, it’s my sincere hope that I have the willpower to at least try the concepts contained therein.

I’m excited, actually, about finding a way to do my job more effectively. I know that I’m good at what I do, and that it’s a pretty good match for my skills. Perhaps getting everything organized and keeping it organized will free up my mind so I can actually start enjoying it.

After all, if the two options I have are to either do my work and enjoy it or do my work and dread it, isn’t the former the better choice by far?