The document discusses managing the constant influx of information from various sources, known as the "firehose". It recommends using productivity techniques like Getting Things Done (GTD) to: 1) Scan incoming information quickly and decide to read, task, file, or ignore it; 2) Queue remaining items to be processed later; 3) Use tools like Pocket, Diigo, and IFTTT to store, tag, and share useful information. It also stresses the importance of scheduling focused time for your most important tasks and taking breaks to maximize productivity.

1. Fresh Integral http://bit.ly/fintegral
Tame the Firehose
Manage content, tasks & ideas
efficiently & easilyManage content, tasks & ideas
efficiently & easily

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The Firehose is Relentless

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The Firehose is relentless
• Multiple Sources
– Emails
– Social media
– Meetings
– Collaboration tools
– Ideas on the metro
– Websites
– Newspapers ...
• All inexhaustible
• You’ve got to
– Read it all
– Decide: Do something
with it?
– What?
• React? Use? Share
• Store for later use
– When?
– And then find a moment
to do those things!

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Unfortunately
• Multitasking doesn’t work
• You (think you) don’t control your schedule
• You never seem to
– have the time
– get out of your Inbox
– remain focused for more than 5 minutes

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You need
To change the
way you work
Technology that
works for you,
rather than you
working for IT
Three Techniques

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Manage
Firehose
Tie it all
together
Manage
Time

7. Fresh Integral http://bit.ly/fintegral
Getting Things Done
• First, read this
• Then take back your
Calendar
– Ringfence your most
productive period …
– … for your Most
Important Task.
– Pause & Stretch every
60-90 minutes!

8. Fresh Integral http://bit.ly/fintegral
Today
Everything Else
Here
Be
Meetings
Most Important Task(s)
(Concentration & Creativity)
Getting Things DoneStand
Pause
Lowest energy
moment
Best focus
of the day

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Where is it written
that you must
organise the day
in the morning?

10. Fresh Integral http://bit.ly/fintegral
Today
Afternoon
Routine
Everything Else
Here
Be
Meetings
Morning
Routine
Most Important Task(s)
(Concentration & Creativity)
Getting Things DoneStretch
Pause
As short as
possible!
Organise the day
Morning & Afternoon Routines
Routine Implemented in fixed Calendar periods
GTD Projects containing recurring tasks

11. Fresh Integral http://bit.ly/fintegral
Scan – Queue – Store - Share
• Channel the Firehose into:
– ToDos in your GTD system
– Your personal library of useful stuff, Stored for
later use
– some of which you Share using automated tools

12. Fresh Integral http://bit.ly/fintegral
Today
Afternoon
Routine
Everything Else
Here
Be
Meetings
Morning
Routine
Most Important Task(s)
(Concentration & Creativity)
Getting Things DoneStretch
Pause
Scan Do it in <2 minutes
Or Queue it
Otherwise file or ignore

13. Fresh Integral http://bit.ly/fintegral
Today
Everything Else
Here
Be
Meetings
Morning
Routine
Getting Things Done
Emergency Scan
Override MIT in
emergencies only
Scan Do it in <2 minutes
Or Queue it
Otherwise file or ignore
Queue
the rest
Afternoon
Routine
Most Important Task(s)
(Concentration & Creativity)
Stretch
Pause

14. Fresh Integral http://bit.ly/fintegral
Today
Afternoon
Routine
Everything Else
Here
Be
Meetings
Morning
Routine
Most Important Task(s)
(Concentration & Creativity)
Getting Things DoneStretch
Pause
Scan Queue
Read (Pocket)
ToDo (DoIT>IN)
One tap into Pocket
Forward emails to DoIT
Quick-enter into DoIT

15. Fresh Integral http://bit.ly/fintegral
Today
Afternoon
Routine
Everything Else
Here
Be
Meetings
Morning
Routine
Most Important Task(s)
(Concentration & Creativity)
Getting Things DoneStretch
Pause
Scan Queue
Read (Pocket)
ToDo (DoIT>IN)
Store
Library
(Diigo)
Read. If useful,
tag in Diigo

16. Fresh Integral http://bit.ly/fintegral
Today
Afternoon
Routine
Everything Else
Here
Be
Meetings
Morning
Routine
Most Important Task(s)
(Concentration & Creativity)
Getting Things DoneStretch
Pause
Scan Queue
Read (Pocket)
ToDo (DoIT>IN)
Store
Library
(Diigo)
Share
Intranet, Social,
Sites ...
(@IFTTT)
Specific Diigo tags
trigger @IFTTT recipes

17. Fresh Integral http://bit.ly/fintegral
Getting Things Done
Scan Queue
Read (Pocket)
ToDo (DoIT>IN)
Store
Library
(Diigo)
Share
Intranet, Social,
Sites ...
(@IFTTT)
17
TodayTomorrow
Afternoon
Routine
Morning
Routine
Most Important Task(s)
(Concentration & Creativity)
Everything Else
Here
Be
Meetings
Afternoon
Routine
Everything Else
Here
Be
Meetings
Morning
Routine
Most Important Task(s)
(Concentration & Creativity)
assign

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Explanatory post with links:
http://bit.ly/TameTheFirehose