30 Day Trial - Getting Things Done

[Kaspian]

My husband uses a paper-based system for GTD. He keeps track of things in a mid-sized notebook (~4"x6"), which has a list of things that need to get done soon, time estimates for each task, and a priority ranking. When one page is mostly full of crossed out (finished) tasks, he moves the remaining 1-3 to the next available page. He also has a file drawer with hanging folders for his tickler file—one folder per day of the month and one for each month. In it he has things like concert tickets and all kinds of reminders on sticky notes or small slips of paper. He carries a small notepad (~2.5"x4") for recording reminders when away from his desk.

[dmauder]

Originally Posted by MasterD

Just downloaded Microsoft Onenote 2007 trial. This program is phenomenal for organizing all kinds of stuff and ideas.

You might also check out EverNote. They have a free version, and a very inexpensive paid version. It's much cheaper than OneNote.

Having said that, I do use OneNote in my tech job, but only because the company provides a full version for me. If they didn't, I'd be using my own version of EverNote.

Dave

[Jcs]

For Mac users have a look at; Mac Notepad for Mac OS X - The missing note pad for Mac OS X

Its doesn't have full blown list of features but its getting things done .

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by Kaspian

My husband uses a paper-based system for GTD. He keeps track of things in a mid-sized notebook (~4"x6"), which has a list of things that need to get done soon, time estimates for each task, and a priority ranking. When one page is mostly full of crossed out (finished) tasks, he moves the remaining 1-3 to the next available page. He also has a file drawer with hanging folders for his tickler file—one folder per day of the month and one for each month. In it he has things like concert tickets and all kinds of reminders on sticky notes or small slips of paper. He carries a small notepad (~2.5"x4") for recording reminders when away from his desk.

Interesting...what does he do when he needs to rearrange next actions in a list, or add next actions to a specific part of a list when things come up in a project or it wasn't fully plotted out? It seems like you would eventually have to rewrite the list. Seems like it would discipline you into really thinking hard on the front end about how to accomplish certain tasks so that you dont have to do any rewriting.



I also want to say how important the weekly review is and the realization I have had from this week. While I did get a lot of things done, I didn't do a whole bunch in the grand scheme, so I thought that my weekly review would be simple. It took about 3 hours though. Priorities change, targets change, you come up with new ideas and directions you want to take projects, gain new insights, accept more responsibilities, and it all needs to be reflected in your system. My system was a little ragged this week, and getting it back in shape not only felt good, but my mind felt refreshed and I renewed my trust in it. Good stuff.

[dmauder]

I finally got off my butt and did a brain-dump into Toodledo this evening. It feels pretty good having that all out and recorded somewhere. Actually, I probably need to come back tomorrow night and do "round 2" since I'm sure I'll come up with a whole lot more to put on the list.

Toodledo has a nice mechanism for entering multiple items. I created a new folder called "To Process" and dumped everything there. You basically go into multiple entry mode, pick the folder and any other settings (context, etc), and then just enter one to-do per line. Click Save and boom - it's done. I added 78 new to-do's in one fell swoop.

I'll circle back later to actually process each item on my list. This will involve moving them into projects (as necessary), assigning priority, context, due dates, etc. The more I play around with Toodledo, the more I realize how powerful it is.

I almost slipped into the trap of going out to test a whole bunch of other to-do list managers. But I realized that I already did that months ago, and didn't really settle on any of them. Remember the Milk came very close to #1 for me, but something about it kept me from fully adopting it.

I never knew about Toodledo back then, but I'm glad I found it this time because it does everything I need, and has a zillion ways to get stuff into it -- Jott and the Firefox add-in being my favorites!

Based on what Lucas says, Nozbe is also a great tool. But I knew I'd spend (waste) more time comparing the two when I really needed to just GET GOING and GET THINGS DONE! Besides, Toodledo is cheaper - and I'm a known cheapskate.

Dave

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by dmauder

I finally got off my butt and did a brain-dump into Toodledo this evening. It feels pretty good having that all out and recorded somewhere. Actually, I probably need to come back tomorrow night and do "round 2" since I'm sure I'll come up with a whole lot more to put on the list.

Toodledo has a nice mechanism for entering multiple items. I created a new folder called "To Process" and dumped everything there. You basically go into multiple entry mode, pick the folder and any other settings (context, etc), and then just enter one to-do per line. Click Save and boom - it's done. I added 78 new to-do's in one fell swoop.

I'll circle back later to actually process each item on my list. This will involve moving them into projects (as necessary), assigning priority, context, due dates, etc. The more I play around with Toodledo, the more I realize how powerful it is.

I almost slipped into the trap of going out to test a whole bunch of other to-do list managers. But I realized that I already did that months ago, and didn't really settle on any of them. Remember the Milk came very close to #1 for me, but something about it kept me from fully adopting it.

I never knew about Toodledo back then, but I'm glad I found it this time because it does everything I need, and has a zillion ways to get stuff into it -- Jott and the Firefox add-in being my favorites!

Based on what Lucas says, Nozbe is also a great tool. But I knew I'd spend (waste) more time comparing the two when I really needed to just GET GOING and GET THINGS DONE! Besides, Toodledo is cheaper - and I'm a known cheapskate.

Dave

Excellent! I totally agree with you on the need of not comparing tools and just getting started. You can always change and upgrade tools, but getting started is the most important part. I still dont have a filing cabinet, but I cant let that stop me.

I actually paid for Nozbe (there are free accounts too if you want to give it a spin) because I knew if I did, I would force myself to start using it.

Regardless, I definitely suggest people use one of the tools designed for GTD, as hacking one together using gmail and such can be unfun. I feel like I have to visit the least amount of places to have access to my lists. Right now I can go to my Calendar or Nozbe for everything, my email inbox is just something I process along with the physical inbox on my desk. Its great.

[MasterD]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I checked out a lot of the different systems. Nozbe, Evernote, Official GTD Outlook integration but till now nothing compares to Microsoft Outlook OneNote 2007. Best Microsoft program I have ever encountered.

I am still running a trial version of OneNote and it expires April 30, but I am probably going to spend the $75.99 to buy the product.

There are a lot of articles on the net on how to implement the GTD system in OneNote.

Also I am not solely using GTD, but also the Time of Your Life system by Tony Robbins, so I was always a little bit confused on how I could easily combine the two, but with OneNote it seems pretty easy.

When I finish it I will post more details.

[Kaspian]

Originally Posted by Lucas

Interesting...what does he do when he needs to rearrange next actions in a list, or add next actions to a specific part of a list when things come up in a project or it wasn't fully plotted out? It seems like you would eventually have to rewrite the list. Seems like it would discipline you into really thinking hard on the front end about how to accomplish certain tasks so that you dont have to do any rewriting.

If I understand his system right, he has one notebook (the 4"x6") where he does project planning, breaking things down into steps, looking at which steps need to be done before others, and so on. Last thing at night (or first thing in the morning), he uses the project planning notebook to make a list of the next day's (or today's) tasks. Any undone tasks from the day before get included in the new list, too. His daily to-do lists are usually written on a sticky note.

[dannielo]

Hello,

For implementing GTD you might try out my application for time management and productivity,

Gtdagenda.com

You can use it to manage your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, schedules and a calendar.

Hope you like it.

[maxdof]

How do you review what you have to do @around, or your agendas of stuff to talk about with people when everything is online?

I use a filofax pocket guildford extra slim, enters in any pocket, for my GTD personnal.
And for my GTD at work, my Outlook, using categories and personnalized search folders.