Trying to get organized, need some tips

[Yalpe]

Hello,

After reading a few articles here and a after few failures beforehand, I'm seriously trying to get rid of my bad habits and get myself organized. But I realize that I would need tools to help me.

So far I'm using Google Calendar because it is online, free and functionnal. The only thing it is lacking is a todo list in my opinion. I was thinking of using Google Documents & Spreadsheets for this. Now my question is, how do/did/would you guys organize your tasks? Do you have sections? Priorities? Do you use color codes? Identation? Deadlines? Whichever method you use, if it can help you visualize the information faster, feel free to share Basically I wouldn't want a todo list cluttered with 100 tasks and lose track of the important stuff. I don't mind software but I'd like to have it online since I spend a good part of the day at school or in the labs working. I'd like to be able to access the list everywhere, and if I need it offline, I could always copy/paste it from Google's tool to Word.

Also, I'm taking a look at Zoho atm. But I'd rather use Google Calendar because I can agendas with friends (no one uses Zoho so...).

[Mitja]

Joel Spolsky reviewed a few of them almost a year ago:

Too Many Ajax Calendars.

[rene_stpierre]

Hi,

First, I would not recommend you get yourself a "to do" list. All the personal development books I have read recommend against it since it does not allow you to differentiate between what is really important and what is not.

I would suggest you take a look at Simpleology (http://www.simpleology.com). It is very interesting. I do it every day and it has helped me become more effective and get rid of bad habits. When you get to the site, register for the 101 course only (it is free). They will ask you if you want 102 as well (for $97) but decline that offer. If you really like 101, then you can consider paying for 102 if you want.

Good luck!
René

[Cron]

You can read this book in 2 afternoons and you will have powerful ideas for organizing yourself


Book Review: "How To Get Control Of Your Time And Your Life" by Alan Lakein

[Yalpe]

Ok well, seems like it isn't a good idea I'll read the website but I can't afford to buy content right now, university is eating my money faster then I'd like it to. I'll come back after I've read the thing.

[Cron]

It is not a web site, it is a link to earlier review of the book I posted to this site.

The book was published in the early 60s. Aside from having stood the test of time, you can probably borrow a copy for free from your campus library. If your campus library doesn't have it they can get it for you through interlibrary loan for free.

[Yalpe]

I was talking about the simpleology website Cron. I'll have to look up at my campus' library, however I think they only have techinical books.

[ZenDude]

MY advice is GTD by David Allen.
Do a search on it and then buy it in paperback.
It's really good and there are lots of ways to cheaply and easily implement it into your life.

[Yalpe]

Well to I wanted to avoid all the propaganda about buying books/articles because I can't afford it. I might just fiddle around with a few techniques and see what works. There's quite a lot of free info on the web (like here). If I can't find anything online, oh well, I'll just use a to-do list of my own until I find/can afford better tricks. I was just hoping that there was an article on that somewhere which is why I asked.

[Yev]

Hi Yalpe, I am sure that a quick Google search will find you an enormous amount of info and free software for to-do lists, but here is my experience. There is a huge range of needs from a student through to a senior executive and you will not find one system that fits everyone's needs. Executives have sectretaries to look after their to-do lists, but that would probably be out of the question for you (certainly it is for me!!).

Although GTD, 7 Habits etc tend to decry to-do lists as outmoded, they are actually very efficient tools for daily work. Nobody expects to sort out their life's purpose and meaning on a scrappy to-do list, but for keeping control of the next few hours they are hard to beat. Scott Young (a member here) wrote about this recently, see
Scott H Young » Daily To-Do Lists

I have tried various software solutions from Word or NotePad through to freeware custom software, but I find that I finish up printing the list on a daily basis anyway. Perhaps it is an age thing, but I am still more comfortable with seeing a bit of paper on my desk with the to-do list. It gives a great deal of satisfaction to be able to draw a thick red line through a completed item, and when you get to mid-afternoon and see that 7 of your 10items are already crossed out it helps to motivate as well.

While I believe to-do lists are great for daily work, there is a need for longer term planning that does not go well with to-do lists. Here I am talking of your major goals - the life's purpose and meaning stuff. For this category the 7 Habits and GTD methods are great and you can get those books cheaply in paperback or from a library. The Simpleology system looks to me to be very similar to GTD (I suppose the GTD enthusiasts will roast me for saying that) and it provides some useful templates. Note that the first Simplology course is free. Some of the first few lessons are rather cheesy, but it quickly gets down to the nitty-gritty stuff.

[Liara Covert]

Don't forget about the materials available to you at your local library. You need not necessarily buy books, CD-Roms or organizational tips. You can also borrow them. I would highly recommend The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. His additional materials may help you as well. Consider the related blog discussions.

[dalante]

Getting Things Done, by Allen.

[child]

Review.
Make a to-do list, write down everthing (really everything) and review it every morning.
That's the only trick.

Reviewing is more important than the list itself

[Yalpe]

Originally Posted by child

Review.
Make a to-do list, write down everthing (really everything) and review it every morning.
That's the only trick.

Reviewing is more important than the list itself

At the moment this might be the best idea. I'm not ready to get "non-free" content right now. I guess I'll still go with the todo list and see how that goes, then if I feel it doesn't work right I'll head towards GTD or whatever. My life isn't too complicated right now, but enough to be a mess if I don't pay attention.

[searstower]

Yalpe,

I just wanted to mention a lot of free resources for the GTD system (Getting Things Done by David Allen, mentioned previously).

I had been using GTD for months before I finally bought the book and had learned it all from the web and websites like these...

-43 Folders, awesome especially if you use a mac
-43folder forums, ask and you shall receive
-GTD primer, especially for people with a regular desk
-GTD Wiki, all you ever wanted to know about GTD
-Merlin Mann and David Allen's Productivity Podcast, the author of the book and a big GTD fan let it all out

Some of my favorite GTD articles:
-Project vs Next-Action verbs
-Look-into verbs
-Building a smarter to-do list Part 1
-Building a Smarter ToDo List Part 2

And since you want an online todo list, GTD has got you covered there too. These tools are all free.
-GTDTiddlyWiki
-BackPack todo list
-GTD Gmail plugin, and if you use Gmail, this plugin will make it easy to create and add tasks to a GTD style task list stored in your gmail box

There's also a forum post dedicated to GTD tips that might provide even more information.

Enjoy!
Rebecca

[Yalpe]

Now that is really interesting, thanks searstower.

[bollenbach]

hmmm this is a really interesting post and which.. I do think a lot of time about this..

even now..

there's thing I want to change.

i'd like to sleep better at night.

I find that I always land up staying up late doing random crap that I'm into.. or working on stuff.. it doesn't really bother me you see..

anyway...

yeah I'm in college and I'm always trying to find the the best way to use my time and I find that the best way to keep track of my assignments is just a list on my desktop

I use a program called stickies and it does the trick!!