The Orbit Strategy: Stop Chasing Tasks and Start Centering Your Focus
This is Gravitational Confusion.
To fix this, we need to stop listing tasks linearly and start organizing them radially. Enter: The Orbit Strategy.
What is the Orbit Strategy?
Imagine your attention is the Sun. Everything you need to do is a Planet.
In a solar system, not everything is close to the sun at once. Some planets (tasks) are in the Inner Orbit—they are hot, immediate, and require direct focus right now. Others are in the Outer Orbit—they are massive, important, but slower-moving and distant.
The Orbit Strategy is a productivity framework where you categorize work not by "time" alone, but by "gravitational pull" (proximity to your current focus).
How to Implement It (The 3 Phases)
1. Define Your "Sun" (The Center)
Before you look at your to-do list, ask: What is the one thing that must sustain life today? This is your Center. It is usually one major project or a specific state of mind (e.g., "Deep Work on the Brand"). This anchors your gravity.
2. The Inner Orbit (The "Now" Zone)
These are tasks that have entered the gravitational pull of the current day.
The Rule: Only 3 items exist here at a time.
The Mindset: High intensity, high focus.
The Action: Complete these before looking outward.
3. The Outer Orbit (The "Holding" Zone)
These are tasks that are important but not critical yet. They are orbiting in the background. You know they are there (so you don't have anxiety about forgetting them), but they do not clutter your immediate view.
The Rule: Review these only when an Inner Orbit slot opens up.
Why This Strategy is effective
It Combats "Time Blindness": Instead of seeing a scary, endless list of future tasks, you only see what is physically "close" to you. It grounds you in the present moment.
It Reduces Decision Fatigue: You don't have to constantly decide "What do I do next?" The system tells you what is in the Inner Orbit.
It Creates Rhythm: Just like a solar system, this creates a natural cycle of work (focus) and rest (orbiting).
Why You Need a System (And Not Just a List)
You cannot execute the Orbit Strategy on a sticky note. A paper list is static; it can't move tasks in and out of view based on their status.
This is why I built the [Infinity Orbit].
This Notion template isn't just a list; it is a Gravitational Engine.
How the Template Automates Your Orbit:
Visual Depth: The template visually separates the "Sun" (Your Daily Goal) from the "Planets" (Tasks). You can instantly see what is close and what is far.
Automated Promotion: When you drag a task from the Outer Orbit to the Inner Orbit, the template automatically changes its status, highlights it, and hides the rest of the noise.
The "Comet" Feature: Have a distracting idea? Throw it into the "Comet" database in the template. It captures the idea instantly but sends it to the Outer Edge so it doesn't crash into your current work.
Final Thought
Stop trying to hold the entire universe in your head at once. Let the system hold the universe; you just focus on the Sun.
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