Summary

Everyday overload is not caused solely by the number of tasks a person has to complete. It often begins much earlier, when messages, requests, ideas, appointments and obligations enter personal attention without a defined organisational point of entry. Each unstructured arrival opens a mental process before its relevance, urgency or required action has been determined.

Struction examines this overlooked beginning. It separates the arrival of a new matter from its later assessment and processing. By directing incoming information to a clear point of entry, people can reduce mental load, repeated deliberation, unnecessary context switching and duplicated effort. Personal organisation therefore does not begin with planning or prioritisation. It begins with the way a new process is received.