My new system.

[Smarky]

I'm getting ready to go into relentless massive action to move my life forward. I feel like I'm standing still, spinning my wheels and I hate standing still.

I'm not a naturally organized person, I hate how most systems strangle me. So i've borrowed ideas from all over the place (I've read a lot) and some ideas of my own and this is what I have come up with. Just three simple things.

Two priorities
Two priorities; one-week commitment. That ís all. Of course, if you can, you might narrow that priority down to one. Most of the time, though, unless in an extreme situation, there will be two. With constant of exercise and guitar practice.

Anti-Schedule
Refuse as much as possible to commit to meetings, appointments, or activities at any set time in any future day. As a result, you can always work on whatever is most important or most interesting, at any time. Without having to worry about distractions or commitments.

Want to spend all day writing? Do it! Want to spend all day designing? Do it! Want to go down the local cafe and read a book? Do it!

When someone wants to meet on Tuesday at 3 the appropriate response is not to commit, but if it's Tuesday at 2:45 and I'm available, I'll meet with you.

Checklists not todo lists
Use checklists for everything else, everything you need to remember. These are not todo lists of every single next action, just reminders of things you may need to remember.

For specific projects that are one of your priorities for that week, you may wish to keep a check list. Things you need to look at, think about or just remember. This is however not necessary.

You may also wish to Keep a general checklist, a bucket list for other items you may wish to look at which do not fall within your two priorities for that week. Random thoughts and things you need to do. Don't note everything down, just the things you are likely to forget and need to remember.

Checklists are merely a memory aid, not a list to tell you what to do and when. You decide that and on your terms.

Other Points:
- There is no fancy secret techniques or tricks. Just focus on what matters to you and eliminate everything else. Carry less baggage. Productive simply means how well you are at producing the results that matter to you. Not having a system that lists every action you need to take.

- We don't get a chance to do that many things in our life, so everyone one we do should be really excellent. Because this is our life. Life is brief, and then you die. You may want to watch every movie, read every article and book out there, but the reality is you can't. Time is limited. Everything you choose to do better be damn good. It better be worth it.You have to pick carefully. Question often, everything you do, everyone you spend your time with and everything you surround yourself with should matter, or else your just wasting time.

- There is so much that is unknown, ignore those concerns and focus on now, that's all you ever have. Massive plans or roadmaps are bad, they lock you into the past, your old way of thinking. Do what is right now. Often we worry about the impact of our decisions rather than just making the right decision. Optimize for today, make the best choice which is best for you right now.

- Don’t bother to over prioritize things, it either needs to be done or it doesn't.

- Keep things simple. If you can't describe it simple enough that a six year old could draw it, you have a problem.

- Focus on the basics and the fundamentals, become really great at that. Remember the two fundamentals of being creative are coming up with insanely great ideas and making those ideas happen.

- At the end of the week ask yourself who you are what you really want, then ask yourself what your need to do to get there. You should always be asking yourself "What Next?", never stand still. Review and reflect on your projects, your values and what matters to you. This is your weekly review, this is when you set your focus for the next week.

[Smarky]

Just some notes on how I will apply this system:

- I'll use my week to view, moleskine dairy + notepad. Here i'll write my two focus for the week and any notes. Anything that happens on a certain day will be written in too. I'll write what I did each day down in here, so i can see what i did when for reviewing.

- I'll also stick my two priorities on my computer monitor to keep me focused, this will be a small table that includes the priority plus next to it the "Completion criteria". What determines it done.

- Checklists will be done on individual index cards. i need to find some nice ones

- I'll use a program called Soho notes on my mac to store ideas and thoughts in the long term, this is a tree like structured notepad, here I have all my projects and I can easily file away anything related to it for whenever those items become important. I also have documents in this that detail everything for whenever I need to refocus.

- Since I'm a graphic designer, i've designed a PDF with everything I would like to achieve using lots of graphics and images, which I look at daily to remind me where I am going to gain focus.

Onwards! =)

[dannielo]

Great tips. Most of these were on my mind when designing Gtdagenda.com, since I couldn't find an application that had all the features, especially checklists.

You might give it a try.