Watching a stranger at the Denver library flip through their journal changed how I track my work projects.

They had a whole spread with just three columns labeled 'waiting', 'active', and 'done', and now I use that exact setup to stop feeling overwhelmed by my service calls.

3 comments

3 Comments

drewjenkins2mo ago

@shane_williams that whiteboard idea is solid. Do you think the physical act of moving a task from 'waiting' to 'active' with your own hand is a big part of why it works? Like, does erasing or crossing it out give your brain a stronger signal that the job is really moving forward?

lily_craig1mo ago

Honestly, "it just feels more real" is exactly it. I do the same thing with a sticky note system on my wall, and yeah, physically peeling one off and sticking it to a new spot feels way more satisfying than dragging a box in an app. That little hand movement somehow makes it actually happen in my brain.

shane_williams2mo ago

My old boss used to keep a whiteboard with those same three words. Seeing it every morning somehow made the whole day feel less chaotic, even when the phone wouldn't stop ringing. There's something about getting it out of your head and onto something you can see. I still prefer a physical notebook over an app for that reason, it just feels more real. Funny how a simple idea from a stranger can stick with you for years.